EXHIBIT 4.2
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Sterling Bancshares, Inc.
Dated as of September 26, 2002
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*/
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Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Guarantee Agreement
------------------- -------------------
310(a) ................................. 4.1(a)
310(b) ................................. 4.1(c), 2.8
310(c) ................................. Inapplicable
311(a) ................................. 2.2(b)
311(b) ................................. 2.2(b)
311(c) ................................. Inapplicable
312(a) ................................. 2.2(a)
312(b) ................................. 2.2(b)
313 ................................. 2.3
314(a) ................................. 2.4
314(b) ................................. Inapplicable
314(c) ................................. 2.5
314(d) ................................. Inapplicable
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
316(c) ................................. Inapplicable
317(a) ................................. Inapplicable
317(b) ................................. Inapplicable
318(a) ................................. 2.1(b)
_________________________
*/ This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Preferred
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Securities Guarantee Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of
its terms or provisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION .................................................................... 1
Section 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation ........................................................... 1
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT .............................................................................. 5
Section 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application ......................................................... 5
Section 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities ........................................................... 5
Section 2.3 Reports by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee .................................... 5
Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Securities 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 PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE ........................... 7
Section 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee .......................... 7
Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee ................................. 8
Section 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred Securities Guarantee .............. 10
ARTICLE IV PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE ........................................................... 11
Section 4.1 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility ...................................... 11
Section 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee ........................................................................ 11
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE ......................................................................................... 12
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 Holders ........................................................................ 13
Section 5.5 Guarantee of Payment ..................................................................... 14
Section 5.6 Subrogation .............................................................................. 14
Section 5.7 Independent Obligations .................................................................. 14
ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION ........................................................ 14
Section 6.1 Limitation of Transactions ............................................................... 14
Section 6.2 Ranking .................................................................................. 15
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION ..................................................................................... 15
Section 7.1 Termination .............................................................................. 15
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ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION ................................. 15
Section 8.1 Exculpation ................................ 15
Section 8.2 Indemnification ............................ 16
Section 8.3 Fees and Expenses .......................... 16
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS ..................................... 16
Section 9.1 Successors and Assigns ..................... 16
Section 9.2 Amendments ................................. 16
Section 9.3 Notices .................................... 17
Section 9.4 Benefit .................................... 18
Section 9.5 Governing Law .............................. 18
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee"), dated as
of September 26, 2002, is executed and delivered by STERLING BANCSHARES, INC., a
Texas corporation (the "Guarantor"), and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
(formerly known as "Bankers Trust Company"), a New York banking corporation, as
trustee (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the
Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as
defined herein) of STERLING BANCSHARES CAPITAL TRUST III, a Delaware statutory
trust (the "Issuer").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration"), dated as of September 26, 2002, 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 1,250,000 preferred securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $31,250,000, such preferred securities being designated
the 8.30% Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities"); and
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 the
Guarantee Payments (as defined below), and the Guarantor agrees to make certain
other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is executing and delivering a guarantee agreement
(the "Common Securities Guarantee"), with substantially identical terms to this
Preferred 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 Preferred Securities to
receive Guarantee Payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation. In this Preferred Securities
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 Declaration as in effect 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 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 (as defined below) 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 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 The City of New York or Houston, Texas are
authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally
administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located
at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
"Covered Person" means any Holder of Preferred Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities of the
Guarantor designated the 8.30% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due September 26, 2032 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 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 Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in
the Declaration) that are required to
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be paid on such Preferred 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 Preferred Securities called for
redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination
and liquidation of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of
Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Preferred Securities as provided in
the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and
all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred 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 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
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have
given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not
include the Guarantor or any Person known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee to be an Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, any
Affiliate of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any officers,
directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives,
nominees, custodians or agents of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of March 21, 2001, among the
Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee (now
known as "Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas") (the "Indenture Trustee"), and
any indenture supplemental thereto 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 5.1
of the Indenture.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities" means, except
as provided by the Declaration or by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by
Holder(s) of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount of all Preferred
Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to the Guarantor, a certificate
signed by the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, a Vice President, the Comptroller, 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 Preferred
Securities Guarantee (other than pursuant to Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust
Indenture Act) shall include:
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(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in the
Officers' Certificate are based;
(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.
"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 trusts to be established by 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 Preferred 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.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee" means Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas (formerly known as "Bankers Trust Company"), a New York banking
corporation, until a Successor Preferred Securities 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the
administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a successor
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred
Securities.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(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 Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act,
such imposed duties shall control.
Section 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee (unless the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
is otherwise the registrar of the Preferred Securities) with a list,
in such form as the Preferred 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
January 15 and July 15 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 Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee by
the Guarantor. The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may destroy
any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
Holders.
(b) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply
with its obligations under Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.3 Reports by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
Within 60 days after September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2003,
the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other
requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee. The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee such documents, reports and information, (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.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Preferred
Securities Guarantee
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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 Preferred 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 Preferred Securities 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) of the Trust
Indenture Act 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 Preferred 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
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.
