Exhibit 4.18
JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT COMPANY D/B/A GPU ENERGY
CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT
THIS CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT (this "CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT") is entered
into as of March 1, 2000 by Jersey Central Power & Light Company d/b/a GPU
Energy, a corporation and public utility organized and existing under the laws
of the State of New Jersey (the "CONSENTING PARTY"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as collateral agent (the "COLLATERAL AGENT", together with any successors
thereto in such capacity, referred to as the "ASSIGNEE"), for the benefit of and
on behalf of the Senior Parties defined below.
(A) AES Red Oak, L.L.C. (the "COMPANY"), a Delaware limited liability
company, is providing for the development, construction, ownership, leasing and
operation of a nominal 820 MW (net) gas-fired combined cycle electric generating
facility (the "FACILITY") and the financing, development and construction
thereof (the Facility, equipment and facilities associated with the Facility and
such financing, development and construction, the "PROJECT") to be located in
the Borough of Sayreville, Middlesex County, New Jersey.
(B) The Company intends to finance the development and construction of
the Project, in part, through the issuance, from time to time, of certain
securities (the "SECURITIES") pursuant to a Trust Indenture, dated as of March
1, 2000 between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"TRUSTEE"), as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the
"INDENTURE").
(C) All obligations of the Company under the Securities, the Collateral
Agency Agreement (defined below) and any other agreements evidencing senior debt
of the Company (collectively, the "FINANCING DOCUMENTS") to the Trustee, the
Collateral Agent, each successor to any such person and each other person
providing senior debt to the Company who is or becomes a party to the Collateral
Agency Agreement pursuant to its terms (collectively, the "SENIOR PARTIES") will
be secured by a certain Mortgage, Security Agreement, Indenture, Pledge
Agreement and Assignment of Leases and Income, each between the Company and The
Bank of New York (collectively, the "SECURITY DOCUMENTS").
(D) The Senior Parties and the Company have entered into the Collateral
Agency and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2000 (as amended,
supplemented or modified and in effect from time to time, the "COLLATERAL AGENCY
AGREEMENT") to set forth their mutual understanding with respect to (a) the
exercise of certain rights, remedies and options by the respective parties
thereto under the above described documents, (b) the priority of their
respective security interests created by the Security Documents, (c) the
application of project revenues and certain other monies and items and (d) the
appointment of the Collateral Agent as collateral agent.
(E) The Company and the Consenting Party have entered into that certain
Generation Facility Transmission Interconnection Agreement (the "ASSIGNED
AGREEMENT") dated April 27, 1999.
(F) The Company has notified the Consenting Party that all of the
Company's right, title and interest in the Assigned Agreement is to be assigned
to the Assignee as security pursuant to one or more of the Security Documents.
(G) It is a condition precedent to the extension of credit by the
Senior Parties that the Consenting Party execute and deliver this Consent to
Assignment for the benefit of the Senior Parties.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective
meanings specified herein or, if not defined herein, as defined in the Assigned
Agreement.
2. CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT. The Consenting Party hereby irrevocably
consents to the assignment of the Assigned Agreement by the Company to the
Assignee for the benefit of the Senior Parties as security. The Consenting Party
shall continue performance under the Assigned Agreement in accordance with its
terms and the terms of this Consent to Assignment and shall maintain the
Assigned Agreement in full force and effect. Until all obligations under the
Financing Documents have been performed and paid in full, all obligations of the
Consenting Party under the Assigned Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the
Assignee for the benefit of the Senior Parties to the same extent as if the
Assignee was an original party to the Assigned Agreement instead of the Company.
