EXHIBIT 4.9
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC,
AS GUARANTOR
AND
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
AS TRUSTEE
DATED AS OF ___________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I Definitions....................................................................1
Section 1.01 Definitions...................................................1
ARTICLE II Trust Indenture Act...........................................................3
Section 2.01 Trust Indenture Act; Application..............................3
Section 2.02 Lists of Holders of Securities................................3
Section 2.03 Reports by the Trustee........................................4
Section 2.04 Periodic Reports to Trustee...................................4
Section 2.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..............4
Section 2.06 Events of Default; Waiver.....................................4
Section 2.07 Event of Default; Notice......................................4
Section 2.08 Conflicting Interests.........................................5
ARTICLE III Powers, Duties and Rights of Trustee.........................................5
Section 3.01 Powers and Duties of the Trustee..............................5
Section 3.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.....................................6
Section 3.03 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity.................................7
ARTICLE IV Trustee.......................................................................8
Section 4.01 Trustee; Eligibility..........................................8
Section 4.02 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee...............9
ARTICLE V Guarantee......................................................................9
Section 5.01 Guarantee.....................................................9
Section 5.02 Waiver of Notice and Demand...................................9
Section 5.03 Obligations Not Affected......................................9
Section 5.04 Rights of Holders............................................10
Section 5.05 Guarantee of Payment.........................................11
Section 5.06 Subrogation..................................................11
Section 5.07 Independent Obligations......................................11
ARTICLE VI Subordination................................................................11
Section 6.01 Subordination................................................11
ARTICLE VII Termination.................................................................11
Section 7.01 Termination..................................................11
ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous..............................................................12
Section 8.01 Successors and Assigns.......................................12
Section 8.02 Amendments...................................................12
Section 8.03 Notices......................................................12
Section 8.04 Benefit......................................................13
Section 8.05 Interpretation...............................................13
Section 8.06 Governing Law................................................13
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("
Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of
_________________________, is executed and delivered by DUKE ENERGY FIELD
SERVICES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Guarantor"), and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, a
New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of
DEFS CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware
statutory business trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as
of ___________________, among the Trustee, the other Trustees named therein (the
"Trust Agreement"), and Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, as Depositor, and the
holders of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust
is issuing as of the date hereof $_____ aggregate liquidation amount of its
_____% Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing
preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and having
the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Trust and the
proceeds thereof will be used to purchase Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined
in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which will be held by the Trust as
trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to
the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders 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 payment for Preferred
Securities by each Holder thereof, which payment 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 1.01 Definitions. As used in this
Guarantee Agreement, the
terms set forth below shall 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. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
"Event of Default" means a failure by the Guarantor to perform any of
its payment obligations under this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Guarantee Payments" shall mean 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 Trust: (i) any accrued and
unpaid distributions that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities
but if and only if and to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately
available therefor to make such payment; (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
Trust but if and only if and to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and
immediately available therefor sufficient to make such payment; and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust
(other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to
the holders of Trust Securities or the redemption of all of the Preferred
Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all
accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of
payment, to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available
therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for
distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (in either case, the
"Liquidation Distribution").
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
of the Trust, 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 or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indenture" means the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of __________
among the Guarantor, as issuer, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee, as
supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of ____________, by
and between the Guarantor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee.
"Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities" means a vote
by Holder(s) of Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than
50% of the liquidation amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding at the
time of determination.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Guarantor, and
delivered to the 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 such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in the
Officers' Certificate are based;
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(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such officer, he has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him 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 any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any vice
president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary,
the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, trust officer
or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust
Department of the 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 Trustee" means a successor Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
"Trust Securities" means the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities.
"Trustee" means JPMorgan Chase Bank until a Successor Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Trustee.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.01 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 2.02 Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Trustee (i) semiannually, not later than ___________ and ____________ in each
year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names
and addresses of the Holders ("List of
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Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is
furnished, and (ii) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of
Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is
furnished; 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 Trustee by the Guarantor or at any time the
Trustee is the Securities Registrar under the Trust Agreement. The Trustee may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
Holders.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections
311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.03 Reports by the Trustee. Within 60 days after ____________
of each year, the Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities such reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture
Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act. The Trustee shall also comply with the other requirements of
Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.04 Periodic Reports to Trustee. The Guarantor shall provide
to the Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) in the form, in the manner and at the
times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, and shall provide,
within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor, the
compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act
in the form and in the manner required by such Section.
Section 2.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The
Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
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 2.06 Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all 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 and not to have existed, 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
thereon.
Section 2.07 Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The 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 Trustee, unless such defaults have
been cured before the giving of such notice, provided that the 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 Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the Holders.
