Exhibit 4.7
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Series B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Bank of Boston Corporation
Dated as of ______________, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION . . . . . . . . . 5
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . . . . 9
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee . 10
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . 10
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series B
Capital Securities Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . 17
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility . . 17
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . 21
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SECTION 6.2 Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SECTION 7.1 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 9.2 Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 9.3 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SECTION 9.4 Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Series B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee"), dated as of _________, 1997, is executed and delivered by Bank
of Boston Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The
Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Series B Capital Securities (as defined
herein) of BankBoston Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust
(the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
(the "Declaration"), dated as of November 26, 1996, among the trustees of the
Issuer, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof __________ capital securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $___________ , such capital securities
being designated the 8.25% Series B Capital Securities
(the "Series B Capital Securities") in connection with the consummation of
the Exchange Offer (as defined in the Declaration).
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to exchange the Series A
Capital Securities (as defined in the Declaration) for the Series B Capital
Securities in the Exchange Offer, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and
unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders
of the Series B Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments
(as defined below). The Guarantor agrees 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") for the benefit of the
holders of the Common Securities (as defined herein), the terms of which
provide 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 B Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities to
receive Guarantee Payments under the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
and this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, as the case may be.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Series B Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges
shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Series
A Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation
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In this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Series B 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 as at the date of execution
of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee have the same
meaning when used in this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee"
or "this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee" are to this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee as modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee
to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise
specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee,
unless otherwise defined in this Series B 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
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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,
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or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or Boston,
Massachusetts are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means The Bank of New
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York, a New York banking corporation, until a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
pursuant to the terms of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee and
thereafter means each such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common
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undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital
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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 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00 Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Series
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A Capital Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities of
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the Guarantor designated the 8.25% Series B Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due December 15, 2026 held by the Property Trustee (as
defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
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its payment or other obligations under this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or
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distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Series B 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 Series B 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 Series B
Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary termination and liquidation of the Issuer (other
than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in
exchange for Series B 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 Series B 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. If an Event of Default
has occurred 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 of Series B Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Guarantee
Payments to which they are entitled under this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and
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records of the Issuer, of any Series B Capital Securities; provided, however,
that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of
Series B Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee
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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 November 26, 1996,
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among the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The Bank of New York, as
trustee, pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Property
Trustee of the Issuer.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Series B Capital Securities"
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means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) of
Series B Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than 50%
of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would
be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined)
of all Series B Capital Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any person, a
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certificate signed by the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Comptroller, the Group
Director, Asset/Liability Management, the Clerk or an Assistant Clerk, 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee 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 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
(c) 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
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as "Other Guarantees" as defined in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures
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issued by the Guarantor from time to time and sold to trusts
established by the Guarantor, in each case similar to the Issuer.
"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the
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Guarantor with respect to capital securities similar to the Series B
Capital Securities issued by other trusts established by the Guarantor,
in each case similar to the Issuer.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual,
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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
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Securities Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office
of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, including any vice president,
any assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the
Capital Securities 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.
"Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a
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successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications
to act as Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
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amended.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Series A
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Capital Securities and Series B Capital Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application
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(a) This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
Series B 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 Series B
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
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(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 of the Series B Capital Securities ("List of
Holders") as of such date, (i) within one Business Day after June 1 and
December 1 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 pro- vided, that the Guarantor shall not be
obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time 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
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Within 60 days after December 15 of each year, commencing December
15, 1997, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the
Holders of the Series B Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of section 313(d)
of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
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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. 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
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The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any,
provided for in this Series B 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
14(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver
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The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Series B Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Series B
Capital Securities, 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 Series B 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
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(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days
after the occurrence of a default with respect to this Capital Securities
Guarantee, mail by first class postage prepaid, to all Holders of the Series
A Capital Securities, notices of all defaults actually known to a Responsible
Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, 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 directors, the executive committee, or a trust
committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the holders of the Series B Capital Securities.
