As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 2005
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey 21-0398330
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(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
1 South Jersey Plaza, Route 54
Folsom, New Jersey 08037
(609) 561-9000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)
Richard H. Walker, Jr., Esquire
South Jersey Gas Company
1 South Jersey Plaza, Route 54
Folsom, New Jersey 08037
(609) 561-9000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
Copies of communications to:
Richard J. Busis, Esquire Jonathan A. Koff, Esquire
Cozen O'Connor Chapman and Cutler LLP
1900 Market Street 111 West Monroe
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 Chicago, Illinois 60603
(215) 665-2000 (312) 845-3000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From
time to time after the effective date of the registration statement, as
determined by the registrant.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering: [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering: [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434 under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box: [_]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------
Title of Each Class to be Proposed Maximum Aggregate Amount of Registration
Registered Offering Price(1) Fee(1)
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Debt Securities............ $150,000,000 $17,655
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(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(o).
............................................
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration
statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
............................................
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
Subject to Completion, dated July 22, 2005
$150,000,000
South Jersey Gas Company
Medium Term Notes, Series C
............................................
We may sell from time to time medium term notes with an aggregate
offering price of up to $150,000,000. All of the notes issued under this
prospectus will be secured by first mortgage bonds issued under our Indenture of
First Mortgage. We will provide the specific terms of these medium term notes in
supplements to this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully
before you invest.
............................................
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
............................................
This prospectus is dated _______, 2005.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus or any accompanying supplemental prospectus. We
have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information or make any
additional representations. We are not making an offer of these medium term
notes in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that
the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or
any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the
front of each of such documents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About this Prospectus....................................................3
Where You Can Find More Information......................................3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference..........................3
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements........................4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.......................................5
South Jersey Gas.........................................................6
Use of Proceeds..........................................................6
Description of Debt Securities...........................................7
Description of Note Indenture............................................8
Description of the Pledged Bonds.........................................19
Plan of Distribution.....................................................27
Legal Matters............................................................28
Experts..................................................................28
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a "shelf" registration process.
Under this shelf registration process, we may sell the debt securities described
in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of
$150,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the
debt securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a
prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of
that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change
information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus
and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described
under the next heading, "Where You Can Find More Information."
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document
we file at the Commission's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the public reference rooms. Our Commission filings are also
available to the public through the Internet on the Commission's web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
The Commission allows us to "incorporate by reference" some information
into this document, which means that we can disclose important information to
you by referring you to another document we have filed separately with the
Commission. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of
this document, except for any information superseded by information contained
directly in this document. This prospectus incorporates by reference the
documents set forth under "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" that
we have previously filed with the Commission. These documents contain important
information about us and our financial condition.
We have filed a registration statement and related exhibits with the
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933. The registration statement contains
additional information about us and the debt securities. A copy of the
registration statement, including exhibits, may be read and copied from the
places listed above.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by us with the Commission are
incorporated herein by reference:
1. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
2. Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2005.
In addition, all documents filed by us with the Commission pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
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prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in and shall be a part of this prospectus from the
date of the filing of such documents.
The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of
this prospectus, and later information filed with the Commission will modify or
supersede this information. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
prospectus.
This prospectus does not contain all the information contained in the
registration statement and its exhibits which we have filed with the Commission
under the Securities Act with respect to the debt securities offered hereby and
to which reference is hereby made. We will provide without charge to each person
to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon request, a copy of any document
incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in the registration statement,
other than exhibits to such documents. Requests should be made to Richard H.
Walker, Jr., Corporate Secretary, South Jersey Gas Company, 1 South Jersey
Plaza, Route 54, Folsom, New Jersey 08037, telephone: (609) 561-9000.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains or incorporates certain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act. Such statements may be preceded by, followed
by or include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend,"
"estimate" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are made
based upon management's expectations and beliefs concerning future events
impacting South Jersey Gas and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
statements. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the
following: general economic conditions on an international, national, state and
local level; weather conditions in our marketing areas; changes in commodity
costs; changes in the availability of natural gas; legislative, regulatory and
court decisions; competition in our regulated activities; the availability and
cost of capital; costs and effects of legal proceedings and environmental
liabilities; the failure of our customers or suppliers to fulfill their
contractual obligations; and changes in business strategies.
These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be
exhaustive, and they are made only as of the date hereof or, in any document
incorporated by reference, the date of such document. While we believe these
forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they
will approximate actual experience or that expectations derived from them will
be realized. Further, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of our
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods
indicated is as follows:
Twelve
Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31,
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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
---------- --------- --------- ------- -------- ----------------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.6x 2.6x 2.9x 3.3x 3.9x 4.0x
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges represents, on a pre-tax basis,
the number of times earnings cover fixed charges. Earnings consist of net
income, to which has been added fixed charges and taxes based on our income.
Fixed charges consist of interest charges, preferred securities dividend
requirements and an interest factor in rentals.
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SOUTH JERSEY GAS
South Jersey Gas Company is a regulated New Jersey public utility and
is the principal subsidiary of South Jersey Industries, Inc. We are a gas
distribution utility that supplies natural gas to residential, commercial and
industrial customers on a retail basis in the southern part of New Jersey. We
provide gas to some customers which use gas as their sole source of fuel (firm
customers). We also sell gas to some industrial and commercial customers which
have the ability to use other fuels as well as natural gas on an "interruptible"
basis. Service to these customers is called interruptible because we supply
natural gas to them only after we have fulfilled the needs of our firm
customers, and then only to the extent we still have gas available.
We also sell natural gas and transportation capacity on a wholesale
basis to various customers on the interstate pipeline system and transport
natural gas purchased by some of our customers directly from producers or
suppliers. Our wholesale activities, or off-system sales, are regulated by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and result from our efforts to optimize gas
supplies and transportation capacity on interstate gas pipelines that we
maintain for the purpose of serving our customers in extreme weather.
Consequently, when we find that natural gas or transportation capacity will not
be utilized by our retail customers, we seek buyers on a wholesale basis outside
of the utility's service territory. We are regulated as to rates and other
matters by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
At March 31, 2005, we served approximately 316,000 residential,
commercial and industrial customers throughout 112 municipalities in Atlantic,
Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties and portions of Burlington, Camden and
Gloucester Counties in New Jersey. Our service territory covers approximately
2,500 square miles and has an estimated permanent population of 1.2 million
people. Gas sales, transportation and transportation capacity release for fiscal
year 2004 amounted to 132,847 MMcf (million cubic feet), of which approximately
54,333 MMcf were firm sales and transportation, 2,635 MMcf were interruptible
sales and transportation and 75,879 MMcf were off-system sales and capacity
release. For fiscal 2004, the breakdown of firm sales consisted of 27.1%
residential, 9.6% commercial, 2.0% cogeneration and electric generation, 0.3%
industrial and 61.0% transportation. Interruptible sales, as opposed to firm
sales, represent customer relationships in which we may cease the delivery of
gas on short notice, causing the customer to utilize an alternative fuel source.
Transportation customers are those customers that purchase natural gas from a
supplier other than us but utilize our distribution system to deliver natural
gas to their locations. For 2004, the breakdown of sales to firm transportation
customers consisted of 52.6% residential, 27.5% commercial, 5.7% cogeneration
and electric and 14.2% industrial.
Our executive offices are located at 1 South Jersey Plaza, Route 54,
Folsom, New Jersey 08037, and our telephone number is (609) 561-9000.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities will be used by us to retire
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short-term and long-term debt and to fund capital expenditure requirements. At
March 31, 2005, we had $10 million of short-term debt outstanding with a
weighted-average interest cost of 3.03%, with maturities not exceeding
forty-five days.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of our
debt securities. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities,
we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this
prospectus.
