GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Guarantee"), dated as of
___________, 1997, is executed and delivered by Provident Bancorp, Inc., an
Ohio corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of
the Securities (as defined herein) of Provident Capital Trust I, a Delaware
statutory business trust (the "Trust").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration (as defined herein), the Trust
issued $100,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of its 8.60% Capital
Securities, liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security (the "Old Capital
Securities") representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
assets of the Trust and having the terms set forth in the Declaration;
WHEREAS, the Old Capital Securities issued by the Trust and the
proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Trust's
Common Securities (as defined below), were used to purchase the Debentures
(as defined in the Declaration) of the Guarantor;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration, the Trust issued 3,093 common
securities, having a liquidation amount of $1,000 per common security,
designated the 8.60% Common Securities (the "Common Securities");
WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Holders to purchase the Old
Capital Securities, the Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agreed, to
the extent set forth in that certain Guarantee Agreement, dated as of
November 27, 1996 (the "Old Guarantee"), among the Guarantor and the
Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Old Capital
Securities and the Common Securities to pay to the Holders of the Old Capital
Securities and the Common Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined
therein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set
forth therein;
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of November 27, 1996 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), among
the Guarantor, the Trust and the Initial Purchasers named therein, the
Guarantor and the Trust agreed that if the Guarantor and the Trust file a
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") to exchange the Old
Capital Securities for a like amount of new capital securities (the "New
Capital Securities"; together with the Old Capital Securities, the "Capital
Securities"), then the Guarantor and the Trust will simultaneously exchange
the Old Guarantee for the Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Capital Securities and the Common Securities;
WHEREAS, on ______________, 1997 the Guarantor and the Trust
filed the Registration Statement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Guarantor and the Trust wish to exchange the Old Guarantee for the Guarantee;
WHEREAS, the Guarantee will be substantially identical to the Old
Guarantee except that the Guarantee will be registered pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), and the Guarantee will not contain provisions
restricting transfer in the absence of registration under the Securities Act;
and
WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Holders to retain 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 and the Common 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 by each Holder of
Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit
of the Holders.
ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions. In this Guarantee,
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unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the
preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this
Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to
this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are
to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee
or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa
and a reference to the masculine includes, as applicable, the feminine.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" has the meaning given to such term in the Indenture.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee
at which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Guarantee is located at The Bank of New York, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ 21 West, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration; telecopy no. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of
Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated deferrable interest
debentures to be issued by the Guarantor, designated the 8.60% Junior
Subordinated Debentures due 2026, held by the Property Trustee (as defined in
the Declaration) of the Trust.
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust,
dated as of November 27, 1996, as amended, modified or supplemented from time
to time, among the trustees of the Trust named therein, the Guarantor, as
sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial ownership
interests in the assets of the Trust.
"Guarantee Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on
any of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Securities, to the extent not paid
or made by the Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as
defined in the Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Securities
to the extent the Trust shall have sufficient funds available therefor at the
time, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption with respect to any Securities called
for redemption by the Trust, to the extent the Trust shall have sufficient
funds available therefor at the time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than
in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange
for Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the
aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions
on the Securities to the date of payment, and (b) the amount of assets of the
Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the
Trust (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If a Trust
Enforcement Event (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of
Holders of the Capital Securities to receive payments hereunder.
"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, and thereafter means each such
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder of Securities, as registered on the
books and records of the Trust; 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 or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or any other obligor
on the Capital Securities; and provided further, that in determining whether
the Holders of the requisite liquidation amount of Capital Securities have
voted on any matter provided for in this Guarantee, then for the purpose of
such determination only (and not for any other purpose hereunder), if the
Capital Securities remain in the form of one or more Global Certificates (as
defined in the Declaration), the term "Holders" shall mean the holder of the
Global Certificate acting at the direction of the beneficial owners of the
Capital Securities.
"Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of
the Guarantee Trustee, and any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the
Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of November 27, 1996,
among the Guarantor (the "Company") and The Bank of New York, as trustee, and
any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be
issued to the Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Trust.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities" means, except as
provided in the terms of the Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act,
Holder(s) of outstanding Securities, voting separately as a class, who are
the record holders of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities. In
determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Securities have
voted, Securities which are owned by the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such determination.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed on behalf of such Person by two Authorized Officers (as
defined in the Declaration) of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided
for in this Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
Certificate 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 each officer on behalf of such Person in
rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination
or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable
such officer on behalf of such Person 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 each such officer
acting on behalf of such Person, 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.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee,
any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee,
including any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary,
any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other
officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of
that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Securities" means the collective reference to the Common
Securities and the Capital Securities.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application. (a) This Guarantee
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is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to
be part of this Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by
such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee
limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to
317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities. (a) The Guarantor
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shall provide the Guarantee Trustee with a list, in such form as the
Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Holders of the Securities ("List of Holders"), (i) within one Business Day
after June 1 and December 1 of each year and current as of such date, and
(ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request from the
Guarantee Trustee for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 15 days
before such List of Holders is given to the Guarantee Trustee; excluding from
any such list names and addresses received by the Guarantee Trustee in its
capacity as Security Registrar (as defined in the Indenture). The Guarantee
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable,
all information contained in Lists of Holders given to it, provided that it
may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new
List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 Reports by Guarantee Trustee. Within 60 days after
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May 15 of each year (commencing with the year of the first anniversary of the
issuance of the Securities), the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the
Holders of the Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the
Trust Indenture Act (if any) 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 Guarantee Trustee. The Guarantor
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shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such documents, reports and
information as required by Section 314 (if any) 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.
