Exhibit 4(e)
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
between
FIRST UNION CORPORATION,
as Guarantor,
and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
---------------------------------------
FIRST UNION INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL II
---------------------------------------
Dated as of ___________, ____
FIRST UNION CAPITAL II
Certain Sections of this Guarantee Agreement relating to
Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Section of Section of
Trust Indenture Act Guarantee Agreement
310(a)..........................................................................................4.1(a)
(b).........................................................................................4.1(c), 2.8
(c).........................................................................................Inapplicable
311(a)..........................................................................................2.2(b)
(b).........................................................................................2.2(b)
(c).........................................................................................Inapplicable
312(a)..........................................................................................2.2(a)
(b).........................................................................................2.2(b)
313.............................................................................................2.3
314(a)..........................................................................................2.4
(b).........................................................................................Inapplicable
(c).........................................................................................2.5
(d).........................................................................................Inapplicable
(e).........................................................................................1.1, 2.5, 3.2
(f).........................................................................................2.1, 3.2
315(a)..........................................................................................3.1(d)
(b).........................................................................................2.7
(c).........................................................................................3.1
(d).........................................................................................3.1(d)
316(a)..........................................................................................1.1, 2.6, 5.4
(b).........................................................................................5.3
(c).........................................................................................8.2
317(a)..........................................................................................Inapplicable
(b).........................................................................................Inapplicable
318(a)..........................................................................................2.1(b)
(b).........................................................................................2.1
(c).........................................................................................2.1(a)
Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to
be a part of the Guarantee Agreement.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Interpretation..................................................................................... 2
SECTION 1.2. Definitions........................................................................................ 2
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application................................................................... 6
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders.................................................................................... 6
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee................................................................... 7
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee.............................................................. 7
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent................................................... 7
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.......................................................................... 7
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice........................................................................... 7
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.............................................................................. 8
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee......................................................... 8
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee............................................................... 10
SECTION 3.3. Indemnity.......................................................................................... 11
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility..................................................................... 12
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee...................................... 12
ii
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee.......................................................................................... 13
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand........................................................................ 13
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected........................................................................... 13
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.................................................................................. 14
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment............................................................................... 15
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation........................................................................................ 15
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations............................................................................ 15
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination...................................................................................... 15
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.............................................................................. 15
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination........................................................................................ 16
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns............................................................................. 16
SECTION 8.2. Amendments......................................................................................... 16
SECTION 8.3. Notices............................................................................................ 17
SECTION 8.4. Benefit............................................................................................ 18
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law...................................................................................... 18
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts....................................................................................... 18
iii
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of __________, ____, is executed and
delivered by FIRST UNION CORPORATION, a North Carolina corporation (the
"Guarantor") having its principal office at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a banking corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, 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 FIRST UNION INSTITUTIONAL
CAPITAL II, a Delaware business trust (the "Issuer").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as
of January 6, 1997 (the "Trust Agreement"), among the Guarantor, as Depositor,
the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee named therein and the Holders from
time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the
Issuer is issuing $250,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) of its 7.85% Capital Securities, Liquidation Amount $1,000 per
capital security) (the "Capital Securities") representing preferred undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth
in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Capital Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the
proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer's
Common Securities (as defined below), will be used to purchase the Debentures
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor which will be deposited
with the Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Trust
Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Capital Securities
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the 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
Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement to
provide as follows for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the
Capital Securities:
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Interpretation.
In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not
defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to
them in Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has
the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this
Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement
unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same
meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined
in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and
vice-versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein
shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 1.2. Definitions.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall,
unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with such specified Person; provided, however,
that the Issuer shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the
Guarantor. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used
with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the
management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative
to the foregoing.
2
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Debt" means with respect to any Person, whether recourse is
to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not
contingent, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed;
(ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in
connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;
(iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to
letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such Person, (iv) every obligation of such Person
issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or
services (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities
arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease
obligation of such Person; (vi) all Other Financial Obligations (as
hereinafter defined) of such Person; and (vii) every obligation of the
type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all
dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such
Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or
indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement;
provided, however, that, except with respect to a default in payment of
any Guarantee Payments, the Guarantor shall have received notice of
default and shall not have cured such default within 60 days after
receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Capital
Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the
Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the Capital Securities, to the
extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at such
time, (ii) the redemption price, including all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), with
respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer,
to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at
such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination,
winding up or liquidation of the Issuer, unless Debentures are
distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
Liquidation Amount of $1,000 per Preferred Security plus accumulated
and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of
payment to the extent that the Issuer shall have funds available
therefor at such time 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 Wilmington Trust Company, until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement, and
thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee
3
Trustee.
"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, the Guarantee
Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as
of November 27, 1996, as supplemented and amended between the Guarantor
and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities"
means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the
Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the
Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding Capital Securities issued by
the Issuer.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman or a Vice Chairman of such Person or
the President or a Vice President of such Person, and by the Treasurer,
an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such
Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers'
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement 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 in
rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each officer has made such
examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is
necessary to enable such officer to express an informed
opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Other Financial Obligations" means, with respect to a Person,
all obligations to make payment pursuant to the terms of financial
instruments, such as (i) securities contracts and foreign currency
exchange contracts, (ii) derivative instruments, such as
4
swap agreements (including interest rate and foreign exchange rate swap
agreements), cap agreements, floor agreements, collar agreements,
interest rate agreements, foreign exchange rate agreements, options,
commodity futures contracts, commodity option contracts, and (iii) in
the case of both (i) and (ii) above, similar financial instruments.