(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, or a Responsible
Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of the Declaration shall have obtained actual knowledge, of
such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
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The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee 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
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee
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Trustee
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(a) This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of
the Series B Capital Securities, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall not transfer this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee to any Person
except a Holder of Series B Capital Securities 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.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer
of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing,
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Series B Capital
Securities.
(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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee,
and no implied covenants shall be read into this Series B 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 of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Series B 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 Series B 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 Series B 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Series B
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 Series
A 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 Series B 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 of
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining
the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(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 Series B 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Series B 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 Series
A 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
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(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
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently evidenced by
an Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Series B 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 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 Series B 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
Series B 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 Series B 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 of the Series B Capital
Securities, 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 Series B
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 Series B 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 Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series B 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Series B 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 Series B
----------------------------------------------------
Capital Securities Guarantee
----------------------------
The recitals contained in this Series B 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 Series B 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 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.
(f) Upon termination of this Series B 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 Hate 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 Series B
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.
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected
------------------------
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee 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 Series B Capital
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, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution
or any other sums payable under the terms of the Series B Capital Securities
or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the Series B 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 Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Series B 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 Series B
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 Series
A 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce
this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder of Series B Capital
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to
enforce the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Series B
Capital Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Issuer, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity. 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 Series B 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 of Series B Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any
amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Series B 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Series B 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 Series B
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
Series B 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 (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) or (ii)
make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or
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 by the Guarantor of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the
Guarantor (including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu or
junior in right of payment to the Debentures (other than (a) dividends or
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 stockholder's 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) payments under the
Capital Securities Guarantee, (d) 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, (e) 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 (f) purchases of common stock related to the issuance of
common stock or rights under any of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its
directors, officers or employees or any of the Guarantor's dividend
reinvestment plans) if at such time (i) there shall have occurred any event
of which the Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving
of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would be an Event of Default and (b)
in respect of which the Guarantor shall not have taken reasonable steps to
cure, (ii) 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
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee or (iii) 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 and any such
extension shall be continuing.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking
-------
This Series B 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 (except as
indicated below), it being understood that the terms of Article XV of the
Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the Guarantor under this Series B
Capital Securities Guarantee as if (x) such Article XV were set forth herein
in full and (y) such obligations were substituted for the term "Securities"
appearing in such Article XV, except that with respect to Section 15.03 of
the Indenture only, the term "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean all liabilities
of the Guarantor, whether or not for money borrowed (other than obligations
in respect of Other Guarantees), (ii) pari passu with the most senior
preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and
with any Other Guarantee (as defined herein) and any Other Common Securities
Guarantee and any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in
respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of the
Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination
-----------
This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i) upon
full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration) of all
Series B 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 of all of the Series B Capital
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case
may be, if at any time any Holder of Series B Capital Securities must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Series B Capital Securities or under this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
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 Series B 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 Series B 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 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 of Series B Capital
Securities 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
obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the
termination of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
----------------------
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees
and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the
Holders of the Series B Capital Securities 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee may only be amended
with the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of
the 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 Section
12.2 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders of the Securities
apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices
-------
All notices provided for in this Series B 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:
(a) If given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative Trustee
at the Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the
Issuer may give notice of to the Holders of the Common Securities):
BankBoston Capital Trust I
c/o Bank of Boston Corporation
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxxxx,
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 of the Series B Capital Securities):
The Bank of New York
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00 Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee
Administration
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 of the Series B Capital Securities):
Bank of Boston Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX BOS 01-25-01
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Counsel
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(d) If given to any Holder of Series B Capital Securities, 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.
SECTION 9.4 Benefit
-------
This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the
benefit of the Holders of the Series B Capital Securities and, subject to
Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Series B Capital
Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law
-------------
THIS Series B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
THIS Series B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the
day and year first above written.
BANK OF BOSTON CORPORATION, as
Guarantor
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
