EXHIBIT 4.5
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SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES CAPITAL TRUST II
Dated as of April 3, 1997
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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)
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)
312(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.9
313(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
313(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
313(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
313(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4
314(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5
314(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5
314(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(d); 3.2(a)
315(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7(a)
315(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(c)
315(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1(d)
316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6; 5.4(a)
317(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.10; 5.4
318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1(b)
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* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of
its terms or provisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities
SECTION 2.3 Reports by Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
SECTION 2.9 Disclosure of Information
SECTION 2.10 Preferred Guarantee Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions
SECTION 6.2 Ranking
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
SECTION 9.2 Amendments
SECTION 9.3 Notices
SECTION 9.4 Exchange Offer
SECTION 9.5 Benefit
SECTION 9.6 Execution in Counterparts
SECTION 9.7 Governing Law
SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Series A Capital Securities Guarantee"),
dated as of April 3, 1997, is executed and delivered by Equitable of Iowa
Companies, an Iowa corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The First National Bank
of Chicago, as trustee (the "Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the
benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Series A
Capital Securities (as defined herein) of Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital
Trust II, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration (as defined herein), the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof 50,000 capital securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $50,000,000, such capital securities being designated
the 8.424% Series A Capital Securities (collectively the "Series A Capital
Securities") and, in connection with an Exchange Offer (as defined in the
Declaration), the Company has agreed to execute and deliver the Series B
Capital Securities Guarantee (as defined in the Declaration) for the benefit
of holders of the Series B Capital Securities (as defined in the Declaration).
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Series A Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree,
to the extent set forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay
to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein). The Guarantor agrees
to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Common
Securities Guarantee") with substantially identical terms to this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, for the benefit of the holders of the Common
Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as defined
in the Indenture) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the
Common Securities to receive payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are
subordinated, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Common Securities
Guarantee, to the rights of Holders of Series A Capital Securities and the
Series B Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, as
the case may be.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the
Guarantor executes and delivers this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation.
_______________________________
In this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned
to them in this Section 1.1;
(b) terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
has the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" or "this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" are to this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to
time;
(e) all references in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee to
Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise
defined in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or unless the context
otherwise requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"AFFILIATE" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day
on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or
required by law or executive order to close.
"CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means The First National Bank of
Chicago, until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"COMMON SECURITIES" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE" means the office of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally
administered, which office at the date of execution of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee is located at One First Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx - Xxxxx 0000,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Corporate Trust Services Division;
telecopy no. (000) 000-0000.
"COVERED PERSON" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Series A Capital
Securities.
"DEBENTURES" means the series of subordinated deferrable interest
debentures to be issued by the Guarantor designated the 8.424% Series A
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due April 1, 2027 held by the
Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"DECLARATION" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated
as of March 31, 1997, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time,
among the trustees of the Issuer, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders
from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"GUARANTEE EVENT OF DEFAULT" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its
payment or other obligations under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
"GUARANTEE PAYMENTS" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Series A Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as
defined in the Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Series A
Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds legally available
therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all accumulated and
unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price") to the
extent the Issuer has funds legally available therefor at such time, with
respect to any Series A Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer,
and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination and liquidation of the
Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the
Holders in exchange for Series A Capital Securities as provided in the
Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities to the
date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds legally available therefor,
and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution
to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation
Distribution"). If an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) has
occurred and is continuing, no guarantee payments under the Common Securities
Guarantee with respect to the Common Securities or any guarantee payment under
Other Common Securities Guarantees shall be made until the Holders of the Series
A Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Guarantee Payments to which they
are entitled under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
"HOLDER" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
of the Issuer, of any Series A Capital Securities; provided, however, that,
in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Series A
Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
"Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
provided further, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
liquidation amount of Series A Capital Securities have voted on any matter
provided for in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, then for the purpose
of such determination only (and not for any other purpose hereunder), if the
Series A Capital Securities remain in the form of one or more Global Capital
Security certificates (as defined in the Declaration), the term "Holders" shall
mean the holder of the Global Capital Security certificate acting at the
direction of the Capital Security Beneficial Owners (as defined in the
Declaration).