We intend to offer and sell from time to time our secured debt
securities (the Notes) in an aggregate principal amount up to $150,000,000 with
maturities ranging from one year to 40 years from their respective dates of
issue. The Notes will be issued only in fully registered form, in minimum
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on
each Note will be payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1. The
purchase price, aggregate principal amount, interest rate, stated maturity date,
optional redemption provisions and any other material terms of each issue of
Notes not described in this prospectus will be set forth in an accompanying
prospectus supplement.
The Notes will be issued under an indenture of trust dated as of
October 1, 1998, as supplemented on June 29, 2000, July 5, 2000 and July 9, 2001
(the Note Indenture), between us and The Bank of New York, as the Note Trustee.
The material provisions of the Note Indenture are described below under the
caption "Description of Note Indenture." A series of first mortgage bonds
designated as "South Jersey Gas Company First Mortgage Bonds, 10% Medium Term
Notes, Series C" (the Pledged Bonds) will be issued under the Indenture of First
Mortgage, dated October 1, 1947, as supplemented and amended by supplemental
indentures, including a new Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture (the Indenture
of First Mortgage, as amended and supplemented, is referred to as the Mortgage),
from us to The Bank of New York, the Mortgage Trustee. The Pledged Bonds to be
issued under the Mortgage are described below under the caption "Description of
the Pledged Bonds." All first mortgage bonds issued or issuable under the
Mortgage are sometimes called Bonds.
Until the Substitution Date, which is described below, the Notes will
be secured by Pledged Bonds in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of Notes issued. The "Substitution Date" is the date that all
of our first mortgage bonds issued and outstanding under the Mortgage, other
than the first mortgage bonds pledged and delivered by us to the Note Trustee
under the Note Indenture, have been retired at, before or after their maturity.
The Substitution Date will occur upon the retirement of Bonds of each of the
Seventeenth and the Nineteenth Series. As of June 30, 2005, there was $4,543,000
principal amount outstanding under the Bonds of the Seventeenth Series, which
mature on April 1, 2007, and $35,000,000 principal amount outstanding under the
Bonds of the Nineteenth Series, which mature on April 1, 2027 and are callable
beginning April 1, 2012. On the Substitution Date, the Note Trustee shall
deliver to us for cancellation the Pledged Bonds, and we will cause the Note
Trustee to provide notice to all holders of Notes of the occurrence of the
Substitution Date. As a result, on the Substitution Date, the Pledged Bonds will
cease to secure the Notes, and, at our option, the Notes either will become our
unsecured general obligations or will be secured by first mortgage bonds,
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referred to as Substituted Pledged Bonds, issued under a new mortgage indenture,
or Substituted Mortgage. See "Description of Note Indenture-General."
The Pledged Bonds will be pledged to the Note Trustee. Prior to the
Substitution Date, the principal amount of the Pledged Bonds deemed outstanding
will at all times be equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding. The Pledged Bonds will be deemed to bear interest corresponding to
the required payments of interest on the Notes. Payments of principal and
interest in respect of the Notes will constitute payments on the Pledged Bonds.
The Pledged Bonds constitute a separate series of our first mortgage bonds, all
of which are secured by a lien on substantially all of the property owned by us.
See "Description of the Pledged Bonds."
Each Note will be represented by a global note registered in the name
of The Depository Trust Company, as depository, or its nominee, unless otherwise
specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Beneficial interests in
global notes will be shown on, and transfers of global notes will be effected
only through, records maintained by the depository and its participants. Global
notes will not be issuable in certificated form except under the limited
circumstances described below. See "Book-Entry System."
There is no requirement under either the Note Indenture or the Mortgage
that future issues of debt securities of South Jersey Gas be issued under the
Note Indenture or the Mortgage. Subject to certain restrictions following the
Substitution Date which are described in "Description of Note
Indenture-Limitations on Liens," we will be free to use other indentures or
documentation, containing provisions different from those included in the Note
Indenture and the Mortgage, in connection with future issues of such other debt
securities.
The Notes will be offered on a continuing basis by us through one or
more agents, each of which has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to
solicit offers to purchase the Notes. We also may sell Notes to an agent, as
principal, for resale to one or more investors or other purchasers. The Notes
will not be listed on any securities exchange, and we can make no assurance that
any Notes will be sold or that there will be a secondary market for them. We
reserve the right to withdraw, suspend, cancel or modify the offer of Notes
without notice. We or an agent, if it solicits such offer, may reject any offer
to purchase Notes, in whole or in part. See "Plan of Distribution."
Our timely payment of the principal and interest on an issuance of
Notes may be insured by a financial guaranty insurance policy issued by Ambac
Assurance Corporation. We will disclose in the prospectus supplement relating to
an issuance of Notes if we have elected to insure the payment of principal and
interest on those Notes. See "Description of Note Indenture-Insured Notes."
DESCRIPTION OF NOTE INDENTURE
The following summary of certain provisions of the Note Indenture is
not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, all of the
provisions of the Note Indenture, which is incorporated herein by reference and
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is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
References to section numbers under this caption are references to the section
numbers of the Note Indenture.
General
The Note Indenture provides that notes may be issued thereunder in one
or more series, may be issued at various times, may have differing maturity
dates and may bear interest at differing rates. The prospectus supplement
applicable to each issue of Notes will set forth the specific terms of such
Notes as well as any variation in the terms and provisions of such Notes from
those described in this prospectus.
Until the Substitution Date, the Notes will be secured by Pledged
Bonds. See "Description of the Pledged Bonds." On the Substitution Date, the
Note Trustee shall deliver to us for cancellation the Pledged Bonds, and we will
cause the Note Trustee to provide notice to all holders of Notes of the
occurrence of the Substitution Date. As a result, on the Substitution Date, the
Pledged Bonds will cease to secure the Notes, and, at our option, the Notes
either will become our unsecured general obligations or will be secured by
Substituted Pledged Bonds. (Section 4.10)
Registration, Transfer and Exchange
With the exception of Notes issued in the form of global notes, Notes
of any issue will be exchangeable for one or more Notes of the same series and
issue of any authorized denominations and in the same aggregate principal
amount. (Section 2.6)
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement,
Notes may be presented for transfer at the office of the Note Trustee without
service charge but upon the payment of any taxes and certain other governmental
charges. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the satisfaction of
certain requirements relating to documentation of title and indemnification.
(Section 2.6)
If any Notes are redeemed, the Note Trustee will not be required to
exchange or register a transfer of any Notes selected, called or being called
for redemption except, in the case of any Note to be redeemed in part, the
portion not to be redeemed. (Section 2.6) See "Book-Entry System."
Certificated Notes
Each Note will be represented by a global note registered in the name
of the depository or its nominee unless otherwise specified in the applicable
prospectus supplement. The Notes represented by the global note are exchangeable
for similar certificated Notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof if:
o the depository notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as depositary for the global note or if at any time the
depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act; or
o we determine not to have all of the Notes represented by the
global note.
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The global note is not exchangeable except for a global note of the same
aggregate denomination to be registered in the name of the depository or its
nominee. (Section 2.13)
Payment and Paying Agents
Principal of and interest on Notes issued in the form of global notes
will be paid in the manner described below under the caption "Book-Entry
System." Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement,
interest on Notes that are in the form of certificated securities will be paid
by wire transfer of clearinghouse or similar next day funds or by check mailed
to the person entitled thereto. However, a holder of notes of one or more series
under the Note Indenture in the aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or
more having the same interest payment dates will be entitled to receive payments
of interest on such series by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a
bank located within the continental United States if an appropriate request has
been received by the Note Trustee on or prior to the applicable regular record
date. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
principal of and interest on Notes in the form of certificated notes will be
payable at maturity in immediately available funds at the office of the Note
Trustee upon proper presentment and surrender of the Notes. (Section 2.12)
All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of principal or
interest which remain unclaimed at the end of one year will be repaid to us, and
the holder of such Note must thereafter look only to us for payment. (Section
5.4)
Insured Notes
The Note Indenture provides that we may issue notes covered by a
financial guaranty insurance policy issued by Ambac Assurance Corporation, which
policy will insure payment when due of the principal and interest on such notes.
