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EXHIBIT 4.4
_______________________________________________________________________________
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES INC.
(as Guarantor)
and
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
(as Trustee)
dated as of
August __, 1997
_______________________________________________________________________________
AICI CAPITAL TRUST
Certain Sections of this Guarantee Agreement relating to
Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Guarantee Agreement
Act Section 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
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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
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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions........................... 2
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT
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 Guarantee
Trustee............................... 6
Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with
Conditions Precedent.................. 6
Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver............. 7
Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.............. 7
Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests................. 7
ARTICLE III. POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee
Trustee............................... 7
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Section 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee... 9
Section 3.3. Indemnity............................. 11
Section 3.4. Expenses.............................. 11
ARTICLE IV. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Section 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility........ 11
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation
of the Guarantee Trustee.............. 12
ARTICLE V. GUARANTEE
Section 5.1. Guarantee............................. 13
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand........... 13
Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.............. 14
Section 5.4. Rights of Holders..................... 15
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.................. 15
Section 5.6. Subrogation........................... 15
Section 5.7. Independent Obligations............... 16
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
Section 6.1. Subordination......................... 16
Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees................. 16
ARTICLE VII. TERMINATION
Section 7.1. Termination........................... 16
ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns................ 17
Section 8.2. Amendments............................ 17
Section 8.3. Notices............................... 17
Section 8.4. Benefit............................... 18
Section 8.5. Interpretation........................ 19
Section 8.6. Governing Law......................... 19
Section 8.7. Counterparts.......................... 19
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
-------------------
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of August __, 1997 is executed and
delivered by ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Guarantor"), having its principal office at 000 Xxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a New York 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 AICI 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 August __, 1997, among Acceptance Insurance Companies
Inc., as Depositor, Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee (the "Property
Trustee"), Bankers Trust (Delaware), 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 up to $94,875,000 aggregate
Liquidation Amount (as defined herein) of its ____% Preferred Securities,
Liquidation Amount $25 per capital 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
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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 September 30, 2027 or such shorter period (as
defined in the Trust Agreement) (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") of the
Guarantor which will be deposited with Bankers 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.
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 Amounts" 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.
"Distributions" means preferential cumulative cash distributions
accumulating from August __, 1997 and payable quarterly in arrears on March 31,
June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year, commencing June 30, 1997,
at the annual rate of ____% of the Liquidation Amount.
"Event of Default" means (i) a default by the Guarantor in any of its
payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement, or (ii) 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: (i) any accrued and unpaid
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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 therefor at such time, (ii) 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 (iii) 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 (a) 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 (b) 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 Bankers 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 August __, 1997, between Acceptance Insurance Companies Inc.
and Bankers 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.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 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.
"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 Holder to whom such Junior
Subordinated Debentures are distributed, and (c) with respect to any
distribution of Additional Amounts 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
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made.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice
President, and by the 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.
"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, 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 Indenture, 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
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possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated
August __, 1997, executed by Acceptance Insurance Companies Inc., as Depositor,
Bankers Trust (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and Bankers Trust Company, as
Property Trustee.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
(15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended.
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.
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor will furnish or cause to be
furnished to the Guarantee Trustee:
(i) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after June 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.
Not later than January 31 of each year, commencing January 31, 1998, 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
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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 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 a Holder exercising his or her
rights pursuant to Section 5.4(iv) 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
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effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered
pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(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 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
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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 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
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through its agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
responsible for any negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of any such
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(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 for, and to hold
it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence,
wilful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, arising out
of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any
claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its
powers or duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any
lien or charge on any Guarantee 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
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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.
(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, subject to the prior consent of the
Depositor which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. 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
13
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 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
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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.
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement
will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the
Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee
Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee
Agreement; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without
first instituting a legal proceeding against 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, 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.
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.
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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 (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred
Securities, (ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities or (iii) 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
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 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.
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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:
Acceptance Insurance Companies Inc.
000 Xxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
(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:
c/o Acceptance Insurance Companies Inc.
000 Xxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
with a copy to:
Bankers Trust Company
Four Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group;
Corporate Market Services
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee:
Bankers Trust Company
Four Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Corporate Market Services
(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.
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This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and 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;
(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 NEW YORK 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.
ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES INC.
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
18
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
and not in its individual
capacity
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
