CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES, INC.
AND
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
DATED: ____________, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
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ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation. . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE II - TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application. . . . . . . . . . . 4
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Guarantee Trustee. . . . . . . 4
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ARTICLE III - POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CAPITAL
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Guarantee Trustee. . 6
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Guarantee Trustee . . . . . 7
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or
Issuance of Guarantee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ARTICLE IV - CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SECTION 4.1 Capital Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility. . . . . . . . 9
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital
Guarantee Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ARTICLE V - Guarantee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
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SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
ARTICLE VI - LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 6.2 Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
ARTICLE VII - TERMINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 7.1 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
ARTICLE VIII - INDEMNIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 9.2 Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 9.3 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 9.4 Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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CROSS REFERENCE TABLE
Section of Trust Section of
Indenture Act of Guarantee
1939, as Amended 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, 3.6, 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)
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CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Capital Securities Guarantee"), dated as of
______, 1997, is executed and delivered by Community First Bankshares, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee
(the "Capital Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of CFB
Capital I, a Delaware statutory business trust ("CFB Capital").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust
Agreement") dated as of _________, 1997 among the trustees of CFB Capital named
therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of CFB Capital, CFB Capital is
issuing on the date hereof 2,400,000 preferred securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $60,000,000, designated the _____% Cumulative Capital
Securities (the "Capital Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities,
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth in this Capital Securities Guarantee, 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation
In this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Capital Securities Guarantee but not
defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in
this Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Capital Securities Guarantee has the
same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Capital Securities Guarantee" or "this Capital
Securities Guarantee" are to this Capital Securities Guarantee as modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Capital Securities Guarantee to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Capital Securities Guarantee,
unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Capital Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
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"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a day
on which banking institutions in the State of Minnesota are authorized or
required by law or executive order to remain closed, or (c) a day on which the
Capital Guarantee Trustee's Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital Guarantee Trustee
at which the corporate trust business of the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall, at
any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Agreement is located at ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Square North, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attn: Corporate Trust Administration.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Capital
Securities.
"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, 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 Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by CFB Capital: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in
the Trust Agreement) that are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to
the extent CFB Capital shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption
price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption
(the "Redemption Price") to the extent CFB Capital has funds available therefor,
with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by CFB Capital, and
(iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of
CFB Capital (other than in connection with the distribution of Junior
Subordinated Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Capital Securities as
provided in the Trust Agreement), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital
Securities to the date of payment, to the extent CFB Capital shall have funds
available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of CFB Capital remaining
available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of CFB Capital (in either
case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of
CFB Capital of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given
any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of
the Capital Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders,
members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of
the Capital Guarantee Trustee.
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"Indenture" means the Subordinated Indenture dated as of _______________,
1997, among the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and Wilmington Trust Company,
as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are to be issued to the Property Trustee of CFB Capital.
"Junior Subordinated Debentures" means the series of junior subordinated
deferrable interest debt securities of the Guarantor designated the ___% Junior
Subordinated Debentures due 2027 held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) of CFB Capital.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) of Capital Securities,
voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation amount
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Capital Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a
Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Capital Securities Guarantee and
thereafter means each such Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Capital Guarantee Trustee,
any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital Guarantee Trustee,
including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of the
Corporate Trust Office of the Capital Guarantee Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Capital Guarantee
Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Capital Guarantee Trustee under
Section 4.1.
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"Senior and Subordinated 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 Capital Securities Guarantee or to other
Debt which is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Capital Securities
Guarantee; 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 Guarantor
to any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any Debt to any employee of the Guarantor,
(iv) any Debt which by its terms is subordinated to trade accounts payable or
accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business to the extent
that payments made to the holders of such Debt by the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures as a result of the subordination provisions of the
Indenture would be greater than they otherwise would have been as a result of
any obligation of such holders to pay amounts over to the obligees on such trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business as a result of subordination provisions to which such Debt is subject,
(v) the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and (vi) any other debt securities
issued pursuant to the Indenture.
"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 Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Capital Securities
Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions;
and
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Capital Securities
Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Guarantee Trustee with a
list, in such form as the Capital Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders of the Capital Securities ("List of
Holders") (i) on or before January 1 and July 1 of each year, and (ii) at any
other time within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a
List of Holders, as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders
is given to the Capital Guarantee Trustee provided, that the Guarantor shall not
be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders
does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Capital
Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Capital Guarantee Trustee may destroy
any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations
under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Guarantee Trustee
On or before July 15 of each year, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall
provide to the Holders of the Capital Securities such reports as are required by
Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and
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in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Guarantee Trustee
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Guarantee Trustee such
documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act, if any, 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 Capital Guarantee Trustee such evidence
of compliance with the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in
Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required
to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form
of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Capital Securities may,
by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities, waive any
past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of
Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall
be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Capital Securities
Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
(a) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities, notices of all Events of
Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Guarantee
Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice,
provided, that, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding
such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Capital Guarantee
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(b) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of any Event of Default unless the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have received
a properly addressed written notice, or of which a Responsible Officer of the
Capital Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement
shall have obtained actual knowledge.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Capital Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Guarantee Trustee
(a) This Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Capital
Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and
the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Capital Securities
Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or
her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Guarantee
Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment to act as Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and
interest of the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any
Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title
shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and
delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Capital Guarantee
Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of
the Capital Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Capital Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(c) The Capital 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 Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into
this Capital Securities Guarantee against the Capital Guarantee Trustee. In
case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Capital Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of
the rights and powers vested in it by this Capital Securities Guarantee, and use
the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person
would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Capital 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 Capital Guarantee
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of
this Capital Securities Guarantee, and the Capital Guarantee
Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such
duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Capital Securities Guarantee
against the Capital Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Capital
Guarantee Trustee, the Capital 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 Capital Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Capital Securities Guarantee; but in the case
of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof
are specifically required to be furnished to the Capital Guarantee
Trustee, the Capital Guarantee
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Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Capital
Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Capital Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Capital
Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon
which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Capital 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
Capital Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon
the Capital Guarantee Trustee under this Capital Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall
require the Capital 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
Capital 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 Capital Securities Guarantee or indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Guarantee Trustee
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely upon,
and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and
to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Capital Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a
matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, the Capital Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which,
upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to
any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Capital Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and
the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters
shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the
Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees.