3. NO DEFAULTS. The Consenting Party acknowledges and agrees that (a)
the Assigned Agreement is in full force and effect, there are no amendments,
modifications or supplements thereto, either oral or written, (b) the Consenting
Party has not assigned, transferred or hypothecated the Assigned Agreement or
any interest therein, (c) the Consenting Party has no knowledge of any default
by the Company in any respect of the performance of any provision of the
Assigned Agreement and no knowledge of any event or condition which would either
immediately or with the passage of any applicable grace period or giving of
notice or both, enable the Consenting Party to terminate or suspend its
obligations under the Assigned Agreement, (d) none of the Company's rights under
the Assigned Agreement has been waived, (e) the assignment by the Company of the
Assigned Agreement to the Assignee, as security, and the acknowledgment of and
consent to such assignment by the Consenting Party, will not cause or constitute
a default under the Assigned Agreement or an event or condition which would,
with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, constitute a default under
the Assigned Agreement, and (f) a foreclosure or other exercise of remedies
under any of the Security Documents or any sale thereunder by the Assignee, any
of the Senior Parties or any of their respective designees or assignees, whether
by judicial proceedings or under any power of sale contained therein, or any
conveyance from the Company to the Assignee, any of the Senior Parties or any of
their respective designees or assignees, in lieu thereof, shall not require the
consent of the Consenting Party or cause or constitute a default under the
Assigned Agreement or an event or condition which would, with the giving of
notice or lapse of time or both, constitute a default under the Assigned
Agreement.
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4. NOTICE OF COMPANY'S DEFAULTS AND TERMINATION. Anything in the
Assigned Agreement notwithstanding, for so long as any Financing Liabilities (as
defined in the Collateral Agency Agreement) are outstanding under the Financing
Documents and until the same have been satisfied in full, the Consenting Party
shall not claim prevention of or interference with performance of its
obligations under the Assigned Agreement, nor shall the Consenting Party
exercise any right it may have under the Assigned Agreement, at law or in
equity, to cancel, suspend or terminate the Assigned Agreement, or any of its
obligations thereunder, as the result of any default or other action or omission
(each, herein, a "default") of the Company unless the Consenting Party,
following expiry of all periods given the Company to cure such default, action
or omission, shall have given a copy of a notice of default to the Assignee,
such notice to be coupled with an opportunity to cure any such default within a
reasonable period, but in no event less than sixty (60) days from notice to the
Assignee (or, with respect to nonmonetary defaults or defaults the curing of
which requires the Assignee's possession of the Facility through foreclosure,
such longer period of time as may be necessary under the circumstances to
complete such foreclosure or cure such default, provided the Assignee, any of
the Senior Parties, or any of their respective designees or assignees is
diligently pursuing such cure or foreclosure), such cure period to commence upon
delivery of such notice to the Assignee, or, with respect to any defaults which
are not susceptible of being so corrected, to rectify to the Consenting Party's
reasonable satisfaction the effect upon the Consenting Party of such default by
the Company within such period provided, however, that if any such party is
prohibited from curing any such default by any process, stay or injunction
issued by any governmental authority or pursuant to any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding, then the time periods specified in this Section 4 for curing a
default shall be extended for the period of such prohibition. Such notice shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when presented
personally, (b) one business day after being deposited for overnight delivery
with a nationally recognized overnight courier, such as FedEx, (c) when
received, if deposited in a regularly maintained receptacle for the United
States Postal Service, postage prepaid, registered or certified, return receipt
requested, addressed to the Assignee at the address indicated below or such
other address as the Assignee may have specified by written notice delivered in
accordance herewith, or (d) when transmitted by telecopy to the number specified
below and the receipt confirmed telephonically by recipient, PROVIDED that such
telecopy is then followed by a copy of such notice delivered by a method
specified in clause (a), (b) or (c) above.
The Bank of New York, as Collateral Agent
101 Barclay Street, Floor 21W
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
FACSIMILE: 212-815-3878
No cancellation, suspension or termination of the Assigned Agreement by
the Consenting Party, or of any of the Consenting Party's obligations thereunder
by the Consenting Party, shall be binding upon the Assignee or any of the Senior
Parties without such notice and the lapse of the applicable cure period. Any
dispute that may arise under the Assigned Agreement notwithstanding, the
Consenting Party shall continue performance under the Assigned Agreement and
resolve any dispute without discontinuing such performance until the lapse of
the notice and applicable cure periods or extension periods. The Assignee, any
of the Senior Parties or any of their respective
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designees or assignees may, but shall be under no obligation to, make any
payment or perform any act required thereunder to be made or performed by the
Company, with the same effect as if made or performed by the Company. If the
Assignee, any of the Senior Parties or any of their respective designees or
assignees fails to cure or rectify the effect of a default under the Assigned
Agreement within sixty (60) days from notice to the Assignee, following expiry
of all periods given the Company to cure such default, action or omission (or,
with respect to nonmonetary defaults or defaults the curing of which requires
the curing party's possession of the Facility through foreclosure, such longer
period of time as may be necessary under the circumstances to complete such
foreclosure or cure such default, provided the Assignee, any of the Senior
Parties or any of their respective designees or assignees is diligently pursuing
such cure or such foreclosure), whichever is longer, such cure period to
commence upon such notice to the Assignee, following expiry of all periods given
the Company to cure such default, action or omission, the Consenting Party shall
have all its rights and remedies with respect to such default as set forth in
the Assigned Agreement.