If we issue insured notes, so long as Ambac is not in default under the policy,
it shall be entitled to control and direct the enforcement of all rights and
remedies with respect to such notes. No amendment to the Note Indenture which
requires noteholder consent or which affects the rights of Ambac may be made
without the prior written consent of Ambac.
Limitations on Liens
Following the Substitution Date, we will cause the Mortgage to be
terminated, and we will not issue any additional bonds under the Mortgage. In
addition, following the Substitution Date, except as described below and unless
Substituted Pledged Bonds are issued to secure notes issued under the Note
Indenture, we may not create, assume or incur any mortgage, pledge, lien or
security interest (collectively referred to in this context as "mortgages") upon
any real property interest or other depreciable asset used in our gas utility
business, whether owned at the Substitution Date or thereafter acquired, to
secure any indebtedness for money borrowed (Debt) other than indebtedness with
maturities of twelve months or less (other than the Notes), without effectively
securing all notes (other than any notes, which shall by their terms be
expressly excluded from such provision) equally and ratably with such Debt. This
restriction will not apply to:
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o any mortgage upon property existing at the time of acquisition,
including acquisition by means of merger or consolidation,
subject to certain exceptions;
o any mortgage to secure the payment of all or part of the purchase
price of property or to secure any Debt incurred prior to, at the
time of or within 180 days after the acquisition of such property
for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase price of
such property;
o any mortgage existing as of the Substitution Date;
o certain liens or other encumbrances permitted under the Note
Indenture; and
o any extension, refinancing, renewal or replacement, in whole or in
part, of any mortgage referred to above; provided, however, that
the principal amount of Debt secured thereby shall not exceed the
principal amount of Debt (plus related premiums or fees) so
secured at the time of such extension, refinancing, renewal or
replacement; and provided further that such mortgage shall be
limited to all or such part of the property which was subject to
the mortgage so extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced (plus
improvements on such property).
Notwithstanding the foregoing restriction, we may create, assume or
incur any mortgage not excepted above without equally and ratably securing the
notes if the aggregate amount of all Debt then outstanding and secured by such
mortgage or any other mortgage not excepted above does not exceed 15% of our
total consolidated capitalization as shown on the audited consolidated balance
sheet contained in our latest annual report filed with the Commission. For
purposes of this provision, certain mortgages in favor of government entities to
secure payments pursuant to the provisions of any contract or statute, or any
mortgage securing industrial development, pollution control or similar revenue
bonds, shall not be deemed to create a mortgage to secure any Debt. (Section
6.8)
Redemption
The prospectus supplement relating to each Note will indicate whether
we have the right to redeem such Note prior to its stated maturity. If we have
the right to redeem a Note, such Note will be redeemable at our option in whole
or in part on any date on or after the date specified in such prospectus
supplement either at prices declining from a specified premium, if any, to par,
together with accrued interest to the date of redemption, or at a price
otherwise determined in accordance with such prospectus supplement.
In addition, the Notes shall be subject to redemption upon payment of
all or a part of the principal amount thereof from proceeds available under the
Mortgage upon redemption of the Pledged Bonds from the condemnation of property
subject to the lien of the Mortgage or from the sale of such property to a
governmental body or agency having the power of eminent domain made as a result
of the threat of condemnation of such property. See "Description of the Pledged
Bonds-Redemption." (Section 3)
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The Note Indenture allows us to issue Notes that are subject to
redemption at the request of representatives of deceased noteholders under
certain conditions. These Notes are referred to as RHO Notes. The Note Indenture
provides that unless an RHO Note has been declared due and payable prior to its
maturity by reason of an event of default or unless an RHO Note has been
defeased, the representative of a deceased beneficial owner has the right to
request redemption of an RHO Note prior to maturity. RHO Notes are redeemable at
100% of their principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest in integral
multiples of $1,000 principal amount, subject to any limitations that will be
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
In the case of any redemption request which is presented on behalf of a
deceased beneficial owner and which has not been fulfilled at the time we give
notice of our election to partially redeem RHO Notes, the interests in the RHO
Notes which are the subject of such redemption request shall not be eligible for
redemption pursuant to our option to redeem but shall remain subject to
redemption pursuant to the redemption request.
Events of Default
Each of the following constitutes an event of default under the Note
Indenture:
o default in the payment of interest on any note issued under the
Note Indenture when due which continues for 30 days;
o default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, on any
note issued under the Note Indenture when due and payable
which continues for five days;
o our default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or
agreement in the Note Indenture or any note issued under the Note
Indenture which continues for 90 days after written notice to us;
o prior to the Substitution Date, the occurrence of a default under
the Mortgage, of which default the Mortgage Trustee or the holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
notes issued under the Note Indenture have given written notice to
the Note Trustee;
o if any Substituted Pledged Bonds are outstanding, the occurrence
of a default under the Substituted Mortgage, of which default the
trustee under such Substituted Mortgage or the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes
issued under the Note Indenture have given written notice to the
Note Trustee; and
o certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of
South Jersey Gas. (Section 8.1)
If an event of default under the Note Indenture occurs and is
continuing (other than an event of default related to a default under the
Mortgage or the Substituted Mortgage), either the Note Trustee or the registered
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes
issued under the Note Indenture of such series may declare the principal amount
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of all notes of such series to be immediately due and payable. At any time after
an acceleration of the notes of such series has been declared but before a
judgment or decree for the immediate payment of the principal amount of such
notes has been obtained and so long as all of our Bonds have not been
accelerated, the registered holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding notes of such series may, under certain circumstances,
rescind such acceleration. If an event of default occurs relating to a default
under the Mortgage or the Substituted Mortgage and the acceleration of the
principal of the related first mortgage bonds (see "Description of the Pledged
Bonds-Defaults and Notice Thereof"), the principal of all of the outstanding
notes issued under the Note Indenture, together with interest shall become
immediately due and payable; provided, however, a rescission of the acceleration
of the related first mortgage bonds shall constitute a waiver of such event of
default under the Note Indenture. (Section 8.1)
The Note Indenture provides that the Note Trustee generally will be
under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Note
Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders
have offered to the Note Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
liabilities and costs which may be incurred by such exercise. (Section 9.2) The
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes generally
will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Note Trustee, or of exercising any
trust or power conferred on the Note Trustee, with respect to the Notes.
(Section 8.7) Each holder of a Note has the right to institute a proceeding with
respect to the Note Indenture subject to certain conditions specified in the
Note Indenture. (Section 8.4) The Note Indenture provides that the Note Trustee,
within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Notes, is
required to give the holders of the Notes notice of such default, unless cured
or waived. However, except in the case of default in the payment of principal,
premium or interest on any Notes, the Note Trustee may withhold such notice if
it determines in good faith that it is in the interest of such holders to do so.
(Section 8.8) We are required to deliver to the Note Trustee each year a
certificate as to whether or not, to the knowledge of the officers signing such
certificate, we are in compliance with the conditions and covenants under the
Note Indenture. (Section 6.6) We are required to notify the Note Trustee within
five days of becoming aware of an event of default. (Section 6.7)
Modification
The Note Indenture may be modified and amended by us and the Note
Trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding notes affected thereby; provided that no modification or amendment
may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding note affected
thereby:
o change the maturity date of any Note;
o reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on any
Note;
o reduce the principal amount of, or premium payable on, any Note;
o change the currency of any payment on any Note;
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o change the date on which any Note may be redeemed;
o adversely affect the rights of a holder to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Note;
o impair the interest of the Note Trustee in the Pledged Bonds or
Substituted Pledged Bonds held by it or reduce the principal
amount of the Pledged Bonds (except as permitted on the
Substitution Date) or Substituted Pledged Bonds securing the Notes
to an amount less than the principal amount of the related series
of Notes or alter the payment provisions of such Pledged Bonds or
Substituted Pledged Bonds in a manner adverse to the holders of
the Notes; or
o modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of
outstanding notes necessary to modify or amend the Note Indenture
or to waive any past default to less than a majority.
