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EXHIBIT 4(gg)
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
between
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
(as Guarantor)
and
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
(as Trustee)
dated as of
________________, 1998
2
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
SECTION OF
TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION OF
OF 1939, AS AMENDED GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
---------------------------------- -------------------
310(a).................................................................. 4.1(a)
310(b).................................................................. 4.1(c), 2.8
310(c).................................................................. Inapplicable
311(a).................................................................. 2.2(b)
311(b).................................................................. 2.2(b)
311(c).................................................................. Inapplicable
312(a).................................................................. 2.2(a)
312(b).................................................................. 2.2(b)
313..................................................................... 2.3
314(a).................................................................. 2.4
314(b).................................................................. Inapplicable
314(c).................................................................. 2.5
314(d).................................................................. Inapplicable
314(e).................................................................. 1.1, 2.5, 3.2
314(f).................................................................. 2.1, 3.2
315(a).................................................................. 3.1(d)
315(b).................................................................. 2.7
315(c).................................................................. 3.1
315(d).................................................................. 3.1(d)
316(a).................................................................. 1.1, 2.6, 5.4
316(b).................................................................. 5.3
316(c).................................................................. 8.2
317(a).................................................................. Inapplicable
317(b).................................................................. Inapplicable
318(a).................................................................. 2.1(b)
318(b).................................................................. 2.1
318(c).................................................................. 2.1(a)
--------
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 1.1. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 2.2. List of Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ARTICLE III. POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 3.3. Indemnity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ARTICLE IV. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 4.1. Guarantee Trustee: Eligibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ARTICLE V. GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 5.1. Guarantee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 5.4. Rights of Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 5.6. Subrogation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 5.7. Independent Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 6.1. Subordination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
ARTICLE VII. TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 7.1. Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
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ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 8.2. Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 8.3. Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 8.4. Benefit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 8.5. Interpretation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 8.6. Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of _____________, 1998, is
executed and delivered by LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION, an Indiana corporation
(the "Guarantor") having its principal office at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, and THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, a national
banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of
the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities
(as defined herein) of Lincoln National Capital IV, a Delaware statutory
business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the
"Trust Agreement"), dated as of _______________, 1998 among the Issuer Trustees
named therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time to time
of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing up to $_________ aggregate liquidation preference of its _____%
Preferred Securities, Series liquidation preference $25 per preferred security)
(the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the
Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred 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 First National Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee under the Trust
Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred Securities
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the
Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on
the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for
the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall,
unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. 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.
"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 an Affiliate of the
Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. For the purposes of this
definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified
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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.
"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; and (vi) every
obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) 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 for, 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 Preferred Securities, to the extent
not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer; (i) any accrued and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the
Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption
Price"), with respect to the Preferred 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 preference of $25 per
Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred
Securities to the date of payment to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on
hand available to make such payment 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 The First National Bank of Chicago, until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter
means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
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"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have
given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not
include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor
or the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of May 1,
1996, as supplemented and amended between the Guarantor and The First National
Bank of Chicago, as trustee.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in liquidation preference of the 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 preference of all
then outstanding Preferred Securities issued by the Issuer.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President or a
Vice President, and by the Treasurer, and Associate Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Controller, 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.
"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
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or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the above-designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"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 this Guarantee 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 Guarantee or to other Debt which is pari
passu with, or subordinated to, the Guarantee; provided, however, that Senior
Debt shall not be deemed to include (a) any Debt of the Guarantor which when
incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, was without recourse to the Guarantor, (b) any
Debt of the Guarantor to any of its Subsidiaries, (c) Debt to any employee of
the Guarantor, (d) any liability for taxes, (e) Debt or other monetary
obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Guarantor or any of
its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with the
obtaining of goods, materials or services and (f) Debt issued under the
Indenture and (g) the Guarantee.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement
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 15 and July 15 of each
year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders ("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
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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 July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 199__, 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 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 preference of the Preferred
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.
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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 the Trust
Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default.
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
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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 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 preference of the Preferred 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
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(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.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officer's 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
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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 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.
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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(c) 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 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.
(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
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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 Preferred Securities to
be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or
any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment
of Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period
on the Debentures as so provided in the Indenture), Redemption Price,
Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred
Securities;
(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
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pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of
the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of
any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment
of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the
assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being
the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor 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 preference of the Preferred Securities have the right
to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the 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.
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.
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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, 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 Preferred
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this 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.
This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of
the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
Senior Debt of the Guarantor.
Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
This Guarantee Agreement shall rank pari passu with any similar
Guarantee Agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of
Preferred Securities issued by Lincoln National Capital I, Lincoln National
Capital II and Lincoln National Capital III.
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 Preferred
Securities, (ii) the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for
all of the Preferred 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
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be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore
payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger
or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article Eight of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the 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
preference of all the outstanding Preferred Securities. The provisions of
Article VI of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings of the Holders shall
apply to the giving of such approval.
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:
Lincoln National Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Treasurer
(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:
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Lincoln National Capital IV
c/o Lincoln National Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Treasurer
with a copy to:
The First National Bank of Chicago
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: ______________________
Attention: Corporate Services
Division ____________________________
(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, 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 Preferred Securities.
Section 8.5. 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;
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(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 8.6. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
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.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
as Guarantee Trustee
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
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