5. NO PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT. The Consenting Party represents and warrants
to the Assignee that it has not assigned, transferred or hypothecated, nor
previously consented to any assignment, transfer or hypothecation of, the
Assigned Agreement or any interest therein.
6. NO AMENDMENTS WITHOUT CONSENT. The Consenting Party shall not amend,
modify or consent to the amendment or modification of the Assigned Agreement
without the prior written consent of the Assignee, unless the Company has
certified to the Consenting Party in writing that such amendment, modification
or consent to amendment or modification is permitted under the terms of the
Financing Documents.
7. PAYMENTS TO REVENUE ACCOUNT. The Consenting Party hereby agrees
that, so long as any notes, bonds, loans, letters of credit, commitments or
other obligations, or any other Financing Liabilities, are outstanding under the
Financing Documents and until the same have been satisfied in full, all payments
to be made by the Consenting Party with respect to the Assigned Agreement shall
be in lawful money of the United States of America, in immediately available
funds. The Company hereby directs the Consenting Party to, and the Consenting
Party hereby agrees to, make all such payments with respect to the Assigned
Agreement directly to the Assignee at ABA No. 021000018, for credit to AES Red
Oak, L.L.C., for further credit to Account No. 002008 (Revenue Account)
Attention: Capital Markets Trust Services, or to such other person and/or at
such other address as the Assignee may from time to time specify in writing to
the Consenting Party. All payments required to be made by the Consenting Party
under the Assigned Agreement shall be made without any offset, recoupment,
abatement, withholding, reduction or defense whatsoever, except as specifically
permitted under the Assigned Agreement.
8. PROTECTION OF ASSIGNEE. In the event that either (a) the Company's
interest in the Project shall be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred
pursuant to the exercise of any right, power or remedy by the Assignee or
pursuant to judicial proceedings, or (b) the Company rejects all or a portion of
the Assigned Agreement under Title 11, United States Code, or other similar
Federal or state statute and such rejection is approved by the appropriate
bankruptcy court or is otherwise effective pursuant to such statute, the
Consenting Party shall, promptly, and in no event longer than
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thirty (30) days after receipt of written request therefor, execute and deliver
an agreement to the Assignee, any Senior Parties or any of their respective
nominees, purchasers, assignees or transferees, as the case may be, for the
remainder of the term of the Assigned Agreement and with the same terms as are
contained therein. In such event, the Assignee represents and warrants that it
will procure the requisite expertise needed in order to operate the Facility
pursuant to Good Utility Practice and the entity that undertakes the operation
of the Facility will fully perform all of the Power Producer obligations set
forth in the Assigned Agreement. References in this Consent to Assignment to
"Assigned Agreement" shall be deemed also to include such new agreement.
