Exhibit 4(c)
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL II
DATED AS OF JUNE ___, 1997
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CROSS REFERENCE TABLE*
Section of Trust
Indenture Act of Section of
1939, as amended Agreement
310(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1(a)
310(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1(c)
310(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(b)
311(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(b)
311(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(a)
312(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2(b)
312(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.9
313(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.3
313(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.3
313(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.3
313(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.3
314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.4
314(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.5
314(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.5
314(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(d); 3.2(a)
315(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7(a)
315(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(c)
315(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(d)
316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.6; 5.4(a)
317(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.10; 5.4
318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1(b)
*This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Agreement and
shall not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms and
provisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1
Page
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INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.3 Reports by Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.9 Disclosure of Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.10 Guarantee Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. . . . . . . . . . . 6
ARTICLE 3
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee. . . . . . 10
ARTICLE 4
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 4.1 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee Trustee. . . . 11
ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION. . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 6.2 Ranking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 7.1 Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 9.2 Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SECTION 9.3 Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SECTION 9.4 Benefit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 9.6 Execution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
FORM OF GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Guarantee"), dated as of ___________,
1997, is executed and delivered by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc., a Florida corporation
(the "Guarantor"), and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the
"Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of the
Securities (as defined herein) of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Capital II, a Delaware statutory
business trust (the "Trust").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration (as defined herein), the Trust
issued on December 2, 1996, $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of capital
securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $1,000, designated the
7.95% Capital Securities (the "Old Capital Securities") and 6,186,000 common
securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $1,000, designated the
7.95% Common Securities (the "Common Securities");
WHEREAS, the Old Capital Securities and Common Securities were
guaranteed by the Guarantor to the extent and on the terms and conditions set
forth in the Guarantee Agreement dated as of December 2, 1996 (the "Old
Guarantee") from the Guarantor to the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of
holders of the Old Capital Securities and the Common Securities;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in
the Declaration), the Trust has offered to exchange up to $200,000,000 aggregate
liquidation amount of 7.95% Capital Securities, liquidation amount $1,000 per
capital security (the "New Capital Securities," and, together with the Old
Capital Securities, the "Capital Securities") which have been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Guarantor
and the Guarantee Trustee wish to exchange the Old Guarantee for this Guarantee,
which is substantially the same as the Old Guarantee except that it has been
registered under the Securities Act and qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
and does not contain restrictions on transfer, and which is for the benefit of
the Holders of New Capital Securities, Old Capital Securities not exchanged for
New Capital Securities and the Common Securities (collectively, the
"Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to retain the Securities, the
Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set
forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined
herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set
forth herein, including that if a Trust Enforcement Event has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive
payments under this Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of Holders of
Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of
the Holders.
ARTICLE 1
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS. In this Guarantee,
unless the context otherwise requires:
capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the
preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this
Section 1.1;
a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning
throughout;
all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to this
Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
all references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to
Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or
unless the context otherwise requires; and
a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa and a
reference to the masculine includes, as applicable, the feminine.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" has the meaning given to such term in the Indenture.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at
which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Guarantee is located at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated deferrable interest
debentures to be issued by the Guarantor, designated the 7.95% Junior
Subordinated Debentures due 2026 held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the
Declaration) of the Trust.
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust,
dated as of December 2, 1996, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, among the trustees of the Trust named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor,
and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial ownership interests in
the assets of the Trust.
"Guarantee Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any
of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee.
"Guarantee Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, until a
successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor
Guarantee Trustee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Securities, to the extent not paid
or made by the Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as
defined in the Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Securities
to the extent the Trust shall have sufficient funds available therefor at the
time, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption with respect to any Securities called
for redemption by the Trust, to the extent the Trust shall have sufficient
funds available therefor at the time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than
in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange
for Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the
aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions
on the Securities to the date of payment, and (b) the amount of assets of the
Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the
Trust (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If a Trust
Enforcement Event (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of
Holders of the Capital Securities to receive payments hereunder.
"Holder" shall mean any holder of Securities, as registered on the
books and records of the Trust; provided, however, that, in determining whether
the Holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any
request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or any other obligor on the Capital
Securities; and provided further, that in determining whether the Holders of the
requisite liquidation amount of Capital Securities
have voted on any matter provided for in this Guarantee, then for the purpose
of such determination only (and not for any other purpose hereunder), if the
Capital Securities remain in the form of one or more Global Certificates (as
defined in the Declaration), the term "Holders" shall mean the holder of the
Global Certificate acting at the direction of the Preferred Security
Beneficial Owners (as defined in the Declaration).
"Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the
Guarantee Trustee, and any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners,
employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee
Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of December 2, 1996, among
the Guarantor (the "Company") and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures
are to be issued to the Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the
Trust.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities" means, except as
provided in the terms of the Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s)
of outstanding Securities, voting separately as a class, who are the record
holders of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the
stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages
are determined) of all outstanding Securities. In determining whether the
Holders of the requisite amount of Securities have voted, Securities which are
owned by the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor shall be disregarded
for the purpose of any such determination.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed on behalf of such Person by two Authorized Officers (as
defined in the Declaration) of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer on behalf of such Person in
rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer on behalf of such Person to express an informed opinion as to
whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer
acting on behalf of such Person, such condition or covenant has been
complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee,
any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee,
including any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, any
assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of
the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
ARTICLE 2
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION. This Guarantee is
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be
part of this Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee limits,
qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 2.2 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. The Guarantor shall
provide the Guarantee Trustee with a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee
may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the
Securities ("List of Holders"), (i) semi-annually, not later than June 30 and
December 31 of each year and current as of such date, and (ii) at such other
times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days of receipt
by the Guarantor of a written request from the Guarantee Trustee for a List of
Holders as of a date no more than 15 days before such List of Holders is given
to the Guarantee Trustee; excluding from any such list names and addresses
received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (as
defined in the Indenture). The Guarantee Trustee shall preserve, in as current
a form as is reasonably practicable, all information contained in Lists of
Holders given to it, provided that it may destroy any List of Holders previously
given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 REPORTS BY GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. Within 60 days after May
15 of each year (commencing with the year of the first anniversary of the
issuance of the Securities), the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders
of the Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act (if any) in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of
the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 PERIODIC REPORTS TO GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. The Guarantor
shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such documents, reports and information
as required by Section 314 (if any) of the Trust Indenture Act and the
compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the
form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. The
Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance
with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee that
relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to
Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 GUARANTEE EVENT OF DEFAULT; WAIVER. The Holders of a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities may, by vote or written
consent, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities, waive any past
Guarantee Event of default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such
Guarantee Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Guarantee Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose
of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or Guarantee Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 GUARANTEE EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE. The Guarantee
Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of
Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the
Securities, notices of all Guarantee Events of Default actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been
cured before the giving of such notice; provided, that the Guarantee Trustee
shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible
Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding
of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities.
The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Guarantee Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received
written notice thereof or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged
with the
administration of the Declaration shall have obtained actual knowledge
thereof.
SECTION 2.8 CONFLICTING INTERESTS. The Declaration shall be deemed
to be specifically described in this Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of
the first provision contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.9 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. The disclosure of information
as to the names and addresses of the Holders of the Securities in accordance
with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which
such information was derived, shall not be deemed to be a violation of any
existing law, or any law hereafter enacted which does not specifically refer to
Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, nor shall the Guarantee Trustee be held
accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under
Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.10 GUARANTEE TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. Upon the
occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, the Guarantee Trustee is hereby
authorized to (a) recover judgment, in its own name and as trustee of an express
trust, against the Guarantor for the whole amount of any Guarantee Payments
remaining unpaid and (b) file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents
as may be necessary or advisable in order to have its claims and those of the
Holders of the Securities allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the
Guarantor, its creditors or its property.
ARTICLE 3
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 POWERS AND DUTIES OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of
the Trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, and the Guarantee
Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of
Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a
Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee in and to this Guarantee
shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting
and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents
have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor
Guarantee Trustee.
If a Guarantee Event of Default actually known to a Responsible
Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities.
The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Guarantee Event
of Default and after the curing of all Guarantee Events of Default that may have
occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set
forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case a Guarantee Event of Default
has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as
a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.
No provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the
Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
prior to the occurrence of any Guarantee Event of Default
and after the curing or waiving of all such Guarantee Events of
Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall
be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee,
and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically
set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the
Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the
truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions
expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to
the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions
that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be
furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall
be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not
they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee;
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment
was made;
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and
no provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the
exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee
shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such
funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of
this Guarantee or indemnify, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it.
SECTION 3.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. Subject to the
provisions of Section 3.1:
The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be
fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note,
other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by
it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the
proper party or parties.
Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate.
Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder,
the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and
conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of
such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration or any instrument (or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).
The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and the
advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall
be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel
to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its
employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to
seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from
any court of competent jurisdiction.
The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at
the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have
provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs,
expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of
the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such
request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be
requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, that nothing contained
in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee
Trustee, upon the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, of its
obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee.
The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in
its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit.
The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due
care by it hereunder.
Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents
hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Securities, and the signature
of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and
effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be
required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so
act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of
this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the
Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with
respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action
hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities, (ii)
may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other
action
until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected
in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such
instructions.
No provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or
obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any
right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction
in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No
permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEE.
The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the
Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for
their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representations as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.
ARTICLE 4
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
There shall be at all times a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
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.
If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible
to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign
in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions
of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2 APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE.
Subject to Section 4.1(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed
or removed with or without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with
Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold such office
until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its
removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without
need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by
the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall
not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 30 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of removal or resignation, the
removed or resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint
a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to
act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee.
Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of
the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to
the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing for fees and reimbursement of expenses
which have accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE 5
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 GUARANTEE.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to
the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore
paid by the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off
or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation
to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required
amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such
amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2 WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and
of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for
payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Trust or any other
Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment,
notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Guarantor retains all of
its rights under the Indenture to (i) extend the interest payment period on the
Debentures and the Guarantor shall not be obligated hereunder to make any
Guarantee Payments during any Extended Interest Payment Period (as defined in
the Indenture) with respect to the Distributions (as defined in the Declaration)
on the Securities, and (ii) change the maturity date of the Debentures to the
extent permitted by the Indenture.
SECTION 5.3 OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional and shall remain in
full force and effect until the entire liquidation amount of all outstanding
Securities shall have been paid and such obligation shall in no way be affected
or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any event, including
without limitation, the following, whether or not with notice to, or the consent
of, the Guarantor:
The release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Securities to be performed or
observed by the Trust;
The extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price (as defined in the
Indenture), Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the
terms of the Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any
other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with the
Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions,
Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that
results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures
or any change to the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the
Indenture);
Any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Property Trustee or the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any
right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Property Trustee or the
Holders pursuant to the terms of the Securities, or any action on the part
of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
The voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of
any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust
or any of the assets of the Trust;
Any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Securities;
The settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby
or hereby incurred; or
Any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute
a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the
intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Guarantee Trustee or the Holders
to give notice to, or obtain consent of the Guarantor or any other Person with
respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation, or
any defense of any kind or nature that the Guarantor has or may have against any
Holder shall be available hereunder to the Guarantor against such Holder to
reduce the payments to it under this Guarantee.
SECTION 5.4 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.
The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities
have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this
Guarantee.
If the Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this Guarantee, then
any Holder of Securities may, subject to the subordination provisions of Section
6.2, institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the
Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Guarantee without first instituting a
legal proceeding against the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or
entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Guarantor has failed to make a
Guarantee Payment, a Holder of Securities may, subject to the subordination
provisions of Section 6.2, directly institute a
proceeding against the Guarantor for enforcement of the Guarantee for such
payment to the Holder of the Securities of the principal of or interest on
the Debentures on or after the respective due dates specified in the
Debentures, and the amount of the payment will be based on the Holder's pro
rata share of the amount due and owing on all of the Securities. The
Guarantor hereby waives any right or remedy to require that any action on
this Guarantee be brought first against the Trust or any other person or
entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT.
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
SECTION 5.6 SUBROGATION.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the
Holders of Securities against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to such
Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation of any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at the time of any such payment,
any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be
paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor
agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount
to the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders.
SECTION 5.7 INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Securities, and
that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make
Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the
occurrence of any event referred to in subsections 5.3(a) through 5.3(g),
inclusive, hereof.
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS.
So long as any Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have
occurred a Guarantee Event of Default or a Trust Enforcement Event, then the
Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any subsidiary of the Guarantor, to
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, the Guarantor's capital
stock or (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities that rank pari passu with or
junior to the Debentures or make any guarantee payments with respect to any
guarantee by the Guarantor of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the
Guarantor if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior to the Debentures
(other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Guarantor, (b)
payments under this Guarantee and (c) 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, and (d) purchases of common
stock related to the issuance of
common stock or rights under any of the Company's benefit plans).
SECTION 6.2 RANKING.
This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other
liabilities of the Guarantor, except those liabilities of the Guarantor made
pari passu or subordinate by their terms.
If a Trust Enforcement Event has occurred and is continuing under the
Declaration, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments hereunder shall be subordinated to the rights of the holders
of the Securities to receive payment of all amounts due and owing hereunder.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 TERMINATION.
This Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment of the Redemption
Price of all Securities, (ii) upon the distribution of the Debentures to the
Holders of all the Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable
in accordance with the Declaration upon liquidation of the Trust.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee will continue to be effective or
will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Securities
must restore payment of any sums paid under the Securities or under this
Guarantee.
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 EXCULPATION.
No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss,
damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted
by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and
in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the
scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or
by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss,
damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or
willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matter the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 INDEMNIFICATION.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to
hold each Indemnified Person harmless against any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability
in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall
survive the termination of this Guarantee.
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind
the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the
Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Securities then
outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 AMENDMENTS.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will be
required), this Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of the
Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities. The
provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of, and
action by written consent of the Holders of the Securities apply to the giving
of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 NOTICES.
All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or
mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's
mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee
Trustee may give notice of to the Guarantor and the Holders of the
Securities):
The First National Bank of Chicago
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing addresses
set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to
the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders of the Securities):
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: Secretary
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If given to any Holder of Securities, at the address set forth on
the books and records of the Trust.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4 BENEFIT.
This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from
the Securities.
SECTION 9.5 GOVERNING LAW.
THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 9.6 EXECUTION.
This guarantee may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument, and may be executed
by manual or facsimile signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Guarantee is executed as of the day and year
first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, INC.,
as Guarantor
By:
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Executive Vice President
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Assistant Vice President