The Note Indenture may be modified and amended by us and the Note
Trustee without the consent of the holders of the notes:
o to add to the covenants of South Jersey Gas for the benefit of the
holders or to surrender a right conferred on us in the Note
Indenture;
o to add further security for the Notes;
o to make certain ministerial or immaterial modifications; or
o to make certain other modifications which are not prejudicial to
the interests of the holders of the notes. (Sections 13.1
and 13.2)
Defeasance and Discharge
The Note Indenture provides that, subject to certain exceptions, we
will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Notes and the
Note Indenture if, among other things, we irrevocably deposit with the Note
Trustee, in trust for the benefit of holders of Notes, money or certain United
States government obligations which through the payment of interest thereon and
principal thereof will provide money in an amount sufficient to make all
payments of principal of and any premium and interest on the Notes on the dates
such payments are due. Thereafter, the holders of Notes must look only to such
deposit for payment of the principal of and interest and any premium on the
Notes. (Section 5.1)
Consolidation, Merger and Sale or Disposition of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets
unless the successor or transferee corporation assumes by supplemental indenture
the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium and interest on all
of the Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Note Indenture to be
performed or observed by us, and:
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o if such transaction occurs prior to the Substitution Date, unless
the successor or transferee corporation assumes our obligations
under the Mortgage with respect to the Pledged Bonds; and
o if such transaction occurs on or after the Substitution Date and
if Substituted Pledged Bonds are outstanding, unless the successor
or transferee corporation assumes our obligations under the
Substituted Mortgage with respect to the Substituted Pledged
Bonds.
Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, the successor corporation
formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or to which such
transfer is made shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every
right and power of, South Jersey Gas under the Note Indenture and we will be
released from all obligations under the Note Indenture. The Note Indenture
defines all or substantially all of our assets as being 50% or more of our total
assets as shown on our balance sheet as of the end of the prior year and
specifically permits any sale, transfer or other disposition during a calendar
year of less than 50% of our total assets without the consent of the holders of
the Notes and without the assumption by the transferee of our obligations on the
Notes and covenants contained in the Note Indenture. (Sections 12.1 and 12.2)
Voting of the Pledged Bonds Held by Note Trustee
The Note Trustee, as a holder of the Pledged Bonds, may attend any
meeting of bondholders under the Mortgage to which it receives due notice or, at
its option, may deliver its proxy in connection therewith. Either at such
meeting or where any action, amendment, modification, waiver or consent to or in
respect of the Mortgage or Bonds issued under the Mortgage is sought without a
meeting, the Note Trustee will vote the Pledged Bonds held by it or will consent
with respect thereto as described below. The Note Trustee may agree to any
proposed action without the consent of or notice to holders of notes of a series
where such proposed action would not adversely affect the holders of the notes
of such series. In the event that the proposed action would adversely affect the
holders of the notes of a series, the Note Trustee shall not vote the Pledged
Bonds that secured such series without notice to and the approval of holders of
at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes of such series
then outstanding. (Section 4.3)
Resignation or Removal of Note Trustee
The Note Trustee may resign at any time upon written notice to us
specifying the day upon which the resignation is to take effect. Such
resignation will take effect immediately upon the later of the appointment of a
successor Note Trustee and the specified resignation date. (Section 9.10)
The Note Trustee may be removed at any time by the holders of at least
a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes issued under the
Note Indenture. In addition, under certain limited circumstances, we may remove
the Note Trustee upon notice to the holder of each outstanding note and to the
Note Trustee and the appointment by us of a successor Note Trustee.
(Section 9.10)
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Book-Entry System
Each Note will be represented by either a permanent global note
registered in the name of, or a nominee of, the depository or a certificate
issued in definitive registered form, without coupons, as set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement. Each Note represented by a global note is
referred to below as a "Book-Entry Note. " Except as set forth below, Book-Entry
Notes will not be issuable in certificated form. So long as the depository or
its nominee is the registered holder of any permanent global note, the
depository or its nominee will be considered the sole holder of the Book-Entry
Notes or Notes represented by the applicable permanent global note for all
purposes under the Note Indenture and the Notes.
For a further description of the respective forms, denominations and
transfer and exchange procedures for any such permanent global note and the
Book-Entry Notes, refer to the following discussion and to the applicable
prospectus supplement.
Upon issuance, all Book-Entry Notes of like tenor and having the same
date of issue will be represented by a single permanent global note. Each
permanent global note representing Book-Entry Notes will be deposited with, or
on behalf of, the depository, as depositary, located in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York, and will be registered in the name of the
depository or a nominee of the depository. Currently, the depository will accept
the deposit of only permanent global notes denominated in U.S. dollars.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a permanent global note
representing Book-Entry Notes will be limited to institutions that have accounts
with the depository or its nominee (such institutions are referred to as
participants) or persons that may hold interests through participants. In
addition, ownership of beneficial interests by participants in such a permanent
global note will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership
interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository or
its nominee for such permanent global note. Ownership of beneficial interests in
such a permanent global note by persons that hold through participants will be
evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest within such
participant will be effected only through, records maintained by such
participant. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such a permanent
global note.
We have been advised by the depository that upon the issuance of a
permanent global note representing Book-Entry Notes, and upon the deposit of
such permanent global note with the depository, the depository will immediately
credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective
principal amounts of the Book-Entry Notes represented by such permanent global
note to the accounts of participants. The accounts to be credited shall be
designated by the soliciting agent or, to the extent that the Book-Entry Notes
are offered and sold directly, by us.
Payment of principal of and any premium and interest on Book-Entry
Notes represented by any permanent global note registered in the name of or held
by the depository or its nominee will be made to the depository or its nominee,
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as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the permanent global
note representing such Book-Entry Notes. Neither we, the trustee, nor any agent
of the trustee, will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
depository's records or any participant's records relating to or payments made
on account of beneficial ownership interests in a permanent global note
representing such Book-Entry Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing
any of the depository's records or any participant's records relating to such
beneficial ownership interests.
We have been advised by the depository that upon receipt of any payment
of principal of or any premium or interest in respect of a permanent global
note, the depository will immediately credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, accounts of participants with payments in amounts proportionate
to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such
permanent global note as shown on the records of the depository. Payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in a permanent global note held
through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers registered in "street name," and will be the sole responsibility of
such participants.
No permanent global note described above may be transferred except as a
whole by the depository for such permanent global note to a nominee of the
depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository or another
nominee of the depository.
A permanent global note representing Book-Entry Notes is exchangeable
for definitive notes registered in the name of, and a transfer of a permanent
global note may be registered to, any person other than the depository or its
nominee, only if:
o we are notified by the depository that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as depositary for such permanent global note or
if at any time the depository ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act; or
o we, in our sole discretion, at any time determine not to have all
of the Notes represented by the permanent global note.
Any permanent global note that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall be exchangeable in whole for definitive notes in registered form,
of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount, in denominations of
$1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Such definitive notes
shall be registered in the name or names of such person or persons as the
depository shall instruct the trustee. It is expected that such instructions may
be based upon directions received by the depository from its participants with
respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such permanent global note.
Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in a permanent
global note will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in
definitive form and will not be considered the holders thereof for any purpose
under the Note Indenture, and no permanent global note representing Book-Entry
Notes shall be exchangeable, except for another permanent global note of like
denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the depository or its
nominee. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a permanent
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global note must rely on the procedures of the depository and, if such person is
not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such
person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the Note
Indenture.
