EXHIBIT 4.3
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
FIRST MARINER BANCORP
(as Guarantor)
and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(as Guarantee Trustee)
dated as of
_____ __, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS.................................................................2
Section 1.1. Definitions....................................................2
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT.........................................................5
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application...............................5
Section 2.2. List of Holders................................................6
Section 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee...............................6
Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee......................6
Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent...............6
Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver......................................6
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.......................................7
Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests..........................................7
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE...........................................................7
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.....................7
Section 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee............................9
Section 3.3. Indemnity.....................................................10
Section 3.4. Expenses......................................................11
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..........................................................11
Section 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility................................11
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee............................................11
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE..................................................................12
Section 5.1. Guarantee.....................................................12
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand...................................12
Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected......................................13
Section 5.4. Rights of Holders.............................................14
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment..........................................14
Section 5.6. Subrogation...................................................14
Section 5.7. Independent Obligations.......................................14
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION................................................15
Section 6.1. Subordination.................................................15
Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.........................................15
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION................................................................15
Section 7.1. Termination...................................................15
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS..............................................................15
Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns........................................15
Section 8.2. Amendments....................................................16
Section 8.3. Notices.......................................................16
Section 8.4. Benefit.......................................................17
Section 8.5. Interpretation................................................17
Section 8.6. Governing Law.................................................18
Section 8.7. Counterparts..................................................18
MARINER CAPITAL TRUST
Certain Sections of this Guarantee Agreement relating to Sections 310
through 318 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Act Section Guarantee Agreement Section
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Section 310
(a)(1)...........................................................4.1 (a)
(a)(2)...........................................................4.1 (a)
(a)(3)....................................................Not Applicable
(a)(4)....................................................Not Applicable
(b).........................................................2.8, 4.1 (c)
Section 311
(a).......................................................Not Applicable
(b).......................................................Not Applicable
Section 312
(a)..............................................................2.2 (a)
(b)..............................................................2.2 (b)
(c).......................................................Not Applicable
Section 313
(a)..............................................................2.3
(a)(4)...........................................................2.3
(b) .............................................................2.3
(c)..............................................................2.3
(d)..............................................................2.3
Section 314
(a)..............................................................2.4
(b)..............................................................2.4
(c)(1)...........................................................2.5
(c)(2)...........................................................2.5
(c)(3)...........................................................2.5
(e) ...................................................1.1, 2.5, 3.2
Section 315
(a)..............................................................3.1 (d)
(b)..............................................................2.7
(c)..............................................................3.1 (c)
(d)..............................................................3.1 (d)
(e)......................................................Not Applicable
Trust Indenture Act Section Guarantee Agreement Section
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Section 316
(a)....................................................1.1, 2.6, 5.4
(a)(1)(A)........................................................5.4
(a)(1)(B)........................................................5.4
(a)(2)...................................................Not Applicable
(b)..............................................................5.3
(c)......................................................Not Applicable
Section 317
(a)(1)...................................................Not Applicable
(a)(2)...................................................Not Applicable
(b)......................................................Not Applicable
Section 318
(a)..............................................................2.1
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Guarantee Agreement.
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of _______ __, 1998 is executed and
delivered by FIRST MARINER BANCORP, a Maryland corporation (the "Guarantor"),
having its principal office at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000, and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as
trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of
Mariner Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer
Trust").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust
Agreement"), dated as of _______ __, 1998, among First Mariner Bancorp, as
Depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee (the "Property
Trustee"), Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware
Trustee") (collectively, the "Issuer Trustees") and the Holders from time to
time of preferred undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the
Issuer Trust, the Issuer Trust is issuing $_________ aggregate Liquidation
Amount (as defined herein) of its ____% Preferred Securities, Liquidation Amount
$10 per preferred security (the "Preferred Securities"), representing preferred
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust and
having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer Trust and the
proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer
Trust's Common Securities (as defined herein), will be used to purchase the
Junior Subordinated Debentures due _______, 2028 (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") of the Guarantor which will be
deposited with Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Trust
Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred Securities, the
Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set
forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of Preferred Securities by
each Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the
Guarantor, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Guarantor executes and
delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to
time of the Preferred Securities.
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless
the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized 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.
"Additional Amount" has the meaning specified in the Trust Agreement.
"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 Issuer Trust.
"Delaware Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"Distributions" means preferential cumulative cash distributions
accumulating from _______ __, 1998 and payable quarterly in arrears on March 31,
June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year, commencing _______ __, 1998
at the annual rate of ____% of the Liquidation Amount.
