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SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Eagle Financial Corp.
Dated as of April 1, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation.................................................. 2
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application................................................ 6
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.................................................. 6
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guar-
▇▇▇▇▇ Trustee................................................................... 6
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee............................................................... 7
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
Precedent....................................................................... 7
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver....................................................... 7
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice........................................................ 7
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests........................................................... 8
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securi-
ties Guarantee Trustee.......................................................... 8
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee............................................................... 10
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance
of Series A Capital Securities Guarantee........................................ 12
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee;
Eligibility..................................................................... 13
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee............................................ 13
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee....................................................................... 14
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand..................................................... 15
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected........................................................ 15
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders............................................................... 16
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment............................................................ 16
Page
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation..................................................................... 16
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations......................................................... 17
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions...................................................... 17
SECTION 6.2 Ranking......................................................................... 18
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination..................................................................... 18
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation..................................................................... 18
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification................................................................. 19
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.......................................................... 19
SECTION 9.2 Amendments...................................................................... 19
SECTION 9.3 Notices......................................................................... 20
SECTION 9.4 Exchange Offer.................................................................. 21
SECTION 9.5 Benefit......................................................................... 21
SECTION 9.6 Governing Law................................................................... 21
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SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee"), dated as of April 1, 1997, is executed and delivered by EAGLE
FINANCIAL CORP., a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust
Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from
time to time of the Series A Capital Securities (as defined herein) of EAGLE
FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of April 1, 1997, among the trustees of the
Issuer, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof 50,000 capital securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $50,000,000, such capital securities being designated the
Series A 10% Capital Securities (collectively the "Series A Capital Securities")
and, in connection with an Exchange Offer (as defined in the Declaration), has
agreed to execute and deliver the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee (as
defined in the Declaration) for the benefit of holders of the Series B Capital
Securities (as defined in the Declaration).
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Series A
Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to
agree, to the extent set forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, to
pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined below). The Guarantor
agrees to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee"), with substantially identical
terms to this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, for the benefit of the
holders of the Common Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event of
Default (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the
rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under
the Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated, to the extent and in the
manner set forth in the Common Securities Guarantee, to the rights of holders of
Series A Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, as the case may be.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each
Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation
In this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the
context otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Series A Capital 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 Declaration as at the date of
execution of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee have the same meaning
when used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined
in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee" or "this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" are to this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to
time;
(e) all references in this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same
meaning when used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless
otherwise defined in this Series A Capital 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 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule
thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York,
Wilmington, Delaware or Bristol, Connecticut are authorized or required by law
or executive order to close.
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"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust
Company, a Delaware banking corporation, until a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant
to the terms of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and thereafter means
each such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Agreement is located at ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Square North, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of
Series A Capital Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities
of the Guarantor designated the Series A 10% Junior Subordinated Debentures due
April 1, 2027 held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of
the Issuer.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
its payment or other obligations under this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Series A Capital
Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accumulated
and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) that are required to be
paid on such Series A Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds on
hand legally available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price,
including all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption
(the "Redemption Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally
available therefor at such time, with respect to any Series A Capital Securities
called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection
with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Series A
Capital Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the
aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions
on the Series A Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the
Issuer has funds on hand legally available therefor, and (b) the amount of
assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in
liquidation of the Issuer. If an
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Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantee Payments under the
Common Securities Guarantee with respect to the Common Securities or any
guarantee payment under any Other Common Securities Guarantees shall be made
until the Holders shall be paid in full the Guarantee Payments to which they are
entitled under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and
records of the Issuer, of any Series A Capital Securities; provided, however,
that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Series A
Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
"Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Person actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to be an
Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, any Affiliate of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any
officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of April 1, 1997,
among the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and Wilmington Trust Company, as
trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), pursuant to which the Debentures are to be
issued to the Property Trustee of the Issuer.