The Note Indenture provides that the depository, as a holder, may
appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which
a holder is entitled to give or take under the Note Indenture. We understand
that, under existing industry practices, in the event that we request any action
of holders of notes or an owner of a beneficial interest in such permanent
global note desires to give or take any action that a holder of a note is
entitled to give or take under the Note Indenture, the depository would
authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or
take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning
through such participants to give or take such action or would otherwise act
upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, is a limited-purpose trust
company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization"
within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve
System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions
of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds and provides
asset servicing for over 3 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues,
corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments that DTC's
participants, referred to as Direct Participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also
facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and
other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic
computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants'
accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain
other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust &
Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of the Direct
Participants of DTC and Members of the National Securities Clearing Corporation,
Government Securities Clearing Corporation, MBS Clearing Corporation, and
Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation, as well as by the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to others
such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust
companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly. DTC has
Standard & Poor's highest rating: AAA. The DTC rules applicable to its
Participants are on file with the Commission. More information about DTC can be
found at www.dtcc.com.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry
system has been obtained from DTC, and neither we nor any underwriters, dealers
or agents take responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
The underwriters, dealers or agents of any Notes may be Direct
Participants of DTC.
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Concerning the Note Trustee
The Bank of New York is the Note Trustee under the Note Indenture. The
Note Trustee also acts as trustee for our Bonds. We also currently maintain
other banking relationships with the Note Trustee in the ordinary course of
business.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLEDGED BONDS
General
The Pledged Bonds are to be issued under and secured by the Mortgage
and the Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture providing for the Pledged Bonds.
The Pledged Bonds constitute the Twenty-Second Series of our first mortgage
bonds and are designated as "South Jersey Gas Company First Mortgage Bonds, 10%
Medium Term Notes, Series C." The Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture provides
that we may issue Pledged Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$150,000,000. However, the Mortgage limits the amount of new debt, such as the
Notes, that can be ratably secured under the Mortgage. The limit is determined
by a formula based on the value of certain property additions as provided in the
Mortgage. As of the date of this prospectus, the maximum principal amount of
Pledged Bonds that can be issued (and, therefore, the maximum principal amount
of Notes that can be secured under the Mortgage through Pledged Bonds) is
approximately $80,000,000. We may issue from time to time one or more additional
Pledged Bonds when so permitted under the Mortgage. Prior to the Substitution
Date, we will not issue Notes so that there are Notes outstanding in an
aggregate amount greater than the then outstanding Pledged Bonds.
The following is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Mortgage.
For a complete statement of such provisions, reference is made to the Mortgage.
A copy of the Mortgage, including the Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, may
be inspected at the office of the Mortgage Trustee at 101 Barclay Street, Floor
21 West, New York, New York or at the office of the Commission, 100 F Street,
N.E., Washington, D.C. References to articles and sections under this caption
are reference to articles and sections of the Mortgage.
The Pledged Bonds will be issued initially to the Note Trustee and will
be issuable only in fully registered form in any denomination authorized by us.
The Pledged Bonds are transferable, and the several denominations thereof are
exchangeable for Bonds of other authorized denominations but of the same series
and aggregate principal amount, upon compliance with the Mortgage and the Note
Indenture. No service fee will be charged for any such transfer or exchange, but
we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.
The Pledged Bonds have not been registered under the Securities Act of
1933.
Interest, Maturity and Payment
Interest on the Pledged Bonds shall accrue at the rate of 10% per annum
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and shall be
payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Interest
is payable initially on November 1, 2005, subject to receipt of certain credits
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against principal and interest and such obligations as set forth below.
In addition to any other credit, payment or satisfaction to which we
are entitled with respect to the Pledged Bonds, we shall be entitled to credits
against amounts otherwise payable in respect of the Pledged Bonds in an amount
corresponding to:
o the principal amount of any of the Notes surrendered to the
Note Trustee by us, or purchased by the Note Trustee, for
cancellation;
o the amount of money held by the Note Trustee and available and
designated for the payment of principal of and/or interest on the
Notes secured thereby, regardless of the source of payment to the
Note Trustee of such moneys; and
o the amount by which principal of and interest due on the Pledged
Bonds exceeds principal of and interest due on the Notes secured
thereby. (Section 2.1, 23rd Supp.)
Lien and Security
The Pledged Bonds are secured by the lien of the Mortgage equally and
proportionately with all other Bonds. Subject to certain exceptions, the
Mortgage constitutes a first lien on substantially all of the property and
franchises we currently own or hereafter acquire. The Mortgage excepts from its
lien materials and supplies consumable in the operation of our business, certain
merchandise and products, motor vehicles, and cash, accounts receivable, stocks,
bonds, notes and securities which are neither specifically pledged with the
Mortgage Trustee nor required by the Mortgage to be pledged. (Granting Clause)
There are certain conditions which must be complied with relating to the lien of
the Mortgage in the case of a merger, consolidation or sale of all the assets of
South Jersey Gas. (Section 5)
Issuance of Additional Bonds
Additional Bonds, ranking equally with all outstanding Bonds, may be
issued under the Mortgage without limit as to aggregate principal amount upon
compliance with the Mortgage and after obtaining the approval of the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities.
In general, additional Bonds may be issued in a principal amount not
exceeding:
o 60% of the cost or fair value (whichever is less) of property
additions, which consist of real and personal property constructed
or acquired by us subject to the lien of the Mortgage and not
previously utilized under the Mortgage as the basis for additional
bonds or certain other purposes, located in the State of New
Jersey, and used or useful by us in connection with our business,
after deducting from such cost or fair value the excess of the
cost of mortgaged property retired and certain amounts relating to
depreciation of the mortgaged property; provided that:
- our net earnings (as defined in the Mortgage) for 12
consecutive months within the preceding 15 months shall have
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been at least two times the annual interest charges on all
prior lien obligations and all Bonds to be outstanding after
the authentication of those about to be authenticated; and
- if such property additions are subject to a prior lien:
(x) 166 2/3% of the principal amount of the outstanding
obligations secured by such prior lien shall be deducted
from the cost or fair value of such property additions
(unless such deduction has been made previously); and (y)
if the deduction referred to in clause (x) has not
previously been made, then the aggregate principal amount of
all outstanding prior lien obligations upon all property
additions used as the basis for authentication of Bonds,
withdrawal of money, or release of property under the
Mortgage or as a credit against a payment to any improvement
or sinking fund for Bonds of a particular series, or the
replacement fund hereinafter referred to, shall not exceed
10% of the principal amount of all Bonds to be outstanding
after authentication of those about to be authenticated
(Section 3.04);
o the principal amount of other Bonds acquired, paid, retired, or
with respect to which payment has been provided for, excluding,
however, any such Bonds paid or retired by the operation of any
sinking, replacement, purchase or other analogous fund or
otherwise used as a credit against the obligations of South Jersey
Gas, with certain specified exceptions; provided that if such
Bonds were not bona fide issued and bear interest at a lower rate
than the Bonds to be authenticated, the net earnings condition
specified in the bullet point above must be complied with
(Sections 3.04 and 3.06); and
o the amount of money deposited with the Mortgage Trustee for that
purpose. (Sections 3.03, 3.06 and 3.07)
Money so deposited may be withdrawn by us upon the same conditions as
would entitle us to obtain the authentication of Bonds of an equal principal
amount under the first two bullet points above. However, if the net earnings
condition specified in the first bullet point was complied with at the time of
the deposit of such money and included all interest charges on prior lien
obligations existing at the time of the requested withdrawal, it need not again
be complied with upon the withdrawal thereof. (Sections 3.08 and 3.09)
If the additional Bonds are to be issued on the basis of property
additions, the Mortgage requires that we deliver to the Mortgage Trustee a
certificate of an engineer, appraiser or other expert as to the fair value of
such additions as of a specified date. If any additions were acquired from
another gas utility, the initial appraisal must be performed by an engineer,
appraiser or other expert who is independent of us. (Section 3.04, as amended by
17th Supp.)
We will be permitted to use the collateral underlying Bonds that are
retired, acquired, paid or surrendered by us as collateral for subsequently
issued Bonds upon the earlier to occur of (a) the date as of which no Bonds
remain outstanding that were part of a series of Bonds initially issued prior to
the Nineteenth Series and (b) the date as of which a Supplemental Indenture
providing for such use is executed and made effective.
