EXHIBIT 4.7
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
ABC BANCORP
AND
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated as of ___________ __, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation........................................... 1
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application......................................... 5
Section 2.2. The List of Holders of the Securities.................................... 5
Section 2.3. Reports by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee............................... 5
Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee...................... 5
Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent......................... 6
Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver................................................ 6
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice................................................. 6
Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests.................................................... 6
ARTICLE III. POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee..................... 6
Section 3.2. Certain Rights of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee........................ 8
Section 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.................... 10
ARTICLE IV. THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility............................. 10
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.. 11
ARTICLE V. GUARANTEE
Section 5.1. Guarantee................................................................ 12
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.............................................. 12
Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected................................................. 12
Section 5.4. Rights of the Holders.................................................... 13
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment..................................................... 13
Section 5.6. Subrogation.............................................................. 13
Section 5.7. Independent Obligations.................................................. 13
ARTICLE VI. LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
Section 6.1. Limitation on Transactions............................................... 14
Section 6.2. Ranking.................................................................. 14
ARTICLE VII. TERMINATION
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1. Exculpation.............................................................. 15
Section 8.2. Indemnification.......................................................... 15
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ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Successors and Assigns................................................... 15
Section 9.2. Amendments............................................................... 15
Section 9.3. Notices.................................................................. 16
Section 9.4. Benefit.................................................................. 16
Section 9.5. Governing Law............................................................ 16
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
Section of Section of
Trust Indenture Act Guarantee
of 1939, as amended Agreement
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310(a)................................................ 4.1(a)
310(b)................................................ 4.1(c), 2.8
310(c)................................................ Not Applicable
311(a................................................. 2.2(b)
311(b)................................................ 2.2(b)
311(c)................................................ Not Applicable
312(a)................................................ 2.2(a)
312(b)................................................ 2.2(b)
313................................................... 2.3
314(a)................................................ 2.4
314(b)................................................ Not Applicable
314(c)................................................ 2.5
314(d)................................................ Not Applicable
314(e)................................................ 1.1, 2.5, 3.2
314(f)................................................ 2.1, 3.2
315(a)................................................ 3.1(d)
315(b)................................................ 2.7
315(c)................................................ 3.1
315(d)................................................ 3.1(d)
316(a)................................................ 1.1, 2.6, 5.4
316(b)................................................ 5.3
317(a)................................................ 3.1
317(b)................................................ Not Applicable
318(a)................................................ 2.1(a)
318(b)................................................ 2.1
318(c)................................................ 2.1(b)
Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of this Agreement and
shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Preferred Securities
Guarantee"), dated as of _________ __, 2001, is executed and delivered by ABC
BANCORP, a Georgia corporation (the "Guarantor"), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Bank"), as trustee (the "Preferred Guarantee Trustee"), for the
benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred
Securities (as defined herein) of ABC BANCORP CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware
statutory business trust (the "Trust").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust
Agreement"), dated as of _________ ___, 2001, among the trustees of the Trust
named therein, the Guarantor, as depositor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing
up to 2,875,000 preferred securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of
$28,750,000, designated the ____% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the
"Preferred Securities");
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities,
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of the
Preferred 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
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation. In this Preferred Securities
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Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee but not
defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in
this Section 1.1;
(b) terms defined in the Trust Agreement as at the date of execution of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Preferred
Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities Guarantee has the
same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this
Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee, as
the same may be modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities Guarantee,
unless otherwise specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"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" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, a day on which
federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of
New York, are authorized or required by law, executive order or regulation to
close or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee is closed for business.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the
date of execution of this Preferred Securities Guarantee is located at ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Square North, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇,
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities.
"Debentures" means the ____% Subordinated Debentures due 2031, of the
Debenture Issuer held by the Property Trustee of the Trust.
"Debenture Issuer" means ABC Bancorp, issuer of the Debentures under the
Indenture.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payments
or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by the Trust:
(i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions that are required to be
paid on such Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust shall have funds
available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and
unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), to
the extent the Trust has funds available therefor,
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with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by the
Trust, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of
the Debentures to the Holders in exchange for the Preferred Securities as
provided in the Trust Agreement), the lesser of (A) the aggregate of the
Liquidation Amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the
Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust shall
have funds available therefor (the "Liquidation Distribution"), and (B) the
amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to
Holders in liquidation of the Trust.
