Document:

Exhibit 10.1 Term Loan Agreement

EXECUTION COPY
 J.P. Morgan

$100,000,000 
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
by and among
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION,
as Borrower
EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
as Lead Arranger 
Dated as of September 13, 2013

CH1 7796018v.7

TABLE OF CONTENTS 
1.        CERTAIN DEFINITIONS    1
		
	1.1.
	Certain Definitions    1

		
	1.2.
	Construction        20

		
	1.2.1.
	Number; Inclusion    20

		
	1.2.2.
	Determination    21

		
	1.2.3.
	Agent's Discretion and Consent    21

		
	1.2.4.
	Documents Taken as a Whole    21

		
	1.2.5.
	Headings    21

		
	1.2.6.
	Implied References to this Agreement    21

		
	1.2.7.
	Persons    21

		
	1.2.8.
	Modifications to Documents    21

		
	1.2.9.
	From, To and Through    21

		
	1.2.10.
	Shall; Will    21

		
	1.3.
	Accounting Principles    22

2.    TERM LOAN        22
		
	2.1.
	Commitments        23

		
	2.2.
	Nature of Lenders' Obligations with Respect to the Term Loan    23

		
	2.3.
	[Reserved]        23

		
	2.4.
	Term Loan Request    23

		
	2.5.
	[Reserved]        23

		
	2.6.
	Making the Term Loan; Presumptions by the Agent    23

		
	2.6.1.
	Making the Term Loan    23

		
	2.6.2.
	Presumptions by the Agent    24

		
	2.7.
	[Reserved]        24

		
	2.8.
	Use of Proceeds    24

		
	2.9.
	[Reserved]        24

		
	2.10.
	[Reserved]        24

		
	2.11.
	[Reserved]        24

		
	2.12.
	Defaulting Lenders    24

3.    Intentionally Omitted        24
4.    INTEREST RATES        25
		
	4.1.
	Interest Rate Options    25

		
	4.1.1.
	Interest Rate Options    25

		
	4.1.2.
	Rate Quotations    25

		
	4.1.3.
	Change in Interest Rates    25

		
	4.2.
	Interest Periods    26

		
	4.2.1.
	Amount of Borrowing Tranche    26

		
	4.2.2.
	Renewals    26

		
	4.3.
	Interest After Default    26

		
	4.3.1.
	Interest Rate    26

		
	4.3.2.
	Other Obligations    26

		
	4.3.3.
	Acknowledgment    27

		
	4.4.
	LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available    27

		
	4.4.1.
	Unascertainable    27

		
	4.4.2.
	Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available    27

		
	4.4.3.
	Agent's and Lenders' Rights    27

		
	4.5.
	Selection of Interest Rate Options    28

-i

5.    PAYMENTS        28
		
	5.1.
	Payments        29

		
	5.2.
	Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders; Sharing of Payments; Agent's Presumptions    29

		
	5.2.1.
	Sharing of Payments by Lenders    29

		
	5.2.2.
	Presumptions by the Agent    29

		
	5.3.
	Interest Payment Dates    30

		
	5.4.
	Prepayments        30

		
	5.4.1.
	Voluntary Prepayments    30

		
	5.4.2.
	Replacement of a Lender    31

		
	5.4.3.
	Change of Lending Office    31

		
	5.5.
	[Reserved]        31

		
	5.6.
	Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances    32

		
	5.6.1.
	Increased Costs Generally    32

		
	5.6.2.
	Capital Requirements    32

		
	5.6.3.
	Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans;    32

Borrowing of New Loans    
		
	5.6.4.
	Delay in Requests    33

		
	5.6.5.
	Indemnity    33

		
	5.7.
	Interbank Market Presumption    33

		
	5.8.
	Taxes        34

		
	5.8.1.
	Payments Free of Taxes    34

		
	5.8.2.
	Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties    34

		
	5.8.3.
	Indemnification by the Loan Parties    34

		
	5.8.4.
	Indemnification by the Lenders    34

		
	5.8.5.
	Evidence of Payments    35

		
	5.8.6.
	Status of Lenders    35

		
	5.8.7.
	Treatment of Certain Refunds    37

		
	5.8.8.
	Survival    37

		
	5.9.
	Notes        37

6.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    37
		
	6.1.
	Representations and Warranties    37

		
	6.1.1.
	Organization and Qualification    38

		
	6.1.2.
	Subsidiaries    38

		
	6.1.3.
	Power and Authority    38

		
	6.1.4.
	Validity and Binding Effect    38

		
	6.1.5.
	No Conflict    39

		
	6.1.6.
	Litigation    39

		
	6.1.7.
	Title to Properties    39

		
	6.1.8.
	Historical Statements; No Material Adverse Change    39

		
	6.1.9.
	Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock    40

		
	6.1.10.
	Full Disclosure    40

		
	6.1.11.
	Taxes    40

		
	6.1.12.
	Consents and Approvals    40

		
	6.1.13.
	No Event of Default; Compliance With Instruments    41

		
	6.1.14.
	Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc.    41

		
	6.1.15.
	Insurance    41

		
	6.1.16.
	Compliance With Laws    41

		
	6.1.17.
	Material Contracts; Burdensome Restrictions    41

		
	6.1.18.
	Investment Companies; Regulated Entities    42

		
	6.1.19.
	Plans and Benefit Arrangements    42

		
	6.1.20.
	Employment Matters    42

		
	6.1.21.
	Environmental Matters    43

		
	6.1.22.
	Senior Debt Status    43

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	6.1.23.
	Reserved    43

		
	6.1.24.
	Permitted Related Business Opportunities    43

		
	6.1.25.
	Sanctions Laws and Regulations    43

7.    CONDITIONS OF LENDING    44
		
	7.1.
	Conditions to the Term Loan    44

		
	7.1.1.
	Officer's Certificate    44

		
	7.1.2.
	Secretary's Certificate    44

		
	7.1.3.
	Opinion of Counsel    45

		
	7.1.4.
	[Reserved]    45

		
	7.1.5.
	Consents    45

		
	7.1.6.
	Officer's Certificate Regarding MACs    45

		
	7.1.7.
	No Violation of Laws    45

		
	7.1.8.
	No Actions or Proceedings    45

		
	7.1.9.
	Delivery of Guaranty Agreement    46

		
	7.1.10.
	Hedging Contract Policies    46

8.    COVENANTS        46
		
	8.1.
	Affirmative Covenants    46

		
	8.1.1.
	Preservation of Existence, Etc.    46

		
	8.1.2.
	Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc.    46

		
	8.1.3.
	Maintenance of Insurance    46

		
	8.1.4.
	Maintenance of Properties and Leases    47

		
	8.1.5.
	Maintenance of Patents, Trademarks, Etc.    47

		
	8.1.6.
	Visitation Rights    47

		
	8.1.7.
	Keeping of Records and Books of Account    47

		
	8.1.8.
	Plans and Benefit Arrangements    47

		
	8.1.9.
	Compliance With Laws    48

		
	8.1.10.
	Use of Proceeds    48

		
	8.1.11.
	Additional Financial Covenants    48

		
	8.2.
	Negative Covenants    48

		
	8.2.1.
	Indebtedness    49

		
	8.2.2.
	Liens    50

		
	8.2.3.
	Guaranties    50

		
	8.2.4.
	Loans and Investments    50

		
	8.2.5.
	Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions    51

		
	8.2.6.
	Dispositions of Assets or Unregulated Subsidiaries    52

		
	8.2.7.
	Affiliate Transactions    53

		
	8.2.8.
	Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures    53

		
	8.2.9.
	Continuation of or Change in Business    53

		
	8.2.10.
	Plans and Benefit Arrangements    53

		
	8.2.11.
	Fiscal Year    54

		
	8.2.12.
	Maximum Leverage Ratio    54

		
	8.2.13.
	Payment of Dividends; Redemptions    54

		
	8.2.14.
	Off-Balance Sheet Financing    54

		
	8.2.15.
	Sanctions Laws and Regulations    55

		
	8.3.
	Reporting Requirements    55

		
	8.3.1.
	Quarterly Financial Statements    55

		
	8.3.2.
	Annual Financial Statements    56

		
	8.3.3.
	Certificate of the Borrower    56

		
	8.3.4.
	Notice of Default    56

		
	8.3.5.
	Notice of Litigation    56

		
	8.3.6.
	Notice of Change in Debt Rating    57

		
	8.3.7.
	Sale of Assets    57

		
	8.3.8.
	Budgets, Forecasts, Other Reports and Information    57

		
	8.3.9.
	Notices Regarding Plans and Benefit Arrangements    57

-iii

9.    DEFAULT        59
		
	9.1.
	Events of Default    59

		
	9.1.1.
	Payments Under Loan Documents    59

		
	9.1.2.
	Breach of Warranty    59

		
	9.1.3.
	Breach of Negative Covenants, Visitation Rights or Borrower's Existence    59

		
	9.1.4.
	Breach of Other Covenants    59

		
	9.1.5.
	Defaults in Other Agreements or Indebtedness    59

		
	9.1.6.
	Final Judgments or Orders    59

		
	9.1.7.
	Loan Document Unenforceable    60

		
	9.1.8.
	Uninsured Losses; Proceedings Against Assets    60

		
	9.1.9.
	Notice of Lien or Assessment    60

		
	9.1.10.
	Insolvency    60

		
	9.1.11.
	Events Relating to Plans and Benefit Arrangements    61

		
	9.1.12.
	Cessation of Business    61

		
	9.1.13.
	Change of Control    61

		
	9.1.14.
	Involuntary Proceedings    61

		
	9.1.15.
	Voluntary Proceedings    62

		
	9.1.16.
	No Limitation on Dividends and Distributions by Subsidiaries    62

		
	9.2.
	Consequences of Event of Default    62

		
	9.2.1.
	Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization    62

Proceedings    
		
	9.2.2.
	Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings    62

		
	9.2.3.
	Set-off    63

		
	9.2.4.
	Suits, Actions, Proceedings    63

		
	9.2.5.
	Application of Proceeds; Collateral Sharing    63

		
	9.2.6.
	Other Rights and Remedies    64

10.    THE AGENT        64
		
	10.1.
	Appointment and Authority    64

		
	10.2.
	Rights as a Lender    64

		
	10.3.
	Exculpatory Provisions    64

		
	10.4.
	Reliance by Agent    65

		
	10.5.
	Delegation of Duties    66

		
	10.6.
	Resignation of Agent    66

		
	10.7.
	Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders    66

		
	10.8.
	[Reserved]        67

		
	10.9.
	[Reserved]        67

		
	10.10.
	[Reserved]        67

		
	10.11.
	Calculations        67

		
	10.12.
	Beneficiaries        67

11.    MISCELLANEOUS        67
		
	11.1.
	Modifications, Amendments or Waivers    67

		
	11.1.1.
	Increase of Commitments; Extension of Maturity Date    67

		
	11.1.2.
	Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal, Interest or Fees;     67

Modification of Terms of Payment    
		
	11.1.3.
	Release of Guarantor    68

		
	11.1.4.
	Miscellaneous    68

		
	11.2.
	No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing Required    68

		
	11.3.
	Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver    68

		
	11.3.1.
	Costs and Expenses    68

		
	11.3.2.
	Indemnification by the Borrower    69

		
	11.3.3.
	Reimbursement by Lenders    69

		
	11.3.4.
	Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.    70

		
	11.3.5.
	Payments    70

-iv

		
	11.4.
	Holidays        70

		
	11.5.
	Funding by Branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate    70

		
	11.5.1.
	Notional Funding    70

		
	11.5.2.
	Actual Funding    71

		
	11.6.
	Notices; Lending Offices    71

		
	11.7.
	Severability        72

		
	11.8.
	Governing Law    72

		
	11.9.
	Prior Understanding    72

		
	11.10.
	Duration; Survival    72

		
	11.11.
	Successors and Assigns    72

		
	11.11.1.
	Successors and Assigns Generally    72

		
	11.11.2.
	Assignments by Lenders    73

		
	11.11.3.
	Register    74

		
	11.11.4.
	Participations    74

		
	11.11.5.
	Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally    75

		
	11.12.
	Confidentiality        75

		
	11.12.1.
	General    75

		
	11.12.2.
	Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders    76

		
	11.13.
	Counterparts        76

		
	11.14.
	Agent's or Lender's Consent    76

		
	11.15.
	Exceptions        76

		
	11.16.
	WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    77

		
	11.17.
	JURISDICTION & VENUE    77

		
	11.18.
	USA Patriot Act Notice    77

		
	11.19.
	Joinder of Guarantors    77

		
	11.20.
	Keepwell        78

		
	11.21.
	No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility    78

-v

LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
SCHEDULES
		
	SCHEDULE 1.1(A)
	-    PRICING GRID

		
	SCHEDULE 1.1(B)
	-    COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS AND ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

		
	SCHEDULE 1.1(P)
	-    PERMITTED LIENS

		
	SCHEDULE 6.1.2
	-    SUBSIDIARIES

		
	SCHEDULE 6.1.12
	-    CONSENTS AND APPROVALS

		
	SCHEDULE 6.1.24
	-    PERMITTED RELATED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

		
	SCHEDULE 8.2.1
	-    EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS

EXHIBITS
		
	EXHIBIT 1.1(A)
	-    ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

		
	EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(1)
	-    GUARANTOR JOINDER

		
	EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(2)
	-    GUARANTY AGREEMENT

		
	EXHIBIT 1.1(R)
	-    NOTE

		
	EXHIBIT 2.4
	-    LOAN REQUEST

		
	EXHIBIT 5.8.6(A)
	-    U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

		
	EXHIBIT 5.8.6(B)
	-    U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

		
	EXHIBIT 5.8.6(C)
	-    U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

		
	EXHIBIT 5.8.6(D)
	-    U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

		
	EXHIBIT 7.1.3(A)
	-    OPINION OF COUNSEL

		
	EXHIBIT 7.1.3(B)
	-    OPINION OF IN-HOUSE COUNSEL

		
	EXHIBIT 8.2.5
	-    ACQUISITION COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

		
	EXHIBIT 8.3.3
	-    COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

-vi

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of September 13, 2013 and is made by and among NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”), EACH OF THE GUARANTORS (as hereinafter defined), the LENDERS (as hereinafter defined) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement (hereinafter referred to in such capacity as the “Agent”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000;
WHEREAS, the term loan shall be used for refinancing existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes of the Borrower; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to provide such term loan upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of their mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and intending to be legally bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:
1.CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1.    Certain Definitions.
In addition to words and terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context hereof clearly requires otherwise:
Acquired Person shall mean a Person or business acquired by any Loan Party in a transaction which is a Permitted Acquisition.
Acquisition Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.2.5 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].
Affiliate as to any Person shall mean any other Person (i) which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, (ii) which beneficially owns or holds 10% or more of any class of the voting or other equity interests of such Person, or (iii) 10% or more of any class of voting interests or other equity interests of which is beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by such Person.  Control, as used in this definition, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, including the power to elect a majority of the directors or trustees of a corporation or trust, as the case may be.
Agent shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent as described herein, and its successors and assigns.
Agreement shall mean this Term Loan Credit Agreement, as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time, including all schedules and exhibits.

1

Anti-Corruption Laws means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Margin shall mean, as applicable:
(A)    the percentage spread to be added to Base Rate under the Base Rate Option at the indicated level of Debt Rating in the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading “Base Rate Spread,” as the same may be modified in accordance with the terms hereof, or
(B)    the percentage spread to be added to LIBOR Rate under the LIBOR Rate Option at the indicated level of Debt Rating in the pricing grid on Schedule 1.1(A) below the heading “LIBOR Rate Spread,” as the same may be modified in accordance with the terms hereof.
The Applicable Margin shall be computed in accordance with the parameters set forth on Schedule 1.1(A); provided, however that if New Jersey Natural Gas’ Debt Rating is determined by Fitch, Inc. or any other nationally recognized statistical agency, pursuant hereto, the second column (Debt Rating Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s) of the pricing grid set forth on Schedule 1.1(A) shall be modified by the Agent upon written notice to the Borrower to reflect such replacement of Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s as the applicable rating agencies hereunder and to replace the Debt Rating Levels with the corresponding levels of Fitch or such other nationally recognized statistical agency.
Approved Fund shall mean, with respect to any Lender, any fund that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by such Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages such Lender.
Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall mean an Assignment and Assumption Agreement by and among a Purchasing Lender, a Transferor Lender and the Agent, as Agent and on behalf of the remaining Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.1(A).
Audited Financial Statements shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.8.1 [Historical Statements].
Authorized Officer shall mean those individuals, designated by written notice to the Agent from the Borrower, authorized to execute notices, reports and other documents on behalf of the Loan Parties required hereunder.  The Borrower may amend such list of individuals from time to time by giving written notice of such amendment to the Agent.
Base Rate shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the interest rate per annum announced from time to time by the Agent at its Principal Office as its then prime rate, which rate may not be the lowest rate then being charged commercial borrowers by the Agent, (ii) the Federal Funds Open Rate plus 1/2% per annum, and (iii) the LIBOR Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.00%; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the LIBOR Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day.  Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the prime rate described in clause (i), the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the LIBOR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change 

2

Base Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have any portion of the Term Loan bear interest at the rate and under the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4.1.1(i) [Base Rate Option].
Benefit Arrangement shall mean at any time an “employee benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is neither a Plan, a Multiple Employer Plan, nor a Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained, sponsored or otherwise contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group.
Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
Borrower shall mean New Jersey Resources Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey.
Borrowing Date shall mean (i) the Closing Date and (ii) any date for the renewal or conversion of the Term Loan or any portion thereof at or to the same or a different Interest Rate Option, which shall be a Business Day.
Borrowing Tranche shall mean specified portions of the Term Loan outstanding as follows:  (i) any portion of the Term Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies which become subject to the same Interest Rate Option under the same Loan Request by the Borrower and which have the same Interest Period shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche, and (ii) any portion of the Term Loan to which a Base Rate Option applies shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to be closed for business in New York City and if the applicable Business Day relates to any portion of the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, such day must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.
Change in Law shall mean the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following:  (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (b) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Official Body or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Official Body or the compliance therewith by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 5.6.2 [Capital Requirements], any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any); provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith (whether or not having the force of Law) and (y) all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities (whether or not having the force of Law), in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.
Closing Date shall mean the date on which the conditions specified in Section 7.1 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 11.1).
Commitment shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount initially set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1.1(B) in the column labeled “Amount of Commitment,” and Commitments shall mean the aggregate Commitments of all of the Lenders.

3

Commodity Exchange Act means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.3.3 [Certificate of the Borrower].
Connection Income Taxes shall mean Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity shall mean as of any date of determination the sum of the amounts of common shareholders’ equity and preferred shareholders’ equity on the balance sheet, prepared in accordance with GAAP, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date of determination.
Consolidated Total Capitalization shall mean as of any date of determination the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness, plus (ii) Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity.
Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall mean as of any date of determination total Indebtedness (excluding non-recourse Indebtedness of Project Subsidiaries), without duplication, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Contamination shall mean the presence or release or threat of release of Regulated Substances in, on, under or migrating to or from the Property, which pursuant to Environmental Laws requires notification or reporting to an Governmental Body, or which pursuant to Environmental Laws requires the performance of a Remedial Action or which otherwise constitutes a violation of Environmental Laws.
Debt Rating shall mean the rating of New Jersey Natural Gas’s senior secured long-term debt by each of Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s; provided, however, at the option of the Borrower from time to time and with the consent of the Agent which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, either or both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s shall be replaced by Fitch, Inc. or any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency that is then rating New Jersey Natural Gas’ senior secured Indebtedness.
Defaulting Lender shall mean any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its portion of the Term Loan or (ii) pay over to the Agent or any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Agent in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within two Business Days after request by the Agent, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund its portion of the Term Loan under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the Agent’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event,

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As used in this definition and in Section 2.12 [Defaulting Lenders], the term “Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person or such Person’s direct or indirect parent company becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person or such Person’s direct or indirect parent company by an Governmental Body or instrumentality thereof if, and only if, such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Body or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Designated Persons means any Person listed on a Sanctions List.
Dollar, Dollars, U.S. Dollars and the symbol $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
ECP means an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.
Environmental Complaint shall mean any (i) written notice of non-compliance or violation, citation or order relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Contamination or Regulated Substance; (ii) civil, criminal, administrative or regulatory investigation instituted by an Governmental Body relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Contamination or Regulated Substance; (iii) administrative, regulatory or judicial action, suit, claim or proceeding instituted by any Person or Governmental Body or any other written notice of liability or potential liability from any Person or Governmental Body, in either instance, relating to or setting forth allegations or a cause of action for personal injury (including but not limited to death), property damage, natural resource damage, contribution or indemnity for the costs associated with the performance of Remedial Actions, direct recovery for the costs associated with the performance of Remedial Actions, liens or encumbrances attached to or recorded or levied against property for the costs associated with the performance of Remedial Actions, civil or administrative penalties, criminal fines or penalties or declaratory or equitable relief arising under any Environmental Laws; or (iv) subpoena, request for information or other written notice or demand of any type issued by an Governmental Body pursuant to any Environmental Laws.
Environmental Laws shall mean all federal, tribal, state, local and foreign Laws (including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq., the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq., the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f-300j, the Federal Air Pollution Control Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq., the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136 to 136y, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., each as amended, and any regulations promulgated or any equivalent state or local Law, and any amendments thereto)  and any final, non-appealable consent decrees, consent orders, consent agreements, settlement agreements, judgments or orders, or binding directives, policies or programs, issued by or entered into with an Governmental Body pertaining or relating 

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to:  (i) pollution or pollution control; (ii) protection of human health from exposure to Regulated Substances; (iii) protection of the environment and/or natural resources; (iv) protection of employee safety in the workplace and protection of employees from exposure to Regulated Substances in the workplace (but excluding workers compensation and wage and hour Laws); (v) the presence, use, management, generation, manufacture, processing, extraction, treatment, recycling, refining, reclamation, labeling, sale, transport, storage, collection, distribution, disposal or release or threat of release of Regulated Substances; (vi) the presence of Contamination; (vii) the protection of endangered or threatened species; and (viii) the protection of Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
Environmental Permits shall mean all permits, licenses, bonds or other forms of financial assurances, waivers, exemptions, consents, registrations, identification numbers, approvals or authorizations required under Environmental Laws (i) to own, occupy or maintain the Property; (ii) for the operations and business activities of any Loan Party; or (iii) for the performance of a Remedial Action.
Environmentally Sensitive Area shall mean (i) any wetland as defined by applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) any area designated as a coastal zone pursuant to applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws; (iii) any area of historic or archeological significance or scenic area as defined or designated by applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws; (iv) habitats of endangered species or threatened species as designated by applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws; or (v) a floodplain or other flood hazard area as defined pursuant to any applicable Laws.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
ERISA Group shall mean the Borrower and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all other entities which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Event of Default shall mean any of the events described in Section 9.1 [Events of Default] and referred to therein as an “Event of Default.”
Excluded Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (a) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation or (b) in the case of a Specified Swap Obligation subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to Section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), because such Loan Party is a “financial entity,” as defined in Section 2(h)(7)(C)(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), at the time the guarantee of such Loan Party becomes or would become effective with respect to such related Specified Swap Obligation.  If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
Excluded Taxes shall mean any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (i) Taxes imposed on or 

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measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (a) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (b) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in the Term Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (a) such Lender acquires such interest in such Term Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender]) or (b) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 5.8  [Taxes], amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (iii) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 5.8.6 [Status of Lenders], and (iv) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA (except to the extent imposed due to the failure of the Borrower to provide documentation or information to the IRS).
FATCA shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.
Federal Funds Effective Rate means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
Foreign Lender shall mean (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect in the United States from time to time, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 [Accounting Principles], and applied on a consistent basis both as to classification of items and amounts.
Governmental Body shall mean any government, political subdivision, agency or other body described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Official Body.”
Guarantor shall mean each of the parties to this Agreement which is designated as a “Guarantor” on the signature page hereof and each other Person which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor after the date hereof pursuant to Section 11.19 [Joinder of Guarantors]; provided, however, that the Project Subsidiaries shall not be designated as a “Guarantor” nor required to join this Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.19 [Joinder of Guarantors].
Guarantor Joinder shall mean a joinder by a Person as a Guarantor under this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents in the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(1).
Guaranty of any Person shall mean any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any liability or obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, 

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including any agreement to indemnify or hold harmless any other Person, any performance bond or other suretyship arrangement and any other form of assurance against loss, except endorsement of negotiable or other instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.
Guaranty Agreement shall mean the Guaranty and Suretyship Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1(G)(2) executed and delivered by each of the Guarantors to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and IRH Providers.
Hedging Contract Policies shall mean the written internal policies and procedures with respect to hedging or trading of gas contracts or other commodity, hedging contracts of any kind, or any derivatives or other similar financial instruments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, a copy of which has been delivered to the Agent and each Lender.
Hedging Transaction shall mean any transaction entered into by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the Hedging Contract Policies, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, or supplemented from time to time.
Historical Statements shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.8.1(a) [Historical Statements].
Hybrid Security shall mean any of the following:  (i) beneficial interests issued by a trust which constitutes a Subsidiary of any Loan Party, substantially all of the assets of which trust are unsecured Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or proceeds thereof, and all payments of which Indebtedness are required to be, and are, distributed to the holders of beneficial interests in such trust promptly after receipt by such trust, or (ii) any shares of capital stock or other equity interest that, other than solely at the option of the issuer thereof, by their terms (or by the terms of any security into which they are convertible or exchangeable) are, or upon the happening of an event or the passage of time would be, required to be redeemed or repurchased, in whole or in part, or have, or upon the happening of an event or the passage of time would have, a redemption or similar payment.
Impacted Interest Period shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBOR Rate”.
Inactive Subsidiary shall have the meaning given in Section 6.1.2 [Subsidiaries].
Incorporated Covenant shall have the meaning given in Section 8.1.11 [Additional NJR Note Agreements Financial Covenants].
Indebtedness shall mean, as to any Person at any time, any and all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or joint or several) of such Person for or in respect of:  (i) borrowed money, (ii) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (iii) reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under any letter of credit, currency swap agreement, interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate or currency exchange rate management device, (iv) any other transaction (including forward sale or purchase agreements, capitalized leases and conditional sales agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing of money entered into by such Person to finance its operations or capital requirements (but not including off-balance sheet transactions which are addressed in Section 8.2.14 [Off-Balance Sheet Financing] and trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not represented by a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness and which are not more than sixty (60) days past due), (v) any Hedging Transaction, to the extent that any 

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net indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of such Person in respect thereof constitutes “indebtedness” as determined in accordance with GAAP, (vi) any Guaranty of any Hedging Transaction described in the immediately preceding clause (v), (vii) any Guaranty of Indebtedness for borrowed money, (viii) any Hybrid Security described in clause (i) of the definition of Hybrid Security, or (ix) the mandatory repayment obligation of the issuer of any Hybrid Security described in clause (ii) of the definition of Hybrid Security.
Indemnified Taxes shall mean (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in the preceding clause (i), Other Taxes.
Insolvency Proceeding shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) a case, action or proceeding with respect to such Person (i) before any court or any other Governmental Body under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect, or (ii) for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of such Person or otherwise relating to the liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or relief of such Person, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of such Person’s creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; undertaken under any Law.
Interest Period shall mean the period of time selected by the Borrower in connection with (and to apply to) any election permitted hereunder by the Borrower to have any portion of the Term Loan bear interest under the LIBOR Rate Option.  Subject to the last sentence of this definition, such period shall be one, two, three or six Months, and solely with approval of the Agent a shorter period.  Such Interest Period shall commence on the effective date of such Interest Rate Option, which shall be (i) the Borrowing Date if the Borrower is requesting the Term Loan, or (ii) the date of renewal of or conversion to the LIBOR Rate Option if the Borrower is renewing or converting to the LIBOR Rate Option applicable to any outstanding portion of the Term Loan.  Notwithstanding the second sentence hereof:  (A) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a date which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and (B) the Borrower shall not select, convert to or renew an Interest Period for any portion of the Term Loan that would end after the Maturity Date.
Interpolated Rate means, at any time, the rate per annum determined by the Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between:  (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.
Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an interest rate exchange, collar, cap, swap, adjustable strike cap, adjustable strike corridor or similar agreements entered into by the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries in order to provide protection to, or minimize the impact upon, the Borrower, any other Loan Party and/or their Subsidiaries of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to Indebtedness.
Interest Rate Option shall mean any LIBOR Rate Option or Base Rate Option.
Internal Revenue Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.

