EXHIBIT (j)(1)
GENERAL GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
GENERAL GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated March 3, 2003 (the "Guarantee"), by
American Home Assurance Company, a New York corporation (the "Guarantor") in
favor of each party (individually, a "Party" and collectively, "Parties")
insured under policies issued by The United States Life Insurance Company in the
City of New York, a New York corporation (the "Company").
1. Guarantee. For value received, and to induce Parties to purchase
insurance from the Company, the Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably
guarantees to each Party, its successors, endorsees and assigns, the prompt
payment when due of all present and future obligations and liabilities of any
kind whatsoever of the Company to such Party arising from policies of insurance
(including guaranteed investment contracts and funding agreements) issued by the
Company, including but not limited to payments for claims, losses and return
premiums whether due or to become due, secured or unsecured, absolute or
contingent, joint or several (the "Obligations").
2. Nature of Guarantee. The Guarantor's obligations hereunder with respect
to any Obligation shall not be affected by the existence, validity,
enforceability, perfection or extent of any collateral for such Obligation. No
Party shall be obligated to file any claim relating to the Obligations owing to
it in the event that the Company becomes subject to a bankruptcy, reorganization
or similar proceeding, and the failure of any Party to so file shall not affect
the Guarantor's obligations hereunder. In the event that any payment to any
Party in respect to any Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned
for any reason whatsoever, the Guarantor shall remain liable hereunder in
respect to such Obligations as if such payment had not been made. The Guarantor
reserves the right to assert defenses which the Company may have to payment of
any Obligation other than defenses arising from the bankruptcy or insolvency of
the Company and other defenses expressly waived hereby.
3. Consents, Waivers and Renewals. The Guarantor agrees that a Party may at
any time and from time to time, either before or after the maturity thereof,
without notice to or further consent of the Guarantor extend the time of payment
of, exchange or surrender any collateral for, or renew any of the Obligations
owing to it, and may also make any agreement with the Company or with any other
party to or person liable on any of the Obligations, or interested therein, for
the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge or release thereof, in
whole or in part, or for any modification of the terms thereof or of any
agreement between such Party and the Company or any of such other party or
person, without in any way impairing or affecting this Guarantee. The Guarantor
agrees that a Party may resort to the Guarantor for payment of any of the
Obligations, whether or not the Party shall have resorted to any collateral
security, or shall have proceeded against any other obligor principally or
secondarily obligated with respect to any of the Obligations.
4. Expenses. The Guarantor agrees to pay on demand all out-of-pocket
expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) in any way
relating to the enforcement or protection of the rights of a Party hereunder;
provided, that the Guarantor shall not be liable for any expenses of a Party if
no payment under this Guarantee is due.
5. Subrogation. Upon payment of all the Obligations owing to any Party, the
Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of such Party against the Company,
and such Party agrees to take at the Guarantor's expense such steps as the
Guarantor may reasonably request to implement such subrogation.
6. Third-Party Beneficiary Contract. The Guarantor hereby acknowledges that
Parties insured under policies issued by the Company prior to the termination of
the Guarantee are intended third-party beneficiaries of the Guarantee who may
enforce this Guarantee directly against the Guarantor.
7. Termination. This Guarantee may be terminated after 30 days notice given
by the Guarantor by publication in The Wall Street Journal; provided, however,
that in the event that a Party has requested, by written notice to the Secretary
of the Guarantor at 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, prior to the date
of such publication, that such Party be given notice of any termination of this
Guarantee (specifying the address to which such notice to the Party shall be
sent), this Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect with respect to such
Party until receipt by such Party of written notice of termination in accordance
with such request. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, this Guarantee shall
remain in full force and effect with respect to Obligations of the Company
outstanding or contracted or committed for (whether or not outstanding) prior to
the 30th day after publication of notice of such termination in The Wall Street
Journal, or, in the event that a Party has requested notice of termination as
provided above, prior to receipt by such Party of written notice of termination
in accordance with such request, until such Obligations shall be finally and
irrevocably paid in full.
8. Governing Law. This Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE COMPANY
By /s/
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By /s/
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