"Event of Default" means (a) a default by the Guarantor in any of its
payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement, or (b) a default by the
Guarantor in any other obligation hereunder that remains unremedied for 30 days.
"Guarantee Agreement" means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified, amended
or supplemented from time to time.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust: (a) any accrued and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the
Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available
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therefor at such time, (b) the Redemption Price, with respect to the
Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer Trust to the extent
that the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at such
time, and (c) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or
liquidation of the Issuer Trust, unless Junior Subordinated Debentures are
distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (i) the aggregate of the
Liquidation Amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date
of payment to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available
to make such payment at such time and (ii) the amount of assets of the Issuer
Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the
Issuer Trust (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant
to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Guarantor" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the
Issuer 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, the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of _______ __,
1998, between First Mariner Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, as
may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"Issuer Trustees" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"Junior Subordinated Debentures" shall have the meaning specified in the
first recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Preferred
Securities, Preferred Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the
principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously
redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to
pay the Redemption Price of such Preferred Securities, (b) with respect to a
distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Preferred
Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer Trust,
Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of the
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Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed, and (c) with
respect to any distribution of an Additional Amount to Holders of Preferred
Securities, Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities in respect of which such
distribution is made.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $10 per Preferred Security.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities" means, except
as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Preferred Securities representing more
than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding Preferred
Securities issued by the Issuer Trust.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or a
Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, an Associate
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
such Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Guarantee Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate that
such officer 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 such officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that 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 such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Preferred Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital
of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Property Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Guarantee Agreement.
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"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Preferred Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to the Trust
Agreement; provided that each Junior Subordinated Debenture Redemption Date (as
such term is defined in the Indenture) and the stated maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of
Preferred Securities.
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning specified in the Trust Agreement.
"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Guarantee
Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any
managing director, principal, vice president, assistant vice president,
assistant treasurer, assistant secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee
Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of
the above designated officers and having direct responsibility for the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement, and also, with respect to a
particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of
such officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Senior Indebtedness" shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing
the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of
______________ 1998, executed by First Mariner Bancorp, as Depositor, Wilmington
Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee and as Property Trustee.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by
the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, or any successor statute, in each case
as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of
the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and
govern this Guarantee Agreement, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall
control. If any provision of this Guarantee Agreement modifies or excludes any
provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the
latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Guarantee Agreement as so
modified or excluded, as the case may be.
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Section 2.2. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee:
(i) quarterly, not more than 15 days after March 15, June 15, September
15 and December 15 in each year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee
may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such
date; and
(ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in
writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request,
a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to
the time such list is furnished.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Section
312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Within 60 days of January 31 of each year commencing January 31, 1999, the
Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports, if any, as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner
provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall
also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders such
documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the
Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act, in the form, in the manner and at the times required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of
compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate.
Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its
consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist,
and any Event of Default arising therefrom
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shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee
Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default
or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an
Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders,
notices of all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such
Events of Default have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided
that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as the Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of
directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event
of Default unless a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement shall have received written notice of such Event of Default.
Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee Agreement to any Person except to a Holder exercising his or her
rights pursuant to Section 5.4(d) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as
Successor Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the
Guarantee Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor
Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be
effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered
pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
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(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and
after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall be
obligated to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1), and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee
Trustee. If an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 2.6), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same
degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be
determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement
(including pursuant to Section 2.1), and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to
Section 2.1); and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to
the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture
Act are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee,
unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of
the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method
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and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee
under this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the
Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise
of any of its rights or powers if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not
assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) the Guarantee Trustee may 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 reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent
or presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii) any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate
unless otherwise prescribed herein;
(iii) whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, the Guarantee
Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the
absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an
Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee
Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor;
(iv) the Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and the
advice or written opinion of such legal counsel with respect to legal matters
shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion. Such legal counsel may be legal counsel
to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its employees. The
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of
competent jurisdiction;
(v) the Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request
or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the
Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity
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as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the Guarantee Trustee,
against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or
direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Guarantee Trustee;
(vi) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but
the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(vii) the Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its
agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any
negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any such agent or attorney
appointed with due care by it hereunder. Nothing herein shall be construed as
limiting or restricting the right of the Guarantor to bring any action directly
against any agent or attorney appointed by the Guarantee Trustee for any
negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such agent or attorney; and
(viii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect
to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the
Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders, (B) may refrain
from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such
instructions are received and (C) shall be fully protected in acting in
accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
Section 3.3. Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee, its directors,
officers, employees and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad
faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, its directors, officers, employees
and agents, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will
not claim or exact any lien or charge on any Guarantee
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Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee Agreement.