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Investment shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.2.4 [Loans and Investments].
IRH Provider shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.2.5.2 [Collateral Sharing].
IRS shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service.
JPMorgan shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its individual capacity, and its successors and assigns.
Labor Contracts shall mean all employment agreements, employment contracts, collective bargaining agreements and other agreements among any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party and unions representing employees of any Loan Party or any such Subsidiary.
Law shall mean any law (including common law), constitution, statute, treaty, regulation, rule, ordinance, opinion, release, ruling, order, injunction, writ, decree, bond, judgment, authorization or approval, lien or award of or settlement agreement with any Official Body.
Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall mean an Interest Rate Hedge which is provided by an IRH Provider and that meets the following requirements:  such Interest Rate Hedge (i) is documented in a standard International Swap Dealer Association Agreement, (ii) provides for the method of calculating the reimbursable amount of the provider’s credit exposure in a reasonable and customary manner, and (iii) is entered into for hedging (rather than speculative) purposes.  The liabilities of the Loan Parties to the provider of any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall be “Obligations” hereunder, guaranteed obligations under the Guaranty Agreement and otherwise treated as Obligations for purposes of each of the other Loan Documents.
Lenders shall mean the financial institutions named on Schedule 1.1(B) and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a Lender.
LIBOR Rate shall mean, with respect to the any portion of the Term Loan comprising any Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies for any Interest Period, the interest rate per annum determined by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) (i) the London interbank offered rate as administered by the British Bankers Association (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Agent in its reasonable discretion; in each case the “LIBOR Screen Rate”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or, if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”), the Interpolated Rate at such time, subject to Section 4.4.), by (ii) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Rate Reserve Percentage.  
LIBOR Rate may also be expressed by the following formula:
LIBOR Rate =       LIBOR Screen Rate
                     1.00 - LIBOR Rate Reserve Percentage

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LIBOR Rate Option shall mean the option of the Borrower to have any portion of the Term Loan bear interest at the rate and under the terms set forth in Section 4.1.1(ii) [LIBOR Rate Option].
LIBOR Rate Reserve Percentage means, with respect to an Interest Period, the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D).  Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Any portion of the Term Loan as to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The LIBOR Rate Reserve Percentage shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
LIBOR Screen Rate shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBOR Rate”.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily given, including any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, and any assignment, deposit arrangement or lease intended as, or having the effect of, security and any filed financing statement or other notice of any of the foregoing (whether or not a lien or other encumbrance is created or exists at the time of the filing).
LLC Interests shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1.2 [Subsidiaries].
Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement, the Notes (if any) and any other instruments, certificates or documents delivered or contemplated to be delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time in accordance herewith or therewith, and Loan Document shall mean any of the Loan Documents.
Loan Parties shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.
Loan Request shall mean a request for the Term Loan or a request to select, convert to or renew a Base Rate Option or LIBOR Rate Option with respect to any portion of the outstanding Term Loan in accordance with Sections 2.4 [Term Loan Requests], 4.1 [Interest Rate Options] and 4.2 [Interest Periods].
Material Adverse Change shall mean any set of circumstances or events which (i) has or could reasonably be expected to have any material adverse effect whatsoever upon the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) is or could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the business, properties, assets, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Loan Parties taken as a whole, (iii) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Loan Parties taken as a whole to duly and punctually pay and perform the Obligations in accordance with the Loan Documents, or (iv) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Agent or any of the Lenders, to the extent permitted, to enforce their legal remedies pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Maturity Date shall mean September 15, 2014.
Month, with respect to an Interest Period under the LIBOR Rate Option, shall mean the interval between the days in consecutive calendar months numerically corresponding to the first day of such Interest Period.  If any LIBOR Rate Interest Period begins on a day of a calendar month for which there is 

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no numerically corresponding day in the month in which such Interest Period is to end, the final month of such Interest Period shall be deemed to end on the last Business Day of such final month.
Moody’s shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
Mortgage Indenture shall mean that certain Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated April 1, 1952 from New Jersey Natural Gas Company to BNY Midwest Trust Company, as successor to Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Trustee, as heretofore and hereafter amended, modified and supplemented.
Multiemployer Plan shall mean any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and to which the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or, solely for the purposes of Section 6.1.19 [Plans and Benefit Arrangements], within the preceding five Plan years, has made or had an obligation to make such contributions.
Multiple Employer Plan shall mean a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (at least one of which is the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA.
New Jersey Natural Gas shall mean New Jersey Natural Gas Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, which corporation is a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
NJNG Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2011, among New Jersey Natural Gas, as the borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as syndication agent and U.S. Bank National Association, TD Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association each as a documentation agent, PNC Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent, and the “lenders” party thereto, as the same has been amended and may be further restated, amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
NJR 2007 Note Agreement shall mean the unsecured Note Purchase Agreement, dated September 24, 2007, by and among the Borrower and the purchasers party thereto, as the same may be restated, amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
NJR 2007 Notes shall mean the unsecured Indebtedness issued by the Borrower pursuant to the NJR 2007 Note Agreement.
NJR Note Agreements shall mean, collectively, the NJR 2007 Note Agreement, the NJR Shelf Note Agreements and any refinancings, renewals or replacements thereof, or other unsecured private placement note agreements, permitted under Section 8.2.1(ix), (x) or (xiii) (as applicable).
NJR Notes shall mean, collectively, the NJR 2007 Note, the NJR Shelf Notes and any refinancings, renewals or replacements thereof, or other unsecured private placement notes, permitted under Section 8.2.1(ix) or (x) (as applicable).
NJR Shelf Note Agreements shall mean each of the following:  (a) the unsecured $100,000,000 Shelf Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 12, 2011, by and between NJR and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; and (b) the unsecured $75,000,000 Shelf Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 30, 2011, by and between NJR and Prudential Investment Management, Inc., in each case, as the same may be restated, amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

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NJR Shelf Notes shall mean the unsecured Indebtedness issued by the Borrower pursuant to the NJR Shelf Note Agreements.
NJR Revolving Credit Agreement shall mean that certain $325,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 22, 2012, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the “lenders” party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as the same may be restated, amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
Non-Consenting Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1.4 [Miscellaneous].
Notes shall mean any Note of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit 1.1(R) issued by the Borrower at the request of a Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Notes] evidencing the Term Loan to such Lender, together with all amendments, extensions, renewals, replacements, refinancings or refundings thereof in whole or in part.
Notices shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.6 [Notices, Lending Offices].
Obligations shall mean any obligation or liability of any of the Loan Parties to the Agent or any of the Lenders, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing, or due or to become due, under or in connection with this Agreement, any Notes or any other Loan Document.  Obligations shall include, to the extent set forth in the definitions of “Lender Provided Interest Hedge” and “Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product”, the liabilities to any Lender (or any Affiliate thereof) under any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge and any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product; provided that the definition of “Obligations” shall not create any guaranty by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Official Body shall mean (a) the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, (b) any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and (c) any group or body charged with setting regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).
Other Connection Taxes shall mean, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of such Recipient conducting or having conducted a sufficient level of ongoing business or income-generating activity in the jurisdiction imposing such Tax to subject it to tax generally on the income or privilege of doing business or unretained earnings associated with such activity (but, without broadening the scope of the foregoing, not including any Tax imposed as a result of such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Documents, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

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Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product shall mean agreements or other arrangements under which any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender provides any of the following products or services to the Borrower:  (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, (f) cash management, including controlled disbursement, accounts or services, or (g) foreign currency exchange.  The liabilities of the Borrower to the provider of any Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product shall be “Obligations” for the purposes of Section 5.2.1 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] and any collateral security for the Obligations hereafter granted under the Loan Documents.
Other Taxes shall mean all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender]).
Participant shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.11.4 [Participations].
Partnership Interests shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1.2 [Subsidiaries].
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any successor.
Permitted Acquisitions shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.2.5 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i)    direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America maturing in twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition;
(ii)    repurchase agreements having a duration of not more than sixty (60) days that are collateralized by full faith and credit obligations of the United States Government or obligations guaranteed by the United States Government and its agencies;
(iii)    interests in investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or in a separate portfolio of such an investment company), that invest primarily in full faith and credit obligations of the United States Government or obligations guaranteed by the United States Government and its agencies and repurchase agreements collateralized by such obligations;
(iv)    time deposits with any office located in the United States of the Lenders or any other bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States and has combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 or with any bank which is organized other than under the laws of the United States (y) the commercial paper of which is rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s and P-1 by Moody’s (or, if such commercial paper is rated only by Standard & Poor’s, at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s, or if such commercial paper is rated only by Moody’s, at least P-1 by Moody’s) or (z) the long term senior debt of which is rated at least AA by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s (or, if such debt is rated only by Standard & Poor’s, at least AA by Standard & Poor’s, or if such debt is rated only by Moody’s, at least Aa2 by Moody’s);

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(v)    commercial paper having a maturity of not more than one year from the date of such investment and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s and P-1 by Moody’s (or, if such commercial paper is rated only by Standard & Poor’s, at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s or, if such commercial paper is rated only by Moody’s, at least P-1 by Moody’s);
(vi)    instruments held for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(vii)    any equity or debt securities or other form of debt instrument obtained in settlement of debts previously contracted;
(viii)    any Investment arising out of a Permitted Related Business Opportunity;
(ix)    Investments in treasury stock of the Borrower;
(x)    Investments in Inactive Subsidiaries; and
(xi)    any other form of Investment by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any Person so long as the consideration paid or exchanged by the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, for such investment (whether in cash or the value of payment-in-kind, with the value of payment-in-kind as reasonably determined by the Borrower) does not exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate for all Investments permitted by this clause (xi).
Permitted Liens shall mean:
(i)    Liens for taxes, assessments, or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are maintained on such Person’s books, and which could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;
(ii)    Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workmen’s compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs or retirement plan legislation;
(iii)    Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and payable or in default or in any case are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are maintained on such Person’s books, and which could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;
(iv)    Any Lien arising out of judgments or awards but only to the extent that the creation of any such Lien shall not be an event or condition which, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would cause Borrower to be in violation of Section 9.1.6 [Final Judgments or Orders];
(v)    Security interests in favor of lessors of personal property, which property is the subject of a true lease;
(vi)    Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in 

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excess of the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary course of business;
(vii)    Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, rights-of-way or other restrictions on the use of real property and minor defects to title to real property, none of which materially impairs the use of such property or the value thereof;
(viii)    Liens on property leased by any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party securing obligations of such Loan Party or Subsidiary to the lessor under capitalized leases, provided that to the extent the payments or other amounts due and owing under any such lease constitute Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 8.2.1(iv) [Indebtedness];
(ix)    Liens existing on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule 1.1(P), provided that such Liens secure only Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.2.1 [Indebtedness] including any renewals or extensions of such Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.2.1 [Indebtedness];
(x)    Liens extending only to assets related to off-balance sheet transactions permitted under Section 8.2.14 [Off-Balance Sheet Financing];
(xi)    Purchase Money Security Interests encumbering only the assets purchased and proceeds thereof; provided that such Liens secure only Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.2.1(vii);
(xii)    Liens on any property or asset of an Acquired Person attaching solely to the assets of the Acquired Person and not to any asset of any Loan Party, provided that such Liens secure only Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.2.1(viii) and were not incurred in contemplation of the acquisition of such Acquired Person;
(xiii)    Other Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.2.1(xiii), provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed $35,000,000 in the aggregate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing definition of Permitted Lien or any other provision of the Loan Documents to the contrary, each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of the capital stock of New Jersey Natural Gas, or agree or become liable to do so.
Permitted Related Business Opportunity shall mean any transaction with another Person (other than any Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower) involving business activities or assets reasonably related or complementary to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as conducted on the Closing Date or as may be conducted pursuant to Section 8.2.9 [Continuation of or Change in Business], including, without limitation, the ownership, management and marketing of storage, capacity and transportation of gas and other forms of energy, the generation, transmission or storage of gas and other forms of energy, wind, solar and other types of renewable energy, or the access to gas and energy transmission lines, and business initiatives for the conservation and efficiency of gas and energy.
Permitted Transferee shall mean, as of any date of determination, any of the following with respect to any then current officer or director of the Borrower:  (i) such Person’s spouse, lineal descendants or lineal descendant’s of such Person’s spouse, (ii) any charitable corporation or trust established by such officer or director or by any Person described in the immediately preceding clause (i), (iii) any trust (or in the case of a minor, a custodial account under a Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act) of which the 

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beneficiary or beneficiaries are one or more Persons described in the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii), or (iv) any executor or administrator upon the death of such officer or director or the death of any Person described in the immediately preceding clauses (i) or (ii).
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, government or political subdivision or agency thereof, or any other entity.
Plan shall mean at any time an “employee pension benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section (3)(2) of ERISA (not including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan), which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and either (a) is maintained by any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (b) solely for purposes of Section 6.1.19 [Plans and Benefit Arrangements], has at any time within the preceding five years been maintained by any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
Potential Default shall mean any event or condition which with notice, passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Principal Office shall mean the main banking office of the Agent in New York, New York.
Prohibited Transaction shall mean any prohibited transaction as defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 406 of ERISA for which neither an individual nor a class exemption has been issued by the United States Department of Labor.
Project Subsidiaries shall mean the present Subsidiaries of NJR Energy Holdings Corporation, a New Jersey corporation, NJR Storage Holdings Company, a Delaware corporation, and any other future midstream asset project Subsidiaries of the Borrower or of NJR Energy Holdings Corporation, NJR Storage Holdings Company and their respective Subsidiaries.
Property shall mean all real property, both owned and leased, of any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party.
Purchase Money Security Interest shall mean Liens upon tangible personal property securing loans to any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party or deferred payments by such Loan Party or Subsidiary for the purchase of such tangible personal property.
Purchasing Lender shall mean a Lender which becomes a party to this Agreement by executing an Assignment and Assumption Agreement.
Quarterly Financial Statements shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.8.1 [Historical Statements].
Ratable Share shall mean the proportion that a Lender’s Commitment bears to the Commitments of all of the Lenders, provided that in the case of Section 2.12 [Defaulting Lenders] when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Ratable Share” shall mean the percentage of the aggregate Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment.  If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Ratable Share shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.

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Recipient shall mean (i) the Agent and (ii) any Lender, as applicable.
Regulated Entity shall mean any Person which is subject under Law to any of the laws, rules or regulations respecting the financial, organizational or rate regulation of electric companies, public utilities, or public utility holding companies.
Regulated Substances shall mean, without limitation, any substance, material or waste, regardless of its form or nature, defined under Environmental Laws as a “hazardous substance,” “pollutant,” “pollution,” “contaminant,” “hazardous or toxic substance,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “toxic chemical,” “toxic substance,” “toxic waste,” “hazardous waste,” “special handling waste,” “industrial waste,” “residual waste,” “solid waste,” “municipal waste,” “mixed waste,” “infectious waste,” “chemotherapeutic waste,” “medical waste,” or “regulated substance” or any other substance, material or waste, regardless of its form or nature, which is regulated, controlled or governed by Environmental Laws due to its radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive, explosive, toxic, carcinogenic or infectious properties or nature or any other material, substance or waste, regardless of its form or nature, which otherwise is regulated, controlled or governed by Environmental Laws, including without limitation, petroleum and petroleum products (including crude oil and any fractions thereof), natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures thereof, asbestos, urea formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenlys, mercury, radon and radioactive materials.
Regulation U shall mean Regulation U, T, or X as promulgated by the Board, as amended from time to time.
Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
Remedial Action shall mean any investigation, identification, characterization, delineation, cleanup, removal, remediation, containment, control or abatement of or other response actions to Regulated Substances and any closure or post-closure measures associated therewith.
Reportable Event shall mean a reportable event described in Section 4043 of ERISA and regulations thereunder with respect to a Plan, Multiple Employer Plan which is covered under Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 or 430 of the Internal Revenue Code, or Multiemployer Plan.
Required Lenders shall mean:
(a)    If there exists fewer than three (3) Lenders, all Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender), and
(b)    If there exist three (3) or more Lenders, Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender) having 51% or more of the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders (excluding any Defaulting Lender) or, after the termination of the Commitments, the outstanding portion of the Term Loan (excluding any Defaulting Lender).
Sanctioned Country means a country or territory which is at any time subject to Sanctions.

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Sanction means:
(a)    economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government and administered by OFAC, (ii) the United Nations Security Council, (iii) the European Union or (iv) Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom; and
(b)    economic or financial sanctions imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Sanctions List means any of the lists of specifically designated nationals or designated persons or entities (or equivalent) held by the U.S. government and administered by OFAC, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the United Nations Security Council or any similar list maintained by the European Union, any other EU Member State or any other U.S. government entity, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time.
SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental agencies substituted therefor.
SEC Filings shall mean, as of the Closing Date, the Borrower’s Form 10-K, filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 and its Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, and after the Closing Date as of any date, the Borrower’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC for its most recently ended fiscal year and its Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC for the fiscal quarters ending after such most recently ended fiscal year through such date.
Significant Subsidiary shall mean, New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR Energy Services Company, or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which at any time (i) has gross revenues equal to or in excess of five percent (5%) of the gross revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, or (ii) has total assets equal to or in excess of five percent (5%) of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, in either case, as determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP.
Solvent shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (i) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities as they mature in the normal course of business, and (ii) such Person has not incurred debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature.
Specified Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
Standard & Poor’s shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and its successors.
Subsidiary of any Person at any time shall mean (i) any corporation or trust of which more than 50% (by number of shares or number of votes) of the outstanding capital stock or shares of beneficial interest normally entitled to vote for the election of one or more directors or trustees (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) is at such time owned directly or indirectly by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries, (ii) any partnership of which such Person is a general partner or of which more than 50% of the partnership interests is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries, (iii) any limited liability company of 

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which such Person is a member or of which more than 50% of the limited liability company interests is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries or (iv) any corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity which is controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries.
Subsidiary Shares shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.2 [Subsidiaries].
Synthetic Lease shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.2.14 [Off-Balance Sheet Financing].
Taxes shall mean all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Official Body, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Term Loan shall mean the Term Loan made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.1 [Term Loan].  
Transferor Lender shall mean the selling Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement.
Unregulated Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than New Jersey Natural Gas.
USA Patriot Act shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107‐56, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
U.S. Person shall mean any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.8.6 [Status of Lenders].
Website Posting shall mean assigned to such term in Section 11.6 [Notices; Lending Offices].
Withholding Agent shall mean any Loan Party and the Agent.
1.2.    Construction.
Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires, the following rules of construction shall apply to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents:
1.2.1.    Number; Inclusion.
References to the plural include the singular, the plural, the part and the whole; “or” has the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or” and “including” has the meaning represented by the phrase “including without limitation”;
1.2.2.    Determination.

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References to “determination” of or by the Agent or the Lenders shall be deemed to include good-faith estimates by the Agent or the Lenders (in the case of quantitative determinations) and good-faith beliefs by the Agent or the Lenders (in the case of qualitative determinations) and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error;
1.2.3.    Agent’s Discretion and Consent.
Whenever the Agent or the Lenders are granted the right herein to act in its or their sole discretion or to grant or withhold consent such right shall be exercised in good faith;
1.2.4.    Documents Taken as a Whole.
The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereto,” and similar terms in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement or such other Loan Document;
1.2.5.    Headings.
The section and other headings contained in this Agreement or such other Loan Document and the Table of Contents (if any), preceding this Agreement or such other Loan Document are for reference purposes only and shall not control or affect the construction of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or the interpretation thereof in any respect;
1.2.6.    Implied References to this Agreement.
Article, section, subsection, clause, schedule and exhibit references are to this Agreement or other Loan Document, as the case may be, unless otherwise specified;
1.2.7.    Persons.
Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the case may be, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity;
1.2.8.    Modifications to Documents.
Reference to any agreement (including this Agreement and any other Loan Document together with the schedules and exhibits hereto or thereto), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, modified, replaced, substituted for, superseded or restated;
1.2.9.    From, To and Through.
Relative to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including,” “to” means “to but excluding,” and “through” means “through and including”; and
1.2.10.    Shall; Will.
References to “shall” and “will” are intended to have the same meaning.

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1.3.    Accounting Principles.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation where appropriate), and all accounting or financial terms shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms by GAAP; provided, however, that all accounting terms used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] (and all defined terms used in the definition of any accounting term used in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants]) shall have the meaning given to such terms (and defined terms) under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof applied on a basis consistent with those used in preparing the Annual Statements referred to in Section 6.1.8.1 [Historical Statements].  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower notifies the Agent in writing that the Borrower wishes to amend any financial covenant in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] of this Agreement, any related definition and/or the definition of the term Leverage Ratio for purposes of interest determinations to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP occurring after the Closing Date on the operation of such financial covenants and/or interest determinations (or if the Agent notifies the Borrower in writing that the Required Lenders wish to amend any financial covenant in Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants], any related definition and/or the definition of the term Leverage Ratio for purposes of interest determinations to eliminate the effect of any such change in GAAP), then the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratios or requirements to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders, such approval not to be unreasonably delayed); provided that, until so amended, the Borrower’s compliance with such covenants and/or the definition of the term Leverage Ratio for purposes of interest determinations shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenants or definitions are amended as contemplated above, and the Borrower shall provide to the Agent, when it delivers its financial statements pursuant to Section 8.3.1 [Quarterly Financial Statements] and Section 8.3.2 [Annual Financial Statements] of this Agreement, such reconciliation statements as shall be reasonably requested by the Agent.  Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.
2.    TERM LOAN
2.1.    Commitments..
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make the Term Loan in Dollars to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment.  Any amount borrowed under this Section 2.1.1 and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.  The outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan, together with accrued interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date.  Each Lender’s Commitment shall terminate immediately and without further action on the Closing Date after giving effect to the funding of such Lender’s Commitment on such date.

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2.2.    Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to the Term Loan.
Each Lender shall be obligated to participate in the request for the Term Loan pursuant to Section 2.4 [Term Loan Request] in accordance with its Ratable Share.  The aggregate amount of each Lender’s portion of the Term Loan outstanding hereunder to the Borrower at any time shall never exceed its Commitment.  The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several.  The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the Obligations of the Borrower to any other party nor shall any other party be liable for the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder.  
2.3.    [Reserved].
2.4.    Term Loan Request.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may request the Lenders to make the Term Loan or renew or convert the Interest Rate Option applicable to the Term Loan pursuant to Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], by delivering to the Agent, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York time, (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of the portion of the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies or the date of conversion to or the renewal of the LIBOR Rate Option for any such portion of the Term Loan; and (ii) one (1) Business Day prior to either the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of the portion of the Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies or the last day of the preceding Interest Period with respect to the conversion to the Base Rate Option for any such portion of the Term Loan, of a Loan Request therefor duly completed by an Authorized Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.4 or a Loan Request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex in the form of such Exhibit, it being understood that the Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation, provided such individual purports to be an Authorized Officer.  Each Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the proposed Borrowing Date; (ii) the aggregate amount of the proposed portion of the Term Loan comprising each Borrowing Tranche, the amount of which shall be in integral multiples of $1,000,000 and not less than $3,000,000 for each Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies and not less than the lesser of $1,000,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 or the maximum amount available for Borrowing Tranches to which the Base Rate Option applies; (iii) whether the LIBOR Rate Option or Base Rate Option shall apply to the portion of the Term Loan comprising the applicable Borrowing Tranche; and (iv) in the case of a Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, an appropriate Interest Period for the portion of the Term Loan comprising such Borrowing Tranche.
2.5.    [Reserved].
2.6.    Making the Term Loan; Presumptions by the Agent.  
2.6.1.    Making the Term Loan.  The Agent shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan Request for or with respect to the Term Loan pursuant to Section 2.4 [Term Loan Requests], notify the Lenders of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying:  (i) the proposed Borrowing Date and the time and method of disbursement of the Term Loan requested thereby; (ii) the amount and type of each portion of the Term Loan and the applicable Interest Period (if any); and (iii) the apportionment among the Lenders of the Term Loan as determined by the Agent in accordance with Section 2.2 [Nature of Lenders’ Obligations etc.].  Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of its portion of the Term Loan to the Agent such that the Agent is able to, and the Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose and subject to Section 7.1, fund the Term Loan to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 2:00 p.m., New York time, on the such Borrowing Date, provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Agent in a timely manner, the Agent may elect in its sole 

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discretion to fund with its own funds such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan on such Borrowing Date, and such Lender shall be subject to the repayment obligation in Section 2.6.2 [Presumptions by the Agent].
2.6.2.    Presumptions by the Agent.  Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of the Term Loan that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender’s share of the Term Loan, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.6.1 [Making the Term Loan] and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the Term Loan available to the Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the portion of the Term Loan under the Base Rate Option.  If such Lender pays its share of the Term Loan to the Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan.  Any prepayment by the Borrower that shall duplicate a payment by such Lender shall be promptly returned to the Borrower in immediately available funds or otherwise as shall be determined by the Borrower and Agent.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Agent.
2.7.    [Reserved].
2.8.    Use of Proceeds.
The proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the Borrower to refinance existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes (including Permitted Investments in any Loan Party or in any Project Subsidiary) of the Borrower and in accordance with Section 8.1.10 [Use of Proceeds].
2.9.    [Reserved].
2.10.    [Reserved].
2.11.    [Reserved].
2.12.    Defaulting Lenders.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Commitment and outstanding portion of the Term Loan of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers]); provided, that this Section 2.12 shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender to the extent provided in such Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers].
3.    Intentionally Omitted

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4.    INTEREST RATES
4.1.    Interest Rate Options.
The Borrower shall pay interest in respect of the outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan as selected by it from the Base Rate Option or LIBOR Rate Option set forth below applicable to the Term Loan, it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may select different Interest Rate Options and different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to portions of the Term Loan comprising different Borrowing Tranches and may convert to or renew one or more Interest Rate Options with respect to all or any portion of the Term Loan comprising any Borrowing Tranche, provided that there shall not be at any one time outstanding more than ten (10) Borrowing Tranches in the aggregate among all the portions of the Term Loan.  If at any time the designated rate applicable to any portion of the Term Loan made by any Lender exceeds such Lender’s highest lawful rate, the rate of interest on such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan shall be limited to such Lender’s highest lawful rate.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if an Event of Default or Potential Default exists and is continuing, the Borrower may not request, convert to, or renew the LIBOR Rate Option for any portion of the Term Loan and the Required Lenders may demand that all existing Borrowing Tranches bearing interest under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be converted immediately to the Base Rate Option, subject to the obligation of the Borrower to pay any indemnity under Section 5.6.5 [Indemnity] in connection with such conversion.
4.1.1.    Interest Rate Options.
The Borrower shall have the right to select from the following Interest Rate Options applicable to the Term Loan:
(i)    Base Rate Option:  A fluctuating rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate and/or the Applicable Margin; or
(ii)    LIBOR Rate Option:  A rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time as of the effective date of each change in the Applicable Margin.
4.1.2.    Rate Quotations.
The Borrower may call the Agent on or before the date on which a Loan Request is to be delivered to receive an indication of the interest rates then in effect, but it is acknowledged that such projection shall not be binding on the Agent or the Lenders nor affect the rate of interest which thereafter is actually in effect when the election is made.
4.1.3.    Change in Interest Rates.
If the Applicable Margin is increased or reduced with respect to any period for which the Borrower has already paid interest, the Agent shall recalculate the additional interest due from or to the Borrower and shall, within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower notifies the Agent of such increase or decrease, give the Borrower and the Lenders notice of such recalculation.

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4.1.3.1.    Any additional interest due from the Borrower shall be paid to the Agent for the account of the Lenders on the next date on which an interest or fee payment is due; provided, however, that if the Term Loan is due and payable, such additional interest shall be paid promptly after receipt of written request for payment from the Agent.
4.1.3.2.    Any interest refund due to the Borrower shall be credited against payments otherwise due from the Borrower on the next interest or fee payment due date or, if the Term Loan has been repaid and the Lenders are no longer committed to lend under this Agreement, the Lenders shall pay the Agent for the account of the Borrower such interest refund not later than five Business Days after written notice from the Agent to the Lenders.
4.2.    Interest Periods.
At any time when the Borrower shall select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option, the Borrower shall notify the Agent thereof by delivering a Loan Request at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such Interest Rate Option.  The notice shall specify an Interest Period during which such Interest Rate Option shall apply.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the following provisions shall apply to any selection of, renewal of, or conversion to a LIBOR Rate Option:
4.2.1.    Amount of Borrowing Tranche.
the amount of each Borrowing Tranche of any portion of the Term Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be in integral multiples of $1,000,000 and not less than $3,000,000; and
4.2.2.    Renewals.
in the case of the renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option at the end of an Interest Period, the first day of the new Interest Period shall be the last day of the preceding Interest Period, without duplication in payment of interest for such day.
4.3.    Interest After Default.
To the extent permitted by Law, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and until such time such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived at the discretion of the Agent or upon written demand of the Required Lenders to the Agent:
4.3.1.    Interest Rate.
the rate of interest for each Loan otherwise applicable pursuant to Section 4.1 [Interest Rate Options] shall be increased by 2.0% per annum; and
4.3.2.    Other Obligations.
each other Obligation hereunder if not paid when due shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the rate of interest applicable under the Base Rate Option plus an additional 2.0% per annum from the time such Obligation becomes due and payable and until it is paid in full.

