EXHIBIT 4.4
________________________________________________________________________________
MSDW CAPITAL TRUST I
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, DISCOVER & CO.
(as Guarantor)
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
(as Guarantee Trustee)
March 12, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.......................................... 1
ARTICLE II.
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application..................... 4
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders...................................... 4
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee..................... 4
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee............ 4
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..... 5
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver............................ 5
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice............................. 5
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests................................ 5
ARTICLE III.
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee........... 5
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.................. 6
SECTION 3.3. Indemnity............................................ 8
SECTION 3.4. Expenses............................................. 8
ARTICLE IV.
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility....................... 8
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of
the Guarantee Trustee................................ 8
ARTICLE V.
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee............................................ 9
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.......................... 9
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected............................. 9
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.................................... 10
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment................................. 10
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.......................................... 10
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.............................. 11
ARTICLE VI.
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination........................................ 11
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees................................ 11
ARTICLE VII.
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.......................................... 11
ARTICLE VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns............................... 12
SECTION 8.2. Amendments........................................... 12
SECTION 8.3. Notices.............................................. 12
SECTION 8.4. Benefit.............................................. 13
SECTION 8.5. Interpretation....................................... 13
SECTION 8.6. Governing Law........................................ 14
SECTION 8.7. Counterparts......................................... 14
ii
Certain Sections of this Guarantee Agreement relating
to Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 Trust Indenture
Guarantee Agreement
Act Section
--- -------
Section
(ss.) 310(a)(1) .........................................................4.1(a)
(a)(2) ..................................................................4.1(a)
(a)(3) ..........................................................Not Applicable
(a)(4) ..........................................................Not Applicable
(b) ................................................................2.8, 4.1(c)
(ss.) 311(a) ....................................................Not Applicable
(b) .............................................................Not Applicable
(ss.) 312(a) ............................................................2.2(a)
(b) .....................................................................2.2(b)
(c) .............................................................Not Applicable
(ss.) 313(a) ...............................................................2.3
(a)(4) .....................................................................2.3
(b) ........................................................................2.3
(c) ........................................................................2.3
(d) ........................................................................2.3
(ss.) 314(a) ...............................................................2.4
(b) ........................................................................2.4
(c)(1) .....................................................................2.5
(c)(2) .....................................................................2.5
(c)(3) .....................................................................2.5
(e) ..............................................................1.1, 2.5, 3.2
(ss.) 315(a) ............................................................3.1(d)
(b) ........................................................................2.7
(c) .....................................................................3.1(c)
(d) .....................................................................3.1(d)
(e) .............................................................Not Applicable
(ss.) 316(a) ......................................................1.1,2.6, 5.4
(a)(1)(A) ..................................................................5.4
(a)(1)(B) ..................................................................5.4
(a)(2) ..........................................................Not Applicable
(b) ........................................................................5.3
(c) .............................................................Not Applicable
(ss.) 317(a)(1) .................................................Not Applicable
(a)(2) ..........................................................Not Applicable
(b) .............................................................Not Applicable
(ss.) 318(a) ...............................................................2.1
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Guarantee Agreement.
iii
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of March 12, 1998 is executed and
delivered by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, DISCOVER & CO., a Delaware corporation
(the"Guarantor") having its principal office at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as trustee
(the"Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein)
from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of MSDW Capital
Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer Trust").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the"Trust
Agreement"), dated as of March 12, 1998, among ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Discover & Co., as Depositor, The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee
(the"Property Trustee"), The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee
(the "Delaware Trustee") (collectively, the "Issuer Trustees"), two individuals
selected by the holders of the Common Securities to act as administrators with
respect to the Issuer Trust (the "Administrators") and the Holders from time to
time of preferred undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the
Issuer Trust, the Issuer Trust is issuing $400,000,000 aggregate Liquidation
Amount (as defined herein) of its 7.10% Capital Securities, Liquidation Amount
$25 per capital security (the "Capital Securities"), representing preferred
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust and
having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Capital Securities will be issued by the Issuer Trust and the
proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer
Trust's Common Securities (as defined herein), will be used to purchase the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the
Guarantor which will be deposited with The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee
under the Trust Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities,
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Capital Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of the Capital Securities
by each Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit
the Guarantor, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Guarantor executes
and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time
to time of the Capital Securities.
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall,
unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized
terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"Additional Amounts" has the meaning specified in the Trust Agreement.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this
definition,"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the
power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly,whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise;and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative
to the foregoing.