"Indenture Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in
Section 5.01 of the Indenture.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital
Securities" means, except as provided by the Declaration or by the Trust
Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than
50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would
be paid upon redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of
all Series A Capital Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Guarantor. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to
compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee (other than pursuant to Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust
Indenture Act) 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 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
(c) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Other Common Securities Guarantees" shall have the same
meaning as "Other Guarantees" as defined in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures
issued by the Guarantor from time to time and sold to any other trust,
partnership or other entity affiliated with the Guarantor that is a financing
vehicle of the Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the
Guarantor with respect to capital securities (if any) similar to the Series A
Capital Securities issued by other trusts to be established by the Guarantor (if
any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
"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.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1997, by and among the Guarantor, the Issuer and
the initial purchaser named therein as such agreement may be amended, modified
or supplemented from time to time.
"Responsible Officer" means any officer within the Corporate
Trust Office of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, including any Vice
President, any Assistant Vice President, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer,
any Assistant Treasurer or other officer the Corporate Trust Office of the
Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a
successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the
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qualifications to act as Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Series
A Capital Securities and Series B Capital Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application
(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to
the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be
governed by such provisions; and
(b) if and to the extent that any provision of this Series A
Capital 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 Lists of Holders of Securities
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee (unless the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is otherwise
the registrar of the Capital Securities) with a list, in such form as the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i) within one
Business Day after April 1 and October 1 of each year, and (ii) at any other
time within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a List
of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is
given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, provided, 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
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on
receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply with
its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
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SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
Within 60 days after December 15 of each year, commencing
December 15, 1997, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the
Holders 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with
the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee such documents, reports and information as are required by
Section 314 (if any) 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 provided that such compliance certificate
shall be delivered on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of
the Guarantor. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is for informational purposes only and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute
constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from
information contained therein, including the Guarantor's compliance with any of
its covenants hereunder (as to which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with the conditions precedent, if
any, provided for in this Series A Capital 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 liquidation amount of Series A
Capital Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all Holders, waive any past Event
of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default
shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed
to have been cured, for every purpose of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90
days after the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, transmit by mail,
first class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all Events of Default
actually known to a Responsible Officer, unless such defaults have been cured
before the giving of such notice, provided, that, except in the case of default
in the payment of any Guarantee Payment, the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a
Responsible Officer in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice
is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor, or a
Responsible Officer charged with the administration of the Declaration shall
have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described
in this Series A Capital 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
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guar-
▇▇▇▇▇ Trustee
(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held
by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her
rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee of
its appointment to act as Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. The
right, title and interest of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, and
such vesting and succession of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
8
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible
Officer has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall enforce this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
Holders.
(c) The Capital Securities 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee against the Series A Capital Securities 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, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and
powers vested in it by this Series A Capital Securities 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be construed to relieve the Capital Securities 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 De- fault that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
not be liable except for the performance of such duties and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities
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
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by
any pro-
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vision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible
Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts
upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Capital Securities 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 a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities
relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee shall require the Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee,
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Securities 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.
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(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently
evidenced by an Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Capital Securities
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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have no
duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument
(or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may consult with
counsel of its selection, 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 Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under
no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee at the request or direction
of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, against the
costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the
expenses of the Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi)
shall be taken to relieve the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee,
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee.
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(vii) The Capital Securities 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
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may
see fit.
(viii) The Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the
signature of the Capital Securities 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
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance
with any of the terms and provisions of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trust- ee's or its agent's taking such
action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any
remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital
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.
(xi) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may execute any
of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder
either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Capital
Securities 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.
