UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 16, 2021 (March 11, 2021)
 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Massachusetts	 	001-05324	 	04-2147929	
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)	 	(Commission
File Number)	 	(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)	
 
300 Cadwell Drive, Springfield, Massachusetts, 01104	
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)	
 
(800) 286-5000
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
 
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
¨    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
¨    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
¨    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
¨    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class	 	Trading Symbol(s)	 	Name of each exchange on which registered	
Common Shares, $5.00 par value per share	 	ES	 	New York Stock Exchange	
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ¨
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 
Section 2	Financial Information	
 
Item 2.03	Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.	
 
On March 11, 2021, Eversource Energy issued $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.55% Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031 (the “Notes”), pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated March 8, 2021, among Eversource Energy and BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
 
The Notes are Eversource Energy’s unsecured obligations and were issued under the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 1, 2021, between Eversource Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture”), supplementing the Indenture between Eversource Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor trustee), dated as of April 1, 2002. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2021, at the rate of 2.55% per year. The Notes will mature on March 15, 2031.
 
Section 9	Financial Statements and Exhibits	
 
	Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits.	
 
	(d)	Exhibits.	
 
Exhibit Number	Description	
1	Underwriting Agreement, dated March 8, 2021, among Eversource Energy and the Underwriters named therein.	
4.1	Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, between Eversource Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.	
4.2	Form of the Notes (included as Exhibit A to the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1).	
5	Legal opinion of Richard J. Morrison, Esq. relating to the validity of the Notes (including consent).	
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).	

[The remainder of this page left blank intentionally.]
 
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SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 	EVERSOURCE ENERGY	
 	(Registrant)	
 	 	 	
March 16, 2021	By:	/s/ Emilie G. O’Neil	
 	 	Emilie G. O’Neil	
 	 	Assistant Treasurer	
 
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Exhibit 1
 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY
 
SENIOR NOTES
 
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
 
March 8, 2021
 
BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
 
TD Securities (USA) LLC
1 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, New York 10017
 
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
 
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
 
1.      Purchase and Sale. On the basis of the representations and warranties, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement (this “Agreement”), the Underwriters (defined below) shall purchase from Eversource Energy, a Massachusetts voluntary association (the “Company”), severally and not jointly, and the Company shall sell to the Underwriters, the principal amount of the Company’s 2.55% Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031 set forth opposite the name of the Underwriters in Schedule I hereto at the price specified in Schedule III hereto (the aggregate principal amount of the notes described in Schedule I hereto are hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”).
 
2.      Underwriters. The term “Underwriters”, as used herein, shall be deemed to mean BofA Securities, Inc.; Citigroup Global Markets Inc.; TD Securities (USA) LLC; and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “Representatives”) and the other several persons, firms or corporations named in Schedule I hereto (including all substituted Underwriters under the provisions of Section 10 hereof). All obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are several and not joint.
 
3.      Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Underwriters. (a) The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriters that:

 

(i)         A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-231118), relating to the Securities (x) has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder; (y) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (z) is effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Company to the Representatives. As used in this Agreement:
 
(A)      “Applicable Time” means 3:15 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement;
 
(B)       “Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of such registration statement relating to the Securities became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations;
 
(C)       “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Company and approved by the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities;
 
(D)       “Preliminary Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Securities included in the Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Securities, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
 
(E)       “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II hereto;
 
(F)       “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Securities included in the Registration Statement, including any prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Securities, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; and
 
(G)      “Registration Statement” means, collectively, the various parts of such registration statement, each as amended as of the Effective Date for such part, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement.

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Any reference to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations on or prior to the date hereof. Any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
 
(ii)        The Company was at the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, has been at all relevant determination dates thereafter (as provided in clause (2) of the definition of “well-known seasoned issuer” in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations), is on the date hereof and will be on the Closing Date (as defined below) a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in such Rule 405), including not having been an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in such Rule 405) at any such time or date. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in such Rule 405), was filed not earlier than the date that is three years prior to the Closing Date and the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form.
 
(iii)       The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations and on the Closing Date to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus conformed, and any further documents so incorporated will conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
 
(iv)       The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(g) hereof, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”).

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(v)       The Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(g) hereof.
 
(vi)      The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
 
(vii)     The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(g) hereof.
 
(viii)   Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. Except for the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II hereto (the use of which has been consented to by the Representatives), the Company has not made any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives. The Company has retained in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. Schedule II hereto includes a complete list of all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses used in connection with the offering of the Securities.
 
(ix)      The Company has been duly formed, is validly existing as a Massachusetts voluntary association in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has the power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company possesses such material certificates, authorizations, franchises or permits issued by the appropriate state or federal regulatory authorities or bodies as are necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted.

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(x)        Each majority-owned subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or otherwise formed, is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, has the corporate or limited liability company power, as applicable, and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of common stock or membership interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims. Each subsidiary possesses such material certificates, authorizations, franchises or permits issued by the appropriate state or federal regulatory authorities or bodies as are necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted.
 
(xi)       The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.
 
(xii)      The Indenture dated as of April 1, 2002 between the Company and the Trustee (as supplemented and previously amended by various supplemental indentures, including, by the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, establishing the terms of the Securities, the “Indenture”), has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.
 
(xiii)     The Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, in each case enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

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(xiv)     The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities will not contravene any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation or the Declaration of Trust of the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.
 
(xv)      There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
 
(xvi)     There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending, threatened or contemplated to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package and are not so described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package or to be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described, filed or incorporated as required.
 
(xvii)    Each Preliminary Prospectus filed as part of the registration statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 of the Rules and Regulations, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.
 
