EXHIBIT 4.10
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CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
NGC CORPORATION
Dated as of ____________, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation................................. 2
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application............................... 6
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities................................. 6
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee............ 6
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee....... 7
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent............... 7
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver...................................... 7
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice....................................... 7
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests.......................................... 8
SECTION 2.9 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee May File
Proofs of Claim................................................ 8
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee.............................................. 8
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.........10
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Capital
Securities Guarantee...........................................12
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility..............12
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee...................................13
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee......................................................14
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand....................................14
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.......................................14
Page
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders..............................................15
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment...........................................16
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation....................................................16
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations........................................16
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.....................................16
SECTION 6.2 Ranking........................................................17
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination....................................................18
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation....................................................18
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification................................................19
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.........................................19
SECTION 9.2 Amendments.....................................................19
SECTION 9.3 Notices........................................................19
SECTION 9.4 Benefit........................................................21
SECTION 9.5 GOVERNING LAW..................................................21
SECTION 9.6 Limited Liability..............................................21
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CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Capital Securities Guarantee"), dated as
of ______________, 1997, is executed and delivered by NGC Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The First National Bank of Chicago,
a national banking association as trustee (the "Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time
of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of NGC Corporation Capital Trust
I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration (as defined herein) the Issuer
issued on May 28, 1997, $200,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of its Series
A 8.316% Capital Securities, liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security,
(collectively the "Series A Capital Securities") and, in connection with an
Exchange Offer (as defined in the Declaration) has agreed to execute and deliver
this Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of holders of the Series B
Capital Securities (as defined in the Declaration) to be issued in the Exchange
Offer.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor also desires to extend the benefit of this
Capital Securities Guarantee to the Holders of the Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee to the Holders of the Series A Capital Securities and, having done so,
to terminate the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee (as defined herein) as
redundant.
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to acquire the Series B Capital
Securities in exchange for the Series A Capital Securities, the Guarantor
desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in
this Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments
(as defined below) and to make certain other payments on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor has executed and delivered a guarantee agreement
(the "Common Securities Guarantee"), with substantially identical terms to this
Capital Securities Guarantee, for the benefit of the holders of the Common
Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as defined
in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the
Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities
Guarantee are subordinated, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Common Securities Guarantee, to the rights of holders of Series A Capital
Securities and the Series B Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments
under this Capital Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the acquisition of the Series B
Capital Securities by each Holder pursuant to the Exchange Offer, which
acquisition the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the
Guarantor executes and delivers this Capital Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation
In this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Capital Securities Guarantee
but not defined in the preamble above have the respective
meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1;
(b) terms defined in the Declaration have the same meaning when
used in this Capital Securities Guarantee unless otherwise
defined in this Capital Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Capital Securities Guarantee
has the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Capital Securities Guarantee" or "this
Capital Securities Guarantee" are to this Capital Securities
Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to
time;
(e) all references in this Capital Securities Guarantee to
Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this
Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless
otherwise defined in this Capital Securities Guarantee or
unless the context otherwise requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or
a day on which banking institutions in Chicago, Illinois or Houston, Texas are
authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
"Capital Securities" means the Series A Capital Securities and the
Series B Capital Securities.
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"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means The First National
Bank of Chicago, a national banking association, until a Successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Capital Securities Guarantee and
thereafter means each such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Agreement is located at Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Capital
Securities.
"Debentures" means either series of subordinated debt securities
of the Guarantor designated the 8.316% Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due June 1, 2027 held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the
Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust,
dated as of May 28, 1997 as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time,
among the trustees of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and
the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
assets of the Issuer.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its
payment or other obligations under this Capital Securities Guarantee, provided,
however, that with respect to a default other than a default in payment of any
Guarantee Payment, the Guarantor shall have received notice of such default and
shall not have cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to
the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) that are required to be paid on
such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally
available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption
Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally available therefor at
such time, with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the
Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
liquidation of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of
Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Capital Securities as provided in the
Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of
payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally available therefor,
and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution
to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer as required by applicable law. If an Event of Default
has occurred
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and is continuing, no Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities Guarantee
with respect to the Common Securities or any guarantee payment under any Other
Common Securities Guarantees shall be made until the Holders shall be paid in
full the Guarantee Payments to which they are entitled under this Capital
Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and
records of the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor or any Person known to a Responsible Officer of
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to be an Affiliate of the Guarantor and
provided further, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
liquidation amount of Capital Securities have voted on any matter provided for
in the Guarantee, then for the purpose of such determination only (and not for
any other purposes hereunder), if the Capital Securities remain in the form of
one or more Global Certificates (as defined in the Declaration), the term
"Holders" shall mean the holder of the Global Certificate acting at the
direction of the Capital Security Beneficial Owners (as defined in the
Declaration).