(xii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to
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be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably
believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Securities
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 Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series
A Capital Securities Guarantee
The recitals contained in this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their
correctness. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as
to the validity or sufficiency of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation or other Person organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States of Ameri- ca or any state
or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation
or other 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 Colum- bia authority. If such
corporation or other Person 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
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Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as
set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the
effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall
acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act, the Capital Securities 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 Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the
Guarantor except during an Event of Default.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
removed in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee and delivered to
the Guarantor.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold office
until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
or until its removal or resignation. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the
resigning Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2
within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon,
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after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable
for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee all amounts due to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in
full to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders
the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the
Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that the Issuer 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 Issuer to pay such
amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this
Series A Capital 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 Issuer 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 Series A Capital 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 Issuer of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Series A Capital
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
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(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all
or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution
or any other sums payable under the terms of the Series A Capital Securities or
the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising
out of, or in connection with, the Series A Capital 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 Series A Capital
Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment
of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the
assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Series
A Capital Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred;
(g) the consummation of the Exchange Offer; 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 with
respect to the Guarantee Payments 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 Holders
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Series A Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital Securities
16
Guarantee Trustee under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to
enforce such Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. The
Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought first
against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding directly
against the Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
This Series A Capital 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 against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by
the Guarantor under this Series A Capital 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 Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Series A Capital 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 Issuer with respect to the Series A
Capital Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as
debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Series
A Capital Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event
referred to in subsections (a) through (h), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
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ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions
So long as any Series A Capital Securities remain outstanding,
the Guarantor shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Guarantor's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock), (ii)
make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor (including Other
Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the
Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by
the Guarantor of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Guarantor
(including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior
in right of payment to the Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions
in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares
of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with the implementation of a stockholders' 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, (c) payments under this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, (d) the purchase of fractional interests in shares
resulting from a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock, (e) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged and (f) purchases of common stock of the
Guarantor related to the issuance of such common stock or rights under any of
the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees or any of
the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment plans), if at such time (1) there shall
have occurred any event of which the Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a) is
an Indenture Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor shall
not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (2) if such Debentures are held by the
Property Trustee, the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment
of any obligations under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or (3) the
Guarantor shall have given notice of its election of its right to extend the
interest payment period pursuant to Section 16.01 of the Indenture and such
extension period, or any such extension thereof, shall have commenced and shall
be continuing.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an
unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior
in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), to the
same extent and in
18
the same manner that the Debentures are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness
pursuant to the Indenture (except as indicated below), it being understood that
the terms of Article XV of the Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the
Guarantor under this Capital Securities Guarantee as if (x) such Article XV were
set forth herein in full and (y) such obligations were substituted for the term
"Securities" appearing in such Article XV, except that with respect to Section
15.03 of the Indenture only, the term "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean all
liabilities of the Guarantor, whether or not for money borrowed (other than
obligations in respect of Other Guarantees), (ii) pari passu with the most
senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor,
any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any
preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, any other
Guarantee and any Other Capital Securities Guarantee, and (iii) senior to the
Guarantor's capital stock.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i)
upon full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration) of all
Series A Capital Securities, (ii) upon liquidation of the Issuer, following the
full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration or the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders or (iii) upon exchange of all the
Series A Capital Securities for the Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange
Offer and the execution and delivery of the Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Series A Capital Securities or under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
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 Series
A Capital Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority con-
19
ferred on such Indemnified Person by this Series A Capital 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 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 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 and all loss,
liability, damage, claim 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
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers,
trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of
the Holders then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially
adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will
be required), this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may only be amended
with the prior approval
20
of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities (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). The provisions of the Declaration with respect to
consents to amendments thereof (whether at a meeting or otherwise) shall apply
to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices
All notices provided for in this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and
shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative
Trustee at the Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address
as the Issuer may give notice of to the Holders and the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee):
Eagle Financial Capital Trust I
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Administrative Trustee
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(b) If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, at
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or
such other address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice
of to the Holders and the Issuer):
Wilmington Trust Company
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Square North
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trustee
Administration Department
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) 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 and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee):
Eagle Financial Corp.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President and CEO
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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(d) If given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Issuer.
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 Exchange Offer
In the event an Exchange Offer Registration Statement (as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) becomes effective and the Issuer
issues any Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer, the Guarantor will
enter into a new capital securities guarantee agreement, in substantially the
same form as this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, with respect to the
Series B Capital Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Benefit
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the
benefit of the Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately
transferable from the Series A Capital Securities.
SECTION 9.6 Governing Law
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
22
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of
the day and year first above written.
EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP., as Guarantor
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Wilmington Trust Company, as
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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