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Replacement Fund
The Mortgage requires that, on or before April 1 of each year, we
deliver a replacement fund certificate and pay to the Mortgage Trustee for a
replacement fund an amount equal to $198,000 plus 2% of the cost of all
additions made to our depreciable public utility property during the period from
October 1, 1947, to the end of the preceding calendar year, less 2% of the cost
of all depreciable public utility property retired by us during such period. We
may take as a credit against such payment 166 2/3% of the principal amount of
Bonds which could then be issued on the basis of property additions and the
principal amount of Bonds paid, acquired or retired by us, to the extent that
the same have not been otherwise included in a prior Replacement Fund
Certificate filed with the Mortgage Trustee. So long as any Bonds of the
Seventeenth Series, Nineteenth Series, Twentieth Series, Twenty-First or
Twenty-Second Series remain outstanding, we will satisfy our obligations under
the replacement fund through the use of cash only if we have first used all
available property additions and retired Bonds, and then only to the extent such
amounts are not sufficient to satisfy such obligations. All money in the
replacement fund shall, upon our request, be applied as described below under
"Release and Substitution of Property" in the case of proceeds from the sale of
released property. (Section 3.2.; 19th Supp., Section 3.2.; 21st Supp., Section
3.2; 22nd Supp., Section 3.2; 23rd Supp., Section 3.2; and 24th Supp., Section
3.2)
Release and Substitution of Property
Upon substitution of other property of equal value, we may dispose of,
free from the lien of the Mortgage, any machinery, tools, implements, fixtures,
or equipment unsuitable or not required for the conduct of our business.
(Section 6.03) Any property no longer necessary for the proper conduct of our
business may be sold, exchanged or disposed of by us, and released from the lien
of the Mortgage upon receipt by us of consideration, which shall be paid or
delivered to the Mortgage Trustee (unless required to be paid or delivered to
the trustee of a prior lien), equal to at least the fair value of such property
and which shall consist of:
o money;
o obligations of any federal, state, municipal or other governmental
body or agency purchasing such property;
o obligations maturing within 15 years, secured by a purchase money
mortgage on such property and constituting not more than 60% of
such consideration; and/or
o property additions (not otherwise utilized under the Mortgage)
which might have formed the basis for the authentication of
additional Bonds. (Sections 6.04 and 6.05)
Property taken by eminent domain proceedings or under governmental power of
purchase shall be released from the Mortgage and the proceeds of such taking or
purchase shall be paid to the Trustee. (Section 6.08) Proceeds received by the
condemnation or from the sale of property released from the Mortgage:
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o may be withdrawn by us upon compliance with the same conditions
that would authorize the authentication of Bonds of an equal
principal amount, except that no earnings condition shall be
applicable and except that money may be withdrawn on the basis of
property additions up to 100% of the cost or fair value (whichever
is less) thereof after deducting the required amount on account of
any prior lien obligations and without any deduction for the cost
of property retired;
o may be temporarily invested by the Mortgage Trustee in obligations
of the United States; or
o may be applied to the purchase or redemption of Bonds;
provided that all such proceeds (including proceeds temporarily invested as
aforesaid) not withdrawn or applied for five years after receipt by the Mortgage
Trustee shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of Bonds. (Section 6.07)
Proceeds of insurance on mortgaged property, except on losses of less than
$10,000, are payable to the Mortgage Trustee and may be applied by it to
reimburse us for the cost of repairing, renewing or replacing property damaged
or destroyed or as above provided in the case of proceeds of the sale of
property released from the Mortgage. (Section 5.12) No prior notice is required
in connection with any releases or substitutions of property, but Section 8.03
contains provisions relating to the transmission by the Mortgage Trustee to
Bondholders, from time to time, of reports of such releases or substitutions and
the consideration received therefor.
Restrictions on Dividends
So long as any Bonds of the Twenty-Second Series shall remain
outstanding, we will not declare or pay any dividend on any shares of our common
stock (other than dividends payable in shares of our common stock) or make any
distribution on such shares, or purchase or otherwise acquire any such shares
(except shares acquired without cost to us), or advance any amount to or invest
any amount in the property, securities or indebtedness of, or guarantee any
indebtedness of, any subsidiary (as defined in the Mortgage) if, after giving
effect to such action, the sum of the aggregate amounts so declared, paid,
distributed, purchased, acquired, advanced, invested or guaranteed after
December 31, 2004, would exceed our aggregate net income available for dividends
on our common stock earned after such date plus the sum of $130,000,000 (Section
3.1, 24th Supp.). The method of calculating net income is specified in the
Mortgage.
Redemption
The Pledged Bonds are subject to redemption, either as a whole or in
part, from time to time upon payment of the principal amount thereof from
proceeds available under the Mortgage resulting from the condemnation of
property subject to the lien of the Mortgage or from the sale of such property
to a governmental body or agency having the power of eminent domain made as a
result of the threat of condemnation of such property in accordance with the
terms of the Mortgage, which provides that if less than all Bonds of all series
are redeemed, then proceeds from the sale of such property will be applied to
the redemption of all Bonds, including the Pledged Bonds, on a pro rata basis
based on the amount of the Bonds then outstanding. (Section 1.7, 24th Supp.)
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Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Subject to the approval of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities,
the Mortgage does not prevent our consolidation or merger with or into any other
corporation or a conveyance and transfer of all of our property and franchises
to any other corporation if:
o the consolidation, merger or conveyance and transfer is subject to
the continuing lien of the Mortgage on the mortgaged property and
will not impair the lien or any of the rights or powers of the
Trustee or Bondholders;
o the corporation formed by the consolidation or into which we are
merged or which acquires the mortgaged property assumes and agrees
in writing to pay the Bondholders the principal of and interest on
all the Bonds, as and when due;
o any such successor corporation executes and delivers a
supplemental indenture which contains, among other things: (a) an
agreement to perform all of our obligations under the Mortgage;
(b) a stipulation that such consolidation, merger or conveyance
and transfer is not a waiver or release of any rights or powers of
the Mortgage Trustee or the Bondholders; (c) a grant confirming
the lien of the Mortgage Trustee upon the mortgaged property; and
(d) a grant to the Mortgage Trustee subjecting to the lien of the
Mortgage property additions to be used in the future and certain
after-acquired property; and
o the Mortgage Trustee shall have consented to the consolidation,
merger or conveyance and transfer, which consent the Mortgage
Trustee is required to give upon receiving an opinion of counsel
that the foregoing conditions in the Mortgage have been satisfied,
unless in the Mortgage Trustee's opinion the transaction would be
prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders. (Section 7.01)
Modifications of Mortgage
Any of the provisions of the Mortgage or of the Bonds may be altered,
amended or eliminated, and additional provisions added, with the written consent
of the holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Bonds outstanding. If such
change pertains only to the Bonds of one or more series but less than all
series, only the written consent of the holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount
of the then outstanding Bonds of each series to which such change pertains is
needed. However, no such change may:
o alter or modify the right of any Bondholder to receive payment of
the principal of and interest on its Bonds on or after the
respective due dates thereof;
o change any of the provisions of any Bond with respect to the time,
terms, manner, or amount of any payment of the principal thereof
or interest thereon without the consent of the holder of such
Bonds; or
o reduce the percentage of Bondholders whose consent shall be
required for the execution of any subsequent supplemental
indenture.
