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EXHIBIT 4.9
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
as (Guarantor)
and
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
(as Trustee)
Dated as of
November __, 1997
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CROSS REFERENCE TABLE */
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Guarantee Agreement
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310(a) ..................................................... 4.01(a)
310(b) ..................................................... 4.01(c), 2.08
310(c) ..................................................... Inapplicable
311(a) ..................................................... 2.02(b)
311(b) ..................................................... 2.02(b)
311(c) ..................................................... Inapplicable
312(a) ..................................................... 2.02(a)
312(b) ..................................................... 2.02(b)
313 ..................................................... 2.03
314(a) ..................................................... 2.04
314(b) ..................................................... Inapplicable
314(c) ..................................................... 2.05
314(d) ..................................................... Inapplicable
314(e) ..................................................... 1.01, 2.05
3.02
314(f) ..................................................... 2.01, 3.02
315(a) ..................................................... 3.01(d)
315(b) ..................................................... 2.07
315(c) ..................................................... 3.01
315(d) ..................................................... 3.01(d)
316(a) ..................................................... 1.01, 2.06,
5.04
316(b) ..................................................... 5.03
316(c) ..................................................... Inapplicable
317(a) ..................................................... Inapplicable
317(b) ..................................................... Inapplicable
318(a) ..................................................... 2.01(b)
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*/ This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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................................................ 5
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee............................... 6
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee
Trustee.................................................. 6
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
Precedent................................................ 6
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver...................................... 6
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice....................................... 6
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
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....................................... 13
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.............................................. 14
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SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment........................................... 14
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.................................................... 15
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations........................................ 15
ARTICLE VI
Covenants and Subordination
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.................................................. 15
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.......................................... 15
ARTICLE VII
Termination
SECTION 7.1. Termination.................................................... 16
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns......................................... 16
SECTION 8.2. Amendments..................................................... 16
SECTION 8.3. Notices........................................................ 16
SECTION 8.4. Benefit........................................................ 18
SECTION 8.5. Interpretation................................................. 18
SECTION 8.6. Governing Law.................................................. 18
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of November __, 1997,
executed and delivered by NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC., a
bank holding company (the "Guarantor") having its principal
office at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 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 Trust
Securities (as defined herein) of NORTH FORK CAPITAL TRUST
III, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
(the "Declaration of Trust"), dated as of November __, 1997, among the Trustees
named therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer
is issuing $__________ aggregate liquidation amount of its ___% Capital
Securities, liquidation amount $1,000 per Security (the "Capital Securities")
and $_________ of aggregate liquidation amount of Common Securities, liquidation
amount $1,000 per security (the "Common Securities" and collectively with the
Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing undivided beneficial
ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth
in the Declaration of Trust;
WHEREAS the Trust Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the
proceeds thereof will be used by the Issuer to purchase the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities due ____, ____ (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) (the
"Junior Subordinated Debt Securities") of the Guarantor, which will be held by
Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration of Trust, as
trust assets; and
WHEREAS as incentive for the Holders to purchase Trust Securities
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth herein, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined here
in) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder,
which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the
Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the
Holders from time to time of the Trust Securities.
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ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.1. Definitions. As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the
terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the
following meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not other
wise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the
Declaration of Trust as in effect on the date hereof.
"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; provided, however, that an Affiliate of the
Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. 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.
"Capital Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Common Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Debt" shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"Declaration of Trust" shall have the meaning specified in the first
whereas clause of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its
payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however,
that, except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, the
Guarantor shall have received notice of default and shall not have cured such
default within 60 days after receipt of such notice; provided, further, that no
Event of Default shall occur unless an Event of Default (as defined in the
Indenture or the Declaration) shall have occurred and be continuing.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Trust Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on
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behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions required to be
paid on the Trust Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand
available there for at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption
Price"), with respect to the Trust Securities called for redemption by the
Issuer to the extent the Issuer 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, unless Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are
distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
amount of $1,000 per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date of payment to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available
to make such payment at such time and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer
remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer
(in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If an Event of Default under
the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantee Payments with
respect to the Common Securities or any guarantee payment under any Other
Guarantees (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to Common Securities of
any other North Fork Capital Trust (as defined in the Indenture), if any, shall
be made until the Holders of Capital Securities shall be paid in full the
Guarantee Payments to which they are entitled under this Guarantee.
Subordination of Guarantee Payments on the Common Securities following such an
Event of Default under the Declaration shall be analogous to the subordination
of the Common Securities provided for in Section 4.03 of the Declaration.
"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 recital of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer, of any Trust Securities; provided, however, that in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Trust 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
December 31, 1996, as supplemented and amended, between the Guarantor and
Bankers Trust Company, as
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trustee, relating to the issuance of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities.
"Issuer" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately
as a class, of more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then Out
standing Trust Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and President or
a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Associate Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Controller, 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 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 in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) statement that each 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 officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Guarantee
Trustee means 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 Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement, and also, with respect to a particular matter,
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any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Senior Debt" shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE II
Trust Indenture Act
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application. (a) This Guarantee
Agreement will not be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act except upon the
effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to this Guarantee
Agreement pursuant to a registration rights agreement as contemplated in
Article XII of the Indenture.
(b) Upon qualification under the Trust Indenture Act as contemplated
in clause (a) above, if and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee
Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections
310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.