9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ASSIGNEE'S OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS. Neither the
Assignee nor any of the Senior Parties has any obligation hereunder to extend
credit to the Consenting Party or any contractor of the Consenting Party at any
time for any purpose. The Assignee shall have no obligation to the Consenting
Party under the Assigned Agreement until such time as the Assignee notifies the
Consenting Party in writing of the Assignee's election to exercise its rights
hereunder. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default
under any of the Security Documents, the Assignee or any of the Senior Parties
shall have the right to the extent authorized under the Security Documents, to
(a) take possession of the Project and operate the same, (b) sell or otherwise
transfer their interest in the Project and any purchaser (a Substitute Owner")
at such sale which may include the Assignee or its designees or assignees, shall
have the right to succeed to the Assignee's or the Senior Parties' rights
hereunder, as the case may be, and (c) exercise all rights of the Company under
the Assigned Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof. Subject to
compliance with the provisions of the Assigned Agreement (if applicable) and the
terms of this Consent to Assignment, the Consenting Party shall cooperate with
the Assignee comply in all respects in the Assignee's exercise of such rights.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an event of default under any of the Financing Documents, the
Assignee, any of the Senior Parties or any of their respective designees or
assignees shall have the full right and power to enforce directly against the
Consenting Party all obligations of the Consenting Party under the Assigned
Agreement and otherwise to exercise all remedies thereunder, and to make all
demands and give all notices and make all requests required or permitted to be
made by the Company under the Assigned Agreement. The Assignee, any of the
Senior Parties or any of their respective designees or assignees shall have the
right, but not the obligation, to perform any act, duty or obligation required
of the Company thereunder at any time; provided that nothing herein shall
require the Assignee, any of the Senior Parties or any of their respective
designees or assignees to cure any default of the Company under the Assigned
Agreement or to perform any act, duty or obligation of the Company under the
Assigned Agreement except during any such period when it shall have become a
Substitute Owner and assumed such duties and obligations. The obligations of any
Substitute Owner shall be no more than that of the Company under such Assigned
Agreement and any Substitute Owner shall have no personal liability to the
Consenting Party for the performance of such obligations and the sole recourse
of the Consenting Party, if there is a Substitute Owner, shall be to Substitute
Owner's interest in the Facility.
10. REFINANCING. The Consenting Party hereby acknowledges that the
Company may from time to time obtain refinancing for the Project (including
privately or publicly placed bonds or notes), and the Consenting Party agrees
that it will promptly upon request execute in favor of the
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lenders providing such refinancing a consent to assignment containing terms and
conditions that are no less favorable to the Consenting Party than those terms
and conditions contained in this Consent to Assignment.
11. REPRESENTATIONS. The Consenting Party represents and warrants to
the Assignee as follows:
(a) The Consenting Party is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey
and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where necessary in light of the
business it conducts (including, without limitation, performance of its
obligations under the Assigned Agreement) and the properties it owns.
(b) The Consenting Party has the necessary corporate power,
corporate authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under the Assigned Agreement and this Consent to Assignment, and the
execution and delivery by the Consenting Party of the Assigned Agreement and
this Consent to Assignment and the performance of its obligations thereunder and
hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not
and will not (i) require any consent or approval of the Consenting Party's board
of directors or any shareholder of the Consenting Party, (ii) violate any
provision of the corporate charter or by-laws of the Consenting Party or any
provision of any material law, rule or regulation, or any material order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award having applicability to the
Consenting Party, (iii) result in a breach of or constitute a default under any
indenture or loan or credit agreement or any other agreement, lease or
instrument to which the Consenting Party is a party or by which it or its
properties may be bound or affected or (iv) result in, or require, the creation
or imposition of any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest,
charge or encumbrance of any nature upon or with respect to any of the
properties now owned or hereafter acquired by the Consenting Party; and the
Consenting Party is not in violation, breach or default of any provision of the
corporate charter or by-laws of the Consenting Party or any provision of any
material law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree,
determination or award having applicability to the Consenting Party or any
agreement referred to above in clause (iii) of this subsection (b), which
violation could have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Consenting
Party to perform its obligations under this Consent to Assignment or the
Assigned Agreement.
(c) The Assigned Agreement and this Consent to Assignment have
been duly executed and delivered and each constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Consenting Party, enforceable in accordance with their terms,
except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and general equitable principles.
(d) No consent or approval of, or other action by, or any
notice or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body (except
those previously obtained and in full force and effect) is required in
connection with the execution and delivery of the Assigned Agreement or this
Consent to Assignment or the performance by the Consenting Party of its
obligations thereunder or hereunder. The Consenting Party has obtained all
permits, licenses,
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approvals, consents, authorizations and exemptions, if any, with respect to the
performance of its obligations under the Assigned Agreement and this Consent to
Assignment required by applicable laws, statutes, rules and regulations in
effect as of the date hereof.
(e) The Consenting Party is not in default with respect to the
Assigned Agreement and has no knowledge, as of the date hereof, of any claims or
rights of set off by the Consenting Party or by any of its affiliates against
the Company. To the best of the Consenting Party's knowledge after due inquiry,
each other party to the Assigned Agreement have complied with all conditions
precedent to the respective obligations of such party to perform under the
Assigned Agreement.