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"Capital Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital
of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
"Distributions" means preferential cumulative cash distributions
accumulating from and including March 12, 1998 and payable quarterly in arrears
on February 28, May 30, August 30, and November 30 of each year, commencing May
30, 1998, at the annual rate of 7.10% of the Liquidation Amount.
"Event of Default" means (i) a default by the Guarantor in any of its
payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement, or (ii) a default by the
Guarantor in any other obligation hereunder that remains unremedied for 30 days.
"Guarantee Agreement" means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified,amended
or supplemented from time to time.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,without
duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid
Distributions required to be paid on the Capital Securities, to the extent the
Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the
Redemption Price, with respect to the Capital Securities called for redemption
by the Issuer Trust to the extent that the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, unless Junior
Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the
aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions
to the date of payment and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer Trust
remaining available for distribution to Holders on liquidation of the Issuer
Trust (in either case, the"Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means The Bank of New York, until a Successor Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the
terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor
Guarantee Trustee.
"Guarantor" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the
Issuer Trust, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given
any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"shall not include the
Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the
Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Debt Indenture dated as of March
1, 1998, between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Discover & Co. and The Bank of New
York, as trustee, as may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Capital Security.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities representing more than
50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding Capital
Securities issued by the Issuer Trust.
"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities,
Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion of the
principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be
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contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Junior Subordinated Indenture,
allocated to the Common Securities and to the Capital Securities based upon the
relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes and (ii) with respect to a
distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Trust Securities in
connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are distributed.
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by any one of the
following: the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial
Officer, the Chief Strategic and Administrative Officer, the Chief Legal
Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer of the Company or any other
person authorized by the Board of Directors to execute any such certificate, and
delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officer's Certificate delivered with
respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement by the officer signing the Officer's Certificate that such
officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officer's Certificate;
(c) a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual,corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Capital Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to the Trust
Agreement; provided that each Junior Subordinated Debenture Redemption Date and
the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be a Redemption
Date for a Like Amount of Capital Securities.
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning specified in the Trust Agreement.
"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Guarantee
Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any
managing director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant
treasurer, assistant secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of
this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer
to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
"Senior Indebtedness" shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
3
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated
March 12, 1998, executed by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Discover & Co., as
Depositor, The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and The Bank of
New York, as Property Trustee.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
▇▇.▇▇. 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
ARTICLE II.
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of
the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be apart of and
govern this Guarantee Agreement, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall
control. If any provision of this Guarantee Agreement modifies or excludes any
provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the
latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to
be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee a list of Holders at the following times:
(i) quarterly, not more than 15 days after February 28, May 30, August
30 and November 30 in each year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders
as of such February 28, May 30, August 30 and November 30; and
(ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in
writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such
request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15
days prior to the time such list is furnished.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Section
312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Not later than January 31 of each year, commencing January 31, 1999, the
Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports, if any, as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner
provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall
also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, and the Holders such
documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the
Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act, in the form, in the manner and at the times required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of
compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an
Officer's Certificate.
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its
consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist,
and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured,
for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend
to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right
consequent therefrom.
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an
Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders,
notices of all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such
Events of Default have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided
that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as the Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of
directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of
this Guarantee Agreement shall have received written notice of such Event of
Default.
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III.
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee Agreement to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 5.4(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by
such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor
Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee
Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee
Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment
hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or
not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders.
5
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall be
obligated to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1), and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee
Trustee. If an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 2.6), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same
degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) Prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be
determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee
Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1), and the Guarantee
Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties
and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee
Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1); and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth
of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee
Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that
by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically
required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was negligent
in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee
Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the
Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in
the exercise of any of its rights or powers if the Guarantee Trustee shall
have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or
liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement
or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
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(i) The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution,certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,consent,
order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent
or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate
unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement,
the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder,
the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed)
may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon
an Officer's Certificate which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee
Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and the
advice or written opinion of such legal counsel with respect to legal matters
shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion. Such legal counsel may be legal counsel
to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its employees. The
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of
competent jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request
or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the
Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable
person in the position of the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs,expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred
by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable
advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee.
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate,statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent,order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its
agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any
negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of any such agent or attorney
appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect
to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the
Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders,(B) may refrain
from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such
instructions are received and (C) shall be fully protected in acting in
accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law,to perform
any such act or acts or to exercise any
7
such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority
available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty to act in
accordance with such power and authority.