-24-
The consent of the Board of Public Utilities may be required before certain of
the above actions may be taken. (Section 10.02) Certain other modifications and
amendments described in the Mortgage may be made without the consent of the
Bondholders. (Section 10.01)
Percentage of Bondholders Required to Take Certain Action
Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Mortgage, the
Mortgage Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the Bonds then
outstanding may accelerate the maturity of the principal of all the Bonds
(Section 9.03); but if we cure all events of default under the Mortgage, the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding may
rescind, or require the Mortgage Trustee to rescind, such acceleration. (Section
9.13) The holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding
may waive any past default under the Mortgage except for a default in the
payment of principal of or interest on any of the Bonds. (Section 9.13) No
Bondholder may enforce the lien of the Mortgage unless the holders of 25% in
principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding have requested the Mortgage
Trustee to do so and have offered to indemnify it against expenses and
liabilities in connection therewith, and unless the Mortgage Trustee has failed
to take such action within 60 days. (Section 9.15) The holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding may direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Mortgage
Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it, unless such action
would be contrary to law or the provisions of the Mortgage or would, in the
opinion of the Mortgage Trustee, be unjustly prejudicial to the other
Bondholders. (Section 9.18)
Defaults and Notice Thereof
The following constitute events of default under the Mortgage:
o defaults in the payment of principal of any Bond or prior lien
obligation;
o default for 60 days in the payment of interest on any Bond or any
prior lien obligation, or in the payment of any sinking,
replacement, purchase or analogous fund;
o default for 60 days after notice in the performance of any other
covenant in the Mortgage;
o default in observing or performing any covenant or condition in
any mortgage constituting a prior lien on mortgaged property and
the mortgagee or trustee thereunder institutes proceedings to
invoke rights or remedies available by reason of such default; and
o certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
(Section 9.02)
The 19th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Supplements provide that the following also
constitute events of default under the Mortgage:
o default in the payment of principal of any Bond of the Fourteenth
through Twenty-Second Series, respectively, at maturity or
-25-
upon redemption pursuant to the provisions of any sinking,
replacement, purchase or analogous fund or pursuant to any
optional or other redemption or otherwise; and
o default for ten days in the payment of interest on any Bond of the
Fourteenth through Twenty-Second Series, respectively.
(19th Supp., Section 6.1; 21st Supp., Section 7.1; 22nd Supp.,
Section 7.1; 23rd Supp., Section 7.1; and 24th Supp., Section 7.1)
The 19th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Supplements also provide that it
shall be an event of default under the Mortgage if we default in the performance
of or compliance with any covenant, condition or term in the Mortgage or the
19th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd or 24th Supplements, respectively, and such default shall
continue for 30 days after we have knowledge thereof. Within 90 days after the
occurrence thereof, the Mortgage Trustee shall give notice of any defaults to
the Bondholders; provided that in the case of default in the payment of
principal of or interest on any Bond or of any sinking fund or purchase fund
installment, the Mortgage Trustee is not required to give notice to the
Bondholders of any default under the Mortgage if the Mortgage Trustee in good
faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the
Bondholders. (Section 11.05) Periodic evidence of compliance with certain
provisions of the Mortgage is required to be submitted to the Mortgage Trustee.
(Sections 5.09, 5.12, 5.18 and 5.19) The Mortgage Trustee is entitled to be
indemnified to its satisfaction against all its prospective costs, expenses, and
liability in connection therewith. (Sections 11.01 and 11.02)
Discharge and Satisfaction
Whenever all amounts due or to become due on all outstanding Bonds
shall have been paid or provision for the payment thereof shall have been made
(as discussed below) and all amounts payable by us to the Mortgage Trustee under
the Mortgage shall have been paid, the Mortgage Trustee shall, upon our request
and at our expense, satisfy or discharge the Mortgage of record wherever
recorded and convey, transfer, assign and deliver the mortgaged property to us.
At such time, all the title, estate, rights and powers of the Mortgage Trustee
shall cease and the mortgaged property shall revert to us, and all
responsibility of the Mortgage Trustee and all of our obligations under the
Mortgage (except as expressly provided therein) shall then cease. (Section
12.01).
Provision for payment of a Bond shall be deemed to have been made if:
o when the principal of such Bond shall have become due and
payable, all amounts due shall have been paid or shall have been
deposited in trust with and be held by the Mortgage Trustee for
the account of the holder thereof; or
o at any time in advance of the maturity thereof, we (a) shall have
either (1) deposited with the Mortgage Trustee in trust all
amounts to become due up to and upon the maturity date thereof or
(2) duly called such Bond for redemption on a date specified,
given all notices required to make such call effective or made
provision satisfactory to the Mortgage Trustee for giving all such
notices, and deposited with the Mortgage Trustee in trust all
amounts to become due upon such Bond up to and upon such
redemption date, and (b) shall have irrevocably authorized the
-26-
Mortgage Trustee to pay to the holder thereof, out of the funds
deposited with it, all amounts to become due on such Bond up to
the maturity date or the redemption date, as the case may be, such
payment to be made upon such Bond whenever it shall be presented
for that purpose without awaiting the maturity date or the
redemption date, and shall have given at least one notice by
publication of such deposit and authorization or shall have made
provision satisfactory to the Mortgage Trustee for giving such
notice. (Article I)
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Notes are being offered on a continuing basis by us through agents.
The prospectus supplement will identify those agents and will describe the plan
of distribution, including commissions to be paid. It is anticipated that the
agents will agree to use reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of the Notes.
The Notes may also be sold to an agent as principal for reoffering as described
below. We will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Notes and may
reject any proposed purchase of Notes in whole or in part. Each agent will have
the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any proposed
purchase of Notes through it in whole or in part. Unless otherwise specified in
a prospectus supplement, we will pay a commission to an agent, depending upon
the length of maturity of the Notes then being offered, ranging from 0.15% to
0.75% of the principal amount of any Notes sold through such agent.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any
Notes sold to an agent as principal will be purchased by such agent at a price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof less a percentage equal to the
commission applicable to any agency sale of a Note of identical maturity. Such
Note may be resold by an agent to investors and other purchasers from time to
time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed
public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or may
be resold to certain dealers. Resales of notes by an agent to a dealer may be
made at a discount, which will not be in excess of the discount to be received
by such agent from us. After the initial public offering of Notes, the public
offering price (in the case of Notes to be resold on a fixed public offering
price basis), the commission and the discount may be changed.
We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer made
hereby without notice and may reject orders in whole or in part placed through
an agent.
Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement,
payment of the purchase price of the Notes will be required to be made in
immediately available funds in New York City on the date of settlement.
No Note will have an established trading market when issued. The Notes
will not be listed on any securities exchange. Each agent may from time to time
purchase and sell Notes in the secondary market, but no agent is obligated to do
so, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the
Notes or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. From time to time,
the agents may make a market in the Notes but are not obligated to do so and may
discontinue such market-making activity at any time.
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In connection with certain offerings of the Notes, the agents may
engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering
transactions in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size which create a short
position for the agents. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the
Notes in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the
price of the Notes. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the
Notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to
cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering
transactions may cause the price of the Notes to be higher than it would
otherwise be in the absence of those transactions. Those activities, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Neither we nor any of the agents makes any representation or prediction
as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described
above might have on the price of the Notes. In addition, neither we nor any of
the agents make any representation that they will engage in such transactions or
that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
The agents may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933. We have agreed to indemnify the agents against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute
to payments the agents may be required to make in respect thereof. In addition,
we have agreed to reimburse the agents for certain expenses related to the
offering made hereby.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities being offered will be passed upon for us
by Cozen O'Connor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Certain legal matters will be
passed upon for the agents by Chapman and Cutler LLP, Chicago, Illinois.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and the related financial statement schedules
incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K
have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by
reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such
firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
-28-
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
SEC Registration Fee......................................$ 17,655
Legal Fees and Expenses.....................................150,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses.................................80,000
Rating Agency Fees..........................................270,000
Printing.....................................................50,000
Miscellaneous (including Blue Sky Fees and Expenses).........22,345
------
Total.....................................................$ 590,000
=======
Each amount set forth above, except for the SEC registration fee, is
estimated.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Under Section 14A:3-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, we:
(1) have the power to indemnify each of our directors and
officers (as well our employees and agents) against expenses and liabilities in
connection with any proceeding involving him or her by reason of his or her
being or having been a director or officer, other than a proceeding by or in the
right of South Jersey Gas, if (a) such director or officer acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best
interests, and (b) with respect to any criminal proceeding, such director or
officer had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful;
(2) have the power to indemnify each of our directors and
officers against expenses in connection with any proceeding by or in the right
of South Jersey Gas to procure a judgment in our favor which involves such
director or officer by reason of his or her being or having been a director or
officer if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to our best interest; however, in such
proceeding no indemnification may be provided in respect to any claim, issue or
matter as to which such director or officer shall have been adjudged to be
liable to us, unless and only to the extent that the court determines that the
director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses as the court shall deem proper;
(3) must indemnify each director and officer against expenses
to the extent that he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
any proceeding referred to in (1) and (2) above or in defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein; and
(4) has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf
of a director or officer against any expenses incurred in any proceeding and any
liabilities asserted against him or her by reason of his or her being or having
been a director or officer, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify
him or her against such expenses and liabilities under the statute.