(xviii)   The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
 
(xix)     Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (A) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties), (B) has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and (C) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

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(xx)      As of the date of the Company’s most recent certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), the Company and each of its subsidiaries that is a reporting company under the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Reporting Companies”) maintain systems of internal accounting controls and processes sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; and (iii) assets are safeguarded from loss or unauthorized use. The Reporting Companies evaluated the design and operation of their respective disclosure controls and procedures to determine whether they are effective in ensuring that the disclosure of required information is timely made in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and forms of the Commission. These evaluations were made under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officers and principal financial officers of each of the Reporting Companies, within the 60-day period prior to the filing of the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The principal executive officers and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their review, that the disclosure controls and procedures, as defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by each of the Reporting Companies in reports that it files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Commission rules and forms. No significant changes were made to the Reporting Companies’ internal controls or other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation. The Company is not aware of any material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting.
 
(xxi)     The financial statements and the related notes thereto incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein. The other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby. No other financial statements or schedules of any other person are required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be included in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

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(xxii)    Deloitte and Touche LLP, who have audited certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the Securities Act.
 
(xxiii)   The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the Closing Date and completion of the distribution of the Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus set forth on Schedule II hereto.
 
(xxiv)   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (a) is, or is controlled or 50% or more owned by or is acting on behalf of, an individual or entity that is currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, the United Kingdom (including sanctions administered or enforced by Her Majesty’s Treasury) or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions” and such persons, “Sanctioned Persons” and each such person, a “Sanctioned Person”), (b) is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory, including but not limited to Belarus, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Myanmar, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Zimbabwe (collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”) or (c) will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by, or could result in the imposition of Sanctions against, any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
 
(xxv)    Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (a) is under investigation by any governmental body for, or has been charged with, or convicted of, money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist-related activities or other money laundering predicate crimes under any applicable law (collectively, “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), (b) has been assessed civil penalties under any Anti-Money Laundering Laws or (c) has had any of its funds seized or forfeited in an action under any Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures appropriate to the circumstances (in any event as required by applicable law), to ensure that each of them is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current and future Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

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(xxvi)   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that could result in a violation or a sanction for violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as may be amended, or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder; and the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance therewith. No part of the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as may be amended, or any similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder.
 
(xxvii)  (a) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (1) there has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including, to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers and vendors), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”), (2) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been notified of, or has any knowledge of, any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data and (3) the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable statutes, governmental regulations and standards, contractual obligations and internal policies relating to the security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, in the case of clause (1) or (2) above, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (b) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent in all material respects with general industry standards and practices.
 
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

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(b)            Each Underwriter hereby agrees that, except for one or more term sheets containing the information set forth in Exhibit A to Schedule II hereto, it will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) one or more term sheets relating to the Securities which are not Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses and which contain preliminary terms of the Securities and related customary information, (ii) a free writing prospectus that is not required to be filed with the Commission, (iii) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in any Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (iv) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus prepared pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof, or (v) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing.
 
4.              Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by the Underwriters that they have made a public offering of the Securities on the date of this Agreement. The terms of the public offering of the Securities are set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
 
5.               Payment and Delivery. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5, payment for the Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available at the time (the “Closing Date”) and place set forth in Schedule III hereto, upon delivery to the Representatives of the Securities, in fully registered global form registered in the name of Cede & Co., for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Securities registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request in writing not less than the business day immediately preceding the date of delivery, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Securities to the Underwriters duly paid. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
 
6.              Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following conditions:
 
(a)             Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
 
(i)        there shall not have occurred any downgrading or withdrawal, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or withdrawal or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act;
 
(ii)       any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 7(b) hereof; the Company shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with; and the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form; and

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(iii)      there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and this Agreement.
 
(b)             The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Sections 6(a)(i) and (ii) above and to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date and (ii) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so set forth. The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
 
(c)             At the Closing Date, the Securities shall have at least the ratings specified in the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Company shall have delivered to the Underwriters a letter, dated the Closing Date, from each relevant rating agency, or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, confirming that the Securities have been assigned such ratings;
 
(d)             The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a legal opinion from Richard J. Morrison, Esq., Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Eversource Energy Service Company, a service company affiliate of Eversource Energy, and counsel to the Company, or other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representatives, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
 
(i)        the Company has been duly formed, is validly existing as a Massachusetts voluntary association in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has the power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and the Company possesses such material certificates, authorizations, franchises or permits issued by the appropriate state or federal regulatory authorities or bodies as are necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted;

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(ii)       each majority-owned subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or otherwise formed, is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, has the corporate or limited liability company power, as applicable, and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; each subsidiary possesses such material certificates, authorizations, franchises or permits issued by the appropriate state or federal regulatory authorities or bodies as are necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted;
 
(iii)      this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;
 
(iv)      the Indenture has been (A) duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and (B) duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity;
 
(v)       the Securities have been duly authorized and executed and, when authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, in each case enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity;
 
(vi)      (A) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities will not contravene any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation or the Declaration of Trust of the Company or, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and (B) no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states, as to which such counsel need express no opinion, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities;

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(vii)     the statements in (A) the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes”, “Underwriting” and “Description of Securities Registered”, (B) in the Registration Statement under Item 15, (C) in “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (D) in “Item 1. Legal Proceedings” of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, if any, filed since such annual report, in each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the information called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings as of the dates of such reports and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein as of the dates of such reports;
 
(viii)    after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and are not so described or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described, filed or incorporated as required;
 
(ix)       the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
 
(x)        except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries (A) is in compliance with any and all applicable Environmental Laws, (B) has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and (C) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
 
(xi)       the Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, no order directed to the adequacy of any document incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for either such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering are pending before or threatened by the Commission;

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(xii)           such counsel (A) is of the opinion that each document, if any, filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements, schedules and other financial data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) complied when so filed as to form in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (B) is of the opinion that the Registration Statement, on the Effective Date, and each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time it was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations (except for financial statements, schedules and other financial data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as to which such counsel need not express any opinion), complied as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.
 