SECTION 2.02. List of Holders. (a) The Guarantor shall furnish or
cause to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee (i) semiannually, not more than
15 days after May 15 and November 15 of each year, a list, in such form as the
Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
delivery thereof, and (ii) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may re
quest in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such
request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time
such list is furnished, in each case to the extent such information is in the
possession or control of the Guarantor and is not identical to a previously
supplied list of Holders or has not otherwise been received by the Guarantee
Trustee in its capacity as such. The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of
Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
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(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Section 311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee. Not later than the
last calendar day in February of each calendar year, commencing with the last
calendar day in February 1999, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the
Holders such reports, if any, as are required by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of
Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee. The
Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities and Exchange
Commission 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 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The
Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance
with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement
that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by any officer
pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers'
Certificate.
SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the 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 2.07. 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 post age 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
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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 a
Responsible Officer 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 the Declaration of Trust shall have received written notice of
such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests. The Declaration of Trust 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 3.01. 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 5.04(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee
Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have
been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor
Guarantee Trustee.
(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 undertake to per form only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default
has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the
Guarantee
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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 wilful 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 ex press provisions of this
Guarantee Agreement, 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; 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 ex pressed 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 Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy
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available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the
Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in
the exercise of any of its rights or powers if the Guarantee Trustee
shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such
funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee
Agreement or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability
is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee. (a) Subject to
the provisions of Section 3.01:
(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 all Officers'
Certificate unless other wise 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 here
under, 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
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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 reasonably
satisfactory to it, 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; provided, that nothing contained in
this Section 3.02(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee,
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise
the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement.
(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 here under either directly or by or
through its agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence 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
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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 3.03. Indemnity. The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the
Guarantee Trustee and its directors, officers, agents and employees for, and to
hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence 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. This indemnity shall survive the termination of
this Guarantee Agreement or the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee.
SECTION 3.04. Expenses. The Guarantor, as obligor on the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, shall from time to time reimburse the Guarantee
Trustee for its reason able expenses and costs incurred in connection with the
performance of its duties hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
Guarantee Trustee
SECTION 4.01. 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(c) 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
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the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and Surplus as set
forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible
to so act under Section 4.10(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign
in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.02(c).
(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 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee. (a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), in the absence of the existence of an
Event of Default, the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without
cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold office
until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its
removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without
need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by
the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall
not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning
Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court of
competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
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ARTICLE V
Guarantee
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments
(without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer),
as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counter claim
which 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. The Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee
in the event it makes any direct payment hereunder.
SECTION 5.02. 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, 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.
SECTION 5.03. 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 of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Trust Securities to
be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or
any portion of the Distributions (other than any extension of time for
payment of Distributions that results from the extension of any interest
payment period on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities as so provided
in the Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other
sums payable under the terms of the Trust Securities or the extension of
time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or
in connection with, the Trust Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part
of the Holders to enforce, assert or
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exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders
pursuant to the terms of the Trust 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 Trust
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, it
being the intent of this Section 5.03 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 5.04. 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 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
Issuer or any other Person.
SECTION 5.05. 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) or
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upon distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to Holders as provided
in the Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 5.06. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all
(if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid
to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have
the right to waive payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.01; provided,
however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by
mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which
it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other
agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement,
if at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this
Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation
of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for
the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges
that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer
with respect to the Trust 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 5.03 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
Covenants and Subordination
SECTION 6.01. Subordination. This Guarantee Agreement will
constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate
and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Guarantor, to the same
extent and in the same manner that the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are
subordinated to Senior Debt pursuant to the Indenture, it being understood that
the terms of Article XIV of the Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement as if (x) such Article XIV were set
forth herein in full and (y) such obligations were substituted for the term
"Securities" appearing in such Article XIV.
SECTION 6.02. Pari Passu Guarantees. This Guarantee Agreement shall
rank pari passu with any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor on
behalf of
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the holders of trust securities issued by a trust created by the Guarantor
similar to North Fork Capital Trust III.
ARTICLE VII
Termination
SECTION 7.01. Termination. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate
and be of no further force and effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption
Price of all Trust Securities, (ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to the Holders in exchange for all of the Trust Securities or (iii)
full payment of the amounts pay able in accordance with the Declaration of Trust
upon liquidation of the Issuer. 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 must repay any sums paid with respect to Trust
Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 8.01. 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 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.
SECTION 8.02. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes which
do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material respect (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 Securities. The provisions of Article VI
of the Declaration of Trust concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to
the giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication
required or permitted to be given here under shall be in writing, duty signed by
the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied (confirmed by deliv-
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ery of the original) or mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or
such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other
Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Holders:
NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Secretary
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Guarantee Trustee, at
the Issuer's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below or such
other ad dress as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer may give
notice to the Holders:
NORTH FORK CAPITAL TRUST I
c/o NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Secretary
with a copy to:
Bankers Trust Company
Four Albany Street - 4th Floor
Xxx Xxxx, XX 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 Albany Street - 4th Floor
Xxx Xxxx, XX 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.
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
deliv-
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ery 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. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the
benefit of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Trust
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 1.01;
(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.
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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.
NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION,
INC.
by
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
Guarantee Trustee,
by
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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