"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 Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant
Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer,
any Assistant Treasurer, any Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer
or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Guarantee
Trustee 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.
"Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of
any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the
Guarantor whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is
allowed in such proceeding), on Debt, whether incurred on or prior to
the date of the Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, in the
instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the
same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not
superior in right of payment to the Debentures or to other Debt which
is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Debentures; provided,
however, that Senior Debt shall not be deemed to include (i) any Debt
of the Guarantor which when incurred and without respect to any
election under Section 1111(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of
1978, as amended, was without recourse to the Guarantor, (ii) any Debt
of the Corporation to any of its subsidiaries, (iii) Debt to any
employee of the Guarantor, and (iv) any other debt securities issued
pursuant to the Indenture. Senior Debt includes, without limitation,
Debt issued (i) under the indenture, dated as of April 1, 1983, and
amended thereafter, between the Guarantor and Chemical Bank, as
trustee, and (ii) except to the extent otherwise provided with respect
to any series of debt securities issued after the date hereof, under
the indenture, dated as of March 15, 1986, and amended thereafter,
between the Guarantor and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as trustee.
"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
in force at the date as of which this Guarantee Agreement is executed;
provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is
amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act"
5
means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in
effect on the date hereof.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) As a matter of contract, this Guarantee Agreement is subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are or would be required to be part
of this Guarantee Agreement if the Trust Indenture Act were applicable and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement
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. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee (a) semiannually, on or before January 1 and July 1 of each
year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders (the "List of Holders") as of a date not
more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such other times as
the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt
by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more
than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to the
extent such information is in the possession or control of the Guarantor and is
not identical to a previously supplied list of Holders or has not otherwise been
received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as such. The Guarantee Trustee
may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List
of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Section 311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Not later than June 1 of each year, commencing June 1, ____, the
Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports as are required by
Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner
provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The
6
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and information,
if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, in the form, in
the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of
compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of
Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall
cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to
have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or
impair any right consequent therefrom.
SECTION 2.7. Event 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, notices of all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless
such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that,
except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of
directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders.
(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, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of
Default.
7
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for
the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee Agreement to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 5.4(iv) 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 interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, 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 has occurred and is continuing, the
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the
Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default
has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6), the
Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by
this Guarantee Agreement, 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 Agreement 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
8
solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement,
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 Agreement; 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 Agreement; but in the case
of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision
hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act 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 Agreement;
(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 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 direction of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in 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 exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement 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 Agreement or adequate indemnity
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may 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 reasonably believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party
or parties.
9
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter
be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take
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 rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon
receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly
delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and
the written advice or opinion of such legal counsel with respect to
legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it
hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
Such legal counsel may be legal counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may be one of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall
have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent
jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder
shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate security and
indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the
Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys'
fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in
complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable
advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided that,
nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(v) shall be taken to 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 Agreement.
(vi) 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.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through its agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not
be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement the Guarantee
10
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 (A) may request instructions from the Holders, (B)
may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other
action until such instructions are received, and (C) shall be protected
in acting in accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement 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 to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
SECTION 3.3. Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or
charge on any Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this
Guarantee Agreement.
11
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. 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 Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of
at least $50,000,000, and shall be a corporation meeting the
requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining
authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1 and to the extent
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, 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 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in
the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(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 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 the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed
or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed 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 hereunder 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 instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
12
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning
Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, 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.
ARTICLE V
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 or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense,
right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert. The
Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct
payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing
the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee
Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the
Guarantee Trustee, Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the
Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of
redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee Agreement 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 (other than an extension of time
for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of any
interest payment period on the Debentures as provided in the
Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other
sums payable under
13
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;
(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 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 Holders to give notice to, or obtain the
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement
will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the
Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee
Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) 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 Agreement or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer or any
other Person.
14
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of
the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer) or upon distribution of Debentures to Holders as provided in the
Trust Agreement.
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have the right to waive
payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.1; 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 which 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 Agreement, if, at the time of any
such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If
any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding
sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and
to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the 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
Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections
(a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement will
constitute unsecured obligations of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Guarantor.
15
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall
rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under any similar
Guarantee Agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of
preferred securities issued by any First Union Trust (as defined in the
Indenture).
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Capital Securities,
(ii) the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the
Capital Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance
with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment
of any sums paid with respect to Capital Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement
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 a consolidation, merger
or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the successor or assignee agrees in writing to
perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign
its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the
Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of the Capital Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
16
SECTION 8.3. Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below
or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such
other Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Holders:
First Union Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇)-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Guarantee Trustee,
at the Issuer's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below
or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer
may give notice to the Holders:
First Union Institutional Capital II
c/o First Union Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇)-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Wilmington Trust Company
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Square North
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇)-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Issuer.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received
in person,
17
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 Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and
is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.
This instrument 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.
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Guarantee
Agreement as of the date first above written.
FIRST UNION CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
as Guarantee Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
19