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4.3.3.    Acknowledgment.
The Borrower acknowledges that the increase in rates referred to in this Section 4.3 [Interest After Default] reflects, among other things, the fact that such Loans or other amounts have become a substantially greater risk given their default status and that the Lenders are entitled to additional compensation for such risk; and all such interest shall be payable by Borrower upon demand by Agent.
4.4.    LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available.
4.4.1.    Unascertainable.
If on any date on which a LIBOR Rate would otherwise be determined with respect to a portion of the Term Loan, the Agent shall have determined that:
(i)    adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining such LIBOR Rate, or
(ii)    a contingency has occurred which materially and adversely affects the London interbank eurodollar market relating to the LIBOR Rate,
then the Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Agent’s and Lenders’ Rights].
4.4.2.    Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available.
If at any time any Lender shall have determined that:
(i)    the making, maintenance or funding of any portion of the Term Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies has been made unlawful or materially impracticable by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Law or any interpretation or application thereof by any Official Body or with any request or directive of any such Official Body (whether or not having the force of Law), or
(ii)    such LIBOR Rate Option will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of the establishment or maintenance of any portion of the Term Loan in a material respect, or
(iii)    after making all reasonable efforts, deposits of the relevant amount in Dollars for the relevant Interest Period for any portion of the Term Loan, or to banks generally, to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, respectively, are not available to such Lender with respect to such portion of the Term Loan, or to banks generally, in the interbank eurodollar market,
then the Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4.3 [Agent’s and Lenders’ Rights].
4.4.3.    Agent’s and Lenders’ Rights.
In the case of any event specified in Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] above, the Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders and the Borrower thereof, and in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] above, such Lender shall promptly so 

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notify the Agent and endorse a certificate to such notice as to the specific circumstances of such notice, and the Agent shall promptly send copies of such notice and certificate to the other Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice (which shall not be earlier than the date such notice is given), the obligation of (A) the Lenders, in the case of such notice given by the Agent, or (B) such Lender, in the case of such notice given by such Lender, to allow the Borrower to select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option shall be suspended until the Agent shall have later notified the Borrower, or such Lender shall have later notified the Agent, of the Agent’s or such Lender’s, as the case may be, determination that the circumstances giving rise to such previous determination no longer exist.  If at any time the Agent makes a determination under Section 4.4.1 [Unascertainable] and the Borrower has previously notified the Agent of its selection of, conversion to or renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option and such Interest Rate Option has not yet gone into effect, such notification shall be deemed to provide for the selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such applicable portion of the Term Loan if the Borrower has requested the LIBOR Rate Option.  If any Lender notifies the Agent of a determination under Section 4.4.2 [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], the Borrower shall, subject to the Borrower’s indemnification Obligations under Section 5.6.5 [Indemnity], as to any portion of the Term Loan of the Lender to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, on the date specified in such notice either (i) as applicable, convert such portion of the Term Loan to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such portion of the Term Loan, or (ii) prepay such portion of the Term Loan in accordance with Section 5.4.1 [Voluntary Prepayments].  Absent due notice from the Borrower of conversion or prepayment, such portion of the Term Loan shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such portion of the Term Loan upon such specified date.
4.5.    Selection of Interest Rate Options.
If the Borrower fails to select a new Interest Period to apply to any Borrowing Tranche of any portion of the Term Loan under the LIBOR Rate Option at the expiration of an existing Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing Tranche in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], the Borrower shall be deemed to have converted such Borrowing Tranche to the Base Rate Option, commencing upon the last day of the existing Interest Period.
5.    PAYMENTS
5.1.    Payments.
All payments and prepayments to be made in respect of principal, interest or other fees or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder shall be payable prior to 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the date when due without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, and without set-off, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue.  Such payments shall be made to the Agent at the Principal Office for the ratable accounts of the Lenders and in immediately available funds, and the Agent shall promptly distribute such amounts to the Lenders in immediately available funds, provided that in the event payments are received by 11:00 a.m., New York time, by the Agent and such payments are not distributed to the Lenders on the same day received by the Agent, the Agent shall pay the Lenders the Federal Funds Effective Rate, with respect to the amount of such payments for each day held by the Agent and not distributed to the Lenders.  The Agent’s and each Lender’s statement of account, ledger or other relevant record shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as the statement of the amount of principal of and interest on the Term Loan and other amounts owing under this Agreement and shall be deemed an “account stated.”

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5.2.    Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders; Sharing of Payments; Agent’s Presumptions.
The borrowing of the Term Loan shall be allocated to each Lender according to its Ratable Share and each selection of, conversion to or renewal of any Interest Rate Option applicable to any portion of the Term Loan and each payment or prepayment by the Borrower with respect to principal or interest on the Term Loan or other fees or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder to the Lenders with respect to the Term Loan shall (except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Agent’s and Lenders’ Rights] in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender] or Section 5.6 [Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances]) be made in proportion to the applicable portion of the Term Loan outstanding from each Lender.  
5.2.1.    Sharing of Payments by Lenders.
If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff, counterclaim or banker’s lien, by receipt of voluntary payment, by realization upon security, or by any other non-pro rata source, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its portion of the Term Loan or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its portion of the Term Loan and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than its Ratable Share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the application portion of the Term Loan and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective portions of the Term Loan and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i)    if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, together with interest or other amounts, if any, required by Law (including court order) to be paid by the Lender or the holder making such purchase; and
(ii)    the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of the Loan Documents or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its portion of the Term Loan to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
5.2.2.    Presumptions by the Agent.
Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment 

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to the Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
5.3.    Interest Payment Dates.
Interest on the portion of the Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the first day of each January, April, July and October after the date hereof and on the Maturity Date or upon acceleration of the Loans.  Interest on portion of the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period for those portions of the Term Loan and, if such Interest Period is longer than three (3) Months, also on the 90th day of such Interest Period, and on the Maturity Date or upon acceleration of the Term Loan.  Interest payable under Section 4.3 [Interest After Default] shall be payable on demand.
5.4.    Prepayments.
5.4.1.    Voluntary Prepayments.
The Borrower shall have the right at its option from time to time to prepay the Term Loan in whole or part without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender] below or in Section 5.6 [Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances]) at any time including, without limitation, on the date specified in a notice by any Lender pursuant to Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable, Etc.] with respect to any portion of the Term Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies.
Whenever the Borrower desires to prepay any part of the Term Loan, it shall provide a prepayment notice to the Agent by 1:00 p.m., New York time, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date of prepayment of  such portion of the Term Loan setting forth the following information:
(x)    the date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the proposed prepayment is to be made;
(y)    the total principal amount of such prepayment which, with respect to the portion of the Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies, shall not be less than $500,000 unless such repayment is of the total amount of such portion of the Term Loan outstanding, and
(z)    the total principal amount of such prepayment, which, with respect to the portion of the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, shall not be less than $1,000,000 unless such repayment is of the total amount of such portion of the Term Loan outstanding.
All prepayment notices shall be irrevocable.  The principal amount of the portion of the Term Loan for which a prepayment notice is given, together with interest on such principal amount except with respect to any portion of the Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies, shall be due and payable on the date specified in such prepayment notice as the date on which the proposed prepayment is to be made.  Except as provided in Section 4.4.3 [Agent’s and Lenders’ Rights], if the Borrower prepays a portion of the Term Loan but fails to specify the applicable Borrowing Tranche which the Borrower is prepaying, the prepayment shall be applied first to the portion of the Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies, and then to the portion of the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies.  Any prepayment hereunder shall be subject to the Borrower’s Obligation to indemnify the Lenders under Section 5.6.5 [Indemnity].

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5.4.2.    Replacement of a Lender.
In the event any Lender (a) gives notice under Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], (b) requests compensation under Section 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or requires the Borrower to pay or withhold any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.8 [Taxes], (c) is a Defaulting Lender or (d) is a Non-Consenting Lender referred to in Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], then in any such event the Borrower may, at its sole expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.11 [Successors and Assigns]), all of its interests, rights (other than existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or 5.8 [Taxes]) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(i)    the Borrower shall have paid to the Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.11 [Successors and Assigns];
(ii)    such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its portion of the Term Loan, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.6.5 [Indemnity]) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii)    in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.8 [Taxes], such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(iv)    such assignment does not conflict with applicable Law.  A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.  
5.4.3.    Change of Lending Office.
If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or Section 4.4.2 [Illegality, Etc.], or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.8 [Taxes], the such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its portion of the Term Loan hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to such Sections, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation.
5.5.    [Reserved].

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5.6.    Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances.
5.6.1.    Increased Costs Generally.
If any Change in Law shall:
(i)    impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate);
(ii)    subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii)    impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or portion of the Term Loan made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any portion of the Term Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
5.6.2.    Capital Requirements.
Without duplication, if any Change in Law affecting any Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the portion of the Term Loan made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
5.6.3.    Certificates for Reimbursement; Repayment of Outstanding Loans; Borrowing of New Loans.
A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company as specified in Section 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or 5.6.2 [Capital Requirements] and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.

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5.6.4.    Delay in Requests.
Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
5.6.5.    Indemnity.
The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against all direct liabilities, losses, costs or expenses (including any loss or expense incurred in connection with the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract but excluding Taxes, which are governed by Section 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or Section 5.8 [Taxes]) which such Lender actually sustains or incurs as a consequence of any:
(a)    payment, prepayment, conversion or renewal of any portion of the Term Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies on a day other than the last day of the corresponding Interest Period (whether or not such payment or prepayment is mandatory, voluntary or automatic and whether or not such payment or prepayment is then due),
(b)    attempt by the Borrower to revoke (expressly, by later inconsistent notices or otherwise) in whole or part any Loan Requests under Section 2.4 [Term Loan Request] or Section 4.2 [Interest Periods] or notice relating to voluntary prepayments under Section 5.4.1 [Voluntary Prepayments],
(c)    default by the Borrower in the performance or observance of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including any failure of the Borrower to pay when due (by acceleration or otherwise) any principal of or interest on the Term Loan or any other amount due hereunder, or
(d)    the assignment of any portion of the Term Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, as a result of the Borrower’s exercise of its rights to replace a Lender under Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender].
If any Lender sustains or incurs any such loss or expense, it shall from time to time notify the Borrower of the amount determined in good faith by such Lender (which determination may include such assumptions, allocations of costs and expenses and averaging or attribution methods as such Lender shall deem reasonable) to be necessary to indemnify such Lender for such loss or expense.  Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such determination.  Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to such Lender thirty (30) days after such notice is given.
5.7.    Interbank Market Presumption.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, for all purposes of this Agreement and each Note with respect to any aspects of the LIBOR Rate or any portion of the Term Loan under the LIBOR Rate Option, each Lender and Agent shall be presumed to have obtained rates, funding, currencies, deposits, and 

33

the like in the London interbank market regardless whether it did so or not; and, each Lender’s and the Agent’s determination of amounts payable under, and actions required or authorized by, Sections 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] and 5.6 [Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances] shall be calculated, at each Lender’s and Agent’s option, as though each Lender and Agent funded its pro rata share of each Borrowing Tranche of a portion of the Term Loan under the LIBOR Rate Option through the purchase of deposits of the types and maturities corresponding to the deposits used as a reference in accordance with the terms hereof in determining the LIBOR Rate applicable to such portion of the Term Loan, whether in fact that is the case.
5.8.    Taxes.
For purposes of this Section 5.8, “applicable Law” includes FACTA.  Each reference to an IRS form in this Section 5.8 shall include any successors and amendments thereto.
5.8.1.    Payments Free of Taxes.
Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Law.  If any applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.8 [Taxes]) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
5.8.2.    Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties.
Without limiting the provisions of Section 5.8.1 [Payments Free of Taxes] above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
5.8.3.    Indemnification by the Loan Parties.
The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.8 [Taxes]) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Agent), or by the Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
5.8.4.    Indemnification by the Lenders.
Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of any 

34

of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.11.4 [Participations] relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Agent under this Section 5.8.4 [Indemnification by the Lenders].
5.8.5.    Evidence of Payments.
Within thirty (30) days after the date of any such payment, by any Loan Party to an Official Body pursuant to this Section 5.8 [Taxes], such Loan Party shall deliver to the Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Official Body evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
5.8.6.    Status of Lenders.
(i)    Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.8.6(ii)(1), (ii)(2) and (ii)(4) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower,
(1)    any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(2)    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
a.    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or 

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reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
b.    executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;
c.    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.8.6(A) to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or
d.    to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.8.6(B) or Exhibit 5.8.6(C), IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.8.6(D) on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(3)    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(4)    if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (4), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

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5.8.7.    Treatment of Certain Refunds.
If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.8 [Taxes] (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.8 [Taxes]), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 5.8 [Taxes] with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party incurred in connection with obtaining such refund and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Official Body with respect to such refund).  Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 5.8.7 (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Official Body) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Official Body.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.8.7), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 5.8.7 the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
5.8.8.    Survival.
Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.8 [Taxes] shall survive the resignation of the Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations.
5.9.    Notes.
Upon the request of any Lender, the portion of the Term Loan made by such Lender may be evidenced by a Note in the form of Exhibit 1.1(R).
6.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
6.1.    Representations and Warranties.
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Agent and each of the Lenders as follows:
6.1.1.    Organization and Qualification.
Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary that is not an Inactive Subsidiary of each Loan Party is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary that is not an Inactive Subsidiary of each Loan Party has the lawful power to own or lease its properties and to engage in the business it presently conducts or proposes to conduct.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary that is not an Inactive Subsidiary of each Loan Party is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction where the failure to be so licensed or qualified could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

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6.1.2.    Subsidiaries.
Schedule 6.1.2 states as of the date hereof the name of each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, its authorized capital stock, the issued and outstanding shares (referred to herein as the “Subsidiary Shares”) and the owners thereof if it is a corporation, its outstanding partnership interests (the “Partnership Interests”) if it is a partnership and its outstanding limited liability company interests, interests assigned to managers thereof and the voting rights associated therewith (the “LLC Interests”) if it is a limited liability company and also indicates if such Subsidiary is an Inactive Subsidiary.  An “Inactive Subsidiary” is a Subsidiary that (i) does not conduct any business or have operations, (ii) does not have total assets with a net book value, as of any date of determination, in excess of $100,000, and (iii) has no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, except Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.2.1 [Indebtedness].  The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title to all of the Subsidiary Shares, Partnership Interests and LLC Interests it purports to own, free and clear in each case of any Lien.  All Subsidiary Shares, Partnership Interests and LLC Interests have been validly issued, and all Subsidiary Shares are fully paid and nonassessable.  All capital contributions and other consideration required to be made or paid in connection with the issuance of the Partnership Interests and LLC Interests have been made or paid, as the case may be.  There are no options, warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any such Subsidiary Shares, Partnership Interests or LLC Interests except as indicated on Schedule 6.1.2.
6.1.3.    Power and Authority.
Each Loan Party has full power to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, to incur the Indebtedness contemplated by the Loan Documents and to perform its Obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary proceedings on its part.
6.1.4.    Validity and Binding Effect.
This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each Loan Party, and each other Loan Document which any Loan Party is required to execute and deliver on or after the date hereof will have been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party on the required date of delivery of such Loan Document.  This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes, or will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Loan Party which is or will be a party thereto on and after its date of delivery thereof, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability of any of such Loan Document may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or limiting the right of specific performance.
6.1.5.    No Conflict.
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by any Loan Party nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by any of them will conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (i) the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of any Loan Party or (ii) any Law or any material agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which it is subject, or result in the creation or enforcement 

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of any Lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any property (now or hereafter acquired) of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Liens granted under the Loan Documents).
6.1.6.    Litigation.
Except as set forth in the SEC Filings, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations (other than Environmental Complaints which are specifically addressed in Section 6.1.21 [Environmental Matters]) pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against such Loan Party or any Subsidiary of such Loan Party at law or equity before any Governmental Body which individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is in violation of any order, writ, injunction or any decree of any Governmental Body which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change.
6.1.7.    Title to Properties.
Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party has good and marketable title to or valid leasehold interest in all properties, assets and other rights which it purports to own or lease or which are reflected as owned or leased on its books and records, free and clear of all Liens (other than Environmental Complaints which are specifically addressed in Section 6.1.21 [Environmental Matters]) except Permitted Liens, and subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable leases, except where the failure to hold such properties, assets and other rights subject to such terms and conditions could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  All leases of property are in full force and effect without the necessity for any consent which has not previously been obtained upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to the extent that the failure of such leases to be in full force or effect or have obtained any such consent could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.8.    Historical Statements; No Material Adverse Change.
6.1.8.1.    Historical Statements.
(a)    The Borrower has delivered to the Agent copies of its audited consolidated year-end financial statements for and as of the end of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (the “Audited Financial Statements”) and its unaudited management-prepared consolidated financial statements for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013 (the “Quarterly Financial Statements” and, together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Historical Statements”).
(b)    The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their consolidated results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness, required to be reflected on the Audited Financial Statements under GAAP.
(c)    The Quarterly Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its 

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Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their consolidated results of operations for the period covered thereby, in each case, subject to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
6.1.8.2.    No Material Adverse Change.
Since September 30, 2012, no Material Adverse Change has occurred.
6.1.9.    Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock.
6.1.9.1.    General.
The Loan Parties intend to use the proceeds of the Term Loan in accordance with Sections 2.8 [Use of Proceeds] and 8.1.10 [Use of Proceeds].
6.1.9.2.    Margin Stock.
None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party engages or intends to engage principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U).  No part of the proceeds of the Term Loan has been or will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or to refund Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or for any purpose which entails a violation of or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.  None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party holds or intends to hold margin stock in such amounts that more than 25% of the reasonable value of the assets of any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party is or will be represented by margin stock.
6.1.10.    Full Disclosure.
Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, nor any certificate, statement, agreement or other documents furnished to the Agent or any Lender in connection herewith or therewith, when taken together with the information contained in the SEC Filings, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.  
6.1.11.    Taxes.
All federal, state, local and other Tax returns required to have been filed with respect to each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party have been filed, and payment or adequate provision has been made for the payment of all Taxes which have or may become due pursuant to said returns or to assessments received, except to the extent that (i) such Taxes are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which such reserves or other appropriate provisions if any, as shall be required by GAAP, shall have been made, or (ii) the failure to so pay or so contest such Taxes could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.12.    Consents and Approvals.
No consent, approval, exemption, order or authorization of, or a registration or filing with, any Official Body or any other Person is required by any Law or any agreement in connection with 

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the execution, delivery and carrying out of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by any Loan Party, except as listed on Schedule 6.1.12, all of which shall have been obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date except as otherwise indicated on Schedule 6.1.12.
6.1.13.    No Event of Default; Compliance With Instruments.
No event has occurred and is continuing and no condition exists or will exist after giving effect to the borrowings or other extensions of credit to be made on the Closing Date under or pursuant to the Loan Documents which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Default.  None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is in violation of (i) any term of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents or (ii) any material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be subject or bound where such violation could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.14.    Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc.
Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party owns or has the contractual right to use all the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, registrations, franchises, permits and rights reasonably necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted and planned to be conducted by such Loan Party or Subsidiary, without known possible, alleged or actual conflict with the rights of others, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.15.    Insurance.
The Borrower is in compliance with the requirements of Section 8.1.3 [Maintenance of Insurance] in all material respects.
6.1.16.    Compliance With Laws.
The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws (other than Environmental Laws which are specifically addressed in Section 6.1.21 [Environmental Matters]) in all jurisdictions in which any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party is presently or will be doing business except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.17.    Material Contracts; Burdensome Restrictions.
All material contracts relating to the business operations of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party, including all employee benefit plans and material Labor Contracts, are valid, binding and enforceable upon such Loan Party or Subsidiary and, to the best of such Loan Parties’ knowledge, each of the other parties thereto in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that the failure to be valid, binding and enforceable could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and there is no material default thereunder, to the Loan Parties’ knowledge, with respect to parties other than such Loan Party or Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  None of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries is bound by any contractual obligation, or subject to any restriction in any organization document, or any requirement of Law which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

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6.1.18.    Investment Companies; Regulated Entities.
None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under the “control” of an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and shall not become such an “investment company” or under such “control”.  None of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is subject to any other federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness for borrowed money.
6.1.19.    Plans and Benefit Arrangements.
(i)    The Borrower and each other member of the ERISA Group are in compliance with any applicable provisions of ERISA with respect to all Benefit Arrangements, Plans, Multiple Employer Plans and Multiemployer Plans except where any instance of noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  There has been no Prohibited Transaction with respect to any Benefit Arrangement or any Plan or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  The Borrower and all other members of the ERISA Group have made when due any and all material payments required to be made under any agreement relating to a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan or any Law pertaining thereto except for any failure that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  With respect to each Plan and Multiple Employer Plan, the Borrower and each other member of the ERISA Group (a) have fulfilled in all material respects their obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA, (b) have not incurred any material liability to the PBGC which has not been paid in the ordinary course, and (c) have not had asserted against them any penalty for failure to fulfill the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, except for any failure under (a), (b) or (c) that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  All Plans, Benefit Arrangements and, to the best knowledge of Borrower, Multiple Employer Plans and Multiemployer Plans have been administered in all material respects in accordance with their terms and applicable Law except for any failure that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ii)    No event requiring notice to the PBGC under Section 303(k)(4)(A) of ERISA has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan except for any failure that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(iii)    Neither the Borrower nor any other member of the ERISA Group has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  Neither the Borrower nor any other member of the ERISA Group has been notified by any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan has been terminated within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, no Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan is reasonably expected to be reorganized or terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.20.    Employment Matters.
Each of the Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries is in compliance with the Labor Contracts and all applicable federal, state and local labor and employment Laws including those related to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, labor relations, minimum wage, overtime, child labor, medical insurance continuation, worker adjustment and relocation notices, immigration controls and 

42

worker and unemployment compensation, where the failure to comply could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  There are no outstanding grievances, arbitration awards or appeals therefrom arising out of the Labor Contracts or current or threatened strikes, picketing, handbilling or other work stoppages or slowdowns at facilities of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries which in any case could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.21.    Environmental Matters.
Except as set forth in the SEC Filings, none of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiaries of any Loan Party has received any Environmental Complaint which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  There are no pending or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened Environmental Complaints relating to any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any of the Properties or, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, any prior owner, operator or occupant of any of the Properties pertaining to, or arising out of, any Contamination or violations of Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws in all jurisdictions in which any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party is doing business except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries hold and are operating in compliance with Environmental Permits, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.1.22.    Senior Debt Status.
The Obligations of each Loan Party under this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party do rank and will rank at least pari passu in priority of payment with all other Indebtedness of such Loan Party except Indebtedness of such Loan Party to the extent secured by Permitted Liens.  There is no Lien upon or with respect to any of the properties or income of any Loan Party or Unregulated Subsidiary of any Loan Party which secures indebtedness or other obligations of any Person except for Permitted Liens.
6.1.23.    Reserved.
6.1.24.    Permitted Related Business Opportunities.
The information set forth on Schedule 6.1.24 is true, complete and correct in all material respects and sets forth a list of the Investments in Permitted Related Business Opportunities by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and includes, without limitation, the amount and nature of each such Investment, a description of the activities engaged in by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in connection with such Investment, and a description of the activities engaged in by the Person in which the Investment has been made.
6.1.25.    Sanctions Laws and Regulations.  The Borrower represents that:
6.1.25.1.    The Borrower, its Subsidiaries and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents acting on behalf of or benefiting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement have conducted their business in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change, and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

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6.1.25.2.    None the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement (i) is a Designated Person; (ii) is a Person that is owned or controlled by a Designated Person; (iii) is located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country; or (iv) has directly or indirectly engaged in, or is now directly or indirectly engaged in, any dealings or transactions (1) with any Designated Person, (2) in any Sanctioned Country, or (3) otherwise in violation of Sanctions.
7.    CONDITIONS OF LENDING
The obligation of each Lender to make the Term Loan hereunder is subject to the performance by each of the Loan Parties of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of the Term Loan to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:
7.1.    Conditions to the Term Loan.
On the Closing Date:
7.1.1.    Officer’s Certificate.
The representations and warranties of each of the Loan Parties contained in Section 6 [Representations and Warranties] and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be true and accurate on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (except representations and warranties which relate solely to an earlier date or time, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct on and as of the specific dates or times referred to therein), and each of the Loan Parties shall have performed and complied with all covenants and conditions hereof and thereof required to have been performed and complied with on or prior to the Closing Date, no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist; and there shall be delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender a certificate of each of the Loan Parties, dated the Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or other Authorized Officer of each of the Loan Parties, to each such effect.
7.1.2.    Secretary’s Certificate.
There shall be delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each of the Loan Parties, certifying as appropriate as to:
(i)    all action taken by each Loan Party in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(ii)    the names of the officer or officers authorized to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the true signatures of such officer or officers and specifying the Authorized Officers permitted to act on behalf of each Loan Party for purposes of this Agreement and the true signatures of such officers, on which the Agent and each Lender may conclusively rely; and
(iii)    copies of its organizational documents, including its certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, and limited liability company agreement as in effect on the Closing Date certified by the appropriate state official where such documents are filed in a state office together with certificates from the appropriate state officials 

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as to the continued existence and good standing of each Loan Party in each state where organized or qualified to do business.
7.1.3.    Opinion of Counsel.
There shall be delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender a written opinion of (a) Troutman Sanders LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties (who may rely on the opinions of such other counsel and Certificates of the Borrower’s in-house counsel as may be reasonably acceptable to the Agent), dated the Closing Date and in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7.1.3(A), and (b) Richard Reich, in-house counsel for the Loan Parties in his capacity as Assistant General Counsel of NJR Service Corporation, dated the Closing Date and in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7.1.3(B).
Legal Details.
All legal details and proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and counsel for the Agent, and the Agent shall have received all such other counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents and proceedings in connection with such transactions, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and said counsel, as the Agent or said counsel may reasonably request.  The Agent shall have received this Agreement executed by the Borrower and each Lender and the Notes executed by the Borrower, to the extent requested by any Lender.
7.1.4.    [Reserved].
7.1.5.    Consents.
The material consents, if any, required to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby as set forth on Schedule 6.1.12 shall have been obtained.
7.1.6.    Officer’s Certificate Regarding MACs.
Since September 30, 2012, no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred; since that date through and including the Closing Date, there shall have been no material change in the management of any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party; and there shall have been delivered to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or other Authorized Officer of each Loan Party to each such effect.
7.1.7.    No Violation of Laws.
The making of the Term Loan shall not contravene any Law applicable to any Loan Party or any of the Lenders.
7.1.8.    No Actions or Proceedings.
No action, proceeding, investigation, regulation or legislation shall have been instituted, threatened or proposed before any court, governmental agency or legislative body to enjoin, restrain or prohibit, or to obtain damages in respect of, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or which, in the Agent’s sole discretion, would make it inadvisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

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7.1.9.    Delivery of Guaranty Agreement.
The Guaranty Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders.
7.1.10.    Hedging Contract Policies.
The Loan Parties shall have delivered to the Agent and each Lender a true and complete copy of the Hedging Contract Policies, and the Hedging Contract Policies shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to each Lender.
8.    COVENANTS
8.1.    Affirmative Covenants.
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that until payment in full of the Term Loan and interest thereon, satisfaction of all of the Loan Parties’ other Obligations under the Loan Documents and termination of the Commitments, the Loan Parties shall comply at all times with the following affirmative covenants:
8.1.1.    Preservation of Existence, Etc.
Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) maintain its legal existence as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company and (b) its license or qualification and good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification necessary, except (i) where the lack of legal existence of any Subsidiary or the failure to be so licensed or qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change, or (ii) as otherwise expressly permitted in Section 8.2.5 [Liquidations, Mergers, Etc.].
8.1.2.    Payment of Liabilities, Including Taxes, Etc.
Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, duly pay and discharge all liabilities to which it is subject or which are asserted against it, promptly as and when the same shall become due and payable, including all Taxes upon it or any of its properties, assets, income or profits, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except to the extent that such Taxes are being contested in good faith and by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted and for which such reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made, but only to the extent that failure to discharge any such liabilities would not result in any additional liability which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.1.3.    Maintenance of Insurance.
Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, insure its properties and assets against loss or damage by fire and such other insurable hazards as such assets are commonly insured (including fire, extended coverage, property damage, workers’ compensation, public liability and business interruption insurance) and against other risks (including errors and omissions) in such amounts as similar properties and assets are insured by prudent companies in similar circumstances carrying on similar businesses, and with reputable and financially sound insurers, including self-insurance to the extent customary.