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The
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Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance
with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee 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 Officers'
Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a
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Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities may, by vote or written
consent, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities, waive any past
Guarantee Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such
Guarantee Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Guarantee Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other default or Guarantee Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice. (a) The
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Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Guarantee
Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders of the Securities, notices of all Guarantee Events of Default
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such
defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided, that the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so
long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders of the Securities.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any Guarantee Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have
received written notice thereof or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee charged with the administration of the Declaration shall have
obtained actual knowledge thereof.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests. The Declaration shall be
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deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee for the purposes of
clause (i) of the first provision contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.9 Disclosure of Information. The disclosure of
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information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of the Securities in
accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the
source from which such information was derived, shall not be deemed to be a
violation of any existing law, or any law hereafter enacted which does not
specifically refer to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, nor shall the
Guarantee Trustee be held accountable by reason of mailing any material
pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.10 Guarantee Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. Upon the
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occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, the Guarantee Trustee is hereby
authorized to (a) recover judgment, in its own name and as trustee of an
express trust, against the Guarantor for the whole amount of any Guarantee
Payments remaining unpaid and (b) file such proofs of claim and other papers
or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have its claims and
those of the Holders of the Securities allowed in any judicial proceedings
relative to the Guarantor, its creditors or its property.
ARTICLE 3
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Guarantee Trustee.
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(a) This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee on
behalf of the Trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a
Holder of Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b)
or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee
Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee in and to
this Guarantee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee,
and such vesting and succession 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 a Guarantee Event of Default actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing,
the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the
Holders of the Securities.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Guarantee
Event of Default and after the curing of all Guarantee Events of Default that
may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be
read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case a Guarantee
Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to
Section 2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Guarantee, 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 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 Guarantee Event of Default
and after the curing or waiving of all such Guarantee 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, 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, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee
against the Guarantee Trustee; 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; but in the case of any
such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof 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;
(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 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;
and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee 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 reasonably assured
to it under the terms of this Guarantee or indemnify, reasonably
satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee. (a) Subject to
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the provisions of Section 3.1:
(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 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 shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate;
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved
or established before taking, suffering or omitting 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 Officers' Certificate
which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by
the Guarantor;
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration or any instrument (or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof);
(v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and the
advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters
shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect
of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel
may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may
include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the
right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Guarantee from any court of competent
jurisdiction;
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall
have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the
costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the
expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians)
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; provided, that nothing
contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the
Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of
Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested
in it by this Guarantee;
(vii) 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;
(viii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or
by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due
care by it hereunder;
(ix) Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents
hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Securities, and the
signature of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third
party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the
Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the
terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be
conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's
taking such action; and
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee, 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 (i) may request
instructions from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of the Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or
right or taking such other action until such instructions are
received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on
or acting in accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee 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 such right, power,
duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the
Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.
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The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of
the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility
for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.
ARTICLE 4
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall be at all times a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory
thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an
institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars
($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If
such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually,
pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or
examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of
this Section 4.1(a)(ii), 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).
(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 Guarantee
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Trustee.
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(a) Subject to Section 4.1(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed with or without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with
Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold such
office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which
resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has
been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing
executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor
and the resigning Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 30 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of removal or resignation, the
removed or resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court
may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper,
appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions
to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation
of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall
pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing for fees and reimbursement of
expenses which have accrued to the date of such termination, removal or
resignation.
ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee.
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The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full
to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense,
right of set-off or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert. 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 Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders. If a Trust Enforcement Event
has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the Common
Securities to receive payments under this Guarantee are subordinated to the
rights of Holders of Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under
this Guarantee.
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.
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The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee
and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand
for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Guarantor
retains all of its rights under the Indenture to (i) extend the interest
payment period on the Debentures and the Guarantor shall not be obligated
hereunder to make any Guarantee Payments during any Extended Interest Payment
Period (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Distributions (as
defined in the Declaration) on the Securities, and (ii) change the maturity
date of the Debentures to the extent permitted by the Indenture.
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.