Such counsel shall also state that he has no reason to believe that (except for financial statements, schedules and other financial data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package and except for that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1, as to all of which such counsel need not express any belief):
 
(A)       any part of the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
 
(B)        the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or
 
(C)        the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date such opinion is delivered, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
 
Such counsel may state that his belief is based upon his participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and documents incorporated therein by reference and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except as specified.
 
The opinion of Counsel described in this Section 6(d) shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.
 
(e)             The Underwriters shall have received from Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP, special counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

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(f)              The Underwriters shall have received on the date hereof and on the Closing Date, letters, the first dated the date hereof and the second dated the Closing Date, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
 
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
 
7.              Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
 
(a)             To furnish the Representatives, without charge, one (1) signed copy of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, for delivery to each other Underwriter, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish the Representatives in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 7(e) hereof, as many copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.
 
(b)             To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement. If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Pricing Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Underwriters in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.
 
(c)             If required by the Securities Act, to timely file with the Commission under the Securities Act each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company will prepare a pricing term sheet, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to Schedule II hereto, in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such pricing term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations within the time required by such Rule and to file all other material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations.

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(d)            Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus with respect to the Securities, to furnish to the Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
 
(e)             If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered (including in such circumstances where such requirement can be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 of the Rules and Regulations) in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representatives will furnish to the Company) to which Securities may have been sold by the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
 
(f)              To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a consent to service of process or to file annual reports or to comply with any other requirements deemed by the Company in its reasonable judgment to be unduly burdensome.
 
(g)             Not to make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives.
 
(h)             To retain in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses it uses or refers to; and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Representatives and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance.

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(i)     To make generally available to the Company’s security holders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning after the “effective date of the registration statement” within the meaning of Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations, which earning statement shall be in such form, and be made generally available to security holders in such a manner, as to meet the requirements of the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.
 
(j)     During the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and continuing to and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any debt securities of the Company or warrants to purchase debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the Securities (other than (i) the Securities and (ii) commercial paper issued in the ordinary course of business), without the prior written consent of the Representatives.
 
(k)     Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state law and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state law as provided in Section 7(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters not to exceed $10,000 in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky memorandum, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s accountants and the Trustee and its counsel, (v) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with any review and qualification of the offering of the Securities by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, (vi) any fees charged by the rating agencies for the rating of the Securities and (vii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution”, and clause (b) of Section 10 entitled “Defaulting Underwriters” hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel (except as set forth in this Section 7(k)), and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
 
(l)     The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and will use its best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

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(m)     The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
 
(n)     The Company will pay the applicable Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) of the Rules and Regulations without regard to the proviso thereof.
 
(o)     If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.
 
(p)     If at any time when Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

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8.     Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities when and as incurred by them (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that are based upon or arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package (as defined to include, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II hereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) contained in any free writing prospectus, so long as the Company consented in writing to such free writing prospectus prior to its first use or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(g) hereof.
 
(b)     Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendments or supplements thereto, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 8(g) hereof.
 
(c)      In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof, such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing (but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party under this subsection shall not relieve it from any liability which it otherwise might have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this subsection) and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party has not retained counsel within a reasonable period of time after the request by the indemnified party to do so. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

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(d)     To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of each indemnifying party on the one hand and each indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of such Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of each indemnifying party on the one hand and each indemnified party on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective principal amounts of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

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(e)     The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d) hereof. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
 
(f)     The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.
 
(g)     The Underwriters severally confirm and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the statements (i) regarding delivery of the Securities by the Underwriters set forth in the last paragraph of text on the cover page, (ii) in the third, sixth and seventh paragraphs of text under the caption “Underwriting” and (iii) in the third sentence of the fifth paragraph of text under the caption “Underwriting” of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto.
 
9.     Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade or there shall have been established by any of such exchanges or by the Commission or by any federal or state agency or by the decision of any court, any general limitation on prices for such trading or any general restrictions on the distribution of securities, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York State authorities, (iv) there shall have occurred any (A) outbreak of hostilities affecting the United States, or (B) other national or international calamity or crisis, or any material adverse change in financial, political or economic conditions affecting the United States, including, but not limited to, an escalation of hostilities that existed prior to the date of this Agreement, or (v) there shall have occurred any material disruption in commercial banking, securities settlement or clearance services and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in clauses 9(a)(i) through 9(a)( v), such event, singly or together with any other such event, makes it impracticable or inadvisable, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.

21 

10.     Defaulting Underwriters. (a) If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter or Underwriters in Schedule I hereto that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate amount of such Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate amount of the Securities of such Underwriter or Underwriters to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the amount of such Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of such Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the amount of the Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such amount of such Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase such Securities and the aggregate amount of such Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one tenth of the aggregate amount of such Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
 
(b)     If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters because any condition to the obligation of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 9 hereof or because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out of pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
 
11.     No Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges and agrees that in connection with this offering, sale of the Securities or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (i) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (ii) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to the Company, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Securities, and such relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial and based on arms-length negotiations; (iii) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Company shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (iv) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company hereby waives any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.

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12.     Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 8 and 10(b) hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
 
13.     Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to BofA Securities, Inc., One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal, Facsimile No.: (212) 901-7881; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Facsimile No.: (646) 291-1469, Attention: General Counsel; TD Securities (USA) LLC, 1 Vanderbilt Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attention: Transaction Management Group; and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Email: email:tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com, Attention: Transaction Management; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Eversource Energy, Attention: Corporate Finance & Cash Management, Facsimile No.: (781) 441-3086 and confirmed to it at Eversource Energy, 247 Station Drive, Westwood, Massachusetts 02090, Attention: Assistant Treasurer, with a copy to Eversource Energy, 56 Prospect Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06103, Attention: Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
 
14.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
 
15.     Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
16.     Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

23 

17.     Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
 
18.     No Shareholder Liability. The Declaration of Trust of the Company provides that no shareholder of the Company shall be held to any liability whatever for the payment of any sum of money, or for damages or otherwise, under any contract, obligation or undertaking made, entered into or issued by the trustees of the Company or by any officer, agent or representative elected or appointed by the trustees of the Company and no such contract, obligation, or undertaking shall be enforceable against the trustees of the Company or any of them in their or his individual capacities or capacity and all such contracts, obligations and undertakings shall be enforceable only against the trustees of the Company as such, and every person, firm, association, trust and corporation having any claim or demand arising out of any such contract, obligation or undertaking shall look only to the trust estate for the payment or satisfaction thereof.
 
