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Guarantee Agreement
between
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
(as Guarantor)
and
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
(as Guarantee Trustee)
Dated as of
____________, ______
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions................................................ 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application........................... 3
SECTION 2.02. List of Holders............................................ 4
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee........................... 4
SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee...................... 4
SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent........... 4
SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver.................................. 5
SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice................................... 5
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee................. 5
SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee........................ 7
SECTION 3.03. Indemnity.................................................. 8
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility............................. 9
SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee.......................................... 9
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee.................................................. 10
SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand................................ 10
SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected................................... 10
SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders.......................................... 11
SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment....................................... 12
(i)
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SECTION 5.06. Subrogation................................................ 12
SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations.................................... 12
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.01. Subordination.............................................. 12
SECTION 6.02. Pari Passu Guarantees...................................... 12
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01. Termination................................................ 13
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns..................................... 13
SECTION 8.02. Amendments................................................. 13
SECTION 8.03. Notices.................................................... 13
SECTION 8.04. Benefit.................................................... 14
SECTION 8.05. Interpretation............................................. 14
SECTION 8.06. Governing Law.............................................. 15
(ii)
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Section of Section of
Trust Indenture Act Guarantee
of 1939, as amended Agreement
------------------- ---------
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)..................................................... 8.02
317(a)..................................................... Inapplicable
317(b)..................................................... Inapplicable
318(a)..................................................... 2.01(b)
318(b)..................................................... 2.01
318(c)..................................................... 2.01(a)
----------
* 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.
(iii)
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of _______, ____, is executed and
delivered by Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, a New Jersey
corporation (the "Guarantor"), to First Union National Bank, a national banking
association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders
(as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined
herein) of Enterprise Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory business trust
(the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for Enterprise
Capital Trust III (the "Trust Agreement"), dated as of _______, ____ among the
Trustees named therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time
to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the
Issuer is issuing $___________ aggregate liquidation amount of its ___% Trust
Originated Preferred Securities (liquidation amount of $25 per preferred
security) (the "Preferred Securities") representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the
Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the
proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the sale by the Issuer of its
Common Securities, will be used to purchase the Debentures (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor which will be deposited with First Union
National Bank, as Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, as Trust Property
(as defined in the Trust Agreement); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred Securities, the
Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set
forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, 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 Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Guarantee Agreement, each of the
terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the
following
meaning. Each capitalized or otherwise defined term used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Trust
Agreement 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. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Common Securities" means the common securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the rights provided
therefor in the Trust Agreement.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, that except with
respect to a default resulting from a failure to pay any Guarantee Payment, the
Guarantor shall have received notice of default and shall not have cured such
default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments, without duplication,
with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or
on behalf of the Issuer pursuant to the Trust Agreement or by the Guarantor
pursuant to the Indenture: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions required
to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have
funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all accumulated
and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"),
with respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, to
the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary termination and liquidation of the Issuer, unless
Debentures are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of
the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent
the Issuer shall have funds available therefor and (b) the amount of assets of
the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders upon a termination
and liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means First Union National Bank, until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee (as defined below) has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter
means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Preferred Security is registered in
the Securities Register; provided, however, that in determining whether the
holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any
request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the
Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the
Guarantee Trustee.
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"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of ______, ____, as amended or
supplemented from time to time, between Public Service Enterprise Group
Incorporated and First Union National Bank, as trustee thereunder.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities" means, except
as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the Holders, of more than 50%
of the aggregate liquidation amount of all then outstanding Preferred Securities
issued by the Issuer.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the
President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any
other entity.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any
Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, any Trust Officer or Assistant
Trust Officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the
Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by
any of the above designated officers 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.
"Senior Indebtedness" means Senior Indebtedness as defined in the
Indenture.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at
the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
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(b) 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 (a) semiannually, on or before January 15 and July 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 (b) at such other times as the Guarantee
Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the
Guarantor of any such request, a List of 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.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections
311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee. Within 60 days after May 31
of each year, the 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 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 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 and 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. Each Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel 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 or
Opinion of Counsel has read the covenant or condition and the definition
relating thereto;
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(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate or Opinion of Counsel and upon which the statements contained
therein are based;
(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.
SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the
Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver,
any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.
SECTION 2.07. 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 postage prepaid, to the Holders,
notices of all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such
defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that,
except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as the Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of
directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written
notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of the Trust
Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default.
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
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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 perform 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 and is continuing (and has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section
2.06), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested
in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in
its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct
of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be
determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee
Agreement, 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 expressed
therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee
Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that
by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically
required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall
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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 a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under
this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the
Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal 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 reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee
Agreement or reasonable indemnity 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 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
Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action
hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
request and 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
written advice or Opinion of Counsel with respect to legal matters shall be
full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion. Such legal counsel may be legal
counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its
employees.
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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 reasonable indemnity as would satisfy a
reasonable person in the position of the Guarantee Trustee, against the
costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities
that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction;
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 hereunder 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
protected in acting in accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
SECTION 3.03. Indemnity. The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee
Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or willful misconduct 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
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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.
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 fifty
million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and shall be a corporation meeting the
requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to
law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority, then,
for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust
Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall
be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so
act under Section 4.01(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. In determining whether the
Guarantee Trustee has a "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section
310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act, the provisions contained in the proviso to
Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and the Guarantee Trustee's
Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 shall be deemed incorporated herein.
SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), 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 new, eligible
guarantee trustee has been appointed (a "Successor Guarantee Trustee") and has
accepted such
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appointment and assumed the applicable obligations hereunder by written
instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor.
(c) 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.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees to pay in full to the Holders of the Outstanding Preferred Securities the
Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on
behalf of the Issuer pursuant to the Trust Agreement or by the Guarantor
pursuant to the Indenture), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of
set-off or counterclaim 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.
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, 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.
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:
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(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 Preferred 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 an extension of time for payment
of Distributions that results from an Extension Period on the Debentures as
so provided in the Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution
or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or
the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred
Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, termination, 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 detect or deficiency in, the Preferred
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby
or hereby incurred; or
(g) to the extent permitted by law, 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 Preferred Securities have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or
exercise or direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) any Holder may
institute a legal proceeding
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directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee
Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee
Trustee, 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 or on behalf of the Issuer pursuant
to the Trust Agreement or by the Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture) or upon
distribution of Debentures to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement.
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 Preferred Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as
principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the
terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event
referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.03 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.01. Subordination. This Guarantee Agreement shall constitute an
unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and shall rank subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all general liabilities of the Guarantor.
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 the holders of Trust Preferred Securities issued by Enterprise Capital
Trust I and Enterprise Capital Trust II.
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ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01. Termination. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be
of no further force and effect upon (i) full payment by the Issuer or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, of the Redemption Price for all Preferred
Securities, (ii) the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders in accordance
with Article VIII of the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Issuer or (iii)
full payment by the Issuer or the Guarantor, as the case may be, of the amounts
payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement 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 restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred 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 of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. The
Guarantor may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as
an entirety (either in one transaction or a series of transactions) to, any
Person unless permitted under Article Five of the Indenture. In connection with
a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under
Article Five of the Indenture the Person formed by or surviving such
consolidation or merger or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease
shall have been made, if other than the Guarantor, shall expressly assume all of
the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder and under the Trust Agreement.
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 a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities (excluding any Preferred
Securities held by the Guarantor or an affiliate thereof). The provisions of
Article VI of the Trust Agreement 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 hereunder shall be in writing and delivered, telecopied
or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, as follows:
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(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or such
other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders:
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
00 Xxxx Xxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Treasurer
(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 address as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer may give
notice to the Holders:
Enterprise Capital Trust III
00 Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Treasurer
with a copy to:
First Union National Bank
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth in the Securities
Register.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 8.04. Benefit. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit
of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 8.05. Interpretation. In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires:
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(a) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or
amended from time to time;
(b) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless
otherwise specified;
(c) 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;
(d) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
and
(e) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall
include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 8.06. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
JERSEY AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
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.
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THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP
INCORPORATED, as Guarantor
By: _______________________________________
Name:
Title:
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Guarantee Trustee
By: _______________________________________
Name:
Title:
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