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Exhibit 4.4
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
PROVIDENT CAPITAL TRUST I
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 27, 1996
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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)
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* 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.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS........................................ 1
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions........................................... 1
ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT............................................. 4
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application......................................... 4
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......................... 5
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver....................................... 5
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice....................................... 5
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.............................................. 6
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Guarantee Trustee................................... 6
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.................................................. 12
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee................................................................ 12
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.............................................. 12
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PAGE
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected................................................. 12
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders........................................................ 13
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment..................................................... 14
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.................................................................. 15
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION................................................. 15
SECTION 7.1 Termination.............................................................. 15
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION............................................. 16
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation.............................................................. 16
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification.......................................................... 16
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS............................................... 16
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns................................................... 16
SECTION 9.2 Amendments............................................................... 17
SECTION 9.3 Notices.................................................................. 17
SECTION 9.4 Benefit.................................................................. 18
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law............................................................ 18
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Guarantee"), dated as of November 27, 1996,
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 :
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WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration (as defined herein), the Trust is
issuing on the date hereof 100,000 capital securities, having a liquidation
amount of $1,000 per capital security, designated the 8.60% Capital Securities
(the "Capital Securities") and 3,093 common securities, having a liquidation
amount of $1,000 per common security, designated the 8.60% Common Securities
(the "Common Securities"; together with the Capital Securities, the
"Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Securities, the
Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set
forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of the 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, 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;
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(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 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.
"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
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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.
"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 Preferred Security Beneficial Owners (as defined in the
Declaration).
"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;
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(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.
"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 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.
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SECTION 2.2 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. (a) The Guarantor 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 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 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 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 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 Guarantee Trustee
shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default,
transmit
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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 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 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
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.
(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
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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
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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 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);
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(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
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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. 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.
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(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 TRUSTEE.
(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.
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ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 GUARANTEE.
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.
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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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 & Klekamp
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) If given to any Holder of Securities, at the address set forth on
the books and records of the Trust.
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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.
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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: