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EXHIBIT 10 (EE)
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
DONEGAL GROUP INC.
AND
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
DATED AS OF MAY 15, 2003
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION.................................................................1
Section 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation..............................................................1
ARTICLE II POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.................................................4
Section 2.1 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee..................................................4
Section 2.2 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.........................................................6
Section 2.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.......................................8
Section 2.4 Events of Default; Waiver...................................................................8
Section 2.5 Events of Default; Notice...................................................................8
ARTICLE III GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..............................................................................8
Section 3.1 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility..............................................................8
Section 3.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee Trustee...................................9
ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE.....................................................................................10
Section 4.1 Guarantee..................................................................................10
Section 4.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand................................................................10
Section 4.3 Obligations Not Affected...................................................................10
Section 4.4 Rights of Holders..........................................................................11
Section 4.5 Guarantee of Payment.......................................................................11
Section 4.6 Subrogation................................................................................12
Section 4.7 Independent Obligations....................................................................12
Section 4.8 Enforcement by a Beneficiary...............................................................12
ARTICLE V LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION.....................................................12
Section 5.1 Limitation of Transactions.................................................................12
Section 5.2 Ranking....................................................................................13
ARTICLE VI TERMINATION...................................................................................14
Section 6.1 Termination................................................................................14
ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION...............................................................................14
Section 7.1 Exculpation................................................................................14
Section 7.2 Indemnification............................................................................14
Section 7.3 Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses....................................................15
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ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................................16
Section 8.1 Successors and Assigns.....................................................................16
Section 8.2 Amendments.................................................................................16
Section 8.3 Notices....................................................................................16
Section 8.4 Benefit....................................................................................17
Section 8.5 Governing Law..............................................................................17
Section 8.6 Counterparts...............................................................................17
Section 8.7 Separability...............................................................................18
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Guarantee"), dated as of May
15, 2003, is executed and delivered by Donegal Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Guarantor"), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national
banking association, organized under the laws of the United States of America,
as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of DGI
Statutory Trust I, a Connecticut statutory trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration"), dated as of the date hereof among U.S. Bank National
Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as institutional trustee,
the administrators 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 those undivided beneficial
interests, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $15,000,000.00 (the
"Capital Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital
Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other
payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the
Capital 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 I.
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION.
In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) 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;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to this
Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee to "Articles" or "Sections" are to
Articles or Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of
this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless
otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires;
and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Beneficiaries" means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter
becomes indebted or liable.
"Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Guarantee.
"Common Securities" means the common securities issued by the Issuer to
the Guarantor pursuant to the Declaration.
"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 of Capital Securities.
"Debentures" means the debt securities of the Guarantor designated the
Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2033 held
by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Declaration Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined
in the Declaration.
"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined
in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to
the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the Optional
Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with
respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the
Special Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor,
with respect to Capital Securities redeemed upon the occurrence of a Special
Event, and (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the
distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange
therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital
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 in liquidation of the Issuer (in either
case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means U.S. Bank National Association, 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.
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"Guarantor" means Donegal Group Inc. and each of its successors and
assigns.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; 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.
"Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the
Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners,
employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee
Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the
Guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the
Debentures are to be issued to the institutional trustee of the Issuer.
"Issuer" has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph to this
Guarantee.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the definition
of "Guarantee Payments" herein.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means
Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but
separately from the holders of Common Securities, 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 Capital
Securities then outstanding.
"Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not
including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer other than obligations of
the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such
holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities.
"Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by one authorized officer of such Person. Any Officer's
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that the officer signing the Officer's 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 the officer in rendering the Officer's Certificate;
(c) a statement that the 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 the officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
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"Optional Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
"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, Assistant Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any
other officer of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar
to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, 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.
"Special Event" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
"Special Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
"Subsidiary" means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at
least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such
Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint
venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or
similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one
or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of
its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition,
"voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in
the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting
power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of
such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital
Securities.
ARTICLE II
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 2.1 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee
shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital
Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a
Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of
its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and
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interest of the Guarantee Trustee 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.
(b) If an 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
Capital Securities.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after curing all 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 an Event of Default
has occurred (that has not been waived pursuant to Section 2.4) 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.
(d) 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:
(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 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;
(ii) 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 such Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) 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
written direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
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liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the Guarantee Trustee, or relating to the exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and
(iv) 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 is
not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee or
security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it.
SECTION 2.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1:
(i) 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.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate.
(iii) 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 Officer's
Certificate of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be
promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
filing or registration of any instrument (or any re-recording, refiling or
re-registration thereof).
(v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection,
and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be
full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such
advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall
have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of
this Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) 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
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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, however, that nothing contained in this Section
2.2(a)(vi) shall relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by
this Guarantee.
(vii) 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.
(viii) 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.
(ix) Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder
shall bind the Holders of the Capital 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.
(x) 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 Capital Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing
such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are
received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in
accordance with such instructions.
(xi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken,
suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and
reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee.
(b) 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.
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SECTION 2.3 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
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.
SECTION 2.4 EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER.
(a) An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the
failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations
hereunder.
(b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all
of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences.
Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and 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 Event of Default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.5.......EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.
(a) The 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
Capital Securities and the Guarantor, notices of all 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, however, 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 Capital
Securities.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of
Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the
Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities (except in the case of a payment
default), or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of this Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge thereof.
ARTICLE III
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) There shall at all times be a 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 Person 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
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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 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of
such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set
forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so
act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately
resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 3.2(c).
(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 shall either eliminate such interest or
resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this
Guarantee.
SECTION 3.2.......APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed
without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(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.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold 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 an instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted
appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after delivery of an
instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being
removed 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.
(e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the
Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2
and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE IV........
GUARANTEE
SECTION 4.1.......GUARANTEE.
(a) 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 (except the defense
of payment by the Issuer), 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.
(b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the
Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as
due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is
intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such
Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
SECTION 4.2.......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 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 4.3.......OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this 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 Capital 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, Optional Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price,
Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of or in connection with, the Capital Securities
(other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Optional
Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, 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 Capital Securities, or any action on
the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the
Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby
incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this
Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute
and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 4.4.......RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital 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 to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee
Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that (subject to Section 2.1)
the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such
direction if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the
action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Guarantee
Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive
committees or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible
Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would
involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.
(b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may 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 Issuer, the
Guarantee Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy
to require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the
Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the
Guarantor.
SECTION 4.5.......GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT.
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
SECTION 4.6.......SUBROGATION.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
of Capital Securities against the Issuer 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 or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to 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 Holders.
SECTION 4.7.......INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof.
SECTION 4.8.......ENFORCEMENT BY A BENEFICIARY.
A Beneficiary may enforce the obligations of the Guarantor contained in
Section 4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor and the Guarantor waives any right
or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other
person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor. The Guarantor shall be
subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in
respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries 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
rights 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 Guarantee, if
at the time of any such payment, and after giving effect to such payment, any
amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee.
ARTICLE V.........
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 5.1.......LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS.
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or a Declaration Event
of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as
provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension thereof, shall
have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor shall not and shall not
permit any Affiliate of the Guarantor controlled by the Guarantor to (x) declare
or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make
a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's or such
Affiliate's capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to
the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor) or make any guarantee payments
with respect to the foregoing; or (y) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor controlled by the
Guarantor that rank PARI PASSU in all respects with or junior in interest to the
Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (i)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the
Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor in connection with any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of
one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with
the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor or of such Subsidiary (or
securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as
consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence
of the Event of Default, Declaration Event of Default or Extension Period, as
applicable, (ii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or
series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of
the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or in
the case of a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, any class or series of such
Subsidiary's capital stock) or of any class or series of the Guarantor's
indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or in the
case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, of any class or series of
such Subsidiary's indebtedness for any class or series of such Subsidiary's
capital stock), (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Guarantor's capital stock (or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the
Guarantor) pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (v) any dividend in the
form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the
same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks PARI PASSU with
or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares
issued in connection therewith, or (vi) payments under this Guarantee).
SECTION 5.2.......RANKING.
This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor
and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and
future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By
their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the
foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein.
The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets
of any of its Subsidiaries upon any such Subsidiary's liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that
Subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a
creditor of that Subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor's obligations under this
Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Guarantor's Subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to
the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder. This Guarantee does not
limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the
Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture
that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI........
TERMINATION
SECTION 6.1.......TERMINATION.
This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon
full payment of the Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of all
Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the
Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon full
payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon
dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will
be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or
under this Guarantee.
ARTICLE VII.......
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 7.1.......EXCULPATION.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages
or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or
claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this 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.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon
the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Issuer or 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, if selected by such
Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified
Person, 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 Capital Securities might properly be paid. SECTION
7.2.......INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold
each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage,
claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part
of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance
or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including, but not limited
to, the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the
Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the
Indemnified Person's powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as
set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of the
Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.
(b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of
notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section
7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the
failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from
liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor
did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the
forfeiture by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will
not, in any event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified
Person other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a)
above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor's
choice at the Guarantor's expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any
action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall
not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth below);
provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor's election to appoint counsel
to represent the Guarantor in an action, the Indemnified Person shall have the
right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor
shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if
(i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified
Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual
or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the
Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or
other Indemnified Person(s) which are different from or additional to those
available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person
within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv)
the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel
at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim,
action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution
may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Persons are actual or
potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
SECTION 7.3.......COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all
services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to
time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard
to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee
Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee
(including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its
agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.
The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.
ARTICLE VIII......
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1.......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 Capital
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, in each case, to the
extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or
delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the
Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.2.......AMENDMENTS.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which
case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only
with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor. The provisions
of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof apply to the giving of
such approval.
SECTION 8.3.......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 first class mail, as follows:
(a) 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 Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor):
U.S. Bank National Association ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Square Hartford, Connecticut 06103 Attention: Corporate Trust
Services Telecopy: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With a copy to:
U.S. Bank National Association
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Corporate Trust Services
Telecopy: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(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 Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee):
Donegal Group Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) If given to any Holder of the Capital 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 8.4.......BENEFIT.
This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Beneficiaries and,
subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital
Securities.
SECTION 8.5.......GOVERNING LAW.
THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL
OBLIGATIONS LAW).
SECTION 8.6.......COUNTERPARTS.
This Guarantee may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same instrument.
SECTION 8.7.......SEPARABILITY.
In case one or more of the provisions contained in this Guarantee shall
for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provisions of this Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such
invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE
THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.
Donegal Group Inc., as Guarantor
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President