(a) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90
days after the occurrence of a default with respect to this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, mail by first class postage prepaid, to all Holders,
notices of all defaults 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the
executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or a Responsible
Officer in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in
the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed
to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor, or
a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes
of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
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ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising his
or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any
Successor Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer
charged with the administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee has
occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
Holders.
(c) The Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee, and
no implied covenants shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee
against the Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities 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 person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Preferred 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 Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by
the express provisions of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall not be liable except for the performance of such
duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Preferred Securities
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Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be
read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or
opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically
required to be furnished to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts
upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities relating to
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall require the Preferred 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 Preferred 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
Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory
to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Preferred 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
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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 may be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before
taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Preferred
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 Preferred 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 Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities 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.
(vi) The Preferred Securities 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
Securities Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, against
the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the
expenses of the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi)
shall be taken to relieve the Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Preferred 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
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paper or document, but the Preferred 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 Preferred 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 Preferred 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 Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the
Holders, and the signature of the Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee's or
its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee (i) may
request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to 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 Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred 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 Preferred
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty.
Section 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred
Securities Guarantee. The recitals contained in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their
correctness. The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation
as to the validity or sufficiency of this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
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ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States of America or any State or
Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a
corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least
50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to
supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to
the requirements of the supervising or examining authority
referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section
4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published.
(b) If at any time the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the
manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee has or
shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section
310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time
by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default.
(b) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
removed in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold
office until a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee may resign from
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office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not
take effect until a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in
writing executed by such Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or
being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may
deem proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(e) No Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable
for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee
or removal or resignation of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee all amounts due to the Preferred
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 with the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time, to
pay in full to 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 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 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. To the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, 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:
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(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
Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(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 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
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
Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it
being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the
Guarantor 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
Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to
enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the
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Issuer, the Preferred 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 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 against the Issuer 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. To the fullest extent permitted
by law, the Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer 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 occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
Section 6.1 Limitation of Transactions. So long as any Preferred
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) or (other than (a) dividends or
distributions in shares of, or options, warrants, 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) as a result of a
reclassification of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock solely
into another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (d) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock resulting
from such a reclassification or pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or any security convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of the Guarantor's capital stock, and (e) purchases of
common stock related to the issuance of 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), (ii) make any payment of principal of,
or premium, if any, or interest on, or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Guarantor (including any 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
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any guarantee (other than payments under the Preferred Securities Guarantee or
the Common 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, if at such time (i) there
shall have occurred any event of which the Guarantor has actual knowledge that
(a) is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would be an
Indenture Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor shall not
have taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee or (iii) the
Guarantor shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right
to extend the interest payment period pursuant to Article IV of the Second
Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture and any such extension shall be
continuing.
Section 6.2 Ranking. This Preferred 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 the same manner that the Debentures
are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture, (ii) pari
passu with the Debentures, the Other Debentures, the Common Securities
Guarantee, any Other Common Securities Guarantee and any Other Guarantee, and
(iii) senior to the Guarantor's capital stock.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Termination. This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
terminate (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the
Declaration) of all Preferred Securities or (ii) upon liquidation of the Issuer,
the full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration or
the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders and the holders of the Common
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities or under this Preferred 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, expense, liability, 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
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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 Preferred Securities Guarantee.
Section 8.3 Fees and Expenses. The Guarantor covenants and agrees to
pay to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee from time to time, and the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be entitled to, the fees and
expenses agreed in writing between the Guarantor and the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee, and will further pay or reimburse the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements
and advances incurred or made by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee in
accordance with any of the provisions hereof or any other documents executed in
connection herewith (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable
expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in
its employ). The obligations of the Guarantor under this Section 8.3 to
compensate the preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee for reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee or the earlier resignation or removal of the
Preferred Securities 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 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be
amended with the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities (including the stated amount that would be
paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions to
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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. Prior to the
execution of any amendment to this Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely
upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is
authorized or permitted by this Preferred Securities Guarantee and that all
conditions precedent to such execution and delivery have been satisfied. The
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter
into any such amendment which affects the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee's and the Holders' rights, duties or immunities under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
Section 9.3 Notices. All notices provided for in this Preferred
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
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee):
Sterling Bancshares Capital Trust III
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Administrative Trustee
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(b) If given to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee,
at the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders and the Issuer):
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
c/o Deutsche Bank Services NJ, Inc.
100 Plaza One
Mail Stop JCY03-0604
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Services
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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(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 Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee):
Sterling Bancshares, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Bridgwater
President and Chief Executive Officer
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(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 Benefit. This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely
for the benefit of the Holders 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 NEW YORK.
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THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year
first above written.
STERLING BANCSHARES, INC., as Guarantor
By: /s/ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Bridgwater
________________________________________
Name: ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Bridgwater
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
________________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
________________________________________
Title: Vice President
________________________________________
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