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8.1.4.    Maintenance of Properties and Leases.
Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) in accordance with the general practice of other businesses of similar character and size, all of those properties useful or necessary to its business, and from time to time, such Loan Party will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or replacements thereof.
8.1.5.    Maintenance of Patents, Trademarks, Etc.
Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain in full force and effect all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, franchises, permits and other authorizations necessary for the ownership and operation of its properties and business if the failure so to maintain the same could constitute a Material Adverse Change.
8.1.6.    Visitation Rights.
Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any of the officers or authorized employees or representatives of the Agent or any of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties and to examine and make excerpts from its books and records and discuss its business affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all in such detail and at such times and as often as any of the Lenders may reasonably request, provided that each Lender shall provide the Borrower and the Agent with reasonable notice prior to any visit or inspection, and, except after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, any such visit or inspection shall occur during regular business hours.  In the event any Lender desires to conduct an audit of any Loan Party, such Lender shall make a reasonable effort to conduct such audit contemporaneously with any audit to be performed by the Agent, and except after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, any such audit (whether by the Agent or any Lender) shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be.
8.1.7.    Keeping of Records and Books of Account.
The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower to, maintain and keep proper books of record and account which enable the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to issue financial statements in accordance with GAAP and as otherwise required by applicable Laws of any Official Body having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, and in which full, true and correct entries shall be made in all material respects of all its dealings and business and financial affairs.
8.1.8.    Plans and Benefit Arrangements.
The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and each other member of the ERISA Group to, comply with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable Laws applicable to Plans and Benefit Arrangements except where such failure, alone or in conjunction with any other failure, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower shall cause all of its Plans and all Plans maintained by any of its Subsidiaries and any member of the ERISA Group to be funded in accordance with the minimum funding requirements of ERISA and shall make, and cause each member of the ERISA Group to make, in a timely manner, all contributions due to Plans, Benefit Arrangements and Multiemployer Plans, except where any such failure, alone or in conjunction with any other failure, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

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8.1.9.    Compliance With Laws.
Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable Laws, including all Environmental Laws, in all material respects, provided that it shall not be deemed to be a violation of this Section 8.1.9 if any failure to comply with any Law would not result in fines, penalties, costs associated with the performance of any Remedial Actions, other similar liabilities or injunctive relief which in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, obtain, maintain, renew and comply with all Environmental Permits applicable to their respective operations and activities, provided that it shall not be deemed to be a violation of this Section 8.1.9 if any failure to do so would not result in cease and desist orders or fines, penalties or other similar liabilities or injunctive relief which in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.1.10.    Use of Proceeds.
The Loan Parties will use the proceeds of the Term Loan only for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and for working capital of the Borrower (including, without limitation refinancing existing indebtedness).  The Loan Parties shall not use the proceeds of the Term Loan for any purposes which contravenes any applicable Law (including, without limitation, any Anti-Corruption Law) or any provision hereof.
8.1.11.    Additional Financial Covenants.
In the event that the Borrower shall amend any of the NJR Revolving Credit Agreement or NJR Note Agreements, or shall enter into a new, similar agreement providing for the issuance of unsecured, privately placed notes, which include one or more financial covenants in addition to those contained in the NJR Revolving Credit Agreement or NJR Note Agreements on the date hereof, then the Borrower shall offer to the Lenders to amend this Agreement to include such additional financial covenant or financial covenants in this Agreement pursuant to an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower.  In such event, the Borrower promptly, upon acceptance of any offer referred to in the preceding sentence, shall execute and deliver at its expense an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower evidencing the amendment of this Agreement to include such additional financial covenant or financial covenants (any such additional financial covenant so included in this Agreement being called an “Incorporated Covenant”).  In the event that at any time and from time to time after the execution of such an amendment with respect to any Incorporated Covenant, the NJR Revolving Credit Agreement, the applicable NJR Note Agreement or other similar agreement shall no longer include such Incorporated Covenant, then upon notice by the Borrower to the Agent, the Agent and the Lenders shall execute and deliver to the Borrower, at the Borrower’s expense, an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower evidencing the amendment of this Agreement to delete such Incorporated Covenant from this Agreement.
8.2.    Negative Covenants.
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that until payment in full of the Term Loan and interest thereon, satisfaction of all of the Loan Parties’ other Obligations hereunder and termination of the Commitments, the Loan Parties shall comply with the following negative covenants:

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8.2.1.    Indebtedness.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(i)    Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
(ii)    Existing Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 8.2.1 including any amendments, extensions, renewals or refinancings thereof, so long as at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 8.2.12 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] and no Event of Default would be caused thereby;
(iii)    Indebtedness of a Loan Party to another Loan Party;
(iv)    Indebtedness in respect of capitalized leases (including, without limitation, capitalized leases for metered assets) not to exceed at any time outstanding in the aggregate for the Loan Parties and their Unregulated Subsidiaries $60,000,000;
(v)    Indebtedness of NJR Energy Services Company arising under any Hedging Transaction;
(vi)    Indebtedness, at any time outstanding not to exceed $10,000,000, secured by Liens permitted by Section 8.2.2(i);
(vii)    Indebtedness, secured by Purchase Money Security Interests as permitted by clause (xi) of the definition of Permitted Liens, not to exceed at any time outstanding in the aggregate for the Loan Parties and their Unregulated Subsidiaries $20,000,000;
(viii)    Indebtedness not to exceed at any time outstanding in the aggregate for the Loan Parties and their Unregulated Subsidiaries $75,000,000, so long as such Indebtedness:  (a) is Indebtedness of an Acquired Person which existed prior to the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition in connection with which such Acquired Person was acquired by a Loan Party and such Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of or in connection with such Permitted Acquisition; and (b) if secured, is secured by Liens permitted by clause (xii) of the definition of Permitted Liens;
(ix)    The NJR Notes, including any amendments, extensions, renewals or refinancings thereof, so long as at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 8.2.12 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] and no Event of Default would be caused thereby;
(x)    Additional NJR Notes, in each case including any amendments, extensions, renewals or refinancings thereof, so long as at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 8.2.12 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] and no Event of Default would be caused thereby;
(xi)    Non-recourse Indebtedness of the Project Subsidiaries;
(xii)    Guaranties permitted by Section 8.2.3 [Guaranties]; 

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(xiii)    Indebtedness under the NJR Revolving Credit Agreement, including any amendments, extensions, renewals or refinancings thereof, so long as at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 8.2.12 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] and no Event of Default would be caused thereby; and
(xiv)    Additional Indebtedness of the Loan Parties incurred after the Closing Date, in each case including any amendments, extensions, renewals or refinancings thereof, so long as at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 8.2.12 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] both before and after such incurrence and no Event of Default may be caused thereby.
8.2.2.    Liens.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries (other than Project Subsidiaries) to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired, or agree or become liable to do so, except:
(i)    Permitted Liens; and
(ii)    Extensions or renewals of any Permitted Lien provided that the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Permitted Lien shall continue to be permitted by Section 8.2.1 [Indebtedness].
8.2.3.    Guaranties.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, at any time, directly or indirectly, become or be liable in respect of any Guaranty, or assume, guarantee, become surety for, endorse or otherwise agree, become or remain directly or contingently liable upon or with respect to any obligation or liability of any other Person, except for
(i)    Guaranties of Indebtedness of the Loan Parties permitted pursuant to Section 8.2.1 [Indebtedness]; provided however, that neither Indebtedness under the NJR Revolving Credit Agreement nor the NJR Notes shall be guaranteed by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party unless such Person is also a Guarantor;
(ii)    Guaranties of any Loan Party or any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries of obligations of NJR Energy Services Company arising under any Hedging Transaction; and
(iii)    Guaranties by the Borrower of various obligations of any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction arising in connection with its ordinary course of business as conducted on the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted to be conducted pursuant to Section 8.2.9 [Continuation of or Change in Business].
8.2.4.    Loans and Investments.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution 

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to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing (any of the foregoing being an “Investment”), except:
(i)    trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business;
(ii)    advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business;
(iii)    Permitted Investments;
(iv)    loans, advances and investments in other Loan Parties and in the Project Subsidiaries; and
(v)    any Investment which constitutes a Permitted Acquisition in accordance with Section 8.2.5 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions].
8.2.5.    Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any other Person, provided that:
(1)    any Loan Party other than the Borrower may consolidate or merge into another Loan Party which is wholly-owned by one or more of the other Loan Parties,
(2)    any Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower may dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs or any Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower may consolidate or merge into:  (a) any other Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower, or (b) any Loan Party, other than the Borrower, and
(3)    any Loan Party may acquire, whether by purchase or by merger, (A) all of the ownership interests of another Person or (B) substantially all of assets of another Person or of a business or division of another Person (each a “Permitted Acquisition”), provided that each of the following requirements is met:
a.    if the Loan Parties are acquiring the ownership interests in such Person, such Person (other than Project Subsidiaries) shall execute a Guarantor Joinder and join this Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to and otherwise comply with Section 11.19 [Joinder of Guarantors] on or before the date of such Permitted Acquisition;
b.    the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person shall have approved such Permitted Acquisition and, if the Loan Parties shall use any portion of the Loans to fund such Permitted Acquisition, the Loan Parties also shall have delivered to the Lenders written evidence of the approval of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such Person for such Permitted Acquisition;
c.    the business acquired, or the business conducted by the Person whose ownership interests are being acquired, as applicable, shall be substantially the same 

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as one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Loan Parties or otherwise be compliant with Section 8.2.9 [Continuation of or Change in Business];
d.    no Potential Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition;
e.    the Borrower shall demonstrate that it shall be in compliance with the covenants contained in Section 8.2.12 [Maximum Leverage Ratio] after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (including in such computation Indebtedness or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition but excluding income earned or expenses incurred by the Person, business or assets to be acquired prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition) by delivering at least five (5) Business Days prior to such Permitted Acquisition a certificate in the form of Exhibit 8.2.5 (the “Acquisition Compliance Certificate”) evidencing such compliance; and
f.    the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Agent as soon as available prior to (if practicable), or in any event within five (5) Business Days after, the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition copies of any agreements entered into or proposed to be entered into by such Loan Parties in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and shall deliver to the Agent, as soon as available, such other information about such Person or its assets as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably require.
8.2.6.    Dispositions of Assets or Unregulated Subsidiaries.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, sell, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse or of capital stock, shares of beneficial interest, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of an Unregulated Subsidiary of such Loan Party), except:
(i)    transactions involving the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(ii)    any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are no longer necessary or required in the conduct of such Loan Party’s or such Unregulated Subsidiary’s business;
(iii)    any sale, transfer or lease of assets by any wholly owned Unregulated Subsidiary of such Loan Party to another Loan Party;
(iv)    any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are replaced by substitute assets acquired or leased;
(v)    the issuance of shares of capital stock of the Borrower, and the issuance of shares of capital stock of (a) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or (b) any Loan Party to another Loan Party;
(vi)    any sale, transfer or lease of assets or capital stock of any Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower;

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(vii)    any sale, transfer or lease of assets or capital stock of any Project Subsidiary; and
(viii)    any sale, transfer or lease of assets, other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (i) through (vii) above, by any Loan Party or any Unregulated Subsidiary of a Loan Party, provided that (i) at the time of any disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or shall result from such disposition, and (ii) the aggregate net book value of all assets so sold by the Loan Parties and their Unregulated Subsidiaries shall not exceed in any twelve (12) consecutive month period ten percent (10%) of the consolidated tangible assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
8.2.7.    Affiliate Transactions.
Except solely with respect to any Permitted Related Business Opportunities as previously disclosed to the Agent and each of the Lenders, each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, enter into or carry out any transaction (including purchasing property or services from or selling property or services to any Affiliate of any Loan Party or other Person) unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arm’s-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law.
8.2.8.    Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, own or create directly or indirectly any Subsidiaries other than (i) any Subsidiary which is a Regulated Entity, (ii) any Subsidiary which is an Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower, (iii) Conserve to Preserve Foundation, a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey, (iv) any Subsidiary which has joined this Agreement as Guarantor on the Closing Date, (v) any Project Subsidiary, and (vi) any Subsidiary formed after the Closing Date which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.19 [Joinder of Guarantors].  Each of the Loan Parties shall not become or agree to (1) become a general or limited partner in any general or limited partnership, except that the Loan Parties may be general or limited partners in other Loan Parties, (2) become a member or manager of, or hold a limited liability company interest in, a limited liability company, except that the Loan Parties may be members or managers of, or hold limited liability company interests in, other Loan Parties, or (3) become a joint venturer or hold a joint venture interest in any joint venture, except in each case in respect of a Permitted Related Business Opportunity.
8.2.9.    Continuation of or Change in Business.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Unregulated Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than the business of each Loan Party or Unregulated Subsidiary substantially as conducted and operated by such Loan Party or Unregulated Subsidiary during the present fiscal year, and any line of business or business activity related or complementary to the business of the Loan Parties conducted as of the Closing Date, including without limitation Permitted Related Business Opportunities.
8.2.10.    Plans and Benefit Arrangements.
Each of the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in a Prohibited Transaction with any Plan, Benefit Arrangement, Multiple Employer Plan or 

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Multiemployer Plan which, alone or in conjunction with any other circumstances or set of circumstances, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.2.11.    Fiscal Year.
The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Unregulated Subsidiary (other than Project Subsidiaries) of the Borrower to, change its fiscal year from the twelve-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 without the prior consent of the Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
8.2.12.    Maximum Leverage Ratio.
The Loan Parties shall not at any time permit the ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to Consolidated Total Capitalization to exceed 0.65 to 1.00.
8.2.13.    Payment of Dividends; Redemptions.
The Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any Unregulated Subsidiary to, declare or make any dividend payment or other distribution of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or securities on account of any shares of any class of capital stock of any Loan Party, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so) any shares of any class of capital stock or other securities of any Loan Party or any warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares or other securities, now or hereafter outstanding, except that (a) the Borrower may (i) declare and make any dividend payment or other distribution payable in common stock of the Borrower, (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its common stock or warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares so long as no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, and (iii) declare and make cash dividends, so long as, after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, and (b) that any (i) Unregulated Subsidiary of the Borrower may declare and make any dividend payment or other distribution to the Borrower or to any other Loan Party, and (ii) Project Subsidiary may declare and make any dividend payment or other distribution to any Person.
8.2.14.    Off-Balance Sheet Financing.
Each Loan Party and each Unregulated Subsidiary of each Loan Party shall not engage in any off-balance sheet transaction (i.e., the liabilities in respect of which do not appear on the liability side of the balance sheet, with such balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP) providing the functional equivalent of borrowed money (including asset securitizations, sale/leasebacks or Synthetic Leases (other than any sale/leaseback transaction or Synthetic Lease entered into, in either case, with respect to meter assets and which transaction is otherwise permitted by this Agreement)) with liabilities in excess, in the aggregate for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of any date of determination, of ten percent (10%) of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined and consolidated in accordance with GAAP as of the date of determination.  For purposes of this Section 8.2.14, (a) “Synthetic Lease” shall mean any lease transaction under which the parties intend that (i) the lease will be treated as an “operating lease” by the lessee pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13, as amended, or appropriate successor thereto, and (ii) the lessee will be entitled to various tax benefits ordinarily available to owners (as opposed to lessees) of like property and (b) the amount of any lease which is not a capital lease in accordance with GAAP is the aggregate amount of minimum lease payments due pursuant to such lease for any non-cancelable portion of its term.

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8.2.15.    Sanctions Laws and Regulations.
8.2.15.1.    The Borrower shall not, and shall ensure that none of its Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Term Loan (i) for any purpose which would breach the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions; (ii) to fund, finance or facilitate any activities, business or transaction of or with any Designated Person or in any Sanctioned Country, or otherwise in violation of Sanctions, as such Sanctions Lists or Sanctions are in effect from time to time; or (iii)  in any other manner that will result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions by any party to this Agreement.
8.2.15.2.    The Borrower shall not, and shall ensure that none of its Subsidiaries will, use funds or assets obtained directly or indirectly from transactions with or otherwise relating to (i) Designated Persons; or (ii) any Sanctioned Country, to pay or repay any amount owing to the Lenders under this Agreement.
8.2.15.3.    The Borrower shall, and shall ensure that all of its Subsidiaries will (i) conduct its business in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws; and (iii) have appropriate controls and safeguards in place designed to prevent any proceeds of the Term Loan from being used contrary to the representations and undertakings set forth herein.
8.2.15.4.    The Borrower shall, and shall ensure that each of its Subsidiaries will, comply in all material respects with all foreign and domestic laws, rules and regulations (including the Patriot Act, foreign exchange control regulations, foreign asset control regulations and other trade-related regulations) now or hereafter applicable to this Agreement, the transactions underlying this Agreement or the Borrower’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
8.3.    Reporting Requirements.
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that until payment in full of the Loans and interest thereon, satisfaction of all of the Loan Parties’ other Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and termination of the Commitments, the Loan Parties will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent and each of the Lenders:
8.3.1.    Quarterly Financial Statements.
As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year (or such earlier or later date, from time to time established by the SEC in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or within fifty (50) days in the event the Borrower shall file its Form 10-Q within the extension period pursuant to Rule 12b-25 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), financial statements of the Borrower, consisting of a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter and related consolidated and consolidating statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended and the fiscal year through that date, all in reasonable detail and certified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments) by the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and setting forth in comparative form the respective financial statements for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year.  The Loan Parties will be deemed to have complied with the delivery requirements of this Section 8.3.1 if within forty-five (45) days after the end of their fiscal quarter (or such earlier or later date, 

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from time to time established by the SEC in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or within fifty (50) days in the event the Borrower shall file its Form 10-Q within the extension period pursuant to Rule 12b-25 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2013), the Borrower delivers to the Agent and each of the Lenders a copy of its Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC and the financial statements contained therein meets the requirements described in this Section.
8.3.2.    Annual Financial Statements.
As soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or such earlier or later date, from time to time established by the SEC in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or within one hundred five (105) days in the event the Borrower shall file its Annual Report on Form 10-K within the extension period pursuant to Rule 12b-25 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), financial statements of the Borrower consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year, and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the financial statements as of the end of and for the preceding fiscal year, and certified by independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing satisfactory to the Agent.  The certificate or report of accountants shall be free of qualifications (other than any consistency qualification that may result from a change in the method used to prepare the financial statements as to which such accountants concur) and shall not indicate the occurrence or existence of any event, condition or contingency which would materially impair the prospect of payment or performance of any covenant, agreement or duty of any Loan Party under any of the Loan Documents.  The Loan Parties will be deemed to have complied with the delivery requirements of this Section 8.3.2 if within ninety (90) days (or one hundred five (105) days, if applicable) after the end of their fiscal year (or such earlier or later date, from time to time established by the SEC in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), the Borrower delivers to the Agent and each of the Lenders a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC and the financial statements and certification of public accountants contained therein meets the requirements described in this Section.
8.3.3.    Certificate of the Borrower.
Concurrently with the financial statements of the Borrower furnished to the Agent and to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 8.3.1 [Quarterly Financial Statements] and 8.3.2 [Annual Financial Statements], a certificate (each a “Compliance Certificate”) of the Borrower signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit 8.3.3.
8.3.4.    Notice of Default.
Promptly after any Authorized Officer (or other executive officer) of any Loan Party has learned of the occurrence of an Event of Default or Potential Default, a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial Officer of such Loan Party setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Potential Default and the action which the such Loan Party proposes to take with respect thereto.
8.3.5.    Notice of Litigation.
Promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of (i) all actions, suits, proceedings or investigations before or by any Governmental Body or any other Person against any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party, involve a claim or series of claims in excess of $15,000,000 or, (ii) any 

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Environmental Complaint, individually or in the aggregate exceed $15,000,000, and in either case which if adversely determined could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
8.3.6.    Notice of Change in Debt Rating.
Within five (5) Business Days after Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s announces a change in the Debt Rating of New Jersey Natural Gas, notice of such change.  The Borrower will deliver, together with such notice, a copy of any written notification which Borrower or New Jersey Natural Gas received from the applicable rating agency regarding such change of Debt Rating.
8.3.7.    Sale of Assets.
At least thirty (30) calendar days prior thereto, notice with respect to any proposed sale or transfer of assets pursuant to Section 8.2.6(viii) where the consideration for such sale or transfer of assets is in excess of $10,000,000.
8.3.8.    Budgets, Forecasts, Other Reports and Information.
Promptly upon their becoming available to the Borrower:
(i)    any reports, notices or proxy statements generally distributed by the Borrower to its stockholders on a date no later than the date supplied to such stockholders,
(ii)    regular or periodic reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses, filed by the Borrower with the SEC,
(iii)    to the extent not previously reported in regular or periodic reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses, filed by the Borrower with the SEC, the Borrower shall notify the Lenders promptly of the enactment or adoption of any Law which may result in a Material Adverse Change,
(iv)    to the extent requested by the Agent or any Lender, the annual budget and any forecasts or projections of the Loan Parties, and
(v)    with respect to the Hedging Transaction activities of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, to the extent not previously reported in regular or periodic reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses, filed by the Borrower with the SEC, such other reports and information as any of the Lenders may from time to time reasonably request.
8.3.9.    Notices Regarding Plans and Benefit Arrangements.
8.3.9.1.    Certain Events.
Promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence thereof, notice (including the nature of the event and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC with respect thereto) of:
(i)    any Reportable Event with respect to the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group (regardless of whether the obligation to report said Reportable Event to the PBGC has been waived),

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(ii)    any Prohibited Transaction which could subject the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group to a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code in connection with any Plan, any Benefit Arrangement or any trust created thereunder which penalty or tax could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
(iii)    any assertion of material withdrawal liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
(iv)    any partial or complete withdrawal from a Multiemployer Plan by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group under Title IV of ERISA (or assertion thereof), which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
(v)    any cessation of operations (by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group) at a facility in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
(vi)    withdrawal by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group from a Multiple Employer Plan, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,
(vii)    a failure by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group to make a payment to a Plan required to avoid imposition of a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA,
(viii)    the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA, or
(ix)    any change in the actuarial assumptions or funding methods used for any Plan, where the effect of such change is to materially increase or materially reduce the unfunded benefit liability or obligation to make periodic contributions, except for any such change required under applicable Law.
8.3.9.2.    Notices of Involuntary Termination and Annual Reports.
Promptly after receipt thereof, copies of (a) all notices received by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group of the PBGC’s intent to terminate any Plan administered or maintained by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group, or to have a trustee appointed to administer any such Plan; and (b) at the request of the Agent or any Lender each annual report (IRS Form 5500 series) and all accompanying schedules, the most recent actuarial reports, the most recent financial information concerning the financial status of each Plan administered or maintained by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group, and schedules showing the amounts contributed to each such Plan by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group in which any of their personnel participate or from which such personnel may derive a benefit, and each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report filed by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each such Plan.
8.3.9.3.    Notice of Voluntary Termination.
Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of any Form 5310, or any successor or equivalent form to Form 5310, filed with the PBGC in connection with the termination of any Plan.

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9.    DEFAULT
9.1.    Events of Default.
An Event of Default shall mean the occurrence or existence of any one or more of the following events or conditions (whatever the reason therefor and whether voluntary, involuntary or effected by operation of Law):
9.1.1.    Payments Under Loan Documents.
The Borrower shall fail to pay (i) any principal of the Term Loan (including scheduled installments, mandatory prepayments or the payment due at maturity) when such principal is due hereunder or (ii) any interest on the Term Loan or any other amount owing hereunder or under the other Loan Documents within three (3) Business Days after such interest, fee, or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof;
9.1.2.    Breach of Warranty.
Any representation or warranty made at any time by any of the Loan Parties herein or by any of the Loan Parties in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, other instrument or statement furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect as of the time it was made or furnished;
9.1.3.    Breach of Negative Covenants, Visitation Rights or Borrower’s Existence.
Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant contained in Section 8.1.6 [Visitation Rights], Section 8.2 [Negative Covenants] or, solely with respect to the Borrower, Section 8.1.1(a) [Preservation of Existence, Etc.];
9.1.4.    Breach of Other Covenants.
Any of the Loan Parties shall default in the observance or performance of any other covenant, condition or provision hereof or of any other Loan Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after any Authorized Officer (or other executive officer) of any Loan Party becomes aware of the occurrence thereof (such grace period to be applicable only in the event such default can be remedied by corrective action of the Loan Parties as determined by the Agent in its reasonable discretion);
9.1.5.    Defaults in Other Agreements or Indebtedness.
(i)    A default or event of default shall occur at any time under the terms of any other agreement involving borrowed money or the extension of credit or any other Indebtedness under which any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party may be obligated as a borrower or guarantor in excess of $15,000,000 in the aggregate, and such breach, default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any indebtedness when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) or if such breach or default permits or causes the acceleration of any indebtedness (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the termination of any commitment to lend;

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(ii)    There shall occur under the NJNG Credit Agreement an “Event of Default” (as such term is defined in the NJNG Credit Agreement);
(iii)    A default or event of default shall occur at any time under the terms of any agreement involving any off balance sheet transaction (including any asset securitization, sale/leaseback transaction, or Synthetic Lease) with obligations in the aggregate thereunder for which any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party may be obligated in excess of $15,000,000, and such breach, default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any obligation when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) or if such breach or default permits or causes the acceleration of any obligation (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the termination of any such agreement;
9.1.6.    Final Judgments or Orders.
Any final judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $15,000,000 in the aggregate, to the extent not covered by insurance, shall be entered against any Loan Party by a court having jurisdiction in the premises, which judgment is not discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of entry;
9.1.7.    Loan Document Unenforceable.
Any of the Loan Documents shall cease to be legal, valid and binding agreements enforceable against the party executing the same or such party’s successors and assigns (as permitted under the Loan Documents) in accordance with the respective terms thereof or shall in any way be terminated (except in accordance with its terms) or become or be declared ineffective or inoperative or shall in any way be challenged or contested or cease to give or provide the respective rights, titles, interests, remedies, powers or privileges intended to be created thereby;
9.1.8.    Uninsured Losses; Proceedings Against Assets.
The assets of any Loan Party or the assets of any Subsidiary of any Loan Party are attached, seized, levied upon or subjected to a writ or distress warrant; or such come within the possession of any receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee for the benefit of creditors and the same is not cured within thirty (30) days thereafter or otherwise fully bonded or covered by insurance (subject to reasonable and customary deductible amounts);
9.1.9.    Notice of Lien or Assessment.
A notice of Lien or assessment in excess of $15,000,000 which is not a Permitted Lien or Environmental Complaint in excess of $15,000,000 is filed of record with respect to all or any part of any of the Loan Parties’ or any of their Subsidiaries’ assets by the United States, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any state, county, municipal or other governmental agency, including the PBGC, or any taxes or debts owing at any time or times hereafter to any one of these becomes payable and the same is not paid, otherwise vacated, bonded or discharged within thirty (30) days after the same becomes payable;
9.1.10.    Insolvency.
Any Loan Party or any Significant Subsidiary of a Loan Party ceases to be Solvent or admits in writing to a creditor or Governmental Body its inability to pay its debts as they mature;