"INDEMNIFIED PERSON" means the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, any
Affiliate of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any officers,
directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives,
nominees, custodians or agents of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"INDENTURE" means the Indenture dated as of March 31, 1997, among the
Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures
are to be issued to the Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the
Issuer.
"MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF THE SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES" means,
except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the Holder(s) of more
than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that
would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accumulated and
unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are
determined) of all Series A Capital Securities. In determining whether the
Holders of the requisite amount of Series A Capital Securities have voted,
Series A Capital Securities which are owned by the Guarantor or any Affiliate of
the Guarantor or any other obligor on the Series A Capital Securities shall be
disregarded for the purpose of any such determination.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized Officers (as defined in the Declaration) of such
Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
(other than pursuant to Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall
include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each 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.
"OTHER COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEES" shall have the same meaning as "Other
Guarantees" in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"OTHER DEBENTURES" means all subordinated debentures issued, or to be
issued, by the Guarantor to trusts established, or to be established, by the
Guarantor, in each case similar to the Issuer, including, without limitation,
the Guarantor's 8.70% Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due July 30,
2026 issued by Guarantor on July 23, 1996 to Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital
Trust in the principal amount of $128,866,000.
"OTHER GUARANTEES" means all guarantees issued, or to be issued, by the
Guarantor with respect to capital or other securities similar to the Series A
Capital Securities issued by other trusts established, or to be established, by
the Guarantor, in each case similar to the Issuer, including, without
limitation, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement issued by the
Guarantor with respect to $125,000,000 of 8.70% Trust Originated Preferred
Securities due July 30, 2026 issued by Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital
Trust on July 23, 1996.
"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.
"REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of April 3, 1997, by and among the Guarantor, the Issuer and the
Initial Purchaser named therein, as such agreement may be amended, modified
or supplemented from time to time.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" means, with respect to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant
vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer, any trust officer, any senior trust officer or other
officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital Securities 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 SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means a successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"TRUST SECURITIES" means the Common Securities and the Series A Capital
Securities and Series B Capital Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
_________________________________
(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be
governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed
by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed
duties shall control.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.
_______________________________
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
(unless the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is otherwise the registrar of
the Capital Securities) with a list, in such form as the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Holders ("List of Holders") (i) within one Business Day after January 1 and
June 30 of each year and current as of such date, 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 Securities 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
Securities Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all
information contained in Lists of Holders given to it, provided that it may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
Holders.
(b) The Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
________________________________________________
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, commencing in the year of the
first anniversary of the issuance of the Series A Capital Securities, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports
as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form
and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of
Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
_________________________________________________________
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any)
of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, provided that such
compliance certificate shall be delivered on or before 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Guarantor.
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
_________________________________________________
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided
for in this Series A 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 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver.
___________________________________
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Series A Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all the Holders, waive any past Guarantee
Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Guarantee
Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Guarantee Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Guarantee Event of Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice.
___________________________________
(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within five Business
Days after the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default is actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, mail, by first
class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all such defaults, unless
such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided, that,
except in the case of default in the payment of any Guarantee Payment, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such
notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a
trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Series A Capital
Securities.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of any Guarantee Event of Default unless the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor or a
Holder, or a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
charged with the administration of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Guarantee Event of Default.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests.
______________________
The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the
first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.9 Disclosure of Information.
