EXHIBIT 4.11
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FORM OF
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
Dated as of [ ]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.01 Definitions and Interpretation.....................................1
ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01 Trust Indenture Act; Application...................................5
SECTION 2.02 Lists of Holders of Securities.....................................5
SECTION 2.03 Reports by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.........................5
SECTION 2.04 Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee....................5
SECTION 2.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent...................6
SECTION 2.06 Events of Default; Waiver..........................................6
SECTION 2.07 Event of Default; Notice...........................................6
SECTION 2.08 Conflicting Interests..............................................6
ARTICLE 3
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01 Powers and Duties of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee...............7
SECTION 3.02 Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee......................9
SECTION 3.03 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.............11
ARTICLE 4
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility..........................11
SECTION 4.02 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Guarantee
Trustee...........................................................12
ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01 Guarantee.........................................................12
SECTION 5.02 Subordination.....................................................13
SECTION 5.03 Waiver of Notice and Demand.......................................13
SECTION 5.04 Obligations Not Affected..........................................13
SECTION 5.05 Rights of Holders.................................................14
SECTION 5.06 Guarantee of Payment..............................................14
SECTION 5.07 Subrogation.......................................................14
SECTION 5.08 Independent Obligations...........................................15
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.01 Limitation of Transactions........................................15
SECTION 6.02 Ranking...........................................................16
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01 Termination.......................................................16
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.01 Exculpation.......................................................16
SECTION 8.02 Indemnification...................................................17
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.01 Successors and Assigns............................................17
SECTION 9.02 Amendments........................................................17
SECTION 9.03 Notices...........................................................17
SECTION 9.04 Benefit...........................................................18
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SECTION 9.05 Governing Law.....................................................18
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("PREFERRED SECURITIES
GUARANTEE"), dated as of [DATE], is executed and delivered by
American Equity
Investment Life Holding Company, an Iowa corporation (the "GUARANTOR"), and U.S.
Bank National Association, a nationally chartered banking association, as
trustee (the "PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE"), for the benefit of the Holders (as
defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined
herein) of [American Equity Capital Trust], a Delaware statutory trust (the
"ISSUER").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"DECLARATION"), dated as of [DATE], among the trustees of the Issuer named
therein, 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 [ ] Preferred Securities, having an aggregate stated
liquidation preference of [ ], designated the [ ]% Preferred Securities (the
"PREFERRED SECURITIES");
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the
Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein)
and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE") in 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 Indenture Event of
Default (as defined herein), 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 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 of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.01 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 1.01;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or
"this Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee as modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to
Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same
meaning when used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee unless otherwise
defined in this Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa;
(g) a reference to any Person shall include its successors and
assigns;
(h) a reference to any agreement or instrument shall mean such
agreement or instrument, as supplemented, modified, or amended and restated, and
in effect from time to time; and
(i) a reference to any statute, law, rule or regulation shall
include any amendments thereto applicable to the relevant Person, and any
successor statute, law, rule or regulation.
"AFFILIATE" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"COMMON SECURITIES" means the common securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"COMMON STOCK" means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of
the Guarantor.
"COVERED PERSON" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities.
"DEBENTURE ISSUER" means the Guarantor in its capacity as the issuer
of the Debentures.
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"DEBENTURES" means the series of debentures of the Guarantor
designated [ ] held by the Property Trustee 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 accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined
in the Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities to
the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the amount
payable upon redemption to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor,
with respect to any Preferred 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 Preferred Securities as provided in the
Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation preference and
all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of
payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b)
the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to
Holders upon liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation
Distribution"). If an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive payments
under the Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of Holders
of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments.
"HOLDER" means 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 Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"INDEMNIFIED PERSON" means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any
Affiliate of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees,
custodians or agents of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"INDENTURE" means either the Senior Indenture dated as of [Date],
between the Debenture Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and
any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be
issued (the "Senior Indenture"), or the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
[Date], between the Debenture Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association, as
trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures
are to be issued (the "Subordinated Indenture").
"MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES"
means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of Preferred
Securities, voting separately as a class, representing more than 50% of the
stated liquidation preference (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise,
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plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting
percentages are determined) of all Preferred Securities then outstanding.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by two duly authorized officers of such Person. Any Officers'
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination
or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"PERSON" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means U.S. Bank National Association
until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, the chairman of the board of directors, the president, any
vice-president, any assistant vice-president, the secretary, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or
assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that
officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"SUCCESSOR PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.1.
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
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ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01 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, which are incorporated by reference hereto, and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; and
(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 2.02 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
(i) within 15 days after each record date for payment of Distributions, a list,
in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the
names and addresses of the Holders of the Preferred Securities ("List of
Holders") as of such record date, 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 Guarantee
Trustee by the Guarantor, 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 15 days before such List of Holders is given to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders
previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its
obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.03 REPORTS BY THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, commencing [ ], the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities such reports, if any, as are required by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.04 PERIODIC REPORTS TO PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
documents, reports and information (if any) as required by Section 314 of the
Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 2.05 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in
this Preferred Securities Guarantee which 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 2.06 EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER.
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation preference of the Preferred
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred
Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such
waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
SECTION 2.07 EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.
(a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after
the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all Events of
Default known to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been
cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that, except in the case of a
default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the Preferred 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
Responsible Officers of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines
that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any Event of Default except any Event of Default as to which the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice or a Responsible
Officer charged with the administration of the Declaration shall have obtained
actual knowledge.
SECTION 2.08 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 3
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred
Securities, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Preferred
Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.05(b) or to a
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee, and such
vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing
documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee
for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of
any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have
occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set
forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be
read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or
waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as
a prudent 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 Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of
such duties and
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obligations as are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into
this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates
or opinions furnished to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and
conforming 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 Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred 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
(but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical
calculations or other facts stated therein, unless specifically
required by this Preferred Securities Guarantee);
(ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible
Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
facts;
(iii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than
a Majority in liquidation preference of the Preferred Securities, relating
to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or
power conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall require the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk
its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds
for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not
reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee or adequate indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured
to it.
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SECTION 3.02 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may in absence of
bad faith conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, and shall be fully protected
in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or
other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii) any direction or act of the Preferred Securities
Guarantor contemplated by this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
(iii) whenever, in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering
or omitting any action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless
other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely, as to the truth of
the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon
an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be
promptly delivered by the Guarantor;
(iv) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty
to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument
(including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax
or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof;
(v) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with
counsel of its selection, and the written 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 the Guarantor's employees. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee from any court of
competent jurisdiction;
(vi) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Preferred Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee
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Trustee such adequate security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such
reasonable advances as may be requested by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee;
provided that nothing contained in this Section 3.02(a)(vi) shall be taken
to relieve the Preferred 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 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, security, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(viii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of
the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either
directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the
part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(ix) any action taken by the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Preferred
Securities, and the signature of the Preferred 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 Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of
the terms and provisions of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, both of
which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's
or its agent's taking such action; and
(x) whenever in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or
right or taking any other action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
(i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Preferred Securities,
which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion
in liquidation preference of the Preferred Securities as would be entitled
to direct the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under the terms of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee in respect of such remedy, right or action, or the
Guarantor, (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 acting in accordance with such instructions.
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(b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to
perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation
conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or
in which the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in
accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise
any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority
available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.03 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEE.
The recitals contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred
Guarantee Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE 4
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01 PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee
which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States 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 4.01(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 Guarantee Trustee shall cease
to be eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section
4.02(c).
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(c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION 4.02 APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF PREFERRED
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 4.02(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee
has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument
executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall
hold office until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee
may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered
to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee
and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60
days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the
resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01 GUARANTEE.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to
the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore
paid by the 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.
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SECTION 5.02 SUBORDINATION.