________________________
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional and shall remain in
full force and effect until the entire liquidation amount of all outstanding
Securities shall have been paid and such obligation shall in no way be
affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any
event, including without limitation, the following, whether or not with
notice to, or the consent of, the Guarantor:
(a) The release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of
the performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Securities to be
performed or observed by the Trust;
(b) The extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or
any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price (as defined in the
Indenture), Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the
terms of the Securities or the extension of time for the performance of
any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with the
Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of
Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum
payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period
on the Debentures or any change to the maturity date of the Debentures
permitted by the Indenture);
(c) Any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part
of the Property Trustee or the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise
any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Property Trustee
or the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Securities, or any action on
the part of the 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
Trust or any of the assets of the Trust;
(e) Any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the 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, 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 Guarantee Trustee or the
Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of the Guarantor or any other
Person with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation,
or any defense of any kind or nature that the Guarantor has or may have
against any Holder shall be available hereunder to the Guarantor against such
Holder to reduce the payments to it under this Guarantee.
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders.
_________________
(a) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
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 or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee.
(b) If the Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this Guarantee, then
any Holder of Securities may, subject to the subordination provisions of
Section 6.2, institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to
enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or
any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Guarantor
has failed to make a Guarantee Payment, a Holder of Securities may, subject
to the subordination provisions of Section 6.2, directly institute a
proceeding against the Guarantor for enforcement of the Guarantee for such
payment to the Holder of the Securities of the principal of or interest on
the Debentures on or after the respective due dates specified in the
Debentures, and the amount of the payment will be based on the Holder's pro
rata share of the amount due and owing on all of the Securities. The
Guarantor hereby waives any right or remedy to require that any action on
this Guarantee be brought first against the Trust or any other person or
entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.
____________________
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection.
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation.
___________
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the
Holders of Securities against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to
such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that
the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory
provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may
acquire by way of subrogation of any indemnity, reimbursement or other
agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at
the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this
Guarantee. 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 Guarantee Trustee for the benefit
of the Holders.
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations.
_______________________
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the 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
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections 5.3(a)
through 5.3(g), inclusive, hereof.
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.
__________________________
So long as any Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have
occurred a Guarantee Event of Default or a Trust Enforcement Event, then the
Guarantor (other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the
Guarantor and (b) payments under this Guarantee) shall not, and shall not
permit any subsidiary of the Guarantor, to (i) declare or pay any dividends
or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation
payment with respect to, the Guarantor's capital stock or (ii) make any
payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or
redeem any debt securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures or make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by
the Guarantor of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Guarantor if
such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior to the Debentures.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking.
_______
This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
other liabilities of the Guarantor, except those liabilities of the Guarantor
made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most
senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor
and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in
respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of the
Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.
If a Trust Enforcement Event has occurred and is continuing under
the Declaration, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to
receive Guarantee Payments hereunder shall be subordinated to the rights of
the holders of the Securities to receive payment of all amounts due and owing
hereunder.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination.
___________
This Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment of the
Redemption Price of all Securities, (ii) upon the distribution of the
Debentures to the Holders of all the Securities or (iii) upon full payment of
the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon liquidation of
the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee will continue to be
effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
Holder of Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Securities or under this Guarantee.
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation.
___________
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or
accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person
for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission
performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance
with this Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified
Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason
of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to
such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information,
opinions, reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as
to matter the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other
Person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information,
opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets,
liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence
and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities might
properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification.
_______________
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and
to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of
or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees
and expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers
or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this
Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Guarantee.
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.
______________________
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall
bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the
Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Securities
then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments.
__________
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will be
required), this Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of the
Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities. The
provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of,
and action by written consent of the Holders of the Securities apply to the
giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices.
_______
All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing,
duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered,
telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's
mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee
Trustee may give notice of to the Guarantor and the Holders of the
Securities):
The Bank of New York
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing
addresses set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may
give notice of to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities):
Provident Bancorp, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopy No. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Muething & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) If given to any Holder of Securities, at the address set forth
on the books and records of the Trust.
All such notices 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 9.4 Benefit.
_______
This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable
from the Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law.
_____________
THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Guarantee is executed as of the day and
year first above written.
Provident Bancorp, Inc.,
as Guarantor
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
The Bank of New York,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT 4.8
___________
_____________________________________________________________________________
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
PROVIDENT CAPITAL TRUST I
Dated as of ____________, 1997
_____________________________________________________________________________
CROSS REFERENCE TABLE
Section of Trust
Indenture Act of Section of
1939, as amended Agreement
310(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1(a)
310(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1(c)
310(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(b)
311(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(b)
311(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(a)
312(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(b)
312(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.9
313(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
313(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
313(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
313(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4
314(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5
314(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5
314(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(d); 3.2(a)
315(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7(a)
315(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(c)
315(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(d)
316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6; 5.4(a)
317(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.10; 5.4
318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1(b)
____________________
[FN]
This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Agreement and
shall not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms
or provisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . 2
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.3 Reports by Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.9 Disclosure of Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.10 Guarantee Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . . . . . . . . 6
ARTICLE 3
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . 7
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . 8
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee . 10
ARTICLE 4
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 4.1 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee
Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION . . . . . . 14
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SECTION 6.2 Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 7.1 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 9.2 Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 9.3 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 9.4 Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17