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9.1.11.    Events Relating to Plans and Benefit Arrangements.
Any of the following occurs:  (a) any Reportable Event; (b) proceedings shall have been instituted or other action taken to terminate any Plan in a distress termination; (c) a trustee shall be appointed by the PBGC to administer or liquidate any Plan; (d) the PBGC shall give notice of its intent to institute proceedings to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer or liquidate any Plan; and, in the case of the occurrence of (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (e) the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to make any contributions when due to a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; (f) the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group shall withdraw completely or partially from a Multiemployer Plan; (g) the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group shall withdraw (or shall be deemed under Section 4062(e) of ERISA to withdraw) from a Multiple Employer Plan; or (h) any applicable Law is adopted, changed or interpreted by any Official Body with respect to or otherwise affecting one or more Plans,  Multiple Employer Plans Multiemployer Plans or Benefit Arrangements and, with respect to any of the events specified in (e), (f), (g) or (h) such occurrence could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;
9.1.12.    Cessation of Business.
Any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party ceases to conduct its business as contemplated, except as expressly permitted under Section 8.2.5 [Liquidations, Mergers, Etc.], Section 8.2.6 [Disposition of Assets or Unregulated Subsidiaries] or Section 8.2.9 [Continuation of or Change of Business] or any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by court order from conducting all or any material part of its business and such injunction, restraint or other preventive order is not dismissed within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof;
9.1.13.    Change of Control.
(i)    Any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under said Act) 25% or more of the voting capital stock of the Borrower (provided that, for purposes of calculating the acquisition of beneficial ownership, any transfer of voting stock of the Borrower by any Person or group of Persons to a Permitted Transferee shall be deemed not to constitute a conveyance and acquisition of such stock), or (ii) within a period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Borrower on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower unless the individuals who were elected or appointed directors during such twelve (12) month period were elected or appointed by a majority of the individuals who were directors of the Borrower on the first day of such period or by their duly appointed or elected successors; or (iii) Borrower shall cease to own 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of New Jersey Natural Gas; or (iv) Borrower shall cease to own 51% or more of the issued and outstanding equity interests in any other Loan Party;
9.1.14.    Involuntary Proceedings.
A proceeding shall have been instituted in a court having jurisdiction in the premises seeking a decree or order for relief in respect of any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party for any substantial part of its property, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed 

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and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days or such court shall enter a decree or order granting any of the relief sought in such proceeding; or
9.1.15.    Voluntary Proceedings.
Any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or other similar official) of itself or for any substantial part of its property or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due, or shall take any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
9.1.16.    No Limitation on Dividends and Distributions by Subsidiaries.
Any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party (including, without limitation, New Jersey Natural Gas) enters into or otherwise agrees to be bound by any agreement not to pay dividends or make distributions to the Borrower, except for the restrictions that are no more onerous than the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and the restrictions set forth in the Mortgage Indenture, in each case as such restrictions exist as of the Closing Date.
9.2.    Consequences of Event of Default.
9.2.1.    Events of Default Other Than Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings.
If an Event of Default specified under Sections 9.1.1 [Payments Under Loan Documents] through 9.1.13 [Change of Control] or Section 9.1.16 [No Limitation on Dividends and Distributions by Subsidiaries] shall occur and be continuing, the Lenders and the Agent shall be under no further obligation to make the Term Loan and the Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, by written notice to the Borrower, take one or more of the following actions:  (i) terminate the Commitments and thereupon the Commitments shall be terminated and of no further force and effect or (ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of the Notes and the Term Loan then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder to be forthwith due and payable, and the same shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.  Upon the curing of all existing Events of Default to the satisfaction of the Required Lenders, the Agent shall return such cash collateral to the Borrower; and
9.2.2.    Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Reorganization Proceedings.
If an Event of Default specified under Section 9.1.14 [Involuntary Proceedings] or 9.1.15 [Voluntary Proceedings] shall occur, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect, the Agent and the Lenders shall be under no further obligations to make the Term Loan and the unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan then outstanding and all interest accrued thereon, any unpaid fees and all other Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder and thereunder shall be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived; and

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9.2.3.    Set-off.
If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, any Lender to whom any Obligation is owed by any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any participant of such Lender which has agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.2.1 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] and any branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Lender or participant anywhere in the world shall have the right, in addition to all other rights and remedies available to it, without notice to such Loan Party, to set-off against and apply to the then unpaid balance of all the Loans and all other Obligations of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder or under any other Loan Document any debt owing to, and any other funds held in any manner for the account of, the Borrower or such other Loan Party by such Lender or participant or by such branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate, including all funds in all deposit accounts (whether time or demand, general or special, provisionally credited or finally credited, or otherwise) now or hereafter maintained by the Borrower or such other Loan Party for its own account (but not including funds held in custodian or trust accounts) with such Lender or participant or such branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate.  Such right shall exist whether or not any Lender or the Agent shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not such debt owing to or funds held for the account of the Borrower or such other Loan Party is or are matured or unmatured and regardless of the existence or adequacy of any Guaranty or any other security, right or remedy available to any Lender or the Agent; and
9.2.4.    Suits, Actions, Proceedings.
If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, and whether or not the Agent shall have accelerated the maturity of the Term Loan pursuant to any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2 [Consequences of Event of Default], the Agent or any Lender, if owed any amount with respect to the Term Loan, may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity, action at law and/or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; and
9.2.5.    Application of Proceeds; Collateral Sharing.
9.2.5.1.    Application of Proceeds.
From and after the date on which the Agent has taken any action pursuant to this Section 9.2 and until all Obligations of the Loan Parties have been paid in full, any and all proceeds received by the Agent from the exercise of any remedy by the Agent, shall be applied as follows:
(i)    first, to reimburse the Agent and the Lenders for out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees and legal expenses, incurred by the Agent or the Lenders in connection with collection of any Obligations of any of the Loan Parties under any of the Loan Documents;
(ii)    second, to the repayment of all Obligations then due and unpaid of the Loan Parties to the Lenders incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or under any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge or Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product or otherwise, whether of principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise, in such manner as the Agent may determine in its discretion; and
(iii)    the balance, if any, as required by Law.

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9.2.5.2.    Collateral Sharing.
All Liens granted under each Loan Document (the “Collateral Documents”) shall secure ratably and on a pari passu basis (i) the Obligations in favor of the Agent and the Lenders hereunder and (ii) the Obligations incurred by any of the Loan Parties in favor of any Lender and any Lender’s Affiliates which provides a Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge or Other Lender Provided Financial Service Product (the “IRH Provider”).  The Agent under the Collateral Documents shall be deemed to serve as the collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for the IRH Provider and the Lenders hereunder, provided that the Collateral Agent shall comply with the instructions and directions of the Agent (or the Lenders under this Agreement to the extent that this Agreement or any other Loan Documents empowers the Lenders to direct the Agent), as to all matters relating to the collateral, including the maintenance and disposition thereof.  No IRH Provider (except in its capacity as a Lender hereunder) shall be entitled or have the power to direct or instruct the Collateral Agent on any such matters or to control or direct in any manner the maintenance or disposition of the collateral.
9.2.6.    Other Rights and Remedies.
In addition to all of the rights and remedies contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, the Agent shall have all of the rights and remedies under applicable Law, all of which rights and remedies shall be cumulative and non-exclusive, to the extent permitted by Law.  The Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise all post-default rights granted to the Agent and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law.
10.    THE AGENT
10.1.    Appointment and Authority.
Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints JPMorgan to act on its behalf as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Section 10 [The Agent] are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
10.2.    Rights as a Lender.
The Person serving as the Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
10.3.    Exculpatory Provisions.
The Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:

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(a)    shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b)    shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law; and
(c)    shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] and 9.2 [Consequences of Event of Default]) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment.  The Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Potential Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Potential Default or Event of Default is given to the Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.
The Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 7 [Conditions of Lending] or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agent.
10.4.    Reliance by Agent.
The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of the Term Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of the Term Loan.  The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

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10.5.    Delegation of Duties.
The Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Agent.  The Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Section 10.5 shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Agent.
10.6.    Resignation of Agent.
The Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation as Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with approval from the Borrower (so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and so approved by the Borrower (as applicable) and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this Section.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Section 10.6 and Section 11.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver] shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties, in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as Agent.
10.7.    Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders.
Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and not investments in a business enterprise or securities.  Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold a portion of the Term Loan hereunder.  Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement or any related agreement or any document 

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furnished hereunder in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a Lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.
10.8.    [Reserved].
10.9.    [Reserved].
10.10.    [Reserved].
10.11.    Calculations.
In the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final, unappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, the Agent shall not be liable for any error in computing the amount payable to any Lender whether in respect of the Loans, fees or any other amounts due to the Lenders under this Agreement.  In the event an error in computing any amount payable to any Lender is made, the Agent, the Borrower and each affected Lender shall, forthwith upon discovery of such error, make such adjustments as shall be required to correct such error, and any compensation therefor will be calculated at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.
10.12.    Beneficiaries.
Except as expressly provided herein, the provisions of this Section 10 [The Agent] are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have any rights to rely on or enforce any of the provisions of this Section 10 [The Agent].  In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement, the Agent shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or relationship of agency or trust with or for the Borrower.  
11.    MISCELLANEOUS
11.1.    Modifications, Amendments or Waivers.
Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided, that, no such agreement shall:
11.1.1.    Increase of Commitments; Extension of Maturity Date.
Increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender; or extend the Maturity Date, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
11.1.2.    Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal, Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment.
Extend the time for payment of principal of or interest on the Term Loan or any fee payable to any Lender; or reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest borne by the Term Loan or reduce any fee payable to any Lender, or otherwise affect the terms of payment of the principal of or interest on the Term Loan or any fee payable to any Lender which has a Commitment, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

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11.1.3.    Release of Guarantor.
Without the written consent of all Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders), release any Guarantor from its Obligations under the Guaranty Agreement or any other security for any of the Loan Parties’ Obligations; or
11.1.4.    Miscellaneous.
Without the written consent of all Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders), amend Section 5.2 [Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders, Etc.], 9.2.5 [Application of Proceeds; Collateral Sharing], 10.3 [Exculpatory Provisions, Etc.] or 5.2.1 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] or this Section 11.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], alter any provision regarding the pro rata treatment of the Lenders, change the definition of Required Lenders, or change any requirement providing for the Lenders or the Required Lenders to authorize the taking of any action hereunder;
provided, that no agreement, waiver or consent which would modify the interests, rights or obligations of the Agent in its capacity as Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Agent; and provided, further that, if in connection with any proposed waiver, amendment or modification referred to in Sections 11.1.1 [Increase of Commitments; Extension of Maturity Date] through 11.1.4 above, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower shall have the right to replace any such Non-Consenting Lender with one or more replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender].
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.
11.2.    No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing Required.
No course of dealing and no delay or failure of the Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any other or future exercise thereof or operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power, remedy or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power, remedy or privilege.  The rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and any other Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have.  Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Lender of any breach or default under this Agreement or any such waiver of any provision or condition of this Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing.  
11.3.    Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
11.3.1.    Costs and Expenses.
The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Agent), and shall pay all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of the Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, 

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modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Agent or any Lender), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Term Loan made hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of the Term Loan, and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Agent’s regular employees and agents engaged periodically to perform audits of the Loan Parties’ books, records and business properties.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 11.3.1 shall not apply to Taxes, the payment of which is governed by Section 5.8 [Taxes].
11.3.2.    Indemnification by the Borrower.
The Borrower shall indemnify the Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all reasonable fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys (who may be employees of any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance or nonperformance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) the Term Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) breach of representations, warranties or covenants of the Borrower under the Loan Documents, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, including any such items or losses relating to or arising under Environmental Laws or pertaining to environmental matters, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.  The Lenders will attempt to minimize the fees and expenses of legal counsel for the Lenders which are subject to reimbursement by the Borrower hereunder by considering the usage of one law firm to represent the Lenders and the Agent if appropriate under the circumstances.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] shall not apply to Taxes, the payment of which is governed by Section 5.8 [Taxes].
11.3.3.    Reimbursement by Lenders.
To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Section 11.3.1 [Costs and Expenses] or 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] to be paid by it to the Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Ratable Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity 

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payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity.
11.3.4.    Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the Term Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in Section 11.3.2 [Indemnification by Borrower] shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
11.3.5.    Payments.
All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than thirty (30) days after demand therefor.
11.4.    Holidays.
Whenever payment of the Term Loan to be made or taken hereunder shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day such payment shall be due on the next Business Day (except as provided in Section 4.2 [Interest Periods] with respect to Interest Periods under the LIBOR Rate Option) and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees, except that the Term Loan shall be due on the Business Day preceding the Maturity Date if the Maturity Date is not a Business Day.  Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder (other than payment of the Term Loan) shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall not be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.
11.5.    Funding by Branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate.
11.5.1.    Notional Funding.
Each Lender shall have the right from time to time, without notice to the Borrower, to deem any branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate (which for the purposes of this Section 11.5 [Funding by Branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate] shall mean any corporation or association which is directly or indirectly controlled by or is under direct or indirect common control with any corporation or association which directly or indirectly controls such Lender) of such Lender to have made, maintained or funded the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies at any time, provided that immediately following (on the assumption that a payment were then due from the Borrower to such other office), and as a result of such change, the Borrower would not be under any greater financial obligation pursuant to Section 5.6 [Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances] or Section 5.8 [Taxes] than it would have been in the absence of such change.  Notional funding offices may be selected by each Lender without regard to such Lender’s actual methods of making, maintaining or funding the Term Loan or any sources of funding actually used by or available to such Lender.

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11.5.2.    Actual Funding.
Each Lender shall have the right from time to time to make or maintain any portion of the Term Loan by arranging for a branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Lender to make or maintain such portion of the Term Loan subject to the last sentence of this Section 11.5.2.  If any Lender causes a branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate to make or maintain any part of its portion of the Term Loan hereunder, all terms and conditions of this Agreement shall, except where the context clearly requires otherwise, be applicable to such portion of the Term Loan to the same extent as if such portion of the  Term Loan were made or maintained by such Lender, but in no event shall any Lender’s use of such a branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate to make or maintain any part of the Term Loan hereunder cause such Lender or such branch, Subsidiary or Affiliate to incur any cost or expenses payable by the Borrower hereunder or require the Borrower to pay any other compensation to any Lender (including any expenses incurred or payable pursuant to Section 5.6 [Additional Compensation in Certain Circumstances]) or Section 5.8 [Taxes] which would otherwise not be incurred.
11.6.    Notices; Lending Offices.
Any notice, request, demand, direction or other communication (for purposes of this Section 11.6 only, a “Notice”) to be given to or made upon any party hereto under any provision of this Agreement shall be given or made by telephone or in writing (which includes means of electronic transmission (i.e., “e-mail”) or facsimile transmission or by setting forth such Notice on a restricted access site on the World Wide Web (a “Website Posting”) if Notice of such Website Posting (including the information necessary to access such site) has previously been delivered to the applicable parties hereto by another means set forth in this Section 11.6) in accordance with this Section 11.6.  Any such Notice must be delivered to the applicable parties hereto at the addresses and numbers set forth under their respective names on Schedule 1.1(B) hereof or in accordance with any subsequent unrevoked Notice from any such party that is given in accordance with this Section 11.6.  Any Notice shall be effective:
(i)    In the case of hand-delivery, when delivered;
(ii)    If given by mail, four (4) days after such Notice is deposited with the United States Postal Service, with first-class postage prepaid, return receipt requested;
(iii)    In the case of a telephonic Notice, when a party is contacted by telephone, if delivery of such telephonic Notice is confirmed no later than the next Business Day by hand delivery, a facsimile or electronic transmission, a Website Posting or overnight courier delivery of a confirmatory notice (received at or before noon on such next Business Day);
(iv)    In the case of a facsimile transmission, when sent to the applicable party’s facsimile machine’s telephone number if the party sending such Notice receives confirmation of the delivery thereof from its own facsimile machine;
(v)    In the case of electronic transmission, when actually received;
(vi)    In the case of a Website Posting, upon delivery of a Notice of such posting (including the information necessary to access such web site) by another means set forth in this Section 11.6; and
(vii)    If given by any other means (including by overnight courier), when actually received.

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Any Lender giving a Notice to a Loan Party shall concurrently send a copy thereof to the Agent, and the Agent shall promptly notify the other Lenders of its receipt of such Notice.
11.7.    Severability.
The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction.
11.8.    Governing Law.
The Loan Documents shall, pursuant to New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401, for all purposes be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
11.9.    Prior Understanding.
This Agreement and the other Loan Documents supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties hereto and thereto relating to the transactions provided for herein and therein, including any prior confidentiality agreements and commitments.
11.10.    Duration; Survival.
All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained herein or made in connection herewith shall survive the making of the Term Loan and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation by the Agent or the Lenders, the making of the Term Loan or payment in full of the Term Loan.  All covenants and agreements of the Loan Parties contained in Sections 8.1 [Affirmative Covenants], 8.2 [Negative Covenants] and 8.3 [Reporting Requirements] herein shall continue in full force and effect from and after the date hereof until termination of the Commitments and payment in full of the Term Loan.  All covenants and agreements of the Borrower contained herein relating to the payment of principal, interest, premiums, additional compensation or expenses and indemnification, including those set forth in Section 5 [Payments] and Sections 11.3.2 [Indemnification by the Borrower] and 11.3.3 [Reimbursement by Lenders] and shall survive payment in full of the Term Loan and termination of the Commitments.
11.11.    Successors and Assigns.
11.11.1.    Successors and Assigns Generally.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.11.2 [Assignments by Lenders], (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.11.4 [Participations], or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.11.5 [Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally] (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, 

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expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 11.11.4 [Participations] and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
11.11.2.    Assignments by Lenders.
Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i)    Minimum Amounts.
(A)    in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and portion of the Term Loan at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B)    in any case not described in clause (i)(A) of this Section 11.11.2 [Assignments by Lenders], the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the portion of the Term Loan of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of the Commitment of the assigning Lender, unless each of the Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii)    Proportionate Amounts.  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Term Loan or the Commitment assigned.
(iii)    Required Consents.  No consent shall be required for any assignment except for the consent of the Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof.
(iv)    Assignment and Assumption Agreement.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Agent an administrative questionnaire provided by the Agent.

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(v)    No Assignment to Borrower or Defaulting Lender.  No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower, any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or any Defaulting Lender.
(vi)    No Assignment to Natural Persons.  No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to Section 11.11.3 [Register], from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally], and 11.3 [Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver] with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 11.11.2 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.11.4 [Participations].
11.11.3.    Register.
The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being only for tax purposes), shall maintain at its office in the Unites States a copy of Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the portion of the Term Loan owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement.  The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
11.11.4.    Participations.
Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree 

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(other than as is already provided for herein) to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to Sections 11.1.1 [Increase of Commitments; Extension of Maturity Date] or (b) [Release of Guarantor]) that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [Libor Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally], 5.6.5 [Indemnity] and 5.8 [Taxes] (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.8.6 [Status of Lenders] (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.8.6 [Status of Lenders] shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.11.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender] as if it were an assignee under Section 11.11.2 [Assignments by Lenders]; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.6.1 [Increased Costs Generally] or 5.8 [Taxes], with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.4.2 [Replacement of a Lender] with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.2.3 [Set-off] as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.2.1 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the portion of the Term Loan or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans or its other Obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan or other Obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103‐1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Agent (in its capacity as Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
11.11.5.    Certain Pledges; Successors and Assigns Generally.
Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
11.12.    Confidentiality.
11.12.1.    General.
The Agent and the Lenders each agree to keep confidential all information obtained from any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries which is nonpublic and confidential or proprietary in nature (including any information the Borrower specifically designates as confidential), except as provided below, and to use such information only in connection with their respective capacities under this Agreement and for the purposes contemplated hereby.  The Agent and the Lenders shall be permitted to disclose such 

75

information (i) to outside legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors who need to know such information in connection with the administration and enforcement of this Agreement, subject to agreement of such Persons to maintain the confidentiality, (ii) to assignees and participants as contemplated by Section 11.11 [Successors and Assigns], and prospective assignees and participants, provided that prior to such disclosure, such parties agree to be bound by this undertaking of confidentiality set forth in this Section 11.12 [Confidentiality], (iii) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority or, with notice to the Borrower, as otherwise required by applicable Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process, or in connection with any investigation or proceeding arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) if it becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement or becomes available and is not reasonably known to be subject to confidentiality restrictions, or (v) if the Borrower shall have consented to such disclosure.
11.12.2.    Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders.
Each Loan Party acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of such Lender and each of the Loan Parties hereby authorizes each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by such Loan Party and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the decision of such Lender to enter into this Agreement, to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Lender, it being understood that any such Subsidiary or affiliate of any Lender receiving such information shall be bound by the provisions of Section 11.12.1 [General] as if it were a Lender hereunder.  Such Authorization shall survive the repayment of the Term Loan and other Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.
11.13.    Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed by different parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
11.14.    Agent’s or Lender’s Consent.
Whenever the Agent’s or any Lender’s consent is required to be obtained under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents as a condition to any action, inaction, condition or event, the Agent and each Lender shall be authorized to give or withhold such consent in its sole and absolute discretion and to condition its consent upon the giving of additional collateral, the payment of money or any other matter.
11.15.    Exceptions.
The representations, warranties and covenants contained herein shall be independent of each other, and no exception to any representation, warranty or covenant shall be deemed to be an exception to any other representation, warranty or covenant contained herein unless expressly provided, nor shall any such exceptions be deemed to permit any action or omission that would be in contravention of applicable Law.

76

11.16.    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH LOAN PARTY, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY COLLATERAL, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALINGS, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALINGS, STATEMENTS OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT OR THE LENDERS RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERM LOAN OR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.  NO LOAN PARTY WILL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH ACTION WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED.  EACH LOAN PARTY CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF AGENT OR THE LENDERS, HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT AGENT OR THE LENDERS WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER.  THIS WAIVER CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR AGENT AND THE LENDERS TO ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND MAKE THE TERM LOAN.
11.17.    JURISDICTION & VENUE.
EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF COURTS IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND CONSENTS THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE MADE BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL (RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) DIRECTED TO SUCH LOAN PARTY AT THE ADDRESSES PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 11.6 [NOTICES; LENDING OFFICES] AND SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED UPON ACTUAL RECEIPT THEREOF.  NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF AGENT TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS BY ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.  EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY ACTION INSTITUTED AGAINST IT AS PROVIDED HEREIN AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT ANY DEFENSE BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS OR ANY LACK OF JURISDICTION OR VENUE THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT.
11.18.    USA Patriot Act Notice.
Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the USA Patriot Act.
11.19.    Joinder of Guarantors.
Any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is required to join this Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.2.5 [Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations, Acquisitions] and Section 8.2.8 

77

[Subsidiaries, Partnerships and Joint Ventures] shall (i) execute and deliver to the Agent a Guarantor Joinder in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1(G)(1) pursuant to which it shall join as a Guarantor each of the documents to which the Guarantors are parties; and (ii) execute and deliver to the Agent documents in the forms described in Section 7.1.2 [Secretary’s Certificate] modified as appropriate to relate to such Subsidiary and (iii) satisfy such other requirements as reasonably requested by the Agent.  The Loan Parties shall deliver such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to the Agent within five (5) Business Days after the date of the filing of such Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation if the Subsidiary is a corporation, the date of the filing of its certificate of limited partnership if it is a limited partnership or the date of its organization if it is an entity other than a limited partnership or corporation.
11.20.    Keepwell.
The Borrower hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of Specified Swap Obligations.  The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 11.20 shall remain in full force and effect until a discharge of the [Guaranteed Obligations] (as defined in the Guaranty) in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents.  The Borrower intends that this Section 11.20 constitute, and this Section 11.20 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.  
11.21.    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that:  (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

78

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
BORROWER:
	
		
	ATTEST:
	NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

	 
	 

	/s/ Richard Reich                         
	By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood                                   [Seal]

	Name:  Richard Reich
	Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood

	Title:  Assistant General Counsel
	Title:  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT]

GUARANTORS:

NJR ENERGY CORPORATION

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR HOME SERVICES COMPANY

By:      /s/ Stanley Kosierowski    
Name:  Stanley Kosierowski
Title:  President

COMMERCIAL REALTY AND RESOURCES CORP.

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
           and Treasurer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT]

GUARANTORS, CONTINUED:

NJR INVESTMENT COMPANY

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  President

NJR SERVICE CORPORATION

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR STORAGE HOLDINGS COMPANY

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
           and Treasurer

NJR ENERGY HOLDINGS CORPORATION

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR ENERGY INVESTMENTS CORPORATION

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT]

GUARANTORS, CONTINUED:

NJR PLUMBING SERVICES, INC.

By:      /s/ Stanley Kosierowski    
Name:  Stanley Kosierowski
Title:  President

NJR RETAIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

By:      /s/ Laurence M. Downes    
Name:  Laurence M. Downes
Title:  President and Treasurer

NJR CLEAN ENERGY VENTURES CORPORATION

By:      /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT]

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender and as Agent

By:      /s/ Justin Martin    
Name:      Justin Martin    
Title:      Authorized Officer    

SCHEDULE 1.1(A)
Pricing Grid
	
						
	Pricing Level
	Debt Rating
	Base Rate Spread
	LIBOR Rate Spread

	I
	> A /A2
	0.00
	%
	0.55
	%

	II
	A-/A3
	0.00
	%
	0.675
	%

	III
	BBB+/Baa1
	0.00
	%
	0.80
	%

	IV
	BBB or lower/Baa2 
or lower
	0.00
	%
	1.00
	%

For purposes of determining the Applicable Margin:
With respect to the Debt Ratings of Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s:  (i) if one or both of Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s shall fail to have a Debt Rating in effect, then such rating agency which fails to have a Debt Rating in effect shall be deemed to have established a Debt Rating at Level IV, and (ii) if the Debt Rating established by Moody’s and the Debt Rating established by Standard and Poor’s differ, the pricing Level above shall be determined based upon the higher of the Debt Rating established by Moody’s and the Debt Rating established by Standard and Poor’s, provided, however, if one of the Debt Ratings is two or more Levels lower than the other, the applicable pricing Level shall be determined at the Level next above that of the Level of the lower of the two Debt Ratings.
Any change in the Applicable Margin shall become effective on the date of any public announcement of the change in the Debt Rating requiring such an increase or decrease.

SCHEDULES OF NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION 1 
to
$100,000,000 
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
by and among
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION,
as Borrower
EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY THERETO,
THE LENDERS PARTY THERETO
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
as Lead Arranger 
Dated as of September 13, 2013

                                         
1  Capitalized terms used but not defined in these Schedules shall have the meanings assigned to those terms in the above-referenced Term Loan Credit Agreement.

21245366v1

SCHEDULE 1.1(B)

Commitments Of Lenders And Addresses For Notices

	
			
	Lender
	Commitment
	Ratable Share

	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
	$100,000,000
	100%

Addresses for Notices:

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10 South Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60603
Attention:  Darren Cunningham
Telephone: (312) 385-7080
Facsimile: (888) 292-9533
E-mail: jpm.agency.servicing.4@jpmchase.com

BORROWER:

New Jersey Resources Corporation
1415 Wyckoff Road
Wall, New Jersey 07719
Attention: Patrick Migliaccio, Treasurer
Telephone: (732) 938-1114
Facsimile: (732) 938-3154
E-mail: pmigliaccio@njresources.com

GUARANTORS:

c/o New Jersey Resources Corporation
1415 Wyckoff Road
Wall, New Jersey 07719
Attention: Patrick Migliaccio, Treasurer
Telephone: (732) 938-1114
Facsimile: (732) 938-3154
E-mail: pmigliaccio@njresources.com

21245366v1

SCHEDULE 1.1(P)

Permitted Liens

None

21245366v1

SCHEDULE 6.1.2
SUBSIDIARIES

	
					
	Subsidiary

	Jurisdiction of Incorporation/Formation

	Authorized Capital Stock

	Issued and 
Outstanding Shares (“Subsidiary Shares”; 
“Partnership Interests”;” LLC Interests”)

	Shareholder/Partner/LLC Interest Owner

	New Jersey Natural Gas Company
	New Jersey
	3,214,923 
common shares;
310,000 
preferred shares
	1,679,846 
common shares;
0 
preferred shares
	New Jersey Resources Corporation

	NJR Energy Services Company
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	New Jersey Resources Corporation

	NJR Retail Holdings Corporation
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	New Jersey Resources Corporation

	NJR Home Services Company
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	NJR Retail Holdings Corporation

	NJR Plumbing Services, Inc.
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	NJR Home Services Company

	NJR Energy Investments Corporation
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	New Jersey Resources Corporation

	NJR Storage Holdings Company
	Delaware
	1,000
	1,000
	NJR Energy Holdings Corporation

	Commercial Realty and Resources Corp.
	New Jersey
	2,500
	2,500
	NJR Retail Holdings Corporation

21245366v1

	
					
	Subsidiary

	Jurisdiction of Incorporation/
Formation

	Authorized Capital Stock

	Issued and 
Outstanding Shares (“Subsidiary Shares”; 
“Partnership Interests”;” LLC Interests”)

	Shareholder/Partner/LLC Interest Owner

	NJR Investment Company
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	NJR Energy Investments Corporation

	NJR Energy Holdings Corporation
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	NJR Energy Investments Corporation

	NJR Energy Corporation
	New Jersey
	2,500
	2,500
	NJR Energy Investments Corporation

	NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	New Jersey Resources Corporation

	NJR Pipeline Company
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	NJR Energy Holdings Corporation

	NJR Service Corporation
	New Jersey
	1,000
	1,000
	New Jersey Resources Corporation

There are no options, warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any Subsidiary Shares, Partnership Interests or LLC Interests.