19.     USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
 
20.     Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
 
(a)     In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
 
(b)     In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
 
For purposes of this Section 20, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
[Signature pages follow.]

24 

Please confirm your agreement by having an authorized officer sign a copy of this Agreement in the space set forth below.
 
	Very truly yours,	
 	 	
	EVERSOURCE ENERGY	
 	 	 	
	By:	/s/ Emilie G. O’Neil	
	 	Emilie G. O’Neil	
	 	Assistant Treasurer	
 
[Underwriting Agreement]

 

Accepted and Agreed:	 	
 	 	
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.	 	
 	 	 	
By:	/s/ David Mikula	 	
 	Name:	David Mikula	 	
 	Title:	Managing Director	 	
 	 	 	
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.	 	
 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Brian D. Bednarski	 	
 	Name:	Brian D. Bednarski	 	
 	Title:	Managing Director	 	
 	 	 	
TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC	 	
 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Luiz Lanfredi	 	
 	Name:	Luiz Lanfredi	 	
 	Title:	Director	 	
 	 	 	
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC	 	
 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Carolyn Hurley	 	
 	Name:	Carolyn Hurley	 	
 	Title:	Managing Director	 	
 
[Underwriting Agreement]

 

SCHEDULE I
 
2.55% Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031
 
Underwriters	 	Principal Amount of Securities	 	
BofA Securities, Inc.	 	$	84,000,000	 	
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.	 	$	84,000,000	 	
TD Securities (USA) LLC	 	$	84,000,000	 	
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC	 	$	84,000,000	 	
Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC	 	$	14,000,000	 	
Total	 	$	350,000,000	 	

 

SCHEDULE II
 
Complete list of all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses used in connection with the offering of the Securities
 
	·	Term sheet, dated March 8, 2021, attached hereto as Exhibit A to this Schedule II.	

 

Exhibit A to Schedule II
Free Writing Prospectus
Filed pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-231118
 
March 8, 2021
 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY
 
Pricing Term Sheet	
 	
Issuer:	Eversource Energy	
Security:  	$350,000,000 2.55% Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031	
Principal Amount:	$350,000,000	
Maturity Date:	March 15, 2031	
Coupon:	2.55%	
Benchmark Treasury:	1.125% due February 15, 2031	
Benchmark Treasury Price / Yield:	95-22+ / 1.594%  	
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:	100 basis points	
Yield to Maturity:	2.594%	
Price to Public:	99.614% of the principal amount	
Interest Payment Dates:	Semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2021	
Redemption Provisions:  	Make-whole call at any time prior to December 15, 2030 (three months prior to the Maturity Date) at a discount rate of Treasury plus 15 basis points and on or after such date at par	
Trade Date:	March 8, 2021	
Settlement Date*:	March 11, 2021 (T+3)	
CUSIP / ISIN:	30040W AL2 / US30040WAL28	
Ratings**:	[Ratings omitted]	
Joint Book-Running Managers:      	BofA Securities, Inc. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. TD Securities (USA) LLC Wells Fargo Securities, LLC	
Co-Manager:	Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC	
 
* Pursuant to Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes in the secondary market prior to the date that is two business days before the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle T+3 (on March 11, 2021) to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of notes who wish to trade notes prior to the date that is two business days before the settlement date should consult their own advisors.

 

** Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.
 
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus (as supplemented) in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus (as supplemented) if you request it by contacting BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at (800) 294-1322 or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at (800) 831-9146; TD Securities (USA) LLC toll-free at (855) 495-9846; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at (800) 645-3751.

 

SCHEDULE III
 
Closing Date and Location:
 
10:00 a.m., New York time
March 11, 2021
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
Purchase Price for the Securities:	98.964% of the principal amount thereof	

 

 
Exhibit 4.1

 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY
 
and
 
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
AS TRUSTEE

 
FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 
Dated as of March 1, 2021
 
Supplemental to the Indenture dated as of April 1, 2002
 
Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031

 

 
 
FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2021 (this “Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture”), between EVERSOURCE ENERGY, a voluntary association duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Company”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor trustee to The Bank of New York), a national banking association, as Trustee under the Original Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).
 
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
 
The Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture dated as of April 1, 2002 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended, to provide for the issuance from time to time of its notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), the form and terms of which are to be established as set forth in Sections 201 and 301 of the Original Indenture.
 
Section 901 of the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture for, among other things, (a) the purpose of establishing the form and terms of the Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 of the Original Indenture, (b) changing any of the provisions of the Original Indenture as they apply to any series of Securities created by such supplemental indenture and (c) amending the Original Indenture in a manner not materially adverse to Holders.