__________________________
The disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders
of the Series A Capital Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust
Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived,
shall not be deemed to be a violation of any existing law, or any law hereafter
enacted which does not specifically refer to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture
Act, nor shall the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee be held accountable by
reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b)
of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.10 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
______________________________________________________________
Upon the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee is hereby authorized to (a) recover judgment, in its own name
and as trustee of an express trust, against the Guarantor for the whole amount
of any Guarantee Payments remaining unpaid and (b) file such proofs of claim and
other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have its
claims and those of the Holders of the Series A Capital Securities allowed in
any judicial proceedings relative to the Guarantor, its creditors or its
property.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
__________________________________________________________
(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee of
its appointment to act as Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. The
right, title and interest of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee in and to
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall automatically vest in any
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and succession
of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been
executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If a Guarantee Event of Default actually known to a Responsible
Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is
continuing, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Series
A Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of
any Guarantee Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Guarantee
Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such
duties as are specifically set forth in this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. In case
a Guarantee 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Series A
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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Capital Securities 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 Guarantee Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Guarantee Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of
such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Series A 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Capital Securities 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 a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Series A Capital Securities relating to the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall
require the Capital Securities 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 Securities 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
_______________________________________________________
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and
shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and
to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable
that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting
any action hereunder, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (unless
other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, request, shall be entitled to receive and may
conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Capital Securities 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel
of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to
legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be
counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of
its employees. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have the
right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee from any court of competent
jurisdiction.
(vi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation
to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Capital Securities
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
Securities Guarantee Trustee; provided, that nothing contained in this
Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, of
its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Capital Securities 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 Securities
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 Securities 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 Securities 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the signature of the Capital
Securities 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee to
so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively
evidenced by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's
taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee the Capital Securities 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee
(i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Series A 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be
deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Securities 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 Securities 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, or
which would expose the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to liability,
financial or otherwise. No permissive power or authority available to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series A Capital
____________________________________________________________
Securities Guarantee.
_____________________
The recitals contained in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall
be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness.
The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
__________________________________________________
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities 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 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 4.1(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 Securities Guarantee Trustee shall cease
to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in
Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire
any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in
all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act, subject only to the penultimate paragraph thereof.
Section 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
__________________________________________________________
Guarantee Trustee.
__________________
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except
during a Guarantee Event of Default.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written
instrument executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold office until a
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or
until its removal or resignation. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by
an instrument in writing executed by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until
a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the
resigning Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60
days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if
any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(e) No Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts
or omissions to act of any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or
removal or resignation of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee pursuant
to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee all amounts due to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
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 the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert other than the defense of
payment. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the
Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
Section 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.
____________________________
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Series A 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
the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other
notices and demands. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Guarantor retains all of its rights under the Indenture to extend the interest
payment period on the Debentures (in accordance with the terms of the Indenture)
and the Guarantor shall not be obligated hereunder to make any Guarantee
Payments during any Extended Interest Payment Period (as defined in the
Indenture) with respect to the Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) on
the Series A Capital Securities.
Section 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.
_________________________
Except as otherwise provided herein, the obligations, covenants, agreements
and duties of the Guarantor under this Series A 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 the Issuer of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Series A Capital
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) The extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or
any other sums payable under the terms of the Series A Capital Securities
or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the Series A 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 the Debentures permitted by the
Indenture);
(c) Any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Property Trustee or the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Property Trustee or the Holders
pursuant to the terms of the Series A Capital Securities, or any action on
the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) The voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer
or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) Any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Series A Capital
Securities;
(f) The settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred;
(g) The consummation of the Exchange Offer; or
(h) 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 with respect to
the Guarantee Payments shall be absolute and unconditional under any and
all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
or the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with
respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation, or
any defense of any kind or nature that the Guarantor has or may have against
any Holder shall be available hereunder to the Guarantor against such Holder
to reduce the payments to it under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders.
__________________
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A
Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the Guarantor has failed to make a Guarantee Payment, a Holder
may directly institute a proceeding against the Guarantor for enforcement of
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for such payment to the Holder, and
the amount of the payment will be based on the Holder's pro rata share of the
amount due and owing on all of the Series A Capital Securities. The Guarantor
hereby waives any right or remedy to require that any action on this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee be brought first against the Issuer or any other
person or entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.
_____________________
This Series A 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
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this Series A 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 Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Series A 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.
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations.
________________________
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Series A 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 Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event
referred to in subsections (a) through (h), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.