"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, any Affiliate of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any
officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of May 28, 1997, among
the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The First National Bank of Chicago,
as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), and any indenture supplemental thereto,
pursuant to which the Debentures were or are to be issued to the Property
Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Indenture Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in
Section 5.01 of the Indenture.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means,
except as provided by the Declaration or by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by
Holder(s) of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount of all
outstanding Capital Securities voting separately as a class. In determining
whether the Holders of the requisite amount of the Capital Securities have
voted, Capital Securities which are owned by the Guarantor or any Affiliate of
the Guarantor shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such determination
period.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to the Guarantor, a
certificate signed by any of the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Guarantor. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance
with a condition or covenant provided for in this Capital Securities Guarantee
(other than pursuant to Section 314(d)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall
include:
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(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating
thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation undertaken by each officer on behalf of such Person in
rendering the Officers' Certificates.
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination
or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Other Common Securities Guarantees" shall have the same meaning
as "Other Guarantees" as defined in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures issued
by the Guarantor from time to time and sold to trusts to be established by the
Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the
Guarantor with respect to capital securities (if any) similar to the Capital
Securities issued by other trusts to be established by the Guarantor (if any),
in each case similar to the Issuer.
"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.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the
administration of this Capital Securities Guarantee and also means, with respect
to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.
"Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" means the Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, dated as of May 28, 1997, between the Guarantor and The
First National Bank of Chicago as Trustee.
"Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a successor
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
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"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital
Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application
(a) This Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions
of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Capital
Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions; and
(b) if and to the extent that any provision of this Capital
Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by
Section 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties
shall control.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee (unless the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is otherwise the
registrar of the Capital Securities) with a list, in such form as the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses
of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i) within one Business Day
after May 15 and November 15 of each year, and (ii) at any other time within 30
days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders as
of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is given to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, provided, that the Guarantor shall not be
obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time that the Guarantor
certifies in writing to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee that the List
of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on
receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its
obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
Within 60 days after June 1 of each year, commencing June 1, 1998,
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such
reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in
the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the
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Trust Indenture Act. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply
with the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if
any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act; provided that such compliance certificate shall
be delivered on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the
Guarantor. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive
notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information
contained therein, including the Guarantor's compliance with any of its
covenants hereunder (as to which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any,
provided for in this Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the
matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate
or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may
be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all 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 Capital Securities Guarantee, but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default
or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days
after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Capital
Securities Guarantee actually known to a Responsible Officer, mail by first
class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all such Events of Default,
unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided,
that, except in the case of default in the payment of any Guarantee Payment, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such
notice if and so long as the board of
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directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or a
Responsible Officer in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice
is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed
to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor, or a
Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Capital Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.9 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee is hereby authorized to (a) recover judgment, in its own name
and as trustee of an express trust, against the Guarantor for the whole amount
of any Guarantee, payments remaining unpaid and (b) file such proofs of claim
and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have
its claims and those of the Holders of the Capital Securities allowed in any
judicial procedures relative to the Guarantor, its creditors or its property.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
(a) This Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Capital Securities
Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to
Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment to act as Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. The right,
title and interest of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, and
such vesting and succession of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
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(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer
has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
enforce this Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, before the
occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default
that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Capital Securities Guarantee against the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred
(that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually
known to a Responsible Officer, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Capital Securities
Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as
a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee from liability for
its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any 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 Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Capital Securities Guarantee, and the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of
such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations
shall be read into this Capital Securities Guarantee against the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates
or opinions furnished to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Capital Securities Guarantee;
but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
or not they conform to the requirements of this Capital Securities
Guarantee;
(ii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer,
unless it shall be proved that the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was
made;
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(iii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith
in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Capital
Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall
require the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of
any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for
believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably
assured to it under the terms of this Capital Securities Guarantee or
indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may conclusively
rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting,
upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or
parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Capital Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable
that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting
any action hereunder, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (unless
other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers'
Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly
delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty
to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may consult with
counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with
respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
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by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Capital Securities Guarantee from any
court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Capital Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that
might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction,
including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this
Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its
obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Capital
Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound
to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may execute any of
the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either
directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed
with due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the signature of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall
be required to inquire as to the authority of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms
and provisions of this Capital Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be
conclusively evidenced by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's or its
agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable
to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or
taking any other action hereunder, the Capital Securities
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Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (ii) may refrain
from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such
instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively
relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions.
(xi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith,
without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or
within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Capital
Securities Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be
deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or
obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be
illegal, or in which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No
permissive power or authority available to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Capital Securities
Guarantee
The recitals contained in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall
be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity
or sufficiency of this Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under
the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million
U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to
law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority
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referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set
out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall
acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor
shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor
except during an Event of Default.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed
in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written
instrument executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold office
until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
or until its removal or resignation. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the
resigning Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2
within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such
notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for
the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
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(f) Upon termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee or
removal or resignation of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee pursuant to
this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee all amounts due to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee accrued to
the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in
full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense,
right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The
Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct
payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing
the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Capital
Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against
the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other
notices and demands. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Guarantor retains all of its rights under the Indenture to extend the interest
payment period on the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantor shall not be
obligated hereunder to make any Guarantee Payment during any extended Interest
Payment Period (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Distributions
(as defined in the Declaration) on the Capital Securities.