"Guarantor" means ABC Bancorp, a Georgia corporation.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Preferred Security is or Preferred
Securities are registered in the Securities Register; provided, however, that in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the Preferred
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any of their
respective Affiliates.
"Indemnified Person" means the Bank, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any
Affiliate of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees,
custodians or agents of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of ____________ ___, 2001, among
the Debenture Issuer and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, and any indenture
supplemental thereto, pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the
Property Trustee of the Trust.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated value of $10 per Preferred Security.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning provided therefor in the
definition of Guarantee Payments.
"List of Holders" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities" means the
Holders of more than 50% of the 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 of the Preferred Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two authorized officers of such Person, at least one of whom shall be
the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer, treasurer or any vice president of such Person. Any
Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;
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(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer 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
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, 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.
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and
thereafter means each such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"Preferred Securities" means the _____% Cumulative Trust Preferred
Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights
of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the
rights of holders of Preferred Securities.
"Redemption Price" has the meaning provided therefor in the definition of
Guarantee Payments.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, 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
Preferred 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 Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the meanings assigned
to such terms as in the Trust Agreement.
"Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.1.
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"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as
in force at the date of which this instrument was executed; provided, however,
that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, is amended after
such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such
amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.
ARTICLE II.
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
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(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.
Section 2.2. The List of Holders of the Securities.
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(a) In the event the Preferred Guarantee Trustee is not also the Securities
Registrar, the Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee Trustee with a
list, in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (the "List of
Holders") (i) within five (5) Business Days after March 15, June 15, September
15 and December 15 of each year, and (ii) at any other time within thirty (30)
days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders as
of a date no more than fifteen (15) days before such List of Holders is given to
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not
be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders
does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may destroy
any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.3. Reports by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. On or before
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October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2001, the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred 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 Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. The
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Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such documents,
reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314 of the
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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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee such evidence of
compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Preferred
Securities 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. Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority in
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Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the
Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default and
its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to
exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.
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(a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within ninety (90) days after
the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all Events of
Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice;
provided, however, that the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice
is in the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of any Event of Default unless the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have
received written notice, or a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement shall have
obtained actual knowledge of such Event of Default.
Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests. The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to
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be specifically described in this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the
purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III.
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS
OF THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
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(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities,
and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
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shall not transfer this Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a
Holder of Preferred Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section
5.4(b) or to a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or
not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into
this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. In
case an 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
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such
of the rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee,
and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent
man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own
affairs.
(d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be construed
to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as
are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and
no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Preferred
Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee and conforming on their
face to the requirements of this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
provided, however, that in the case of any such certificates or
opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be
furnished to the
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Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be
under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not on their
face they conform to the requirements of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee;
(ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon
which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
require the Preferred 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
Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee or if indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 3.2. Certain Rights of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
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(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) the Preferred 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
Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate;
(iii) whenever, in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a
matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, the Preferred 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;
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(iv) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to
any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any re-
recording, refiling or registration thereof);
(v) the Preferred 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, and such counsel may be counsel to the
Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees;
(vi) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any
time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction;
(vii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Preferred
Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such security
and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee,
against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses and the expenses of the Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided,
however, that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vii) shall be taken
to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the
rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
(viii) the Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation
into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(ix) the Preferred 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 Preferred
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;
(x) no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with
any of the terms and provisions of this Preferred Securities Guarantee,
both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee's or its agent's taking such action;
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(xi) whenever in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to
receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or
taking any other action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (A) may
request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of the Preferred Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or
right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and
(C) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance
with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to
impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred 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
Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
Section 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee. The
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Recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the
Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee does not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee makes no
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV.
THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
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(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred 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 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 $50,000,000, 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and the Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Preferred
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Guarantee Trustee.