___________________________
So long as any Series A Capital Securities remain outstanding, the
Guarantor shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of the Guarantor's capital stock (which includes common, preferred and
preference stock), (ii) make any payment of principal, interest, or premium,
if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor
(including any Other Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in right of
payment to the Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to
any guarantee by the Guarantor of any securities of any subsidiary of the
Guarantor (including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with
or junior in right of payment to the Debentures (other than (a) dividends or
distributions in shares of or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or
purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder's 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 Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, (d) as a direct result of, and only to the extent
required in order to avoid the issuance of fractional shares of capital stock
following, a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange
or conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for
another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or pursuant to an
acquisition in which fractional shares of the Guarantor's capital stock would
otherwise be issued, (e) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, and
(f) purchases of common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights
under any benefit plan for directors, officers, agents or employees of the
Guarantor or its subsidiaries or any of the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment
or director, officer, agent or employee stock purchase plans), if at such time
(i) an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) shall have occurred and be
continuing, or would occur upon the taking of any action specified in clauses
(i) through (iii) above, (ii) there shall have occurred any event of which the
Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving of notice or the
lapse of time, or both, would be an Event of Default (as defined in the
Indenture) and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor shall not have taken
reasonable steps to cure, (iii) the Guarantor shall be in default with respect
to its payment of any obligations under this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee or (iv) the Guarantor shall have given notice of its election of the
exercise of its right to extend the interest payment period pursuant to Section
16.01 of the Indenture or with respect to any Other Debentures of the Guarantor
and any such extension shall be continuing.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking.
________
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee 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), to the same
extent and in the same manner that the Debentures are subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture, it being understood that the terms of
Article XV of the Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the Guarantor
under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee as if (x) such Article XV were
set forth herein in full and (y) such obligations were substituted for the term
"Securities" appearing in such Article XV, (ii) Subordinate and junior in right
of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, except those liabilities
of the Guarantor made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (iii) pari passu
with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by
the Guarantor and with any Other Guarantee and any guarantee now or hereafter
entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of
any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iv) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.
If an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to receive any
payments under the Common Securities Guarantee shall be subordinated to the
rights of the Holders to receive the Guarantee Payments hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination.
____________
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i) upon full
payment of the Redemption Price of all Series A Capital Securities, (ii) upon
liquidation of the Issuer, the full payment of the amounts payable in accordance
with the Declaration or the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of
all of the Series A Capital Securities, or (iii) upon exchange of all the Series
A Capital Securities for the Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer
and the execution and delivery of the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee 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 under the Series A Capital
Securities or under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
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 Series A
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 Series A 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, 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 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 and all loss, liability,
damage, claim 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 provisions of this
Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee or the resignation or removal of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.
_______________________
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior
approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A
Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration with respect to consents
to amendments thereof (whether at a meeting or otherwise) shall apply to the
giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices.
________
All notices provided for in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall
be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, at the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such
other address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice
of to the Guarantor, the Holders and the Issuer):
The First National Bank of Chicago
One First Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Corporate Trust Services Division
Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address forth
below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and the Holders of the Series A
Capital Securities):
Equitable of Iowa Companies
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000
(c) If given to any Holder of Series A Capital Securities, at the address
set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
(d) If given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative Trustees at the
Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the
Issuer may give notice of to the Holders and the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee):
Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II
c/o Equitable of Iowa Companies
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000
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 Exchange Offer.
_______________
In the event an Exchange Offer Registration Statement (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) becomes effective and the Issuer issues any
Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer, the Guarantor will enter into
a new capital securities guarantee agreement, in substantially the same form as
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, with respect to the Series B Capital
Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Benefit.
________
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of
the Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from
the Series A Capital Securities.
SECTION 9.6 Execution in Counterparts.
__________________________
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 9.7 Governing Law.
______________
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF IOWA,
WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is executed
as of the day and year first above written.
EQUITABLE OF IOWA COMPANIES,
as Guarantor
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
_______________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
_____________________________
Title:Executive Vice President and
______________________________
Chief Financial Officer
______________________________
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
______________________________
Title: Vice President
_______________________________
[Signature Page to the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement]