SECTION 3.3. Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence,
wilful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee,arising out
of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any
claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its
powers or duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any
lien or charge on any Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it
under this Guarantee Agreement.
SECTION 3.4. Expenses.
The Guarantor shall from time to time reimburse the Guarantee Trustee for
its expenses and costs (including reasonable attorneys' or agents' fees)
incurred in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
ARTICLE IV.
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act
to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000, and shall be a corporation meeting the requirements of Section
310(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports
of condition at least annually,pursuant to law or to the requirements of
the supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this
Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so
act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the
manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2.
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions
of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and no appointment
of a Successor Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective
until the acceptance of appointment by the Successor Guarantee Trustee by
written instrument executed by the Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Holders and the Guarantee Trustee.
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(b) Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, a Guarantee Trustee may
resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders.The Guarantee
Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least three Persons
meeting the eligibility requirements such Person's expenses and charges to serve
as the Guarantee Trustee, and selecting the Person who agrees to the lowest
expenses and charges. If the instrument of acceptance by the Successor
Guarantee Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Guarantee Trustee within
60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the Guarantee Trustee
may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee may be removed for cause at any time by Act
(within the meaning of Section 6.8 of the Trust Agreement) of the Holders of at
least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to
the Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If a resigning Guarantee Trustee shall fail to appoint a successor, or
if a Guarantee Trustee shall be removed or become incapable of acting as
Guarantee Trustee, or if any vacancy shall occur in the office of any Guarantee
Trustee for any cause, the Holders of the Capital Securities, by Act of the
Holders of record of not less than 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to such Guarantee Trustee, shall
promptly appoint a successor Guarantee Trustee. If no Successor Guarantee
Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of the Capital Securities
and such appointment accepted by the Successor Guarantee Trustee, any Holder, on
behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE V.
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full, on a
subordinated basis as set forth in Article VI, to the Holders the Guarantee
Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the
Issuer Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim which the Issuer Trust may have or assert, except the defense of
payment. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the
Holders or by causing the Issuer Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders. The
Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event
it makes any direct payment hereunder.
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement
and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for
payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee,
the Issuer Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor,
protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all
other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of
the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer Trust of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be
performed or observed by the Issuer Trust;
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(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust of all or any
portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment of
Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures as so provided in the Indenture), Redemption
Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any
action on the part of the Issuer Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer Trust or any of the assets of
the Issuer Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment of
the underlying obligation), it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the
obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under
any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement
will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the
Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee
Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust
or any other Person.
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment
of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore
paid by the Issuer Trust) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the Holders
against the Issuer Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor
shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be
entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement
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or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee
Agreement, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under
this Guarantee Agreement or any payments are due to the holders of Capital
Securities under the Trust Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the
Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold
such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer Trust with respect to the Capital Securities
and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to
make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections(a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI.
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.
This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and the provisions
of Article XIII of the Indenture will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the
obligations of the Guarantor hereunder. The obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder do not constitute Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor.
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall rank
pari passu with any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor on
behalf of the holders of preferred or capital securities issued by the Issuer
Trust and with any other security, guarantee or other obligation that is
expressly stated to rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VII.
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Capital Securities,
(ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the Holders in
exchange for all of the Capital Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts
payable in accordance with Article IX of the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of
the Issuer Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case maybe, if at any
time any Holder is required to repay any sums paid with respect to Capital
Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
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ARTICLE VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger
or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article IX of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the
Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its
obligations hereunder, and any purported assignment that is not in accordance
with these provisions shall be void.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely
affect the rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will
be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior
approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.3. Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice, and delivered, telecopied (confirmed by delivery of the original) or
mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or telecopy number set
forth below or such other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such
other Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Holders:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Discover & Co.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Office of the Secretary
(b) if given to the Issuer Trust, in care of the Guarantee Trustee,at
the Issuer Trust's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below or such
other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such other Personas the
Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer Trust may give notice to the Holders:
▇/▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
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with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Discover & Co.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Office of the Secretary
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee:
The Bank of New York
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set
forth on the books and records of the Issuer Trust.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received
in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 8.4. Benefit.
This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and
is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.5. Interpretation.
In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined
in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section
1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee
Agreement has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended
from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless
otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee
Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the
plural and vice versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders
used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
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SECTION 8.6. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
SECTION 8.7. Counterparts.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
DISCOVER & CO.
as Guarantor
By:__________________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Assistant Treasurer
The Bank of New York,
as Guarantee Trustee, and not
in its individual capacity
By:___________________________________________
Name:
Title:
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