The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at
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any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Capital
Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation
to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Capital
Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
Holder shall have provided to the Capital Guarantee Trustee such security
and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Guarantee Trustee,
against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the
expenses of the Capital Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians)
and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request
or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Capital Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section
3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Capital Guarantee Trustee, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the
rights and powers vested in it by this Capital Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Capital 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 Capital Guarantee Trustee,
in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The Capital Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts
or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence
on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Capital Guarantee Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the
signature of the Capital Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall
be required to inquire as to the authority of the Capital Guarantee Trustee
to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of
this Capital Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively
evidenced by the Capital Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such
action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive
instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any
other action hereunder, the Capital Guarantee Trustee (i) may request
instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or
taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii)
shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with
such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be deemed
to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital 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
Capital 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
Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
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SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee
The recitals contained in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be taken
as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital Guarantee Trustee does not
assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Capital Guarantee Trustee
makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Capital
Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Guarantee Trustee which
shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under
the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State,
Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above,
then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and
surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Capital 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 Capital Guarantee Trustees
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance
with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Capital Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office
until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation. The Capital Guarantee Trustee may resign from
office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in
writing executed by the Capital Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Capital
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in
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writing executed by such Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Guarantor and the resigning Capital Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Capital 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 Capital
Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon,
after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a
Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or
omissions to act of any Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee or removal or
resignation of the Capital Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the
Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Guarantee Trustee all amounts accrued to the
date of such termination, removal or resignation.
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 CFB Capital), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that CFB Capital 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 CFB Capital to pay such
amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Capital Securities
Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against CFB Capital
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 Capital Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by
reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by CFB Capital of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed
or observed by CFB Capital;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by CFB Capital of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of
time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for
payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other
sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
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the Subordinated Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the
Subordinated Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any
action on the part of CFB Capital 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, CFB Capital or any of the assets of CFB
Capital;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guarantied 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
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Guarantee Trustee in
respect of this Capital Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Capital Guarantee Trustee under this Capital Securities
Guarantee.
(b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Capital
Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against CFB
Capital, the Capital Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
This Capital Securities Guarantee creates a Guarantee of payment and not of
collection.
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of
Capital Securities against CFB Capital in respect of any amounts paid to such
Holders by the Guarantor under this Capital Securities Guarantee; provided,
however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by
mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that
it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other
agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Capital Securities
Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid
under this Capital Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the
Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold
such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
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SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of CFB Capital 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have
occurred an Event of Default or an event of default under the Trust Agreement,
then (a) the Guarantor shall not declare or pay any dividend or distributions
on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of its capital stock, (b) the Guarantor shall not make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by the Guarantor (including other Junior Subordinated
Debentures) which rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or (c) the Guarantor shall not make any guarantee
payments with respect to any guarantee by the guarantor of the debt securities
of any subsidiary of the Guarantor if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior
in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or
distributions in common stock, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection
with the implementation of a shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock
under any such plan in the future or the redemption or repurchase of any such
rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under this Capital Securities Guarantee
and (d) purchases of common stock related to the issuances of common stock or
rights under any of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers or
employees).
SECTION 6.2 Ranking
This Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation
of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all Senior and Subordinated Debt of the Guarantor.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination
This Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment of
the Redemption Price of all Capital Securities, (ii) upon full payment of the
amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of CFB
Capital or (iii) upon distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
holders of the Capital Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Capital
Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the
case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Capital
Securities Guarantee.
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ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss,
damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted
by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Capital
Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified
Person by this Capital Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an
Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold
each Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability
in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall
survive the termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
All guaranties and agreements contained in this Capital Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect
the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required),
this Capital Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of
the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount (including the stated
amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued
and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are
determined) of all the outstanding Capital Securities. The provisions of Article
VI of the Trust Agreement with respect to meetings of Holders of the Securities
apply to the giving of such approval.
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SECTION 9.3 Notices
All notices provided for in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be in
writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered,
telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, at the Capital Guarantee
Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Capital
Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities):
Wilmington Trust Company
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Square North
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the
Holders of the Capital Securities):
Community First Bankshares, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Financial Officer
(c) If given to any Holder of Capital Securities, at the address set
forth on the books and records of CFB Capital.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4 Benefit
This Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately
transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA; PROVIDED
THAT THE IMMUNITIES AND THE STANDARD OF CARE OF THE TRUSTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
DELAWARE LAW.
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THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first
above written.
COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES, INC.,
as Guarantor
By:
------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
As Capital Guarantee Trustee
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------
Title:
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