2

The Company has previously executed and delivered to the Trustee thirteen supplemental indentures which are part of the Indenture for the purposes recited therein and for the purpose of issuing Securities under the Indenture, the currently outstanding series of which are set forth in the following table:
 
Supplemental Indenture	 	Date	 	 	Series	 	Amount	 	 	Currently
Outstanding	 	
Fifth	 	 	May 1, 2013	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series F, Due
2023	 	$	450,000,000	 	 	$	450,000,000	 	
Sixth	 	 	January 1, 2015	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series H,
Due 2025	 	$	300,000,000	 	 	$	300,000,000	 	
Seventh	 	 	March 1, 2016	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series J, Due
2026	 	$	250,000,000	 	 	$	250,000,000	 	
Eighth	 	 	March 1, 2017	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series K, Due
2022	 	$	300,000,000	 	 	$	300,000,000	 	
Ninth	 	 	October 1, 2017	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series K, Due
2022	 	$	450,000,000	 	 	$	450,000,000	 	
Ninth	 	 	October 1, 2017	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series L, Due
2024	 	$	450,000,000	 	 	$	450,000,000	 	
Tenth	 	 	January 1, 2018	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series M, Due
2028	 	$	450,000,000	 	 	$	450,000,000	 	
Eleventh	 	 	December 1, 2018	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series N, Due
2023	 	$	400,000,000	 	 	$	400,000,000	 	
Eleventh	 	 	December 1, 2018	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series O, Due
2029	 	$	500,000,000	 	 	$	500,000,000	 	
Twelfth	 	 	January 1, 2020	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series P, Due
2050	 	$	350,000,000	 	 	$	350,000,000	 	
Thirteenth	 	 	August 1, 2020	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series P, Due
2050	 	$	300,000,000	 	 	$	300,000,000	 	
Thirteenth	 	 	August 1, 2020	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series Q, Due
2025	 	$	300,000,000	 	 	$	300,000,000	 	
Thirteenth	 	 	August 1, 2020	 	 	Senior Notes,
Series R, Due
2030	 	$	600,000,000	 	 	$	600,000,000	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Total Outstanding Principal
Amount:	 	 	 	 	 	$	5,100,000,000	 	
 
The Company desires to create a new series of Securities, in an initial aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000, which is to be designated the “Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031” (the “2031 Notes”) and all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the 2031 Notes under the Original Indenture and this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture has been duly taken.
 
All acts and things necessary to make the 2031 Notes, when executed by the Company and completed, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee as provided in the Original Indenture and this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the valid and binding obligations of the Company and to constitute these presents a valid and binding supplemental indenture and agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed.

3

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
 
That in consideration of the premises and of the acceptance and purchase of the 2031 Notes by the Holders thereof and of the acceptance of this trust by the Trustee, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 2031 Notes, as follows:
 
ARTICLE ONE
 
Definitions
 
The use of the terms and expressions herein is in accordance with the definitions, uses and constructions contained in the Original Indenture and form of the 2031 Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
 
ARTICLE TWO
 
Terms and Issuance of the Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031
 
SECTION 201.       Issue of 2031 Notes.
 
A series of Securities which shall be designated the “Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031” (the “2031 Notes”) shall be executed, authenticated and delivered from time to time in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in all respects be subject to, the terms and conditions and covenants of, the Original Indenture and this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture (including the form of 2031 Note attached hereto as Exhibit A). The aggregate principal amount of the 2031 Notes that will initially be authenticated and delivered under this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall not, except as permitted by the provisions of the Original Indenture, exceed $350,000,000. Additional 2031 Notes, without limitation as to amount, having substantially the same terms as the 2031 Notes (except a different issue date, issue price and bearing interest from the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Outstanding 2031 Notes, and, if no interest has been paid, from March 11, 2021) may also be issued by the Company pursuant to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture without the consent of the existing Holders of the 2031 Notes, provided that an Event of Default has not occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2031 Notes. Such additional 2031 Notes shall be consolidated and form a part of the same series as the outstanding 2031 Notes.
 
SECTION 202.       Form of 2031 Notes; Incorporation of Terms.
 
The 2031 Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The terms of the 2031 Notes contained in such form are hereby incorporated herein by reference and are made a part of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.
 
SECTION 203.       Global Security; Depositary for Global Securities.
 
The 2031 Notes shall be issued initially in the form of a Global Security. The Depositary for any Global Securities of the series of which the 2031 Notes are a part shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.

4

SECTION 204.       Limitation on Liens.
 
The provisions of Section 1007 of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the 2031 Notes.
 
SECTION 205.       Sale and Leaseback Transactions.
 
The provisions of Section 1012 of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the 2031 Notes.
 
SECTION 206.       Place of Payment.
 
The Place of Payment in respect of the 2031 Notes shall be at the Corporate Trust Office, which, at the date hereof, is located at 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15262, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
 
ARTICLE THREE
 
SECTION 301.       Redemption of 2031 Notes
 
The 2031 Notes may be redeemed at any time or from time to time prior to December 15, 2030 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2031 Notes), at the option of the Company, at a redemption price determined by the Quotation Agent (defined below) equal to the greater of:
 
	·	100% of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date or	
 
	·	the sum, as determined by the Quotation Agent (defined below), of the present values of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes to be redeemed, together with remaining scheduled payments of interest (exclusive of interest to the redemption date) from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (defined below) of the 2031 Notes discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (defined below), plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the 2031 Notes being redeemed to, but excluding the redemption date.	
 
The 2031 Notes may be redeemed on or after December 15, 2030 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2031 Notes) at a redemption price as determined by the Quotation Agent equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

5

SECTION 302.       Definitions Applicable to Redemption Provisions.
 
As used in this Article Three:
 
“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (defined below) (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Par Call Date, then yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date, in each case calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date, plus 15 basis points.
 
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the Par Call Date that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the 2031 Notes.
 
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, if clause (ii) of the definition of Adjusted Treasury Rate is applicable, the average of four, or such lesser number as is obtained by the Quotation Agent, Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.
 
“Par Call Date” means December 15, 2030 (the date that is three months prior to the maturity date of the 2031 Notes).
 
“Quotation Agent” means one Reference Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.
 
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) each of BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (or their respective affiliates that are Primary Treasury Dealers, as defined herein) and their respective successors, provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by us.
 
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by a Reference Treasury Dealer, of the bid and asking prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

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If less than all of the 2031 Notes are to be redeemed, the 2031 Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with Depository Trust Company, or DTC, procedures in portions (equal to $1,000 or any multiple thereof) of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes larger than $2,000. Notice of redemption will be sent to each holder of 2031 Notes to be redeemed in accordance with applicable DTC procedures. If any 2031 Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that 2031 Note will state the portion of the principal amount of that 2031 Note to be redeemed. In that case, the Company will issue a new 2031 Note of any authorized denomination, as requested, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such 2031 Note, in the name of the holder upon cancellation of the original 2031 Note.
 
The Company will deliver notice of any redemption to holders of the 2031 Notes, not more than sixty (60) nor less than thirty (30) days before the redemption date.
 
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the 2031 Notes called for redemption.
 
The 2031 Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.
 
ARTICLE FOUR
 
Provisions of the Original Indenture Solely Applicable to the 2031 Notes
 
SECTION 401.       Section 101 of the Original Indenture.
 
Solely with respect to the 2031 Notes, the following definition shall be added after the definition of “Discharged” in Section 101:
 
““Electronic Means” means the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.”

7

SECTION 402        Section 105 of the Original Indenture.
 
Solely with respect to the 2031 Notes, the following paragraph shall be added at the end of Section 105:
 
“The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Company; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.”
 
SECTION 403.       Section 401 of the Original Indenture.
 
Section 401 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the 2031 Notes. Section 401 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended in its entirety with respect to the 2031 Notes to state:
 
“SECTION 401.     Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
 
This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
 
(1) either (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (x) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 hereof and (y) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003 hereof) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
 
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (in each case except as provided in Section 402(c) hereof and the last paragraph of Section 1003 hereof) with the Paying Agent or with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount of money sufficient to pay and discharge, or has otherwise paid, the entire Indebtedness on such Securities for principal and interest, if any;

8

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
 
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with;
 
provided, however, that if the Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to return any money deposited with it as described in this Section 401 to the Company or its representative under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, this Indenture shall retroactively be deemed not to have been satisfied and discharged and automatically shall be reinstated and shall remain in full force and effect without any further action, but the Company shall execute and deliver such instruments as the Trustee shall reasonably request to evidence and acknowledge the same.
 
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 hereof, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 hereof and, if money shall have been deposited with the Paying Agent or the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee under Sections 401, 402, 1002 and 1003 hereof shall survive.”
 
SECTION 402.       Section 403 of the Original Indenture.
 
Section 403 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the 2031 Notes. Section 403 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended in its entirety with respect to the 2031 Notes to state:
 
“SECTION 403.     Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of the Notes.
 
The Company shall be deemed to have paid and Discharged the entire Indebtedness on all the Outstanding Notes upon the deposit referred to in subparagraph (1) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as they relate to such Outstanding Notes, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall at Company Request execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
 
(a)            the rights of Holders of the Notes to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (1) hereof, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity; or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (4) hereof;

9

(b)            the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 305, 306, 1002 and 1003 hereof and, if the Company shall have irrevocably designated a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (5) hereof, Sections 1101, 1104 and 1106 hereof as they apply to such Redemption Date;
 
(c)            the Company's obligations with respect to the Trustee under Section 607 hereof; and
 
(d)            the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the duties of the Trustee under Section 402 hereof and, if the Company shall have irrevocably designated a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (5) hereof, Article 11 and the duty of the Trustee to authenticate Notes on registration of transfer or exchange;
 
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
 
(1) the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (in each case except as provided in Section 402(c) hereof and the last paragraph of Section 1003 hereof) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, an amount of (i) money, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations or a combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which the Trustee shall be instructed to apply to pay and discharge, the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes on the Stated Maturity or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (4) hereof; provided, however, that (A) all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 403 shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars; and (B) U.S. Government Obligations shall be valued at the amount of money that they will provide through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms no later than one day prior to the Stated Maturity or such Redemption Date, and shall not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment at the option of the issuer thereof prior to the Stated Maturity or such Redemption Date;
 
(2) no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default (including by reason of such deposit) with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

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(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an unqualified opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, of independent counsel of national standing selected by the Company and satisfactory to the Trustee to the effect that (i) Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge, which opinion shall be based on a change in law or a ruling by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service after the date hereof and (ii) the defeasance trust is not, or is registered as, an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
 
(4) if the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited money or U.S. Government Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of a series to and including a Redemption Date on which all of the Outstanding Securities of such series are to be redeemed, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or U.S. Government Obligations, and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104 hereof;
 
(5) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Securities have been complied with.
 
The condition set forth in clause (i) of subparagraph (3) hereof shall not apply if the Company shall have complied with the remaining conditions of subparagraphs 1-5 hereof as of a date which is no more than 60 days prior to the maturity date.
 
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) if the Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to return any money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Section 403 to the Company or its representative under any Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, such Security shall thereupon be deemed retroactively not to have been paid and any satisfaction and discharge of the Company’s Indebtedness in respect thereof shall retroactively be deemed not to have been effected, and such Security shall be deemed to remain Outstanding and the provisions of the Indenture relating to such Security shall be reinstated and shall remain in full force and effect and (b) any satisfaction and discharge of the Company’s Indebtedness in respect of any Security shall be subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003.”

11

SECTION 403.       Section 1009 of the Original Indenture.
 
Subparagraph (1) of Section 1009 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the 2031 Notes. Subparagraph (1) of Section 1009 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended in its entirety with respect to the 2031 Notes to state:
 
“the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (in each case except as provided in Section 402(c) hereof and the last paragraph of Section 1003 hereof) with the Trustee (specifying that each deposit is pursuant to this Section 1009) as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, an amount of (i) money or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations or a combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which the Trustee shall be instructed to apply to pay and discharge, the principal of and each installment of principal and interest, if any, on the Notes on the Stated Maturity of such principal or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (4) of this Section 1009; provided, however, that (A) all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 1009 shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars; and (B) U.S. Government Obligations shall be valued at the amount of money that they will provide through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms no later than one day prior to the Stated Maturity or such Redemption Date and shall not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment at the option of the issuer thereof prior to the Stated Maturity;”
 
ARTICLE FIVE
 
Miscellaneous
 
SECTION 501.       Execution as Supplemental Indenture.
 