-29-
As used in the statute, "expenses" means reasonable costs,
disbursements and counsel fees, "liabilities" means amounts paid or incurred in
satisfaction of settlements, judgments, fines and penalties, and "proceedings"
means any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal, administrative or
arbitrative action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein and any inquiry
or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or proceeding.
Indemnification may be awarded by a court under (1) or (2) as well as
under (3) above, notwithstanding a prior determination by us that the director
or officer has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Indemnification under the statute does not exclude any other rights to
which a director or officer may be entitled under a certificate of
incorporation, bylaws, or otherwise.
Article VII of our Bylaws provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
(1) we shall indemnify any corporate agent against his or her
expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceedings involving
the corporate agent by reason of his or her being or having been such a
corporate agent to the extent that (a) such corporate agent is not
otherwise indemnified and (b) the power to do so has been or may be
granted by statute; and for this purpose our board of directors may,
and on request of any such corporate agent shall be required to,
determine in each case whether or not the applicable standards in any
such statute have been met, or such determination shall be made by
independent legal counsel if the board so directs or if the board is
not empowered by statute to make such determination;
(2) to the extent that the power to do so has been or may be
granted by statute, we shall pay expenses incurred by a corporate agent
in connection with a proceeding in advance of the final disposition of
the proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
corporate agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be
determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified as provided by
statute;
(3) the indemnification provided in our Bylaws shall not be
exclusive of any other rights to which a corporate agent may be
entitled, both as to any action in his or her official capacity or as
to any action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall
inure to the benefits of the heirs, executors, or administrators of any
such corporate agent; and
(4) our board of directors shall have the power to (a)
purchase and maintain, at our expense, insurance on our behalf and on
behalf of others to the extent that power to do so has been or may be
granted by statute and (b) give other indemnification to the extent
permitted by law.
We maintain and pay all premiums on directors and officers liability
insurance policies with a primary liability limit of $35,000,000.
-30-
Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number Description
1* Form of Distribution Agreement.
4(a)(i) Indenture of Trust dated as of October 1,
1998 between South Jersey Gas and The Bank
of New York (incorporated by reference from
exhibit 4(e) of Form S-3 of South Jersey Gas
(333-62019)).
4(a)(ii) First Supplement to Indenture of Trust dated
as of June 29, 2000 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4.1 of Form 8-K of
South Jersey Gas dated July 12, 2001).
4(a)(iii) Second Supplement to Indenture of Trust
dated as of July 5, 2000 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4.2 of Form 8-K of
South Jersey Gas dated July 12, 2001).
4(a)(iv) Third Supplement to Indenture of Trust dated
as of July 9, 2001 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4.3 of Form 8-K of
South Jersey Gas dated July 12, 2001).
4(b)(i) First Mortgage Indenture dated October 1,
1947 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
4(b)(i) of Form 10-K of South Jersey
Industries, Inc. for the year ended December
31, 1987).
4(b)(ii) Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as
of April 1, 1992 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 4(b)(xvii) of Form 10-K of
South Jersey Industries, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1992).
4(b)(iii) Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as
of March 1, 1997 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 4(b)(xviv) of Form 10-K of
South Jersey Industries, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1997).
4(b)(iv) Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated
as of October 1, 1998 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4(b)(ix) of Form S-3
of South Jersey Gas (333-62019)).
4(b)(v) Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as
of September 1, 2002 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4(b)(x) of Form S-3
of South Jersey Gas (333-98411)).
4(b)(vi)* Form of Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture.
5* Opinion of Cozen O'Connor.
12* Statement regarding computation of earnings
to fixed charges.
23(a)* Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23(b)* Consent of Cozen O'Connor (included in
Exhibit 5).
24* Power of Attorney (included on the signature
page hereto).
25 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form
T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit
25(a) of Form S-3 of South Jersey Gas
(333-62019)).
* Filed herewith.
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Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement
to include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or
any material change to such information in this registration statement;
(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933 each post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
-32-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, South
Jersey Gas Company has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Folsom, New Jersey,
on the 22nd day of July, 2005.
SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
By: /s/ Edward J. Graham
---------------------------------------
Edward J. Graham
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Edward J. Graham and David A. Kindlick
his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any and all
additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act
of 1933 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name Capacity Date
/s/ Edward J. Graham Director, President and Chief July 22, 2005
- -------------------------- Executive Officer
Edward J. Graham (principal executive officer)
/s/ David A. Kindlick Executive Vice President and July 22, 2005
- -------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
David A. Kindlick (principal financial and
accounting officer)
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/s/ Shirli M. Billings Director July 22, 2005
- --------------------------
Shirli M. Billings
/s/ Charles Biscieglia Director July 22, 2005
- --------------------------
Charles Biscieglia
/s/ Sheila Hartnett-Devlin Director July 22, 2005
- --------------------------
Sheila Hartnett-Devlin
/s/ William J. Hughes Director July 22, 2005
- --------------------------
William J. Hughes
/s/ Frederick R. Raring Director July 22, 2005
- --------------------------
Frederick R. Raring
-34-
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
1* Form of Distribution Agreement.
4(a)(i) Indenture of Trust dated as of October 1,
1998 between South Jersey Gas and The Bank
of New York (incorporated by reference from
exhibit 4(e) of Form S-3 of South Jersey Gas
(333-62019)).
4(a)(ii) First Supplement to Indenture of Trust dated
as of June 29, 2000 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4.1 of Form 8-K of
South Jersey Gas dated July 12, 2001).
4(a)(iii) Second Supplement to Indenture of Trust
dated as of July 5, 2000 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4.2 of Form 8-K of
South Jersey Gas dated July 12, 2001).
4(a)(iv) Third Supplement to Indenture of Trust dated
as of July 9, 2001 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4.3 of Form 8-K of
South Jersey Gas dated July 12, 2001).
4(b)(i) First Mortgage Indenture dated October 1,
1947 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit
4(b)(i) of Form 10-K of South Jersey
Industries, Inc. for the year ended December
31, 1987).
4(b)(ii) Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as
of April 1, 1992 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 4(b)(xvii) of Form 10-K of
South Jersey Industries, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1992).
4(b)(iii) Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as
of March 1, 1997 (incorporated by reference
from Exhibit 4(b)(xviv) of Form 10-K of
South Jersey Industries, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1997).
4(b)(iv) Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated
as of October 1, 1998 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4(b)(ix) of Form S-3
of South Jersey Gas (333-62019)).
4(b)(v) Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as
of September 1, 2002 (incorporated by
reference from exhibit 4(b)(x) of Form S-3
of South Jersey Gas (333-98411)).
4(b)(vi)* Form of Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture.
5* Opinion of Cozen O'Connor.
12* Statement regarding computation of earnings
to fixed charges.
23(a)* Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23(b)* Consent of Cozen O'Connor (included in
Exhibit 5).
24* Power of Attorney (included on the signature
page hereto).
25 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form
T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
(incorporated by reference from Exhibit
25(a) of Form S-3 of South Jersey Gas
(333-62019)).
* Filed herewith.
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