21245366v1

SCHEDULE 6.1.12
Consents and Approvals
None

21245366v1

SCHEDULE 6.1.24
Permitted Related Business Opportunities
		
	I.
	OwnEnergy Investment

On September 10, 2012, NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Jersey Resources Corporation (“NJR”), invested $8.8 million to acquire an approximate 20 percent ownership position in OwnEnergy, Inc., a developer of mid-sized and community onshore wind projects. 
		
	II.
	Steckman Ridge 

In November 2007, NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NJR, and Spectra Energy Corporation formed Steckman Ridge, LP to jointly develop and operate a natural gas storage facility in Pennsylvania (“Steckman Ridge”).  NJR's investment in Steckman Ridge, including capitalized costs and equity in earnings, net of cash distributions received, was $132.2 million

21245366v1

SCHEDULE 8.2.1
Existing Indebtedness
as of June 30, 2013 
I.     The following is a list of all outstanding Indebtedness of NJR, its Subsidiaries and New Jersey Natural Gas Company as of June 30, 2013.

		
	A.
	 New Jersey Resources Corporation (“NJR”)

1.    Senior Notes
Rate        Maturity Date        Principal Amt.

Unsecured Senior Notes    6.05%            9/24/17         $50,000,000
                    
The following Subsidiaries are guarantors of the Unsecured Senior Notes listed above: Commercial Realty and Resources Corp., NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation, NJR Energy Investments Corporation, NJR Energy Services Company, NJR Home Services Company, NJR Investment Company, NJR Plumbing Services, Inc., NJR Retail Holdings Corporation and NJR Service Corporation.
                        
Rate        Maturity Date        Principal Amt.

 Unsecured Senior Notes    1.94%            9/17/15         $25,000,000
 Unsecured Senior Notes    2.51%            9/17/18         $25,000,000
 Unsecured Senior Notes    3.25%            9/17/22         $50,000,000

The following Subsidiaries are guarantors of the Unsecured Senior Notes listed above: Commercial Realty and Resources Corp., NJR Energy Corporation; NJR Energy Holdings Corporation; NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation; NJR Energy Investments Corporation, NJR Energy Services Company, NJR Home Services Company, NJR Investment Company, NJR Plumbing Services, Inc., NJR Retail Holdings Corporation; NJR Storage Holdings Company and NJR Service Corporation.

TOTAL UNSECURED SENIOR NOTES            $150,000,000

2.    Shelf Agreement.  NJR is a party to the shelf note purchase agreement listed below.

$75,000,000 Shelf Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2011, by and among NJR, Prudential Investment Management, Inc., and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes a party thereto (“Prudential Facility”)2. The following Subsidiaries are guarantors of the Shelf Agreement: Commercial Realty and Resources Corp., NJR Energy Corporation; NJR Energy Holdings Corporation; NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation; NJR Energy Investments Corporation, NJR Energy Services Company, NJR Home Services Company, NJR Investment Company, NJR Plumbing Services, Inc., NJR Retail Holdings Corporation; NJR Storage Holdings Company and NJR Service Corporation.

                                     
2    As of June 30, 2013 there was $25 million available under this shelf agreement. 

21245366v1

 
 

		
	3.
	Existing Credit Facility:  NJR has outstanding Indebtedness under the “NJR Revolving Credit Facility” as defined in the Existing Credit Facility in the principal amount of $200,900,000.

		
	4.
	Letters of Credit:  The following letters of credit have been issued pursuant to the Existing Credit Facility: 

	
						
	

	Purpose
	Expiry Date
	

Principal 
Amt.

	 
	 
	 
	 

	NJR
	Secure purchase of natural gas
	6/30/2013
	$
	2,000,000
	

	NJR
	Margin requirements
	12/31/2013
	$
	11,000,000
	

	NJR on behalf of NJCEV
	Secure construction of solar project
	11/27/2013
	$
	2,861,178
	

	NJR on behalf of NJCEV
	Secure construction of solar project
	12/27/2013
	$
	528,523
	

B.    New Jersey Natural Gas Company
On August 29, 2011, New Jersey Natural Gas Company (“NJNG”) completed a refunding of its auction rate securities, whereby NJNG refunded $97 million of bonds and the associated First Mortgage Bonds (Series AA, BB, DD, EE, FF and GG).  As part of the transaction, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (“NJEDA”) issued a total of $97 million of Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) comprised of three series of bonds: the $9.5 million principal amount Series 2011A Bonds (Non-AMT) due September 1, 2027, the $41 million principal amount Series 2011B Bonds (AMT) due August 1, 2035 and the $46.5 million principal amount Series 2011C Bonds due August 1, 2041 (collectively, the “EDA Bonds”).  The EDA Bonds are special, limited obligations of the NJEDA payable solely from payments made by NJNG pursuant to a Loan Agreement between the NJEDA and the NJNG, and are initially secured by the pledge of $97 million principal amount First Mortgage Bonds issued by NJNG (Series MM, NN and OO).  

21245366v1

	
								
	($000)
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	First Mortgage Bonds
	Rate
	 
	Maturity Date
	 
	Principal Amt.

	Series HH
	5%
	 
	12/1/38
	 
	12,000
	

	Series II
	4.5%
	 
	8/1/23
	 
	10,300
	

	Series JJ
	4.6%
	 
	8/1/24
	 
	10,500
	

	Series KK
	4.9%
	 
	10/1/40
	 
	15,000
	

	Series LL
	5.6%
	 
	5/15/18
	 
	125,000
	

	Series MM
	Var.
	 
	9/1/27
	 
	9,545
	

	Series NN
	Var.
	 
	8/1/35
	 
	41,000
	

	Series OO
	Var.
	 
	8/1/41
	 
	46,500
	

	Series PP
	3.15%
	 
	4/15/28
	 
	50,000
	

	Sub-total First Mortgage Bonds
	 
	 
	 
	 
	319,845
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Unsecured Senior Notes
	4.77%
	 
	3/15/2014
	 
	60,000
	

	Capital Lease Obligation - Bldg
	 
	 
	6/1/2021
	 
	21,907
	

	Capital Lease Obligation - Meters
	 
	 
	Various
	 
	32,806
	

	Capital Lease Obligation - Equipment
	 
	 
	12/1/2013
	 
	330
	

	Commercial Paper (Unsecured)
	 
	 
	 
	 
	96,000
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Total
	 
	 
	 
	 
	$
	530,888
	

		
	C.
	NJR Energy Services Company

		
	1.
	Foreign Exchange Hedge

NJR, through its unregulated wholesale energy services subsidiary, NJR Energy Services Company (“NJRES”), which enters into natural gas transactions in Canada, is exposed to fluctuations in the value of Canadian currency relative to the US dollar. NJRES utilizes foreign currency derivatives to lock in the currency translation rate associated with natural gas transactions denominated in Canadian currency. The derivatives may include currency forwards, futures, or swaps and are accounted for as derivatives. These derivatives are being used to hedge future forecasted cash payments associated with transportation and storage contracts. NJR has designated these foreign currency derivatives as cash flow hedges of that exposure, and expects the hedge relationship to be highly effective throughout the term.
 
    

21245366v1

The following table reflects the fair value of NJR's derivative assets and liabilities recognized in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that are designated as hedging instruments as of:
	
																							
	 
	 
	Fair Value

	 
	 
	June 30, 2013
	 
	September 30, 2012

	(Thousands)
	Balance Sheet Location
	Asset
Derivatives
	Liability
Derivatives
	 
	Asset
Derivatives
	Liability
Derivatives

	NJRES:
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Foreign exchange contracts
	Derivatives - current
	$
	51
	 
	 
	 
	$
	17
	

	 
	 
	$
	116
	 
	 
	 
	$
	97
	 

	 
	Derivatives - noncurrent
	 
	—
	 
	 
	 
	23
	 
	 
	 
	70
	 
	 
	 
	15
	 

	Total fair value of derivatives
	 
	$
	51
	 
	 
	 
	$
	40
	

	 
	 
	$
	186
	 
	 
	 
	$
	112
	 

 
At June 30, 2013, the notional amount of the foreign currency transactions was approximately $3.8 million, and ineffectiveness in the hedge relationship is immaterial to the financial results of NJR.

21245366v1

EXHIBIT 1.1(A)
FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

This Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee.  The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as, the “Assigned Interest”).  Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1.Assignor:        ______________________________
2.    Assignee:        ______________________________ 
            [and is an Affiliate of [identify Lender1]
3.    Borrower:        New Jersey Resources Corporation
		
	4.
	Agent:    JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

		
	5.
	Credit Agreement:    Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2013, among New Jersey Resources Corporation, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders

6.    Assigned Interest:
________________________
1 Select if applicable.

CH1 7926921v.3

	
			
	Aggregate Amount of Commitment/ Term Loans for all Lenders*
	Amount of Commitment/ Term Loans Assigned*
	Percentage Assigned of Commitment/ Term Loans2

	$
	$
	   %

	$
	$
	   %

	$
	$
	   %

7.    Trade Date:    ______________]3 
Effective Date:   _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]4 
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 
____________________
* Amount to be adjusted by the counter parties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date. 
2 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment /Term Loans of all Lenders thereunder.
3 To be computed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.
4 Assignor shall pay a fee of $3500 to the Agent in connection with the Assignment and Assumption.

2

[SIGNATURE PAGE - ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

Consented to and Accepted:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Agent

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

Consented to: 

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION,
as Borrower

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

                        

3

ANNEX 1

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS
FOR ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

1.    Representations and Warranties.  
1.1  Assignor.  The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) it is [not] a Defaulting Lender; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2.  Assignee.  The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements of an eligible assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to receipt of such consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 8.3 [Reporting Requirements] thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption Agreement and to purchase such Assigned Interest and (vii) if Assignee is not incorporated or organized under the Laws of the United States of America or a state thereof, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2.    Payments.  From and after the Effective Date, the Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent shall make all payments of interest, fees or other amounts paid or payable in kind from and after the Effective Date to the Assignee.

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3.    General Provisions.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to be a contract under the Laws of the State of New York and shall, pursuant to New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401, for all purposes be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(1)

FORM OF
GUARANTOR JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

THIS GUARANTOR JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT is made as of _____________ __, 20_, by _____________________________________________________, a _____________________ [corporation/partnership/limited liability company] (the “New Guarantor”).
Background
Reference is made to (i) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of September 13, 2013 (as the same may be restated, modified, supplemented or amended from time to time (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among New Jersey Resources Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”), each of the Guarantors now or hereafter party thereto (each a “Guarantor” and collectively the “Guarantors”), the Lenders now or hereafter party thereto (the “Lenders”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Agent”); (ii) the Guaranty and Suretyship Agreement, dated as of September 13, 2013 (as the same may be restated, modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Guaranty”), of Guarantors given to Agent, and (iii) the other Loan Documents referred to in the Credit Agreement, as the same may be modified, supplemented, restated or amended from time to time (the “Loan Documents”).  
Agreement
Capitalized terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as defined therein.  
New Guarantor hereby becomes a Guarantor under the terms of the Credit Agreement and in consideration of the value of the direct and indirect economic benefits received by New Guarantor as a result of being or becoming affiliated with the Borrower and the Guarantors, New Guarantor hereby agrees that, effective as of the date hereof, it hereby is, and shall be deemed to be, and assumes the obligations of, a “Loan Party” and a “Guarantor” under the Credit Agreement, a “Guarantor”, jointly and severally with the existing Guarantors under the Guaranty, and a Loan Party or Guarantor, as the case may be, under each of the other Loan Documents to which the Loan Parties or Guarantors are a party; and New Guarantor hereby agrees that from the date hereof and so long as any portion of the Term Loan or any Commitment of any Lender shall remain outstanding and until the payment in full of the Term Loan and the performance of all other obligations of Borrower under the Loan Documents, New Guarantor shall perform, comply with and be subject to and bound by each of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement, Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents, jointly and severally, with the existing parties thereto.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, New Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that (i) each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of the Credit Agreement applicable to a Loan Party is true and correct as to New Guarantor on and as of the date hereof; and (ii) New Guarantor has heretofore received a true and correct copy of the Credit Agreement, Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents (including any modifications thereof or supplements or waivers thereto) in effect on the date hereof.
New Guarantor hereby makes, affirms and ratifies in favor of the Lenders and the Agent, the Credit Agreement, Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents given by the Guarantors to Agent and any of the Lenders.

New Guarantor is simultaneously delivering to the Agent the documents, together with Guarantor Joinder, required under Sections 8.2.8 [Subsidiaries, Partnership and Joint Ventures] and 11.19 [Joinder of Guarantors].
In furtherance of the foregoing, New Guarantor shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered at any time and from time to time such further instruments and documents and do or cause to be done such further acts as may be reasonably necessary in the reasonable opinion of Agent to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Guarantor Joinder and Assumption Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
This Guarantor Joinder and Assumption Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument.  New Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that a telecopy transmission to Agent or any Lender of signature pages hereof purporting to be signed on behalf of New Guarantor shall constitute effective and binding execution and delivery hereof by New Guarantor.
NEW GUARANTOR SHALL CAUSE BORROWER TO PROVIDE SUCH ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 11.19 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
[SIGNATURE PAGE - GUARANTOR
JOINDER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, New Guarantor has duly executed this Guarantor Joinder and Assumption Agreement and delivered the same to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, as of the date and year first above written.
[___________________________________]

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

Acknowledged and accepted:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Agent

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

2

EXHIBIT 1.1(G)(2)

GUARANTY AND SURETYSHIP AGREEMENT

This Guaranty and Suretyship Agreement (the “Guaranty”), dated as of this 13th day of September, 2013, is jointly and severally given by EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED AND EACH OF THE OTHER PERSONS WHICH BECOME GUARANTORS HEREUNDER FROM TIME TO TIME (each a “Guarantor” and collectively the “Guarantors”) in favor of JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”) in connection with that Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among New Jersey Resources Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors now or hereafter party thereto, the Agent and the Lenders now or hereafter party thereto (the “Lenders”) (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time hereafter, the “Credit Agreement”).  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them by the Credit Agreement and the rules of construction set forth in Section 1.2 [Construction] of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this Guaranty.  
1.    Guarantied Obligations.  To induce the Agent and the Lenders to make loans and grant other financial accommodations to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranties to the Agent and each Lender and any IRH Provider, and becomes surety, as though it was a primary obligor, for the full and punctual payment and performance when due (whether on demand, at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and including any amounts which would become due but for the operation of an automatic stay under the federal bankruptcy code of the United States or any similar Laws of any country or jurisdiction) of all Obligations, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness from time to time of the Borrower or any other Guarantor to the Agent or any of the Lenders or any Affiliate of any Lender under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether for principal, interest, fees, indemnities, expenses or otherwise, and all renewals, extensions, amendments, refinancings or refundings thereof, whether such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness are direct or indirect, secured or unsecured, joint or several, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, whether for payment or performance, now existing or hereafter arising (and including obligations, liabilities and indebtedness arising or accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Borrower or any Guarantor or which would have arisen or accrued but for the commencement of such proceeding, even if the claim for such obligation, liability or indebtedness is not enforceable or allowable in such proceeding, and including all Obligations, liabilities and indebtedness arising from any extensions of credit under or in connection with any Loan Document from time to time, regardless of whether any such extensions of credit are in excess of the amount committed under or contemplated by the Loan Documents or are made in circumstances in which any condition to extension of credit is not satisfied) (all of the foregoing obligations, liabilities and indebtedness are referred to herein collectively as the “Guarantied Obligations” and each as a “Guarantied Obligation” (provided, however, that the definition of “Guarantied Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Guarantor of any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Guarantor)).  Without limitation of the foregoing, any of the Guarantied Obligations shall be and remain Guarantied Obligations entitled to the benefit of this Guaranty if the Agent or any of the Lenders (or any one or more assignees or transferees thereof) from time to time assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of their respective rights and obligations under the Loan Documents or any other Guarantied Obligations to any other Person.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each Guarantor jointly and severally agrees as follows:
2.    Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby promises to pay and perform all such Guarantied Obligations immediately upon demand of the Agent (including on behalf of the Required Lenders or any IRH Provider as provided in the Credit Agreement).  All payments made hereunder shall be made by each Guarantor in immediately available funds in U.S. Dollars and shall be made without setoff, counterclaim, withholding or other deduction of any nature.  Each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Guaranty is an absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guaranty of payment and is not a guaranty of collection.
3.    Obligations Absolute.  The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise diminished by any failure, default, omission or delay, willful or otherwise, by any Lender, the Agent or 

Borrower or any other obligor on any of the Guarantied Obligations or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.  Each of the Guarantors agrees that the Guarantied Obligations will be paid and performed strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby consents to at any time and from time to time, and the joint and several obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be diminished, terminated or otherwise similarly affected by, any of the following:
(a)    Any lack of genuineness, legality, validity, enforceability or allowability (in a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding or otherwise) or any avoidance or subordination, in whole or in part, of any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations and, regardless of any Law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of the Guarantied Obligations, any of the terms of the Loan Documents or any rights of the Agent or the Lenders or any other Person with respect thereto;
(b)    Any increase, decrease or change in the amount, nature, type or purpose of any of, or any release, surrender, exchange, compromise or settlement of any of the Guarantied Obligations (whether or not contemplated by the Loan Documents as presently constituted); any change in the time, manner, method or place of payment or performance of or in any other term of any of the Guarantied Obligations; any execution or delivery of any additional Loan Documents; or any amendment, modification or supplement to, or renewals, extensions, refinancing or refunding of, any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations;
(c)    Any failure to assert any breach of or default under any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations; any extensions of credit in excess of the amount committed under or contemplated by the Loan Documents, or in circumstances in which any condition to such extensions of credit has not been satisfied; any other exercise or non-exercise, or any other failure, omission, breach, default, delay, or wrongful action in connection with any exercise or non-exercise, of any right or remedy against the Borrower or any other Person under or in connection with any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations; any refusal of payment or performance of any of the Guarantied Obligations, whether or not with any reservation of rights against any Guarantor; or any application of collections (including but not limited to collections resulting from realization upon any direct or indirect security for the Guarantied Obligations) to other obligations, if any, not entitled to the benefits of this Guaranty, in preference to Guarantied Obligations entitled to the benefits of this Guaranty, or if any collections are applied to Guarantied Obligations, any application to particular Guarantied Obligations;
(d)    Any taking, exchange, amendment, modification, waiver, supplement, termination, subordination, compromise, release, surrender, loss, or impairment of, or any failure to protect, perfect, or preserve the value of, or any enforcement of, realization upon, or exercise of rights, or remedies under or in connection with, or any failure, omission, breach, default, delay, or wrongful action by the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, or any other Person in connection with the enforcement of, realization upon, or exercise of rights or remedies under or in connection with, or, any other action or inaction by any of the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, or any other Person in respect of, any direct or indirect security for any of the Guarantied Obligations.  As used in this Guaranty, “direct or indirect security” for the Guarantied Obligations, and similar phrases, includes any collateral security, guaranty, suretyship, letter of credit, capital maintenance agreement, put option, subordination agreement, or other right or arrangement of any nature providing direct or indirect assurance of payment or performance of any of the Guarantied Obligations, made by or on behalf of any Person;
(e)    Any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, charter revocation, or forfeiture, or other change in, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of, the Borrower or any other Person; any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Borrower or any other Person; or any action taken or election made by the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them (including but not limited to any election under Section 1111(b)(2) of the United States Bankruptcy Code), the Borrower, or any other Person in connection with any such proceeding;

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(f)    Any defense, setoff, or counterclaim which may at any time be available to or be asserted by the Borrower or any other person with respect to any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations; or any discharge by operation of law or release of the Borrower or any other Person from the performance or observance of any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations;
(g)    Any other event or circumstance, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, and whether known or unknown, which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or limit the liability of, any Guarantor, a guarantor or a surety, excepting only full, strict, and indefeasible payment and performance of the Guarantied Obligations in full in cash and the termination of the Commitments (the first date on which each of the foregoing has occurred, the “Termination Date”).
Each Guarantor acknowledges, consents, and agrees that new Guarantors may join in this Guaranty pursuant to Section 11.19 [Joinder of Guarantors] of the Credit Agreement and each Guarantor affirms that its obligations shall continue hereunder undiminished.
4.    Waivers, etc.  Each of the Guarantors hereby waives any defense to or limitation on its obligations under this Guaranty arising out of or based on any event or circumstance referred to in Section 3 hereof.  Without limitation and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Guarantor waives each of the following:
(a)    All notices, disclosures and demand of any nature which otherwise might be required from time to time to preserve intact any rights against any Guarantor, including the following:  any notice of any event or circumstance described in Section 3 hereof; any notice required by any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction; any notice of nonpayment, nonperformance, dishonor, or protest under any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations; any notice of the incurrence of any Guarantied Obligation; any notice of any default or any failure on the part of the Borrower or any other Person to comply with any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations or any direct or indirect security for any of the Guarantied Obligations; and any notice of any information pertaining to the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or any other Person;
(b)    Any right to any marshalling of assets, to the filing of any claim against the Borrower or any other Person in the event of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding, or to the exercise against the Borrower or any other Person of any other right or remedy under or in connection with any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations or any direct or indirect security for any of the Guarantied Obligations; any requirement of promptness or diligence on the part of the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, or any other Person; any requirement to exhaust any remedies under or in connection with, or to mitigate the damages resulting from default under, any Loan Document or any of the Guarantied Obligations or any direct or indirect security for any of the Guarantied Obligations; any benefit of any statute of limitations; and any requirement of acceptance of this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, and any requirement that any Guarantor receive notice of any such acceptance;
(c)    Any defense or other right arising by reason of any Law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction pertaining to election of remedies (including but not limited to anti-deficiency laws, “one action” laws or the like), or by reason of any election of remedies or other action or inaction by the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them (including but not limited to commencement or completion of any judicial proceeding or nonjudicial sale or other action in respect of collateral security for any of the Guarantied Obligations), which results in denial or impairment of the right of the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, to seek a deficiency against the Borrower or any other Person or which otherwise discharges or impairs any of the Guarantied Obligations; and
(d)    Any and all defenses it may now or hereafter have based on principles of suretyship, impairment of collateral, or the like.
5.    Reinstatement. This Guaranty is a continuing obligation of the Guarantors and shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding that no Guarantied Obligations may be outstanding from time to time and notwithstanding any other event or circumstance.  Upon the Termination Date, this Guaranty shall terminate; provided, however, that 

5

this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, any time any payment of any of the Guarantied Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, recouped, avoided, or must otherwise be returned or released by any Lender or Agent upon or during the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of, or any similar proceeding affecting, Borrower or for any other reason whatsoever, all as though such payment had not been made and was due and owing.
6.    Subrogation; Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness.  
(a)    Each Guarantor waives and agrees it will not exercise any rights against Borrower or any other Guarantor arising in connection with the Guarantied Obligations (including rights of subrogation, contribution, and the like) until the Termination Date.  If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor by or on behalf of Borrower or any other Guarantor by virtue of any right of subrogation, contribution, or the like, such amount shall be deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and shall be held in trust for the benefit of, the Agent and the Lenders and shall forthwith be paid to the Agent to be credited and applied upon the Guarantied Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.
(b)    Each Guarantor agrees that any and all claims of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor hereunder (each an “Obligor”) with respect to any indebtedness of any Obligor to any Guarantor (“Intercompany Indebtedness”), any endorser, obligor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations, or against any of its properties shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all Guarantied Obligations; provided, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and such Guarantor has not actually received notice from the Agent that it is exercising its rights and remedies under the terms of the Credit Agreement (unless such Guarantor is the subject of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, bankruptcy, arrangement, receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other similar action or proceeding, in which case no such notice would be required), such Guarantor may receive payments of principal and interest and other amounts from any Obligor with respect to Intercompany Indebtedness.  If all or any part of the assets of any Obligor, or the proceeds thereof, are subject to any distribution, division or application to the creditors of such Obligor, whether partial or complete, voluntary or involuntary, and whether by reason of liquidation, bankruptcy, arrangement, receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other similar action or proceeding, or if the business of any such Obligor is dissolved or if substantially all of the assets of any such Obligor are sold, then, and in any such event (such events being herein referred to as an “Insolvency Event”), any payment or distribution of any kind or character, either in cash, securities or other property, which shall be payable or deliverable upon or with respect to any Intercompany Indebtedness shall be paid or delivered directly to the Agent for application on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or to become due, until such Guaranteed Obligations shall have first been indefeasibly paid in full in cash.  Should any payment, distribution, security or instrument or proceeds thereof be received by the applicable Guarantor upon or with respect to the Intercompany Indebtedness after any Insolvency Event and prior to the Termination Date, such Guarantor shall receive and hold the same in trust, as trustee, for the benefit of the Lenders, the Agent and the IRH Providers and shall forthwith deliver the same to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the IRH Providers, in precisely the form received (except for the endorsement or assignment of the Guarantor where necessary), for application to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or not due.  If any such Guarantor fails to make any such endorsement or assignment to the Agent, the Agent or any of its officers or employees is irrevocably authorized to make the same.  
7.    Contribution.  
(a)    To the extent any Guarantor shall make a payment under this Guaranty (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Guarantor, exceeds the amount which otherwise would have been paid by or attributable to such Guarantor if each Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guarantied Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion to such Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following the Termination Date, such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments 

6

from, and be reimbursed by, each other Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based on their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.  
(b)    As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Guarantor shall be equal to the excess of the fair saleable value of the property of such Guarantor over the total liabilities of such Guarantor (including the maximum amount reasonably expected to become due in respect of contingent liabilities, calculated, without duplication, assuming each other Guarantor that is also liable for such contingent liability pays its ratable share thereof), giving effect to all payments made by other Guarantors as of such date in a manner to maximize the amount of such contributions.  
(c)    This Section 7 is intended only to define the relative rights of Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 7 is intended to, or shall impair the obligations of, the Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty.  
(d)    The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Guarantor or Guarantors to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.  
(e)    The rights of the indemnifying Guarantors against other Guarantors under this Section 7  shall be exercisable only after the Termination Date.
8.    No Stay.  Without limitation of any other provision of this Guaranty, if any declaration of default or acceleration or other exercise or condition to exercise of rights or remedies under or with respect to any Guarantied Obligation shall at any time be stayed, enjoined, or prevented for any reason (including but not limited to stay or injunction resulting from the pendency against the Borrower or any other Person of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding), the Guarantors agree that, for the purposes of this Guaranty and their obligations hereunder, the Guarantied Obligations shall be deemed to have been declared in default or accelerated, and such other exercise or conditions to exercise shall be deemed to have been taken or met.
9.    Taxes.  Each Guarantor hereby agrees to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.8 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement and shall make all payments free and clear of Taxes as provided therein.
10.    Notices.  Each Guarantor agrees that all notices, statements, requests, demands and other communications under this Guaranty shall be given to such Guarantor at the address set forth on a Schedule to, or in a Guarantor Joinder and Assumption Agreement given under, the Credit Agreement and in the manner provided in Section 11.6 [Notices, Lending Offices] of the Credit Agreement.  The Agent and the Lenders may rely on any notice (whether or not made in a manner contemplated by this Guaranty) purportedly made by or on behalf of a Guarantor, and the Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to verify the identity or authority of the Person giving such notice.
11.    Counterparts; Telecopy Signatures.  This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that a telecopy transmission to Agent or any Lender of signature pages hereof purporting to be signed on behalf of any Guarantor shall constitute effective and binding execution and delivery hereof by such Guarantor.
12.    Setoff, Default Payments by Borrower.
(a)    In the event that at any time any obligation of the Guarantors now or hereafter existing under this Guaranty shall have become due and payable, the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, shall have the right from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, to set off against and apply to such due and payable amount any obligation of any nature of any Lender or the Agent, or any subsidiary or affiliate of any Lender or Agent, to any Guarantor, including but not limited to all deposits (whether time or demand, general or special, provisionally credited or finally credited, however evidenced) now or hereafter maintained by any Guarantor with the Agent or any Lender or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof.  Such right shall be absolute and unconditional in all circumstances and, without limitation, shall exist whether or not the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, shall have given any notice or made any demand under this 

7

Guaranty or under such obligation to the Guarantor, whether such obligation to the Guarantor is absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured (it being agreed that the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, may deem such obligation to be then due and payable at the time of such setoff), and regardless of the existence or adequacy of any collateral, guaranty, or other direct or indirect security or right or remedy available to the Agent or any of the Lenders.  The rights of the Agent and the Lenders under this Section are in addition to such other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of setoff and banker’s lien) which the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, may have, and nothing in this Guaranty or in any other Loan Document shall be deemed a waiver of or restriction on the right of setoff or banker’s lien of the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them.  Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any affiliate or subsidiary of the Agent or any of the Lenders and any holder of a participation in any obligation of any Guarantor under this Guaranty, shall have the same rights of setoff as the Agent and the Lenders as provided in this Section (regardless whether such affiliate or participant otherwise would be deemed a creditor of the Guarantor).
(b)    Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any default under any Guarantied Obligation, if any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor by or for the account of Borrower, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of each Lender and Agent and shall forthwith be paid to the Agent to be credited and applied to the Guarantied Obligations when due and payable.
13.    Construction.  The section and other headings contained in this Guaranty are for reference purposes only and shall not affect interpretation of this Guaranty in any respect.  This Guaranty has been fully negotiated between the applicable parties, each party having the benefit of legal counsel, and accordingly neither any doctrine of construction of guaranties or suretyships in favor of the guarantor or surety, nor any doctrine of construction of ambiguities in agreement or instruments against the party controlling the drafting thereof, shall apply to this Guaranty.
14.    Successors and Assigns.  This Guaranty shall be binding upon each Guarantor, its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, and their successors and assigns.  Without limitation of the foregoing, the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them (and any successive assignee or transferee), from time to time may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights or obligations under the Loan Documents (including all or any portion of any commitment to extend credit), or any other Guarantied Obligations, to any other Person in accordance with the Loan Documents and such Guarantied Obligations (including any Guarantied Obligations resulting from extension of credit by such other Person under or in connection with the Loan Documents) shall be and remain Guarantied Obligations entitled to the benefit of this Guaranty, and to the extent of its interest in such Guarantied Obligations such other Person shall be vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to the Agent and the Lenders in this Guaranty or otherwise.
15.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a)    Governing Law.  This Guaranty shall be deemed to be a contract under the Laws of the State of New York and shall, pursuant to New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401, for all purposes be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. 
(b)    CERTAIN WAIVERS.  EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY:
(i)    IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND CONSENTS THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE MADE BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL (RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) DIRECTED TO SUCH GUARANTOR AT THE ADDRESS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED UPON ACTUAL RECEIPT THEREOF; NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS BY ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW; 

8

(ii)    IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY ACTION INSTITUTED AGAINST IT AS PROVIDED HEREIN AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT ANY DEFENSE BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS OR ANY LACK OF JURISDICTION OR VENUE THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY; AND
(iii)    KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS GUARANTY, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY COLLATERAL OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALINGS, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALINGS, STATEMENTS OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT OR THE LENDERS RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERM LOAN OR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS GUARANTY OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.  SUCH GUARANTOR WILL NOT SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH ACTION WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED.  SUCH GUARANTOR CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE LENDERS, HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT AGENT OR THE LENDERS WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER.  THIS WAIVER CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR AGENT AND THE LENDERS TO ACCEPT THIS GUARANTY, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND MAKE THE TERM LOAN.
16.    Severability; Modification to Conform to Law;.
(a)    Wherever possible, each provision of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be prohibited by or invalid under such Law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty.   
(b)    Without limitation of the preceding subsection (a), to the extent that applicable Law (including applicable Laws pertaining to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent or preferential transfer) otherwise would render the full amount of the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder invalid, voidable, or unenforceable on account of the amount of a Guarantor’s aggregate liability under this Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty to the contrary, the aggregate amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Agent or any of the Lenders or such Guarantor or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount which is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding, which (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) may be an amount which is equal to the greater of:
(i)    the fair consideration actually received by such Guarantor under the terms and as a result of the Loan Documents and the value of the benefits described in this Section 16(b) hereof, including (and to the extent not inconsistent with applicable federal and state Laws affecting the enforceability of guaranties) distributions, commitments, and advances made to or for the benefit of such Guarantor with the proceeds of any credit extended under the Loan Documents, or
(ii)    the excess of (1) the amount of the fair value of the assets of such Guarantor as of the date of this Guaranty as determined in accordance with applicable federal and state Laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors as in effect on the date hereof, over (2) the amount of all liabilities of such Guarantor as of the date of this Guaranty, also as determined on the basis of applicable federal and state Laws governing the insolvency of debtors as in effect on the date hereof.