This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture and, as provided in the Original Indenture, this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof.
 
SECTION 502.       Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
 
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.
 
SECTION 503.       Effect of Headings.
 
The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

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SECTION 504.       Successors and Assigns.
 
All covenants and agreements by the Company in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
 
SECTION 505.       Separability Clause.
 
In case any provision in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture or in the 2031 Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
 
SECTION 506.       Benefits of Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.
 
Nothing in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture or in the 2031 Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.
 
SECTION 507.       Recitals.
 
The Trustee shall have no responsibility for the recitals contained in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, all of which shall be taken as the statements of the Company, or for the validity or sufficiency of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.
 
SECTION 508.       Governing Law.
 
This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
 
SECTION 509.       Execution and Counterparts.
 
This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
 
SECTION 510.       Liability of Trustees and Shareholders.
 
The Declaration of Trust of the Company provides that no shareholder of the Company shall be held to any liability whatever for the payment of any sum of money, or for damages or otherwise under any contract, obligation or undertaking made, entered into or issued by the trustees of the Company or by any officer, agent or representative elected or appointed by the trustees and no such contract, obligation or undertaking shall be enforceable against the trustees or any of them in their or his individual capacities or capacity and all such contracts, obligations and undertakings shall be enforceable only against the trustees as such, and every person, firm, association, trust and corporation having any claim or demand arising out of any such contract, obligation or undertaking shall look only to the trust estate for the payment or satisfaction thereof.

13

SECTION 511.       Certain Tax Matters.
 
The Trustee shall be entitled to deduct FATCA Withholding Tax, and shall have no obligation to gross-up any payment thereunder or to pay any additional amount as a result of such FATCA Withholding Tax. The Company hereby covenants with the Trustee that it will provide the Trustee with sufficient information so as to enable the determination of whether any payments pursuant to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture are subject to the withholding requirements described in Section 1471(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations, or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof (“FATCA Withholding Tax”).
 
SECTION 512.       Economic Sanctions.
 
(a)           The Company covenants and represents that neither it nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, directors or officers are the target or subject of any sanctions enforced by the US Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury or the US Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively “Sanctions”);
 
(b)           The Company covenants and represents that neither it nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, directors or officers will directly or indirectly use any repayments/reimbursements made pursuant to this agreement, (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person who, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any country or territory that is the target or subject of Sanctions, or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any person.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
 
 	EVERSOURCE ENERGY	

 	By:	/s/ Emilie G. O’Neil	
 	 	Emilie G. O’Neil	
 	 	Assistant Treasurer	

 	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,	
 	as Trustee	

 	By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch	
 	 	Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch	
 	 	Title:	Vice President	

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EXHIBIT A
 
[Form of Face of Global Security]
 
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
 
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to Eversource Energy or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY
 
SENIOR NOTES, SERIES S, DUE 2031
 
CUSIP NO. 30040W AL2		$350,000,000	 	
 
No. 1
 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY, a voluntary association duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Company”, which term includes any successor entity under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of Three Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($350,000,000) on March 15, 2031 (the “Final Maturity”), and to pay interest thereon from March 11, 2021 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2021, at the rate of 2.55% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and, subject to the terms of the Indenture, at the same rate on any overdue principal and premium and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of interest.

 

 
The amount of interest payable for any period other than a complete interest payment period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve thirty day months and, for any period shorter than a full month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such period. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date is not a Business Day, then payment of principal and interest, if any, or principal and premium, if any, payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. A “Business Day” shall mean any day, except a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday in New York, New York or in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
 
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be (1) the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date if this Security remains in book-entry only form or (2) the 15th calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date if this Security does not remain in book-entry only form. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.
 
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.
 
This Security has initially been issued in the form of a Global Security, and the Company has initially designated The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the “Depositary,” which term shall include any successor depositary), as the Depositary for this Security. For as long as this Security or any portion hereof is issued in such form, and notwithstanding the previous paragraph, all payments of interest, principal and other amounts in respect of this Security or portion thereof shall be made to the Depositary or its nominee in accordance with its applicable policies and procedures, in the coin or currency specified above and as further provided on the reverse hereof.
 
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place. Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual or electronic signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

A-2

 
[Form of Reverse of Global Security]

 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY
 
SENIOR NOTES, SERIES S, DUE 2031
 
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of April 1, 2002, as amended and supplemented from time to time and as supplemented by the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 (herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor trustee to The Bank of New York), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under Indenture), as to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $350,000,000. The provisions of this Security, together with the provisions of the Indenture, shall govern the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Holder, the Company and the Trustee with respect to this Security, provided that, if any provision of this Security conflicts with any provision of the Indenture, the provision of this Security shall be controlling to the fullest extent permitted under the Indenture.
 
The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than thirty (30) or more than sixty (60) days’ notice by mail to the Holders of such securities at their addresses in the Security Register, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, from time to time. If the Company elects to redeem the Securities, it will do so at a Redemption Price set forth in Section 301 of the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Trustee, dated March 1, 2021, which established the terms of the Securities.
 
Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, if notice has been given as provided in the Indenture and funds for the redemption of any Securities (or any portion thereof) called for redemption shall have been made available on the Redemption Date referred to in such notice, such Securities (or any portion thereof) will cease to bear interest on the date fixed for such redemption specified in such notice and the only right of the Holders of such Securities will be to receive payment of the Redemption Price.
 
In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
 
The Securities of this series will not be subject to any sinking fund.