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional and
shall remain in full force and effect until the entire liquidation amount of all
outstanding Capital Securities shall have been paid and such obligation shall in
no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of
any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of
the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed
or observed by the Issuer;
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(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or
any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or
any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the
extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out
of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of
time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or
other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period
on the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part
of the Property Trustee or the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Property Trustee or the Holders
pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of
the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of
any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit
of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt
of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of
the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred;
(g) the consummation of the Exchange Offer; or
(h) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being
the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor with
respect to the Guarantee Payments shall be absolute and unconditional under any
and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
in respect of this Capital Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or
power conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Capital
Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce
this Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to
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enforce its rights under this Capital Securities Guarantee, without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the Guarantor has failed to make a Guarantee Payment, a Holder may directly
institute a proceeding in such Holder's own name against the Guarantor for
enforcement of the Capital Securities Guarantee for such payment. The Guarantor
waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought first against
the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding directly against the
Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
This Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment
and not of collection.
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the
Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this Capital Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Capital Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Capital Securities
Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the
preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the
Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital
Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Capital
Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (h), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, the
Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any subsidiary of the Guarantor to,
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's
capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock)(other than (a)
dividends or
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distributions in shares of, or options, warrants, rights to subscribe for or
purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders' rights plan,
or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) as a result of a
reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange or the
conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for another
class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (d) the purchase of fractional
interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion
or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or
exchanged, and (e) purchases of the Guarantor's common stock related to the
issuance of the Guarantor's common stock or rights under any of the Guarantor's
benefit plans for its directors, officers, employees or any of the Guarantor's
dividend reinvestment plans), (ii) make any payment of principal of, or premium,
if any, or interest on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Guarantor (including any Other Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior
in right of payment to the Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with
respect to any guarantee (other than payments under this Capital Securities
Guarantee) by the Guarantor of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the
Guarantor (including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with
or junior in right of payment to the Debentures if at such time (1) there shall
have occurred any event of which the Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a)
with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an
Indenture Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor shall not
have taken reasonable steps to cure, (2) an Indenture Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, (3) if such Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment of any
obligations under this Capital Securities Guarantee or (4) the Guarantor shall
have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right to extend the
interest payment period pursuant to Section 16.01 of the Indenture or such
extension period, or any such extension shall have commenced and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing under the Declaration, the rights of the holders of the Common
Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities Guarantee
or any Other Common Securities Guarantee shall be subordinated to the rights of
the holders of the Capital Securities to receive payments of all amounts due and
owing to such holders under this Capital Securities Guarantee or any Other
Guarantee.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking
This Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of
payment to Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), to the same extent
and in the same manner that the Debentures are subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture, (ii) pari passu with the Debentures, the
Other Debentures, the Common Securities Guarantee and any Other Guarantee and
any Other Common Securities Guarantee, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's
capital stock.
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ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination
(a) This Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate and be of no
further force and effect (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price (as
defined in the Declaration) of all Capital Securities or (ii) upon liquidation
of the Issuer, the full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration or the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders and the holders
of the Common Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Capital
Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the
case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid
under the Capital Securities or under this Capital Securities Guarantee.
(b) The Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon
the execution and delivery of this Capital Securities Guarantee, it being
intended that Holders of Series A Capital Securities shall have the same rights
and benefits hereunder as they had under the Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee when originally executed and delivered, without diminution or
enlargement in any manner whatsoever. The provisions of this Section 7.1(b) are
also intended to amend the provisions of clause (iii) of Section 7.1 of the
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee accordingly. Specifically, the words
"exchange of all the Series A Capital Securities for the Series B Capital
Securities in the Exchange Offer and" appearing in such clause are hereby
deleted. Such amendment does not, in the judgment of the Guarantor, materially
adversely affect the rights of Holders of Series A Capital Securities and,
therefore, does not require the consent of such Holders.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or
accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for
any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or
omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Capital
Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified
Person by this Capital Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an
Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information,
opinions, reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to
matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such
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other Person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information,
opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets,
liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and
amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and
to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability,
damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part,
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the
trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or
investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The provisions in this
Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee
or the resignation or removal of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially
adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will
be required), this Capital Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined). The provisions of the Declaration
with respect to consents to amendments thereof (whether at a meeting or
otherwise) shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices
All notices provided for in this Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be
delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
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(a) If given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative Trustee
at the mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Issuer may
give notice of to the Holders and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee):
NGC Corporation Capital Trust I
c/o NGC Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Administrative Trustee
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(b) If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, at the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such
other address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to
the Holders and the Issuer):
The First National Bank of Chicago
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Services Division
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(c) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address
set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to
the Holders and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee):
NGC Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(d) If given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books
and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received
in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
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SECTION 9.4 Benefit
This Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the
Capital Securities.
SECTION 9.5 GOVERNING LAW
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 9.6 Limited Liability.
The Holders of the Capital Securities, in their capacities as
such, shall not be personally liable for any liabilities or obligations of the
Guarantor arising out of this Capital Securities Guarantee, and the parties
hereby agree that the Holders of the Capital Securities, in their capacities as
such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
the stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and
year first above written.
NGC CORPORATION, as Guarantor
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
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