-----------------
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with
Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed
and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office
until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may resign from
office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in
writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within sixty (60) days
after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning
Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint
a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or
omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or removal or
resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the
Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee all fees and expenses
accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation and all other
amounts then due to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
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ARTICLE V.
GUARANTEE
Section 5.1. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally
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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.
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives
---------------------------
notice of acceptance of this Preferred Securities 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.
Section 5.3. Obligations not Affected. The obligations, covenants,
------------------------
agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to
time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred 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, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension
of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Preferred 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 permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities;
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(f) any failure or omission to receive any regulatory approval or consent
required in connection with the Preferred Securities (or the Common Securities
issued by the Trust), including the failure to receive any approval of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System required for the redemption of the
Preferred Securities;
(g) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(h) 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 Holders to give notice to, or obtain
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
Section 5.4. Rights of the Holders.
---------------------
(a) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in
respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
(b) Any Holder of Preferred Securities may institute and prosecute a legal
proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Trust, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment. This Preferred Securities 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 the Preferred Securities against the Trust in respect
of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Preferred
Securities 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 or any indemnity,
reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts
are due and unpaid under this Preferred Securities 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 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 Preferred Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as
principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the
terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the
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occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (h), inclusive,
of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI.
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
Section 6.1. Limitation on Transactions. So long as any of the Preferred
--------------------------
Securities remain outstanding, if any of the circumstances described in Section
5.6 of the Indenture shall have occurred, then (a) neither the Guarantor nor any
of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) shall declare or pay any
dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock
(other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Guarantor or
any declaration of a non-cash dividend in connection with the implementation of
a shareholder rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto,
(ii) purchases of common stock of the Guarantor related to the rights under any
of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees, (iii)
as a result of a reclassification of its capital stock, (iv) dividends or
distributions made by a Subsidiary to the Company, or (v) dividends or
distributions made by a Subsidiary to a Subsidiary), and (b) neither the
Guarantor nor any Subsidiary shall make any payment of principal or interest on
or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Guarantor or
any Subsidiary which rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures or make
any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Guarantor of any
debt securities if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in interest to the
Debentures, other than payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
Section 6.2. Ranking. This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute
-------
an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (a) subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional
Senior Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor, (b) pari
passu with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in
respect of any preferred securities or preference stock of any Affiliate of the
Guarantor and (c) senior to the most senior preferred securities or preference
stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and senior to the Guarantor's
common stock.
ARTICLE VII.
TERMINATION
Section 7.1. Termination. This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
terminate upon (a) full payment of the Redemption Price of all the Preferred
Securities, (b) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust
Agreement upon liquidation of the Trust, or (c) distribution of the Debentures
to the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Preferred Securities Guarantee shall continue to be effective or shall be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Preferred
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities
or under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
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ARTICLE VIII.
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 Preferred Securities
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
Preferred Securities 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 matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence, 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 the Holders of the Preferred 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 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, except to the
extent such loss, liability or expense is attributable to such Indemnified
Person's own negligence or bad faith. The obligation to indemnify and hold
harmless as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee and the resignation or removal of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE IX.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements
------------------------
contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors,
assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall
inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding
and each Indemnified Person.
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be
amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article VI of
the Trust Agreement with respect to meetings of the Holders of the Preferred
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Securities apply to the giving of such approval. No amendment of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee that affects the rights, duties or immunities of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be binding on it without its prior written
consent thereto.
Section 9.3. Notices. All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities
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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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities):
Wilmington Trust Company
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Square North
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration - ABC Bancorp Capital
Trust I
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders
of the Preferred Securities):
ABC Bancorp
▇▇ ▇/▇▇/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(c) If given to any Holder of Preferred 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; and, provided, further, such
notice to or upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be deemed to have been
given only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee.
Section 9.4. Benefit. This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the
-------
benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and, subject to Section
3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
Section 9.5. Governing Law. THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE
-------------
GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES).
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[Signatures Next Page]
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This Preferred Securities Guarantee is executed as of the day and year first
above written.
ABC BANCORP,
as Guarantor
By:____________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Preferred Guarantee Trustee
By:____________________________________
Name: _________________________________
Title: ________________________________
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