9

In determining the limitations, if any, on the amount of any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, it is the intention of the parties hereto that any rights of subrogation, indemnification or contribution which such Guarantor may have under this Guaranty, any other agreement or applicable law shall be taken into account.
(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section or elsewhere in this Guaranty, this Guaranty shall be presumptively valid and enforceable to its full extent in accordance with its terms, as if this Section (and references elsewhere in this Guaranty to enforceability to the fullest extent permitted by Law) were not a part of this Guaranty, and in any related litigation the burden of proof shall be on the party asserting the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof or asserting any limitation on any Guarantor's obligations hereunder as to each element of such assertion.
17.    Additional Guarantors.  At any time after the initial execution and delivery of this Guaranty to the Agent and the Lenders, additional Persons may become parties to this Guaranty and thereby acquire the duties and rights of being Guarantors hereunder by executing and delivering to the Agent and the Lenders a Guarantor Joinder pursuant to the Credit Agreement.  No notice of the addition of any Guarantor shall be required to be given to any pre-existing Guarantor and each Guarantor hereby consents thereto.
18.    Joint and Several Obligations.  Each of the obligations of each and every Guarantor under this Guaranty are joint and several obligations of the Guarantors, and each Guarantor hereby waives to the full extent permitted by Law any defense it may otherwise have to the payment and performance of the Obligations that its liability hereunder is limited and not joint and several.  Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing waivers and those set forth below serve as a material inducement to the agreement of the Agent and the Lenders to make the Term Loan, and that the Agent and the Lenders are relying on each specific waiver and all such waivers in entering into this Guaranty.  The undertakings of each Guarantor hereunder secure the obligations of itself and the other Guarantors.  The Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, may, in their sole discretion, elect to enforce this Guaranty against any Guarantor without any duty or responsibility to pursue any other Guarantor and such an election by the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, shall not be a defense to any action the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, may elect to take against any Guarantor.  Each of the Lenders and Agent hereby reserve all rights against each Guarantor.
19.    Receipt of Credit Agreement, Other Loan Documents, Benefits.  
(a)    Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and each Guarantor certifies that the representations and warranties made therein with respect to such Guarantor are true and correct.  Further, each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees to perform, comply with and be bound by all of the provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(b)    Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges, represents and warrants that it receives direct and indirect benefits by virtue of its affiliation with Borrower and the other Guarantors and that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Credit Agreement and that such benefits, together with the rights of contribution and subrogation that may arise in connection herewith, are a reasonably equivalent exchange of value in return for providing this Guaranty.
20.    Miscellaneous.
(a)    Generality of Certain Terms. As used in this Guaranty, the terms “hereof”, “herein” and terms of similar import refer to this Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular term or provision; the term “including”, as used herein, is not a term of limitation and means “including without limitation”.  
(b)    Amendments, Waivers. No amendment to or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, and no consent to any departure by any Guarantor herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless in a writing manually signed by or on behalf of the Agent and the requisite percentage of Lenders pursuant to Section 11.1 of the Credit Agreement.  Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.  No delay or failure of the Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, in exercising any right or remedy under this Guaranty shall 

10

operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.  The rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders under this Guaranty are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies available hereunder, under any other agreement or instrument, by Law, or otherwise.
(c)    Telecommunications. Each Lender and Agent shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any individual making any telecopy, electronic or telephonic notice, request or signature without the necessity of receipt of any verification thereof.  
(d)    Expenses.  Each Guarantor unconditionally agrees to pay all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Agent or any of the Lenders in enforcing this Guaranty against any Guarantor, and each Guarantor shall pay and indemnify each Lender and Agent for, and hold it harmless from and against, any and all obligations, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses (including disbursements and reasonable legal fees of counsel to any Lender or Agent), penalties, judgments, suits, actions, claims and disbursements imposed on, asserted against or incurred by any Lender or Agent (i) relating to the preparation, negotiation, execution, administration or enforcement of or collection under this Guaranty or any document, instrument or agreement relating to any of the Obligations, including in any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding in any jurisdiction or political subdivision thereof; (ii) relating to any amendment, modification, waiver or consent hereunder or relating to any telecopy or telephonic transmission purporting to be by any Guarantor or Borrower; (iii) in any way relating to or arising out of this Guaranty, or any document, instrument or agreement relating to any of the Guarantied Obligations, or any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Lender or Agent hereunder, and including those arising directly or indirectly from the violation or asserted violation by any Guarantor or Borrower or Agent or any Lender of any Law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or the like of any jurisdiction or political subdivision thereof (including those relating to environmental protection, health, labor, importing, exporting or safety) and regardless whether asserted by any governmental entity or any other Person.  
(e)    Prior Understandings.  This Guaranty and the Credit Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all other prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements. 
(f)    Survival.  All representations and warranties of the Guarantors made in connection with this Guaranty shall survive, and shall not be waived by, the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, any investigation by or knowledge of the Agent and the Lenders, or any of them, any extension of credit or any other event or circumstance whatsoever.
21.    Keepwell.  Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty in respect of Specified Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 21 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 21 or otherwise under this Guaranty voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount).  The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 21 shall remain in full force and effect until the Termination Date.  Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 21 constitute, and this Section 21 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.  As used herein, “Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Specified Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant guaranty or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation or such other Person as constitutes an ECP and can cause another Person to qualify as an ECP at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

11

[SIGNATURE PAGE - GUARANTY AND SURETYSHIP AGREEMENT]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor, intending to be legally bound, has executed this Guaranty as of the date first above written with the intention that this Guaranty shall constitute a sealed instrument.
COMMERCIAL REALTY AND RESOURCES CORP.

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name: Glenn C. Lockwood
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 
and Treasurer

NJR ENERGY CORPORATION

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood     
Name: Glenn C. Lockwood
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY

By:    /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name: Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR HOME SERVICES COMPANY

By:    /s/ Stanley Kosierowski    
Name: Stanley Kosierowski
Title: President

12

[SIGNATURE PAGE - GUARANTY AND SURETYSHIP AGREEMENT]

NJR INVESTMENT COMPANY

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name: Glenn C. Lockwood 
Title:  President

NJR SERVICE CORPORATION

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR STORAGE HOLDINGS COMPANY

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

JR ENERGY HOLDINGS CORPORATION

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name: Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NJR ENERGY INVESTMENTS CORPORATION

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name:  Glenn C. Lockwood
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

13

[SIGNATURE PAGE - GUARANTY AND SURETYSHIP AGREEMENT]

NJR PLUMBING SERVICES, INC.

By:     /s/ Stanley Kosierowski    
Name: Stanley Kosierowski
Title: President

NJR RETAIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

By:     /s/ Laurence M. Downes    
Name: Laurence M. Downes
Title: President and Treasurer

NJR CLEAN ENERGY VENTURES CORPORATION

By:     /s/ Glenn C. Lockwood    
Name: Glenn C. Lockwood
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

14

EXHIBIT 1.1(R)

FORM OF
NOTE

$_____________    New York, New York
______________ __, 20__

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation (herein called the “Borrower”), hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order of ___________________________________ (the “Lender”), the principal sum of __________________________________ Dollars (U.S. $___________), representing the portion of the Term Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of September 13, 2013, among the Borrower, the Guarantors now or hereafter party thereto, the Lenders now or hereafter party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (hereinafter referred to in such capacity as the “Agent”) (as amended, restated, modified, or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), together with all outstanding interest thereon on the Maturity Date. 
The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal balance hereof from time to time outstanding from the date hereof at the rate or rates per annum specified by the Borrower pursuant to, or as otherwise provided in, the Credit Agreement.  Subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, interest on this Note (this “Note”) will be payable pursuant to Section 5.3 [Interest Payment Dates] of, or as otherwise provided in, the Credit Agreement.  If any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder shall be stated to be or become due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next following Business Day, unless otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement, and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay interest on the entire principal amount of the then outstanding portion of the Term Loan evidenced by this Note and all other obligations due and payable to the Lender pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents at a rate per annum as set forth in Section 4.3 [Interest After Default] of the Credit Agreement.  Such interest rate will accrue before and after any judgment has been entered.
Subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement, payments of both principal and interest shall be made without setoff, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature at the office of the Agent specified in the Credit Agreement, unless otherwise directed in writing by the Agent, in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds.
This Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including the representations, warranties, covenants and conditions contained or granted therein.  The Credit Agreement, among other things, contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments in certain circumstances on account of principal hereof prior to maturity upon the terms and conditions therein specified.  The Borrower waives presentment, demand, notice, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Credit Agreement.

This Note shall bind the Borrower and its successors and assigns and the benefits hereof shall inure to the benefit of the Lender and its successors and assigns.  All references herein to the “Borrower” and the “Lender” shall be deemed to apply to the Borrower and the Lender, respectively, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted under the Credit Agreement.
This Note and any other documents delivered in connection herewith and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto and thereto shall, pursuant to New York General Obligations Law Section 5‐1401, for all purposes be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
All capitalized terms used herein shall, unless otherwise defined herein, have the same meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement and Section 1.2 [Construction] of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this Note.
 [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

2

[SIGNATURE PAGE - REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the undersigned has executed this Note by its duly authorized officer with the intention that it constitutes a sealed instrument.
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation 

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

(Seal)

3

EXHIBIT 2.4

FORM OF
LOAN REQUEST

TO:    JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent
10 South Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60603
Telephone No.:  312-385-7080
Telecopier No.:  888-292-9533
Email:   jpm.agency.servicing.4@jpmchase.com 
Attention:  Darren Cunningham
FROM:    New Jersey Resources Corporation (the “Borrower”)
		
	RE:
	Term Loan Credit Agreement (as it may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented, the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of September 13, 2013, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”)

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.
A.    Pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned Borrower irrevocably requests [check one line  under 1(a) below and fill in blank space next to the line as appropriate]:
1.(a)    _____    A new Term Loan 
OR

_____    Renewal of the LIBOR Rate Option applicable to [an outstanding portion of] the Term Loan, originally made on ________________, 20__ 

OR

_____    Conversion of the Base Rate Option applicable to [an outstanding portion of] the Term  Loan, originally made on _____________, 20__ to a Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, 

OR

_____    Conversion of the LIBOR Rate Option applicable to [an outstanding portion of] the  Term Loan, originally made on ____________, 20__ to a Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies.

SUCH NEW, RENEWED OR CONVERTED TERM LOAN SHALL BEAR INTEREST:

[Check one line under 1(b) below and fill in blank spaces in line next to line]:
1.(b)(i) _____    Under the Base Rate Option.  Such Term Loan shall have a Borrowing Date of __________, ___ (which date shall be (i) one (1) Business Day after the Business Day of receipt by the Agent by 10:00 a.m. of this Loan Request for making a new Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies, or (ii) the last day of the preceding Interest Period if [a portion of ] the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies is being converted to a Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies).

OR
(ii) _____    Under the LIBOR Rate Option.  Such Term Loan shall have a Borrowing Date of _____________ (which date shall be (i) three (3) Business Days after the Business Day of receipt by the Agent by 10:00 a.m. of this Loan Request for making a new Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, renewing [a portion of] the Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, or converting a Term Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies to a Term Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies.

2.    Such [portion of the] Term Loan is in the principal amount of U.S. $_____________ or the principal amount to be renewed or converted is U.S. $_____________ [not to be less than $3,000,000 and in increments of $1,000,000 for each Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies and not less than the lesser of $1,000,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 or the maximum amount available for each Borrowing Tranche to which the Base Rate Option applies].
3.    [Complete blank below if the Borrower is selecting the LIBOR Rate Option]:  Such [portion of the] Tern Loan shall have an Interest Period of [one, two, three or six] Months. ________________.
	
			
	B.   The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests [check one line below and fill in blank spaces next to the line as appropriate]:

	1
	   
	1.    Funds to be deposited into a JPMorgan Chase bank account per our current standing instructions.  Complete amount of deposit if not full loan advance amount:     U.S. $_______________.

	•2
	   
	2.    Funds to be wired per the following wire instructions:

U.S. $_________________  Amount of Wire Transfer 
Bank Name:  _____________________ 
ABA:  __________________________ 
Account Number: _________________ 
Account Name: ___________________ 
Reference: _______________________

	·    3
	   
	3.    Funds to be wired per the attached Funds Flow (multiple wire transfers).

 [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

2

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO LOAN REQUEST]
The undersigned certifies to the Agent as to the accuracy of the foregoing.
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation

Date: ______________, 20__    By:    (SEAL)
Name:    
Title:    

3

EXHIBIT 5.8.6(A)
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Banks That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2013 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among New Jersey Resources Corporation, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent, and each bank from time to time party thereto.  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.8 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of its portion of the Term Loan (as well as any Note evidencing such portion of the Term Loan) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments. 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
		
	[NAME OF BANK]

	By:   

	 
	Name:

	 
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[  ]

EXHIBIT 5.8.6(B)
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2013 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among New Jersey Resources Corporation, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent, and each bank from time to time party thereto.  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.8 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code].

The undersigned has furnished its participating Bank with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Bank in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Bank with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
		
	[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

	By:   

	 
	Name:

	 
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[  ]

2

EXHIBIT 5.8.6(C)
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2013 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among New Jersey Resources Corporation, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent, and each bank from time to time party thereto.  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.8 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code. 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Bank with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Bank and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Bank with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
		
	[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

	By:   

	 
	Name:

	 
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[  ]

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EXHIBIT 5.8.6(D)
FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Banks That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2013 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among New Jersey Resources Corporation, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent, and each bank from time to time party thereto.  

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.8 [Taxes] of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of its portion of the Term Loan (as well as any Note evidencing such portion of the Term Loan) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such portion of the Term Loan (as well as any Note evidencing such portion of the Term Loan), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

	
		
	[NAME OF BANK]

	By:   

	 
	Name:

	 
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[  ]

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EXHIBIT 7.1.3(A)
September 13, 2013
    
        
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
10 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

and the financial institution listed
on Schedule A hereto (the “Lender”)
    
Re:    New Jersey Resources Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are special counsel to New Jersey Resources Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”) and each of the corporations listed as “Guarantors” on Schedule B hereto (the “Guarantors” and, collectively with the Borrower, the “Loan Parties”). We have represented the Loan Parties in connection with its negotiation, execution and delivery of that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Credit Agreement”), among the Loan Parties and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually as the Lender and in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement (in such capacity, the “Agent”), and in connection with the Transactions (as defined below) contemplated thereby.  

This Opinion Letter is provided to the Agent and the Lender at the request of the Loan Parties in satisfaction of the closing condition set forth in Section 7.1.3(a) of the Credit Agreement.  It is intended solely for the information of the Agent and the Lender in connection with the Credit Agreement and the Transactions, and may not be relied upon by any other person (except as provided in the next sentence) or for any other purpose.  No part of this Opinion Letter may be incorporated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any other document or communication or filed with or otherwise furnished to any governmental authority or other person without our prior written consent, except that the Agent and the Lender may furnish a copy of this Opinion Letter: (a) in connection with any proceedings relating to the Loan Documents (as defined below) or the enforcement thereof; (b) to accountants and counsel for the Agent or the Lender; (c) to governmental regulatory examiners; (d) pursuant to judicial process or government order or requirement; and (e) to permitted prospective and actual assignees of, and participants in the interests of, the Agent or the Lender under the Loan Documents (who may rely upon this Opinion Letter as though it had been addressed and delivered to them as of the date of this Opinion Letter).  In all cases, reliance upon this Opinion Letter is conditioned upon acceptance of the assumptions, qualifications and other limitations that are set forth herein (the “Qualifications”).

In connection with this Opinion Letter, we have examined originals or copies of the Credit Agreement and related instruments and agreements identified as “Loan Documents” on Schedule C hereto, in each case as executed and delivered in connection with the closing of the Transactions on the date hereof (the “Closing”).

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We also have examined copies of: (a) the certificate of incorporation of each Loan Party, as certified in the certificates of the Secretaries of the respective Loan Parties delivered to the Agent in connection with the Closing (the “Secretary Certificates”) as being currently in effect; (b) the respective by-laws of the Loan Parties, as certified in the Secretary Certificates as being currently in effect, (c) certificates respecting the good standing of the Loan Parties (the “Good Standing Certificates”), and (d) resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower, and by the boards of directors and respective sole shareholder of each of the Guarantors, in each case relating to the Loan Documents and the Transactions, and, in each case, as certified in the Secretary Certificates as having been duly adopted and being currently in effect (items (a) through (d) above are referred to collectively as the “Organizational Documents”).  We also have examined originals or copies of: (x) each of the instruments and agreements identified as “Specified Other Agreements” on Schedule D hereto; (y) any Material Orders (as defined below); and (z) a certificate as to certain factual matters from Glenn C. Lockwood, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of the Borrower.   

In addition, we have made such other investigations of applicable New York State and United States statutes and regulations and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) as we deemed necessary under customary practice to enable us to render this Opinion Letter.  As noted below, we are not licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey, but we have reviewed the New Jersey Business Corporation Act (the “NJBCA”), as posted on a website maintained by that jurisdiction at , to the extent we deemed necessary to enable us to render the opinions set forth in numbered paragraph 2 below. 

In conducting our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all individual signatories, the authenticity, completeness and accuracy of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the completeness, accuracy and conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies (whether or not certified).  Each of the governmental certificates, publicly filed or recorded items and searches of public record (if any) examined by us were obtained by an independent firm not under our control or supervision, and we have assumed that they are sufficient and would disclose no additional relevant or conflicting facts if updated through the date of this Opinion Letter.  In addition, we have assumed and without independent investigation have relied upon the factual accuracy of the representations, warranties, certifications and other information contained in the items we examined and upon the assumptions we have made in this Opinion Letter.  Except as expressly set forth in this Opinion Letter, we have not conducted or commissioned any search, review, investigation, examination or inquiry of any books, records, files, financial statements or tax returns of any person, any internal file, court file, public record or any other information source, or undertaken any other independent search, review, investigation, examination or inquiry to determine or confirm the existence or absence of any facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein.  The Loan Documents, Organizational Documents, Specified Other Agreements and Material Orders are the only items of their respective types reviewed by us in connection with or covered by us in this Opinion Letter.

Where reference is made in this Opinion Letter to matters within our knowledge, or to facts and circumstances known to us or understood by us, such reference means the actual knowledge of those attorneys within our firm who have given substantive attention to the Loan 

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Documents.  By actual knowledge, we mean the conscious awareness of information about fact of any such lawyer without undertaking any investigation to determine the existence or absence of any facts, either within our firm or otherwise.  Please be advised that the Loan Parties also may be represented by other attorneys, and that we have represented them only in connection with the Transactions and certain other specific matters.

For the purposes of this Opinion Letter: (a) “Material Adverse Change” means any “Material Adverse Change” (as defined in the Credit Agreement), taking into account our understanding of the business, real and personal property, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the Loan Parties taken as a whole; (b) “Material Order” means any written court or administrative order, writ, judgment or decree known to us to name any Loan Party and to be in effect on the date hereof, and the violation of which or noncompliance with which by the Borrower would, in our judgment, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and (c) “Transactions” means the establishment of the credit facility under the Credit Agreement in favor of the Borrower, as guaranteed by the Guarantors, in accordance with the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents, and the advance of the Term Loan contemplated thereunder, all to be effected at the Closing.

We express no opinion respecting the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any right, power, privilege, remedy or interest intended or purported to be created thereunder, insofar as: (a) any of the rights, powers, privileges, remedies and interests of a person thereunder may be limited by: (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, reorganization or other laws affecting any rights, powers, privileges, remedies and interests of creditors generally (including, without limitation, post-petition interest), (ii) rules or principles (of equity, public policy or otherwise) affecting the enforcement of obligations generally, whether considered at law, in equity or otherwise, including (without limitation) those pertaining to materiality, good faith, fair dealing, diligence, reasonableness, unconscionability, impossibility of performance, suretyship rights or defenses (of a co-borrower, guarantor or otherwise), waiver, laches, estoppel or judicial deference, or (iii) the exercise of the discretionary powers of any court or other authority before which may be brought any proceeding seeking equitable or other remedies, including (without limitation) specific performance, injunctive relief and indemnification; (b) the rights, powers, privileges, remedies and interests of any person under any Loan Document or applicable law may be exercised or otherwise enforced in bad faith, in a commercially unreasonable manner or for immaterial breaches; and (c) any term or provision of any Loan Document conflicts or is inconsistent with any other term or provision of that or any other Loan Document.

We express no opinion whatsoever respecting any Loan Document, or any right, power, privilege, remedy or interest intended or purported to be created thereunder, insofar as any term or provision of any Loan Document purportedly grants, or otherwise authorizes or permits, a person to exercise or otherwise enforce or pursue specific rights, powers, privileges and remedies in a manner impermissible under or otherwise inconsistent with applicable law or public policy from time to time in effect; provided, however, that without the provisions referenced above in this paragraph  (and assuming that a court would sever any such terms and provisions from such respective Loan Documents) the Agent and the Lender nevertheless have legally adequate rights and remedies under the Loan Documents and applicable law for pursuit of a claim for principal and 

3

interest owed by the Borrower, and guaranteed by the Guarantors, under the Loan Documents, in each case subject to clauses (a), (b) and (c) in the preceding paragraph, above, and the other Qualifications of this Opinion Letter.

We express no opinion whatsoever as to any of the following in any Loan Document: (i) any agreement to agree, any penalty, any power of attorney, any severability or future reformation, or any “savings”, “time is of the essence” or similar provision; (ii) any exculpation or indemnification for bad faith, negligence, misconduct or breach of contract or applicable law or for any matter to the extent impermissible under applicable law or public policy; (iii) any waivers or limits respecting jury trial, required notices, required procedures, legal rights and remedies, or service of process; (iv) any table of contents or section or other headings where the substantive effect thereof has not been effectively waived in the applicable Loan Document; (v) matters of conspicuousness of any provision; or (vi) any provision of any Loan Document purporting to deem any notice as effective after a period of time irrespective of its actual receipt or to include the period between the giving or deemed receipt of notice and the time of its actual receipt in any calculation respecting any prior notice, cure or similar period required under any Loan Document.  

We express no opinion with respect to: title to or use of any property; the applicable laws of any county, town, municipality or other local or special political subdivision; or the creation, legality, validity, binding effect, enforceability, perfection or priority of any security interest or other lien or encumbrance, or as to the absence of any security interests or other liens or encumbrances.  We also express no opinion regarding any consent to jurisdiction or venue.  Furthermore, we express no opinion as to matters pertaining to any anti-terrorism laws, Anti-Corruption Laws (as defined in the Credit Agreement), as to the Federal Power Act or any other federal or state statutory, regulatory or other legal requirement related to natural gas or other energy production, transport, storage or commerce, or related to the ownership or operation of any person directly or indirectly engaged in any of the foregoing; or as to any applicable law respecting: zoning, land use, wetlands or the like; hazardous substances or the environment; health or safety; food, alcohol, drugs or other regulated items; criminal activities; criminal or civil forfeiture; national or state emergency; employment or labor; pension or benefit plans; antitrust or unfair competition; racketeering; fiduciary duties; taxes or levies; or securities (except as noted in numbered paragraph 8 below), futures, commodities and the like (including, without limitation, any blue sky or similar law), including as to margin stock.  We express no opinion as to any filings or notices (whether as assumed by us or otherwise), or as to the effect of textual bolding.  We have also assumed that the Term Loan and related obligations are principal obligations of the Borrower and secondary obligations of the Guarantors.  In addition, we express no opinion insofar as any Loan Document may purport to govern or otherwise apply to any affiliate of any of the Loan Parties, except where that affiliate itself is a Loan Party.  In any event, we express no opinion as to any matter assumed by us, any factual information provided to us or any other matter, in each case except as expressly set forth in this Opinion Letter.

Our express assumptions and qualifications are not in limitation of others that customarily apply (expressly or impliedly) to legal opinion letters, including that: (a) each party to a Loan Document (other than the Loan Parties) or other document we examined: (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization and is qualified to do business and licensed in each other jurisdiction necessary to its performance or enforcement thereunder, (ii) 

4

has full power, authority and capacity and has been duly authorized and empowered to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each such document, (iii) has satisfied all legal, governance and contractual requirements applicable to it to the extent necessary to make each such document enforceable by or against it, and (iv) is properly identified with its true, complete and correct legal name and organizational jurisdiction therein; (b) each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each party thereto (other than the Loan Parties) and, other than as to the Loan Parties, is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each such party, enforceable as written against each such party in accordance with its terms and provisions; (c) each of the Specified Other Agreements, Material Orders and other documents we examined would be enforced as written; (d) each certificate, report or other document issued by any governmental official, office or agency concerning any person, real or personal property, or status is, and all public records (including their proper indexing and filing) are, accurate, complete, authentic and current; (e) there has not been any mutual mistake of fact, misunderstanding, duress, undue influence or fraud or other criminal activity, and any requirement of good faith, fair dealing and conscionability has been met; (f) the Loan Documents contain all of the provisions intended by the parties and the entire agreement of the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, and there are no written or oral agreements or understandings among the parties, and there is no usage of trade or course of dealing among the parties, that in any case could define, conflict with, supplement or qualify any term or provision of any Loan Document; (g) no person will in the future take any action (including a decision not to act) that: (1) is prohibited under any Loan Document, Organizational Document, Specified Other Agreement, Material Order or applicable law, or (2) may be permitted, but not required, under any Loan Document if such action would result in any violation of applicable law or constitute any violation or default under any other Loan Document, Organizational Document, Specified Other Agreement or Material Order; (h) the proceeds of the Term Loan at the Closing have been disbursed in accordance with the Loan Documents; (i) all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the Loan Documents have been duly satisfied or waived; and (j) any and all fees, taxes (including, without limitation, documentary, intangible, stamp and recording taxes) and charges imposed in connection with the Loan Documents have been paid in full to the authorities or other parties entitled to payment thereof.  

Our opinions are limited to the date hereof.  We do not undertake to advise you of any facts or circumstances occurring or coming to our attention subsequent to the Closing.  Whenever any opinion in this Opinion Letter refers to or includes the performance of any obligation or the issuance of any instrument or certificate after the Closing, it is based on our assumption that: (i) all relevant facts and circumstances will be the same at such future time as we believe them to be at the Closing (except as noted in the next clause); (ii) each party will have taken all future or further actions necessary or appropriate thereto; (iii) no relevant filings, approvals, permits or similar items will have expired or otherwise adversely changed; and (iv) no changes will have occurred in any of the Loan Documents, Organizational Documents, Specified Other Agreements, Material Orders, other relevant documents, applicable law, trade usage or course of dealings.

Finally, for purposes of this Opinion Letter we express no opinion as to the applicable laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York, the DGCL, the federal laws of the United States (as limited above), and, as described in the next sentence, the laws of the State of New Jersey.  We are not licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and do not hold 

5

ourselves out as experts in New Jersey law; and, accordingly, we have based our opinions in numbered paragraph 2 below solely on our review of the NJBCA.  Further, please note that we have based our opinions in numbered paragraph 1 below solely on our review of the Good Standing Certificates.  Also please be aware that, consistent with the opinion practices of the New York bar, our opinions contained in this Opinion Letter are expressions of our professional judgment regarding the legal matters addressed and are not guarantees or warranties that a court or other authority will reach any particular result.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

1.    The Borrower and the Guarantors (other than NJR Storage Holdings Company) are corporations incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey.  NJR Storage Holdings Company is a corporation incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  

2.    Each of the Loan Parties (a) has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and to consummate the Transactions contemplated thereby and (b) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and has duly executed and delivered each Loan Document to which it is a party.

3.    Each Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and is enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

4.    Each Loan Document to which a Guarantor is a party constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor and is enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms.

5.    The execution and delivery by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, the performance (in accordance with the terms thereof) by such Loan Party of its respective obligations thereunder, and the consummation by such Loan Party of the Transactions contemplated thereby: (a) do not violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of such Loan Party; (b) do not contravene any applicable provision of any New York State or United States statute, rule or regulation that we have, in the exercise of customary professional diligence, recognized as applicable to such Loan Party in connection with the Transactions; (c) do not violate any Material Order; and (d) do not conflict with or result in any breach of or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any security interest or other lien upon any of the real or personal property of such Loan Party pursuant to the terms of, any Specified Other Agreement.

6.    To our knowledge, except as set forth in the SEC Filings (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or otherwise disclosed in the Loan Documents, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened against the Borrower or any of its real or personal property that in our judgment reasonably would be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

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7.    To our knowledge, except as set forth in the SEC Filings (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or otherwise disclosed in the Loan Documents, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened against any Guarantor or any of its real and personal property that in our judgment reasonably would be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

8.    No Loan Party is an “investment company” or is a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Very truly yours,

/s/ TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP

TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP

7

SCHEDULE A TO OPINION LETTER

List of Lenders

The following financial institution constitutes the “Lender” for purposes of this Opinion Letter:

		
	1.
	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

SCHEDULE B TO OPINION LETTER

List of Guarantors

The following corporations collectively constitute the “Guarantors” for purposes of this Opinion Letter:

1.Commercial Realty and Resources Corp.;
2.NJR Energy Corporation;
3.NJR Energy Holdings Corporation;
4.NJR Energy Investments Corporation;
5.NJR Energy Services Company;
6.NJR Home Services Company;
7.NJR Investment Company;
8.NJR Plumbing Services, Inc.;
9.NJR Retail Holdings Corporation;
10.NJR Storage Holdings Company; 
11.NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation; and
12.NJR Service Corporation.

each of which is a New Jersey corporation (except for NJR Storage Holdings Company, which is a Delaware corporation).
SCHEDULE C TO OPINION LETTER

List of Loan Documents

The following instruments and agreements collectively constitute the “Loan Documents” for purposes of this Opinion Letter:

1.    Credit Agreement.

2.    Guaranty and Suretyship Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among each of the Guarantors and the Agent for the benefit of the Lender.

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SCHEDULE D TO OPINION LETTER

List of Specified Other Agreements

The following instruments and agreements collectively constitute the “Specified Other Agreements” for purposes of this Opinion Letter:

1.    Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2007, among the Borrower and the purchasers party thereto, relating to the Borrower's issuance and sale of an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 of its 6.05% senior notes due September 24, 2017. 

2.    Shelf Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2011, between the Borrower and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

3.    Shelf Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2011, between the Borrower and Prudential Investment Management, Inc.

4.    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2012, among the Borrower, each of the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agents, and Bank of America, N.A., TD Bank, N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Documentation Agents.

20589381v3 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 
as Administrative Agent, et al
September 13, 2013
Page 4

[Richard Reich Letterhead]

                                                                                    

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EXHIBIT 7.1.3(B)

September 13, 2013

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
10 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

and the financial institution listed
on Schedule A hereto (the “Lender”)

Re:    New Jersey Resources Corporation 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am counsel to New Jersey Resources Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”) and each of the corporations listed as “Guarantors” on Schedule B hereto (the “Guarantors” and, collectively with the Borrower, the “Loan Parties”).  I have represented the Loan Parties in connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery of that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Credit Agreement”), among the Loan Parties and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., individually as the Lender and in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement (in such capacity, the “Agent”), and in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby.

This opinion letter is provided to the Agent and the Lender at the request of the Loan Parties in satisfaction of the closing condition set forth in Section 7.1.3(b) of the Credit Agreement.  It is intended solely for the information of the Agent and the Lender in connection with the Credit Agreement and transactions contemplated thereby, and may not be relied upon by any other person (except as provided in the next sentence) or for any other purpose.  No part of this opinion letter may be incorporated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any other document or communication or filed with or otherwise furnished to any governmental authority or other person without my prior written consent, except that my prior written consent is not needed to furnish a copy of this opinion letter: (a) in connection with any proceedings relating to the Loan Documents (as defined below) or the enforcement thereof; (b) to accountants and counsel for the Agent or the Lender; (c) to governmental regulatory examiners; (d) pursuant to judicial process or government order or requirement; and (e) to permitted prospective and actual assignees of, and participants in the interests of, the Agent or the Lender under the Loan Documents (who may rely upon this opinion letter as though it had been addressed and delivered to them as of the date of this opinion letter).  In all cases, reliance upon this opinion letter is conditioned upon acceptance of the assumptions, qualifications and other limitations that are set forth herein.

For purposes of the opinions expressed herein, I have examined originals or copies of the Credit Agreement and related instruments and agreements identified as “Loan Documents” on Schedule C hereto, in each case as executed and delivered at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement on the date hereof (the “Closing”).

10

I also have examined copies of: (a) the certificate of incorporation of each Loan Party, in each case as certified in the certificates of the Secretaries of the respective Loan Parties delivered to the Agent in connection with the Closing (the “Secretary Certificates”) as being currently in effect; (b) the respective by-laws of the Loan Parties, in each case as certified in the Secretary Certificates as being currently in effect; and (c) resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower, and by the respective boards of directors and respective sole shareholder of each of the Guarantors, in each case relating to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, and in each case, as certified in the Secretary Certificates as having been duly adopted and being currently in effect (items (a) through (c) above are referred to collectively as the “Organizational Documents”).  In addition, I have made such other investigations of applicable New York State and United States statutes and regulations as I deemed necessary under customary practice to enable me to render this opinion letter.  As noted below, I also have reviewed the New Jersey Business Corporation Act (“NJBCA”), as posted on a website maintained by that jurisdiction at .  I am not licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey.  I am, however, licensed to practice law as an in-house counsel in the State of New Jersey and as such, am familiar with those laws, rules and regulations of the State of New Jersey as I deemed relevant to enable me to render this opinion letter. 
I express no opinion with respect to: title to or use of any property; the applicable laws of any county, town, municipality or other local or special political subdivision; or the creation, legality, validity, binding effect, enforceability, perfection or priority of any security interest or other lien or encumbrance, or as to the absence of any security interests or other liens or encumbrances.  Furthermore, I express no opinion as to matters pertaining to any anti-terrorism laws, Anti-Corruption Laws (as defined in the Credit Agreement), as to the Federal Power Act or any other federal or state statutory, regulatory or other legal requirement related to natural gas or other energy production, transport, storage or commerce, or related to the ownership or operation of any person directly or indirectly engaged in any of the foregoing; or as to any applicable law respecting: zoning, land use, wetlands or the like; hazardous substances or the environment; health or safety; food, alcohol, drugs or other regulated items; criminal activities; criminal or civil forfeiture; national or state emergency; employment or labor; pension or benefit plans; antitrust or unfair competition; racketeering; fiduciary duties; taxes or levies; or securities, futures, commodities and the like (including, without limitation, any blue sky or similar law), including as to margin stock (except as noted in paragraph no. 5 below).  In any event, I express no opinion as to any matter assumed by me, any factual information provided to me or any other matter, in each case except as expressly set forth in this opinion letter.
My express assumptions and qualifications are not in limitation of others that customarily apply (expressly or impliedly) to legal opinion letters, including that each of the Loan Documents and other items I examined would be enforced as written.

In conducting my examinations, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures (other than that of the Loan Parties at the Closing), the legal capacity of all individual signatories, the accuracy of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to me as copies (whether or not certified).  In addition, I have assumed and without independent investigation have relied upon the factual accuracy of the representations, 

11

warranties and other information contained in the items I examined (except where, based upon facts and circumstances actually known to me, such reliance would be unwarranted) and upon the assumptions I have made in this opinion letter.  Except as expressly set forth in this opinion letter, I have not conducted or commissioned any search of the books, records, files, financial statements or tax returns of any person, searched any internal file, court file, public record or other information source, reviewed any agreement or other instrument or undertaken any other independent investigation, examination or inquiry to determine or confirm the existence or absence of any facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein.
Where reference is made in this opinion letter to matters within my knowledge, or to facts and circumstances known to me or understood by me, such reference means my actual knowledge.  By actual knowledge, I mean my conscious awareness of information about either fact or law (depending upon usage) without undertaking any investigation to determine the existence or absence of any facts.
For the purposes of this opinion letter, “Material Adverse Change” means any “Material Adverse Change” (as defined in the Credit Agreement), taking into account my understanding of the business, real and personal property, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the Loan Parties.

My opinions are limited to the date hereof.  I do not undertake to advise you of any facts or circumstances occurring or coming to my attention subsequent to the date hereof.    
Finally, for purposes of this opinion letter I express no opinion as to the applicable laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York, the federal laws of the United States, and, as described in the next sentence, the laws of the State of New Jersey.  I am not admitted to practice in the State of New Jersey and do not hold myself out as an expert in New Jersey law; and, accordingly, I base my opinion in paragraph 1 below on my review of the NJBCA, and I base my opinions in paragraphs 3 and 4 below solely on my actual knowledge of applicable New Jersey law.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated herein, I am of the opinion that:
1.    Each of the Loan Parties has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents, and has duly executed and delivered each Loan Document to which it is a party.  
2.    The execution and delivery by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, the performance (in accordance with the terms thereof) by such Loan Party of its obligations thereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby: (a) do not conflict with or result in any breach of or constitute a default under any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon or affecting such Loan Party, except insofar as any such conflict, breach or default would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and (b) do not result in the creation of any security interest or other lien upon any of the real or personal property of such Loan Party pursuant to the terms of any agreement 

12

or other instrument known to me to be binding upon such Loan Party.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, however, I exclude any Organizational Document, as well as any instrument or agreement that is one of the “Specified Other Agreements” referred to in the legal opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP of even date herewith addressed to you.

3.    No material registration with, material consent of, material approval of, or other material action by, any federal or New Jersey state governmental authority or regulatory body is required by law to be obtained by the Loan Parties in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, or in connection with the extension of credit by the Lender to the Borrower under the Loan Documents.
4.    To my knowledge, each Loan Party: (a) is not in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or any federal, state, municipal or other governmental authority; and (b) is in compliance with all federal and New Jersey state laws, rules and regulations applicable to them, in each case except where such default or noncompliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

5.    To my knowledge, no Loan Party is engaged in the business of purchasing or selling margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) or extending credit to others for the purposes of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock.  To my knowledge, no part of the proceeds of the Term Loan (as defined in the Credit Agreement) will be used by the Loan Parties to purchase or carry any such margin stock or for any other purpose which would violate or be inconsistent with said Regulation U.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Richard Reich

Richard Reich, Assistant General Counsel
of NJR Service Corporation 

13

SCHEDULE A TO OPINION LETTER
List of Lenders
The following financial institution constitutes the “Lender” for purposes of this Opinion Letter:
		
	1.
	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

SCHEDULE B TO OPINION LETTER
List of Guarantors
The following corporations collectively constitute the “Guarantors” for purposes of this Opinion Letter:
1.Commercial Realty and Resources Corp.;
2.NJR Energy Corporation;
3.NJR Energy Holdings Corporation;
4.NJR Energy Investments Corporation;
5.NJR Energy Services Company;
6.NJR Home Services Company;
7.NJR Investment Company;
8.NJR Plumbing Services, Inc.;
9.NJR Retail Holdings Corporation;
10.NJR Storage Holdings Company; 
11.NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation; and
12.NJR Service Corporation.

each of which is a New Jersey corporation (except for NJR Storage Holdings Company, which is a Delaware corporation).
SCHEDULE C TO OPINION LETTER
List of Loan Documents
The following instruments and agreements collectively constitute the “Loan Documents” for purposes of this Opinion Letter:

1.    Credit Agreement.

2.     Guaranty and Suretyship Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among each of the Guarantors and the Agent for the benefit of the Lender.
20590634v3 

14

EXHIBIT 8.2.5
FORM OF
ACQUISITION COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

_____________ __, 20_
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent
and each Lender party to the Credit Agreement (defined below)
10 South Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60603
Telephone No.:  312-385-7080
Telecopier No.:  888-292-9533
Email:   jpm.agency.servicing.4@jpmchase.com 
Attention:  Darren Cunningham

Ladies and Gentlemen:
I refer to the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2013 (as amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among New Jersey Resources Corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”).  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.  References herein to Sections of the Credit Agreement are qualified, in their entirety, by the applicable provision of the Section of the Credit Agreement so referred to and together with all related provisions and definitions referred to in such Section or incorporated therein.
I, ______________________, [Chief Executive Officer/President/Chief Financial Officer] of the Borrower, do hereby certify on behalf of the Loan Parties as of the [fiscal quarter/fiscal year ended _________________, 20__] as follows:
In connection with Section 8.2.5 of the Credit Agreement and with respect to a proposed Permitted Acquisition by _________________________ [name of Loan Party that will be making the Permitted Acquisition] (the “Acquiring Company”) of __________ [assets/stock] [by purchase/by merger and insert description of the transaction] (the “Acquisition”) of ____________________________ [insert name of entity whose assets are/stock is being acquired] (the “Target”).
The proposed date of the Acquisition is _________________ (the “Acquisition Date”) [at least 5 Business Days after the date of this certificate].
The “Report Date” herein shall be the date of the most recent fiscal quarter ended prior to the proposed Acquisition of the Target.
The total consideration to be paid including (i) cash paid by any of the Loan Parties, directly or indirectly, to the Target, (ii) the Indebtedness, fixed or contingent, incurred or assumed any of the Loan Parties, whether in favor of Target or otherwise, (iii) any Guaranty given or incurred by any Loan Party in 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent 
and each Lender party to the Credit Agreement 
_________________, 20__ 
Page 2

connection with the Acquisition and (iv) any other consideration given or obligation incurred by any of the Loan Parties in connection with the Acquisition is $__________.
The Target is engaged in ____________________ [describe business being acquired].
The Loan Parties are, and after giving effect to the proposed Permitted Acquisition shall be, in compliance with Section 8.2.12 of the Credit Agreement, as more fully set forth on Appendix A attached hereto.  
Immediately prior to and after giving effect to the proposed Acquisition:  (i) the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained in Section 6 of the Credit Agreement (other than the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained in the first sentence of Section 6.1.6 [Litigation], Section 6.1.8 [Historical Statements; No Material Adverse Change] and Section 6.1.21 [Environmental Matters]) and in the other Loan Documents are true on and as of the Report Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (except representations and warranties which expressly related solely to an earlier date or time), (ii) the Loan Parties have performed and complied with all covenants and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (iii) no event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Default.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this _____ day of ____________, 20___.

By:    
Name:    
Title:    [Chief Executive Officer/President/Chief Financial Officer]

APPENDIX A
	
				
	Credit Agreement
	Consolidated for Borrower and  
its Subsidiaries
	Target
	Consolidated 
Pro Forma 5

	1.    Maximum Leverage Ratio (Section 8.2.12).  The ratio of (A) Consolidated Total Indebtedness to (B) Consolidated Total Capitalization as of the Report Date is:
   which is not more than the maximum permitted ratio of 0.65 to 1.0
	

_____ to 1.00
	

_____ to 1.00
	

______ to 1.00

                                         
 5   All calculations are on a pro-forma basis, based upon the financial statements of the Loan Parties as of the Report Date, after giving effect to the proposed Permitted Acquisition (i.e., if a financial covenant is measured for the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters as of the Report Date, the financial results of the Target as well as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will be included in that four fiscal quarter period calculation;  provided, however, that income earned or expenses incurred by the Target prior to the date of the proposed Permitted Acquisition shall be excluded) and include in such calculations Indebtedness or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent 
and each Lender party to the Credit Agreement 
_________________, 20__ 
Page 2

	
				
	Credit Agreement
	Consolidated for Borrower and  
its Subsidiaries
	Target
	Consolidated 
Pro Forma

	(A)   Consolidated Total Indebtedness, as of the Report Date, is computed as follows:
(i)   borrowed moneys 
(ii)   other transactions similar to borrowed money transactions
(iii)   note purchase or acceptance credit facilities
(iv)   reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise)
(v)   Hedging Transactions
(vi)   Guarantees of Hedging Transactions and of borrowed money transactions
(vii)   Hybrid Securities described in clause (i) of the definition of “Hybrid Security” in the Credit Agreement
(viii)   mandatory repayment obligations with respect to Hybrid Securities described in clause (ii) of the definition of “Hybrid Security” in the Credit Agreement
(ix)   sum of items (i) through (viii) equals Consolidated Total Indebtedness
	

 
$__________
 
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
 
$__________
 
$__________ 

 
$__________

$__________
	

 
$__________
 
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
 
$__________ 

$__________
 
 
$__________

$__________
	

 
$__________
 
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
 
$__________ 
 
$__________
 
 
$__________

$__________

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent 
and each Lender party to the Credit Agreement 
_________________, 20__ 
Page 3

	
				
	Credit Agreement
	Consolidated for Borrower and  
its Subsidiaries
	Target
	Consolidated 
Pro Forma

	(B)   Consolidated Total Capitalization, as of the Report Date, is computed as follows:
(i)   Consolidated Total Indebtedness (see item (1)(A)(ix) above)
(ii)   Common Shareholders’ Equity
(iii)   Preferred Shareholders’ Equity
(iv)   sum of items (i) through (iii) equals Consolidated Total Capitalization
	

 
$__________
 
$__________ 
 
$__________
$__________
	

 
$__________ 

$__________
$__________
$__________
	

 
$__________ 

$__________
$__________
$__________

EXHIBIT 8.3.3
FORM OF
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

________________ __, 20__
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent
and each Lender party to the Credit Agreement (defined below)
10 South Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60603
Telephone No.:  312-385-7080
Telecopier No.:  888-292-9533
Email:   jpm.agency.servicing.4@jpmchase.com 
Attention:  Darren Cunningham

Ladies and Gentlemen:
I refer to the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2013 (as amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among New Jersey Resources Corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”).  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.  References herein to Sections of the Credit Agreement are qualified, in their entirety, by the applicable provision of the Section of the Credit Agreement so referred to and together with all related provisions and definitions referred to in such Section or incorporated therein.
I, ______________________, [Chief Executive Officer/ Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer] of the Borrower, do hereby certify on behalf of the Loan Parties as of the [fiscal quarter/fiscal year ended _________________, 20___] (the “Report Date”), as follows:
1.    Maximum Leverage Ratio (Section 8.2.12).  The ratio of (A) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to (B) Consolidated Total Capitalization is __________ to 1.00 as of the Report Date, which is not more than the maximum permitted ratio of 0.65 to 1.00.
(a)    Consolidated Total Indebtedness, as of the Report Date, is computed as follows:
(i)    borrowed moneys     $ ___________
(ii)    other transactions similar to borrowed money    $ ___________
     transactions
(iii)    note purchase or acceptance credit facilities    $ ___________
(iv)    reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise)    $ ___________

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent 
and each Lender party to the Credit Agreement 
_________________, 20__ 
Page 2

(v)    Hedging Transactions    $  ___________
(vi)    Guarantees of Hedging Transactions and of borrowed
              money transactions    $  ___________
(vii)    Hybrid Securities described in clause (i) of the definition
             of “Hybrid Security” in the Credit Agreement                   $ ___________
                                      (viii) mandatory repayment obligations with respect to Hybrid 
Securities described in clause (ii) of the definition of
 “Hybrid Security” in the Credit Agreement    $ ___________    
(ix)    sum of items (i) through (viii) equals Consolidated 
               Total Indebtedness    $ ___________    
(b)    Consolidated Total Capitalization, as of the Report Date, is computed as follows:
(i)    Consolidated Total Indebtedness  (see item (1)(a)(ix)
 above)    $___________    
(ii)    Common Shareholders’ Equity    $___________    
(iii)    Preferred Shareholders’ Equity    $___________    
(iv)    sum of items (i) through (iii) equals Consolidated 
Total Capitalization    $___________    
(ii)    Indebtedness in respect of capitalized leases permitted by Section 8.2.1(iv) of the Credit Agreement as of the Report Date is $_________ and together with such amounts incurred to date is $__________, which does not exceed the permitted amount of $60,000,000.
(iii)    Indebtedness, as of the Report Date, permitted by Section 8.2.1(v) of the Credit Agreement under Hedging Transactions is $________________.
(iv)    Indebtedness, as of the Report Date, permitted by Section 8.2.1(vi) of the Credit Agreement secured by Liens permitted by Section 8.2.2(i) of the Credit Agreement is $____________, which does not exceed the permitted amount of $10,000,000.
(v)    Indebtedness, as of the Report Date, permitted by Section 8.2.1(vii) of the Credit Agreement secured by Purchase Money Security Interests is $____________, which does not exceed the permitted amount of $20,000,000.
(vi)    Acquired Indebtedness, as of the Report Date, permitted by Section 8.2.1(viii) of the Credit Agreement is $____________, which does not exceed the permitted amount of $75,000,000.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent 
and each Lender party to the Credit Agreement 
_________________, 20__ 
Page 3

(vii)    As of the Report Date, the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have $__________ in the aggregate of Investments in Permitted Related Business Opportunities, and set forth on Attachment ___ hereto is a detailed description of each Permitted Related Business Opportunity, including on such Attachment, a detailed description of (i) the nature and amount of such Investment, (ii) the activities engaged in by the Person in which such Investment was made, and (iii) the activities engaged in by each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in connection with such Investment.
(viii)    The Loan Parties and their Unregulated Subsidiaries have disposed of $__________ of assets permitted by Section 8.2.6(viii), which amount does not exceed, in the twelve (12) consecutive month-period ending on the Report Date, the permitted amount of $___________ (such permitted amount equal to 10% of consolidated tangible assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP).
(ix)    During the fiscal [quarter/year] ended on the Report Date, the Borrower has declared or made dividend payments or other distribution or purchased or redeemed or otherwise acquired shares of stock, warrants, rights or options permitted by Section 8.2.13 as follows:  [Insert description of each action undertaken]. 
(x)    The Loan Parties and their Unregulated Subsidiaries have engaged in off-balance sheet transactions that are functionally equivalent to borrowed money with aggregate liabilities of $______________ as permitted by Section 8.2.14, which amount does not exceed the permitted amount of $_______________ (such permitted amount equal to 10% of consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Report Date). 
(xi)    The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained in Section 6 of the Credit Agreement (other than the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained in the first sentence of Section 6.1.6 [Litigation], Section 6.1.8 [Historical Statements; No Material Adverse Change] and Section 6.1.21 [Environmental Matters]) and in the other Loan Documents are true on and as of the Report Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (except representations and warranties which expressly related solely to an earlier date or time) and the Loan Parties have performed and complied with all covenants and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  No event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Default.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this _____ day of ____________, 20__.

By:    
Name:    
Title:     [Chief Executive Officer/ Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer]Exhibit 10.48
 FIRST AMENDMENT TO PURCHASE AND SALE CONTRACT
 THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO PURCHASE AND SALE CONTRACT (this “Amendment”) is entered into this 16th day of September, 2013, by and between CCIP/2 HIGHCREST, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), and LARAMAR KONA REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Buyer”). 
 R E C I T A L S
 A.              Buyer and Seller previously entered into that certain Purchase and Sale Contract dated August 15, 2013 (the “Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Seller agreed to sell and Buyer agreed to purchase certain real property located at 3514 83rd Street, Woodridge, Illinois 60517. as more particularly described therein (the “Property”).
 B.              All capitalized terms contained herein which are not defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.
 C.              The parties desire to amend the Purchase Agreement by the terms and provisions contained herein.
 AGREEMENT
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Seller and Buyer agree as follows:
 1.               Closing Date Extension Right.  Buyer shall have the option to extend the Closing Date by an additional thirty (30) day period, to November 14, 2013, by providing written notice to Seller no later than 5:00 pm (CST) on October 7, 2013.  Simultaneously with the notice described herein, Purchaser shall deliver to Escrow Agent an additional deposit of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00) (the “Closing Date Extension Deposit”) by wire transfer of Good Funds.  The Closing Date Extension Deposit shall be deemed and treated as part of the Deposit under the Purchase Agreement.
 2.               Full Force and Effect.  As amended hereby, the Purchase Agreement shall remain unmodified and shall continue in full force and effect.  In the event of any conflict between the Purchase Agreement and this Amendment, the terms and provisions of this Amendment shall control.
 3.               Counterparts; Execution by E-mail or Facsimile.  This Amendment may be signed by the parties in two or more counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This Amendment may also be delivered by e-mail or facsimile transmission with the same force and effect as if the originally executed copies of this Amendment were delivered to all parties.
  
 [Signature Page Follows]

  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Contract as of the date and year first above written.
  
 Seller:
  
 CCIP/2 HIGHCREST, L.L.C.,
 a Delaware limited liability company
  
 By:      CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL 
 INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES/2, 
 LP SERIES A,
 a Delaware limited partnership,
 its member
  
 By:      CONCAP EQUITIES, INC.,
 a Delaware corporation,
 its general partner
  
  
 By:      /s/Mark C. Reoch
 Name: Mark C. Reoch
 Title:  Vice President, Transactions
  
  
  
  
 Purchaser:
  
 LARAMAR KONA REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LLC,
 a Delaware limited liability company
  
 By:      /s/Bennett Neuman
 Name: Bennett Neuman
 Title:   Authorized Signatory

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