(f) There are no proceedings pending or, to the best of the
Consenting Party's knowledge after due inquiry, threatened against or affecting
the Consenting Party in any court or before any governmental authority or
arbitration board or tribunal (whether or not purportedly on behalf of the
Consenting Party) which may result in a material or adverse effect upon the
property, business, prospects, profits or condition (financial or otherwise) of
the Consenting Party, or the ability of the Consenting Party to perform its
obligations under, or which purports to affect the legality, validity or
enforceability of, the Assigned Agreement or this Consent to Assignment; and the
Consenting Party is not in default with respect to any order of any court,
governmental authority or arbitration board or tribunal.
(g) All representations, warranties and other statements made
by the Consenting Party in the Assigned Agreement were true and correct as of
the date when made and are true and correct as of the date of this Consent to
Assignment.
12. BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS. All agreements, covenants, conditions and
provisions of this Consent to Assignment shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
13. CAPTIONS. The captions or headings at the beginning of each Section
hereof are for the convenience of the parties hereto only and are not a part of
this Consent to Assignment.
14. GOVERNING LAW. (a) THIS CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND
BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE
PRINCIPLES THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAW EXCEPT SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW
YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).
(b) Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this
Consent to Assignment and any action for enforcement of any judgment in respect
thereof may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or of the United
States of America for the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and
delivery of this Consent to Assignment, each of the Consenting Party and the
Assignee hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and
unconditionally, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and
appellate courts from any appeal thereof. Each of the Consenting Party and the
Assignee hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and
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empowers CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011, as
its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on
its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal
process, summons, notices and documents which may be served in any action or
proceeding. If for any reason such designee, appointee and agent shall cease to
be available to act as such, the Assignee or the Consenting Party, as
applicable, agrees to designate a new designee, appointee and agent in New York
City on the terms and for the purposes of this provision satisfactory to the
Assignee. Each of the Consenting Party and the Assignee irrevocably consents to
the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such
action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, to the Consenting Party at its notice address being 2800
Pottsville Pike, Reading, Pa. 19640 and to the Assignee at the address set forth
in Section 4. Each of the Consenting Party and the Assignee hereby irrevocably
waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue
of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection
with this Consent to Assignment brought in the courts referred to above and
hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such
court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the
Assignee or any of their respective designees or assignees to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise
proceed against the Consenting Party in any other jurisdiction.
15. AMENDMENT. This Consent to Assignment may be modified, amended or
rescinded only by a writing expressly referring to this Consent to Assignment
and signed by both the Consenting Party and the Assignee. The Assignee may
request the direction of the Senior Parties prior to signing any amendments
described herein.
16. SEVERABILITY. Every provision of this Consent to Assignment is
intended to be severable. If any term or provision hereof is declared by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason
whatsoever, such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
other terms and provisions hereof, which terms and provisions shall remain
binding and enforceable, and to the extent possible all of such other provisions
shall remain in full force and effect.
17. COUNTERPARTS. This Consent to Assignment may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect
as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
18. AUTHORITY TO TAKE SPECIFIC ACTIONS. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Consent to Assignment to the contrary, if an action by the Assignee is
authorized by the Assigned Agreement or by this Consent to Assignment, the
Consenting Party shall be obligated to recognize or follow instructions given by
a Senior Party or any of their respective designees or assignees, or any
successor or assign of the Assignee or any Senior Party, only if such person has
provided to the Consenting Party reasonable written documentation of its
authority by or on behalf of the Assignee to undertake the action which it is
requesting or directing, and a written certification to the Consenting Party
that it is so authorized to act.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Consenting Party and the Assignee has
duly executed this Consent to Assignment as of the date first above written.
JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
d/b/a GPU ENERGY
By: /S/ R.S. ZECHMAN
----------------------------
Name: Robert S. Zechman
Title: Vice President
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as COLLATERAL AGENT
By: /S/ MARYBETH LEWICKI
----------------------------
Name: MaryBeth Lewicki
Title: Vice President
REVIEWED AND CONSENTED TO:
AES RED OAK, L.L.C.
By: /S/ ROBERT A. COLMAN
----------------------------
Name: Robert A. Colman
Title: Vice President
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