1
EXHIBIT 4.3
RELATED NOTE GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the
"Related Note Guarantee"), dated as of March 3, 1999
executed and delivered by X.X. XXXXXX & CO.
INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation ("X.X. Xxxxxx"),
for the benefit of U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Property Trustee (the "Property
Trustee") of X.X. XXXXXX INDEX FUNDING COMPANY I, a
Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust") and
as the holder from time to time of the Related Notes
(as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue from time to time, in one
or more series, its common trust securities (the "Common Securities") to and
receive related capital contributions from X.X. Xxxxxx, and to issue and sell
from time to time, in one or more series, related preferred trust securities
(the "Preferred Securities") with such rights, preferences, privileges,
limitations and restrictions as are set forth in a declaration supplement or
supplements (each, a "Declaration Supplement") to the Declaration (as defined
below) providing for the issuance of such series;
WHEREAS, the Trust, on behalf of the holders from time to time
of each series of Preferred Securities and related Common Securities, will
purchase from Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, a trust company with
full banking powers organized under the laws of the State of New York and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of X.X. Xxxxxx ("Xxxxxx Guaranty"), one or more related
notes (the "Related Notes") with the proceeds from the issuance and sale of each
series of Preferred Securities and related Common Securities, the distribution
and principal repayment terms of which Related Note shall mirror the related
series of securities; and
WHEREAS, X.X. Xxxxxx desires hereby to irrevocably and
unconditionally agree to the extent set forth herein to pay to the Property
Trustee the Related Note Guarantee Payments (as defined below) and to make
certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by the Trust
of the Related Notes, which purchase X.X. Xxxxxx hereby agrees shall benefit
X.X. Xxxxxx and which purchase X.X. Xxxxxx acknowledges will be made in reliance
upon the execution and delivery of this Related Note Guarantee, X.X. Xxxxxx
executes and delivers this Related Note Guarantee for the benefit of the
Property Trustee for
2
2
the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities and the
related Common Securities.
ARTICLE I
As used in this Related Note Guarantee, the terms set forth
below shall have the following meanings:
"Related Note Guarantee Payments" shall mean, with respect to
any Related Note, the following payments, without duplication, to the extent not
paid by Xxxxxx Guaranty: (i) any accrued and unpaid interest on such Related
Note and (ii) the Related Note Redemption Price (including all accrued and
unpaid interest) payable with respect to such Related Note to be redeemed, in
whole or in part, upon redemption thereof.
"Declaration" shall mean the Trust's Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust dated as of March 26, 1998, among the Sponsor, the Regular
Trustees, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee (each as defined therein)
and the holders from time to time of securities of the Trust, as amended from
time to time.
"Principal Amount" shall mean, at any time with respect to any
Preferred Security of any series and, if applicable, the related Common
Securities, the Redemption Value, the applicable Early Redemption Value or
stated liquidation preference thereof, as applicable, determined in accordance
with the Declaration Supplement creating such series of Preferred Securities.
"Related Note Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to
any Related Note at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate Principal Amount
of all Preferred Securities of the related series and related Common Securities
to be redeemed at such time, plus accrued and unpaid interest with respect to
such Related Note to but excluding the date of redemption.
ARTICLE II
SECTION 2.01. X.X. Xxxxxx irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees, to the extent set forth herein, to pay in full, to the Property Trustee,
for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities and
related Common Securities associated with any Related Note, the Related Note
Guarantee Payments with respect to such Related Note, as and when due (except to
the extent paid by
3
3
Xxxxxx Guaranty), regardless of any defense, right of set- off or counterclaim
which the Xxxxxx Guaranty may have or assert. This Related Note Guarantee is
continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute.
SECTION 2.02. X.X. Xxxxxx hereby waives notice of acceptance
of this Related Note Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may
apply, presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of
dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 2.03. The obligations, covenants, agreements and
duties of X.X. Xxxxxx under this Related Note 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 Xxxxxx Guaranty of any express or
implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Related
Notes to be performed or observed by Xxxxxx Guaranty;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by Xxxxxx Guaranty
of all or any portion of the interest payments, the Related Note
Redemption Price or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Related Notes or the extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Related
Notes;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the
part of the Property Trustee or the Trust to enforce, assert or
exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the
Property Trustee or the Trust pursuant to the terms of the Related
Notes, or any action on the part of Xxxxxx Guaranty 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, Xxxxxx Guaranty or any of the assets of Xxxxxx Guaranty;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in,
any of the Related Notes; or
4
4
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation
guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred.
There shall be no obligation of the Property Trustee or the Trust to give notice
to, or obtain consent of, X.X. Xxxxxx with respect to the happening of any of
the foregoing.
SECTION 2.04. This is a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. The Property Trustee may enforce this Guarantee directly against
X.X. Xxxxxx, and X.X. Xxxxxx waives any right or remedy to require that any
action be brought against Xxxxxx Guaranty or any other person or entity before
proceeding against X.X. Xxxxxx. If an Event of Default (as defined in the
Related Note issued in connection with the issuance of Preferred Securities of
any series and the related Common Securities of such series) has occurred and is
continuing and is attributable to the failure of Xxxxxx Guaranty to pay
principal or interest on such Related Note on the date such principal or
interest is otherwise payable (or in the case of a redemption, on the redemption
date) any Holder of the outstanding Preferred Securities of such series may
directly institute a proceeding under the Related Note Guarantee with respect to
the Preferred Securities of such series against JPM for enforcement of payment
to such Holder of the related Principal Amount of or dividends or other
distributions on, as applicable, the Preferred Securities of such series of such
Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the date of the occurrence of such Event
of Default. In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the Holder of
the Common Securities of such series shall be subrogated to the rights of such
Holder of Preferred Securities of such series to the extent of any payment made
by JPM to such Holder of Preferred Securities of such series in such Direct
Action. Subject to Section 2.05 hereof, all waivers herein contained shall be
without prejudice to the Property Trustee's or any Holder's right to proceed
against Xxxxxx Guaranty, whether by separate action or by joinder.
SECTION 2.05 X.X. Xxxxxx shall be subrogated to all (if any)
rights of the Property Trustee or any Holder against Xxxxxx Guaranty in respect
of any amounts paid to the Property Trustee or any Holder by X.X. Xxxxxx under
this Related Note Guarantee and Xxxxxx Guaranty shall not be required to make
payment to the Property Trustee or any Holder of any amount of Related Note
Guarantee Payments in respect of which payment has theretofore been made by X.X.
Xxxxxx pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof; provided, however, that X.X. Xxxxxx
shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law)
exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity,
5
5
reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of a payment under
this Related Note Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts
are due and unpaid under this Related Note Guarantee. If any amount shall be
paid to X.X. Xxxxxx in violation of the preceding sentence, X.X. Xxxxxx agrees
to pay over such amount to the Property Trustee for application to the Related
Note Guarantee Payments then due hereunder, if any, or to amounts due the Trust
from Xxxxxx Guaranty under the relevant Related Note.
SECTION 2.06. X.X. Xxxxxx acknowledges that its obligations
hereunder are independent of the obligations of Xxxxxx Guaranty with respect to
the Related Notes and that X.X. Xxxxxx shall be liable as principal and sole
debtor hereunder to make Related Note Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms
of this Related Note Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event
referred to in subsections (a) through (f), inclusive, of Section 2.03 hereof.
ARTICLE III
The Related Note Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of X.X. Xxxxxx and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all other liabilities of X.X. Xxxxxx, (ii) pari passu with the most
senior preferred stock outstanding as of the date hereof of X.X. Xxxxxx and
(iii) senior to X.X. Xxxxxx'x common stock.
ARTICLE IV
This Related Note Guarantee shall terminate and be of no
further force and effect as to any Related Note upon full payment of the Related
Note Redemption Price with respect to such Related Note; provided, however, that
this Related Note Guarantee shall continue to be effective or shall be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time the Property Trustee must restore
payment of any sums paid under such Related Note or under this Related Note
Guarantee for any reason whatsoever. X.X. Xxxxxx agrees to indemnify the
Property Trustee and hold it harmless against any loss it may suffer in such
circumstances.
ARTICLE V
SECTION 5.01. All guarantees and agreements contained in this
Related Note Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees
and representatives of X.X. Xxxxxx and shall inure to the benefit of the
6
6
Property Trustee and its successors. X.X. Xxxxxx shall not assign its
obligations hereunder without the prior approval of the Property Trustee.
SECTION 5.02. This Related Note Guarantee may be amended or
waived only with the prior approval of the Property Trustee; provided that no
such amendment or waiver shall adversely affect the holders of the Preferred
Securities without the consent of at least a majority in Principal Amount of all
Preferred Securities of each affected series then outstanding, voting as a
single class.
SECTION 5.03. Any notice, request or other communication
required or permitted to be given hereunder to X.X. Xxxxxx shall be given in
writing by mail or by facsimile transmission (followed by mail), addressed to
X.X. Xxxxxx, as follows:
X.X. Xxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Assistant Secretary
Any notice, request or other communication required or
permitted to be given hereunder to the Property Trustee shall be given by X.X.
Xxxxxx in the same manner as set forth in Section 14.01 of the Declaration.
SECTION 5.04. This Related Note Guarantee is solely for the
benefit of the Property Trustee and is not separately transferable from the
Related Notes.
SECTION 5.05. Pursuant to the Declaration, under certain
circumstances, holders of not less than a majority in Principal Amount of
Preferred Securities of any series voting as a separate class shall have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under this Related
Note Guarantee.
7
7
SECTION 5.06. THIS RELATED NOTE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Related Note Guarantee is executed as
of the day and year first above written.
8
8
X.X. XXXXXX & CO.
INCORPORATED,
By /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Assistant General
Counsel