A-3

 
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

 
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected (voting as one class). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
 
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the time, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
 
This Security shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in the names of Persons other than the Depositary with respect to such series or its nominee only as provided in this paragraph. This Security shall be so exchangeable if (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or at any time ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (y) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate providing that this Security shall be so exchangeable or (z) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of the series of which this Security is a part. Securities so issued in exchange for this Security shall be of the same series, having the same interest rate, if any, and maturity and having the same terms as this Security, in authorized denominations and in the aggregate having the same principal amount as this Security and registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.
 
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of a Security of the series of which this Security is a part is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

A-4

 
The Securities of the series of which this Security is a part are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
 
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
 
For so long as this Security is issued in the form of a Global Security, neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility with respect to the policies and procedures of the Depositary or for any notices or other communications among the Depositary, its direct and indirect participants or the beneficial owners of this Security.
 
Neither the failure to give any notice nor any defect in any notice given to the Holder of this Security or any other Security of this series will affect the sufficiency of any notice given to any other Holder of any Securities of this series.
 
The Indenture provides that the Company, at its option (a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated Securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust) or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company deposits, in trust, with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations which, through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of and premium, if any and interest, if any, on the Securities on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such Securities, and certain other conditions are satisfied.
 
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any trustee, incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

A-5

 
The Declaration of Trust of the Company provides that no shareholder of the Company shall be held to any liability whatsoever for the payment of any sum of money, or for damages or otherwise under any contract, obligation or undertaking made, entered into or issued by the trustees of the Company or by any officer, agent or representative elected or appointed by the trustees and no such contract, obligation or undertaking shall be enforceable against the trustees or any of them in their or his individual capacities or capacity and all such contracts, obligations and undertakings shall be enforceable only against the trustees as such, and every person, firm, association, trust and corporation having any claim or demand arising out of any such contract, obligation or undertaking shall look only to the trust estate for the payment or satisfaction thereof.

 
This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
 
All terms used in this Security not defined herein which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
 
[The remainder of this page left blank intentionally.]

A-6

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Eversource Energy has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 
EVERSOURCE ENERGY	 	

By:	 	 	
 	Emilie G. O’Neil	 	
 	Assistant Treasurer	 	
 
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
 
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
 
Dated: March ___, 2021
 
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,	 	
as Trustee	 	

By:	 	 	
 	Authorized Signatory

 

A-7

 

Exhibit 5
 
  	800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
 
Richard J. Morrison
Deputy General Counsel and Secretary
 
617-424-2111
richard.morrison@eversource.com	
 
March 16, 2021
 
Eversource Energy
300 Cadwell Drive
Springfield, Massachusetts 01104
 
	Re:	Eversource Energy Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031	
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
I am Deputy General Counsel of Eversource Energy Service Company and Secretary of Eversource Energy, a Massachusetts business trust and voluntary association organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Company”). I have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the issuance and sale to the public of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.55% Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2031 (the “Notes”), pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated March 8, 2021, among Eversource Energy and BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (“Underwriting Agreement”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of April 1, 2002, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented and amended by fourteen indentures supplemental thereto (the “Indenture”), including a Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021, establishing the terms of the Notes. The Company has registered its Notes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (Commission File No. 333-231118, the “Registration Statement”). The Notes were issued on March 11, 2021.
 
For purposes of the opinion I express below, I have examined, among other agreements, instruments and documents, the Registration Statement, including the prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement, dated March 8, 2021 (the “Prospectus”), and its exhibits, including the Indenture, and the organizational documents of the Company and originals, or copies certified to my satisfaction, of such corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers and representatives of the Company and other documents as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In my examination I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies. As to various questions of fact material to such opinions, I have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon certifications by officers of the Company and other appropriate persons and statements contained in the Registration Statement.

 

Based on the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations which I deem relevant, I am of the opinion that the Notes are legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are valid and binding obligations of the Company.
 
The opinions set forth herein are subject to the following further assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions:
 
A.            I express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of any waiver in respect of the Notes of any rights of any party, or duties owing to it, as a matter of law, or that is broadly stated or does not describe the right or duty purportedly waived with reasonable specificity.
 
B.            My opinions set forth above are subject to the effect of (a) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws and court decisions of general application (including without limitation statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent or preferential transfers) relating to, limiting or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (b) principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in proceedings at law or in equity) that may limit the enforceability of any of the remedies, covenants or other provisions of the Notes or the Indenture, or the availability of injunctive relief or other equitable remedies or as such principles relate to, limit or affect the enforcement of creditor’s rights generally.
 
C.            In addition, I express no opinion as to any provisions of the Notes or the Indenture regarding the remedies available to any person (1) to take action that is arbitrary, unreasonable or capricious or is not taken in good faith or in a commercially reasonable manner, whether or not such action is permitted under the Notes or the Indenture, or (2) for violation or breaches that are determined by a court to be non-material or without substantially adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to perform its material obligations under the Notes or the Indenture.
 
D.            This opinion is limited to the current laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the current federal laws of the United States, and to the limited extent set forth below, the current laws of the State of New York, and to the facts as they exist on the date hereof. I am not admitted to practice law in the State of New York, but I am generally familiar with the laws of such State and have made such inquiries as I considered necessary to render my opinion. I express no opinion as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of New York and the United States. I undertake no obligation to advise you as a result of developments occurring after the date hereof including changes in such laws or interpretations thereof, or as a result of facts or circumstances brought to my attention after the date hereof.
 
This opinion is furnished only to you in connection with the transaction contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Underwriting Agreement and is solely for your benefit. Other than as stated below, this opinion is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose or relied upon by any other person for any purpose without my prior written consent (including by any person that acquires Notes from you).

 

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 16, 2021, which will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, and to the reference to me under the caption “Legal Opinions” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.
 
 	Very truly yours,	
 	 	
 	/s/ RICHARD J. MORRISON	
 	Richard J. Morrison	
 	Deputy General Counsel and Secretary