If an event of default under the Indenture 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 rights of
Holders of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
SECTION 5.03 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 5.04 OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or
impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of
the performance or observance by the 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, the amount payable upon redemption,
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, the
amount payable upon redemption, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable
that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures
or any extension of the maturity date of 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;
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(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 5.04 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.05 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation preference 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 Guarantee
Trustee in respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, any Holder of Preferred Securities may, after
such Holder makes a written request to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to
enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee, institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce the obligations of the Guarantor under
this Preferred Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Issuer, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other
Person.
SECTION 5.06 GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and
not of collection.
SECTION 5.07 SUBROGATION.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the
Holders of Preferred Securities 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.
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SECTION 5.08 INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.
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 5.04.
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.01 LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS.
So long as any Trust Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if (i)
the Guarantor has exercised its option to defer interest payments on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period and such extension shall be
continuing, (ii) the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment
or other obligations under the Guarantee or (iii) there shall have occurred and
be continuing any event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both, would constitute an event of default under the Indenture, then the
Guarantor shall not (a) declare or pay dividends on, or make a distribution with
respect to, or redeem or purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (1) purchases or acquisitions
of shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock equivalents) in connection with the
satisfaction by the Guarantor of its obligations under any employee benefit or
agent plans or the satisfaction by the Guarantor of its obligations pursuant to
any contract or security requiring the Guarantor to purchase shares of Common
Stock (or Common Stock equivalents), (2) purchases of shares of Common Stock (or
Common Stock equivalents) from officers or employees of the Guarantor or its
subsidiaries upon termination of employment or retirement not pursuant to any
obligation under any contract or security requiring the Guarantor to purchase
shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock equivalents), (3) as a result of a
reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange or conversion
of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for another class or
series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (4) dividends or distributions of
shares of Common Stock on Common Stock or (5) 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), (b) make any payment of principal of (premium, if any) or interest
on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees)
issued by the Guarantor that rank PARI PASSU with or junior to the Debentures
(except by conversion into or exchange for shares of Common Stock) and (c) make
any guarantee payments with respect to any of the foregoing (other than pursuant
to the Preferred Securities Guarantee).
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SECTION 6.02 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 all other liabilities of the Guarantor, except any liabilities that
may be made pari passu expressly by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most
senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor
and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect
of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and
(iii) senior to the Common Stock.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01 TERMINATION.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate as to each Holder
of Trust Preferred Securities upon (i) full payment of the amount payable upon
redemption of all Preferred Securities, (ii) the distribution of the Debentures
held by the Issuer to the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities or (iii)
full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon
liquidation of the Issuer. 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 of Preferred Securities must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities or under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.01 EXCULPATION.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or
accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for
any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or
omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this
Preferred Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct
with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information,
opinions, reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to
matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other
Person's professional or expert competence 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
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amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent
to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of
Preferred Securities might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.02 INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the
Guarantor shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and
against any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person 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
such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person in accordance with this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be
indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified
Person by reason of negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts
or omissions.
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.01 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any
merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any
sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another entity, each as
permitted by the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate
its obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee without the prior
approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation preference of the
Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.02 AMENDMENTS.
Except with respect to any changes that do not 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 a Majority in liquidation preference of the Preferred Securities.
The provisions of Section 12.02 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of
Holders of the Securities apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.03 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 registered or certified mail, as follows:
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(a) If given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other
address as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of
the Preferred Securities):
U.S. Bank National Association
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing
address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice
of to the Holders of the Preferred Securities):
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
(c) If given to any Holder of Preferred Securities, 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 9.04 BENEFIT.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities and, subject to Section 3.01(a), is not
separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.05 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, WITHOUT
REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS.
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THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year
first above written.
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT
LIFE HOLDING COMPANY,
as Guarantor
By:
----------------------------------------
Name: [ ]
Title: [ ]
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Preferred Guarantee Trustee
By:
----------------------------------------
Name: [ ]
Title: [ ]
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