Section 3.4. Expenses.
The Guarantor shall from time to time reimburse the Guarantee Trustee for
its reasonable expenses and costs (including reasonable attorneys' or agents'
fees) incurred in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act
to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000,
and shall be a corporation meeting the requirements of Section 310(a) of the
Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining
authority, then, for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by
the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so
act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the
manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(b).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest"
within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee
Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of
Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and no appointment of
a Successor Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective
until the acceptance of appointment by the Successor Guarantee Trustee by
written instrument executed by the Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Holders and the Guarantee Trustee.
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(b) Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, a Guarantee Trustee may
resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders. The
Guarantee Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least three
Persons meeting the eligibility requirements such Person's expenses and charges
to serve as the Guarantee Trustee, and selecting the Person who agrees to the
lowest expenses and charges. If the instrument of acceptance by the Successor
Guarantee Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Guarantee Trustee within
60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the Guarantee Trustee
may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee may be removed for cause at any time by Act
(within the meaning of Section 6.8 of the Trust Agreement) of the Holders of at
least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to
the Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If a resigning Guarantee Trustee shall fail to appoint a successor, or
if a Guarantee Trustee shall be removed or become incapable of acting as
Guarantee Trustee, or if any vacancy shall occur in the office of any Guarantee
Trustee for any cause, the Holders of the Preferred Securities, by Act of the
Holders of record of not less than 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities then outstanding delivered to such Guarantee Trustee, shall
promptly appoint a successor Guarantee Trustee. If no Successor Guarantee
Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of the Preferred Securities
and such appointment accepted by the Successor Guarantee Trustee, any Holder, on
behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
Section 5.1. Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full on a
subordinated basis as set forth in Section 6.1 hereof to the Holders the
Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on
behalf of the Issuer Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right
of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer Trust may have or assert, except 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 Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders. The
Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event
it makes any direct payment hereunder.
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement
and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for
payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee,
the Issuer Trust or any other Person
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before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice
of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of
the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer Trust of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to
be performed or observed by the Issuer Trust;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust of all or any
portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment of
Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures as so provided in the Indenture), Redemption
Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred
Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or
any action on the part of the Issuer 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 Issuer Trust or any of the assets of
the Issuer Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment of
the underlying obligation), it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the
obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under
any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain the
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
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Section 5.4. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (a) this Guarantee Agreement will
be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the
Holders; (b) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee
Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (c) 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 Guarantee
Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (d) any
Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to
enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a
legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust or any other
Person.
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of
the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer Trust) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures
to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement.
Section 5.6. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the Holders
against the Issuer 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 are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any
amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence,
the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay
over such amount to the Holders.
Section 5.7. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of
the obligations of the Issuer 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 5.3 hereof.
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ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
Section 6.1. Subordination.
This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and the provisions
of Article XIII of the Indenture will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the
obligations of the Guarantor hereunder. The obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder do not constitute Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor.
Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall rank
pari passu with any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor on
behalf of the holders of preferred or capital securities issued by the Issuer
Trust and with any other security, guarantee or other obligation that is
expressly stated to rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.1. Termination.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon (a) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred
Securities, (b) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities or (c) full payment of
the amounts payable in accordance with Article IX of the Trust Agreement upon
liquidation of the Issuer 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 is required to repay any sums paid with respect to
the Preferred Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall
bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the
Guarantor and shall inure to the
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benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in
connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is
permitted under Article VIII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee
agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the
Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder, and any purported
assignment that is not in accordance with these provisions shall be void.
Section 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect
the rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will be
required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval
of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
Section 8.3. Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given
hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and
delivered, telecopied (confirmed by delivery of the original) or mailed by first
class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or telecopy number set forth
below or such other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such other
Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Holders:
First Mariner Bancorp
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No. (000) 000-0000
Attention: President
(b) if given to the Issuer Trust, in care of the Guarantee Trustee, at the
Issuer Trust's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below or such
other address or telecopy number or to the attention of such other Person as the
Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer Trust may give notice to the Holders:
Mariner Capital Trust
First Mariner Bancorp
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No. (000) 000-0000
Attention: President
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with a copy to:
Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee:
Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer 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 of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
Section 8.4. Benefit.
The guarantee obligation set forth in Articles V and VI of this Guarantee
Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and this Guarantee
Agreement is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
Section 8.5. Interpretation.
In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in
the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section
1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended
from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are
to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified;
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(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used
in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement
or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the
masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
Section 8.6. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
Section 8.7. Counterparts.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
FIRST MARINER BANCORP
as Guarantor
By:
----------------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:
----------------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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