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(b) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event
of Default unless the 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 2.08 Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire
a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the
manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act
and this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE
Section 3.01 Powers and Duties of the Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders, and the Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee
Agreement to any Person unless the Trustee shall assign rights hereunder to a
Holder to the extent such assignment is necessary to exercise such Holder's
rights pursuant to Section 5.04 or to a Successor Trustee upon acceptance by
such Successor Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Trustee. The
right, title and interest of the Trustee shall automatically vest in any
Successor 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 Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and
after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Guarantee Agreement against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the
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 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 Trustee shall
be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement, and
the Trustee shall
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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
Trustee, the 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 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 are specifically required to be furnished to the
Trustee, the 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 Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be
proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon
which such judgment was made;
(iii) the 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 a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require
the 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 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 3.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) the 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
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 Officers'
Certificate;
(iii) whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
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, shall be promptly delivered by the
Guarantor;
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(iv) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice, 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 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 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
Trustee such adequate security and indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable
person in the position of the Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in
complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as
may be requested by the Trustee; provided that nothing contained in this Section
3.02(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the 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 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 Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation
into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(vii) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through
agents or attorneys, and the 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; and
(viii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement the Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with
respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder,
the Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders, (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 acting in accordance
with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose
any duty or obligation on the 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 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 Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
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Section 3.03 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an
express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this
Guarantee Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement
or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold the Trustee harmless
against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without
negligence or bad faith on its part, 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 provisions of this Section 3.03 shall survive the termination of this
Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEE
Section 4.01 Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a 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 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000),
and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of
this Section 4.01(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 Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act
under Section 4.01(a), the Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and
with the effect set out in Section 4.02(c).
(c) If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest"
within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and
Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the rights of the Trustee under the
penultimate paragraph thereof.
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Section 4.02 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Trustee may be appointed or removed
without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor
Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The
Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting)
by an instrument in writing executed by the Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Trustee has
been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing
executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the
resigning Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted
appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after delivery to
the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Trustee may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it
may deem proper, appoint a Successor Trustee.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
Section 5.01 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 Trust), as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Guarantor
may have or assert against any person. The Guarantor's obligation to make a
Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by
the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to the
Holders.
Section 5.02 Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives
notice of acceptance of this 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 Trust or any other Person before proceeding against
the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of
redemption and all other notices and demands.
Section 5.03 Obligations Not Affected. The obligation of the Guarantor to
make the Guarantee Payments 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 Trust of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed
or observed by the Trust;
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(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any
portion of the Distributions, 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 (other than an extension of time for
payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other
sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Preferred Securities, or
any action on the part of the Trust 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 Trust or any of the assets of the
Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred
Securities;
(f) 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 5.03 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 5.04 Rights of Holders. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that:
(i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Trustee to be held for
the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Trustee has the right to enforce this
Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or to direct the exercise of
any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement,
provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Guarantee Agreement, and could not involve the Trustee in personal
liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate; 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 or requesting or directing that action be taken by
the Trustee or any other person; it being understood and intended that no one or
more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of,
or by availing of, any provision of this Guarantee Agreement to affect, disturb
or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to
obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any
right under this Guarantee
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Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable
benefit of all of such Holders.
Section 5.05 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) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the
Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities.
Section 5.06 Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any)
rights of the Holders against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the
Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that
the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions
of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by
way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all
cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts of Guarantee Payments 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 5.07 Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that its
obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust 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 5.03 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
SUBORDINATION
Section 6.01 Subordination. This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an
unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior
in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the
[Indenture/Supplemental Indenture]) of the Guarantor, (ii) pari passu with each
other substantially similar guarantee agreement entered into by the Guarantor in
respect of trust or other preferred securities issued by an Affiliate of the
Guarantor, and (iii) senior to all member interests in the Guarantor.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.01 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 Junior Subordinated Notes to
the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities upon the termination
and dissolution of the Trust, or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in
accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Trust.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be
effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder
must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or
under this Guarantee Agreement.
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ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01 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 then outstanding. Except in connection with a
consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, or lease involving the Guarantor
that is permitted under Article Eight of the Indenture, the Guarantor shall not
assign its obligations hereunder.
Section 8.02 Amendments. Except with respect to any changes which do not
materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent
of Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with
the prior approval of the Holders of not less than 66?% in liquidation amount of
all the outstanding Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article Six of the
Trust Agreement concerning meetings of Holders shall apply to the giving of such
approval.
Section 8.03 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 as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Trustee and the
Holders:
Duke Energy Field Services, LLC
000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Secretary
(b) if given to the Trust, in care of the Trustee, or to the Trustee
at the Trust's (and the Trustee's) address set forth below or such other address
as the Trustee on behalf of the Trust may give notice to the Holders:
DEFS Capital Trust I
c/o JPMorgan Chase Bank
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Institutional Trust Services
with a copy, in the case of a notice to the Trust (other than a notice from the
Guarantor), to the Guarantor.
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Trust.
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
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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 8.04 Benefit. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of
the Holders and, subject to Section 3.01(a), is not separately transferable from
the Preferred Securities.
Section 8.05 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
1.01;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same
meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended
from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless
otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee
Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall
include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
Section 8.06 Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE
OF
NEW YORK. THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
NEW YORK AND ANY COURT
IN THE STATE OF
NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
NEW YORK IN ANY
ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST IT AND RELATED TO OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, AND TO
THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES AND AGREES
NOT TO ASSERT BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE IN ANY SUCH SUIT,
ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, THAT THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, THAT THE VENUE OF THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS
IMPROPER, OR THAT THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR ANY INSTRUMENT
REFERRED TO HEREIN OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF MAY NOT BE LITIGATED IN OR BY
SUCH COURTS. THE
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GUARANTOR AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT BY CERTIFIED OR
REGISTERED MAIL TO THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH IN THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
OR ANY METHOD AUTHORIZED BY THE LAWS OF
NEW YORK.
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.
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THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC,
as Guarantor
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
as Trustee
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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