EXHIBIT 4.6
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SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
PUGET SOUND ENERGY, INC.
DATED AS OF ___________, 1997
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CONTENTS
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION........................................... 2
ARTICLE II - TRUST INDENTURE ACT..................................................... 5
2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.......................................... 5
2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities............................................ 6
2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee....................... 6
2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.................. 6
2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.......................... 6
2.6 Events of Default; Waiver................................................. 7
2.7 Event of Default; Notice.................................................. 7
2.8 Conflicting Interests..................................................... 7
ARTICLE III - POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE...... 7
3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee............. 7
3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.................... 9
3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee...................................................... 11
ARTICLE IV - CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.................................... 11
4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility......................... 11
4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee................................................................... 12
ARTICLE V - GUARANTEE................................................................ 13
5.1 Guarantee................................................................. 13
5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand............................................... 13
5.3 Obligations Not Affected.................................................. 13
5.4 Rights of Holders......................................................... 14
5.5 Guarantee of Payment...................................................... 15
5.6 Subrogation............................................................... 15
5.7 Independent Obligations................................................... 15
ARTICLE VI - LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION............................... 16
6.1 Limitation of Transactions................................................ 16
6.2 Ranking................................................................... 16
ARTICLE VII - TERMINATION............................................................ 17
ARTICLE VIII - COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..... 17
ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION......................................................... 18
9.1 Exculpation............................................................... 18
9.2 Indemnification........................................................... 18
ARTICLE X - MISCELLANEOUS............................................................ 19
10.1 Successors and Assigns.................................................... 19
10.2 Amendments................................................................ 19
10.3 Notices................................................................... 19
10.4 Benefit................................................................... 20
10.5 Governing Law............................................................. 20
SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Series B
Capital Securities Guarantee"), dated as of [__________], 1997, is executed and
delivered by Puget Sound Energy, Inc., a Washington corporation (the
"Guarantor"), and The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association, as trustee (the "Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the
benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Series B
Capital Securities (as defined herein) of Puget Sound Energy 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 June 6, 1997, 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 issued on June 6, 1997 100,000
capital securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $100,000,000, such
capital securities being designated the 8.231% Series A Capital Securities
(collectively the "Series A Capital Securities"), executed and delivered a
guarantee agreement dated as of June 6, 1997 (the "Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee") and, in connection with the Exchange Offer (as defined in the
Declaration), is issuing on the date hereof this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of holders of the Series B Capital Securities (as
defined in the Declaration).
WHEREAS, as incentive for the holders of the Series A Capital Securities to
exchange such securities for the Series B Capital Securities, 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 (as defined
below) 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"), with substantially identical terms to this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, for the benefit of the holders of the
Common Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as
defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of
holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common
Securities Guarantee are subordinated, to the extent and in the manner set forth
in the Common Securities Guarantee, to the rights of holders of Series A Capital
Securities and the Series B Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments
under the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee, as the case may be.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the exchange by each holder of Series A
Capital Securities for Series B Capital Securities, which exchange the Guarantor
hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and
delivers this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
Holders.
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
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 Article I;
(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 405 under
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the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on
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which banking institutions in The City of New York or The City of Chicago,
Illinois are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means The First National Bank of
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Chicago, a national banking association, until a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant
to the terms of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee and thereafter means
each such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
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"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
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beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital Securities
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Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally
administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located
at Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Series B Capital
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Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities of the
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Guarantor designated the 8.231% Series B Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due June 1, 2027 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 its payments
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or other obligations under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
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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 applicable 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 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 records of
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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.
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"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, any
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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 June 6, 1997, among the
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Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"), pursuant to which the Debentures are to be
issued to the Property Trustee of the Issuer.
"Indenture Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in Section 5.01
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of the Indenture.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Series B Capital Securities" means,
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except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) 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 certificate
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signed by any two of the following officers of such person: the Chairman, a Vice
Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the
Controller or an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Any Officers' Certificate delivered
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee (other than pursuant to Section 314(d)(4)
of the Trust Indenture Act) 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 as "Other
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Guarantees" in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures issued by the
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Guarantor from time to time and sold to trusts to be established by the
Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
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"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the Guarantor with
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respect to capital securities (if any) similar to the Series B Capital
Securities issued by other trusts to be established by the Guarantor (if any),
in each case similar to the Issuer.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
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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.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement,
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dated as of June 6, 1997, by and among the Guarantor, the Issuer and the Initial
Purchasers named therein as such agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Capital Securities
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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, any
trust officer, any senior trust officer or other officer in 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 successor Capital
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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 amended.
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"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Series A Capital
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Securities and Series B Capital Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II - TRUST INDENTURE ACT
2.1 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION
(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.
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2.2 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee (unless the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is otherwise the
registrar of the Capital Securities) with a list, in such form as the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses
of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i) within 14 days after
each record date for payment of Distributions and (ii) at any other time within
30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders
as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is given to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; provided, that the Guarantor shall not be
obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time 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 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
2.3 REPORTS BY THE CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Within 60 days after December 31 of each year, commencing December 31,
1997, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such
reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in
the form and in the manner provided by Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture
Act. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other
requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
2.4 PERIODIC REPORTS TO CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act (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(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act; provided that such compliance
certificate shall be delivered on or before 120 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Guarantor. Delivery of such reports, information and
documents to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is for informational
purposes only and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's receipt of such
shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including the Guarantor's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers'
Certificates).
2.5 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for
in this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters
set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust
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Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer
pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers'
Certificate.
2.6 EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Series B Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all 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 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.
2.7 EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days
after the occurrence of a default with respect to this Capital Securities
Guarantee actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, mail by first class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices
of all such defaults, 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 from the Guarantor or a Holder, 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.
2.8 CONFLICTING INTERESTS
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
3.1 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee to any Person
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except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) below 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.
(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 above) 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
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expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Series B
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 B Capital Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
3.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely,
and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
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
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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 the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee 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, and the signature of the Capital
Securities Guarantee
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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 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.
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
4.1 CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
which shall:
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(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 $50,000,000, 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, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.
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.
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(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 date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE V - GUARANTEE
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.
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.
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
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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.
5.4 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series B
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; provided, however,
-------- -------
that, subject to the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee pursuant to the
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Indenture, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the
Holders not taking part in such direction or if the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so
directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive
committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible
Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would
involve the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.
(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce such
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder 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.
5.5 GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT
This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment
and not of collection.
5.6 SUBROGATION
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this 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.
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.
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ARTICLE VI - LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
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 of or premium, if any, or interest on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor (including 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 with 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 shareholders' 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
or this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, (d) the purchase of fractional
shares resulting from a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock, (e)
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, and
(f) 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) if at such time (1) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an event of default under the Declaration, (2) there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default under the Indenture,
(3) there shall have occurred and be continuing a payment default under the
Declaration or the Indenture, (4) if the Debentures are held by the Issuer, the
Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations
under this Agreement, or (5) the Guarantor shall have given notice of its
election of an Extension Period as provided in the Indenture and shall not have
rescinded such notice, and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof,
shall have commenced.
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, 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, (ii) pari passu with the Debentures,
the Other Debentures and with the most senior preferred or preference stock now
or hereafter issued by the Guarantor
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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
This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i) upon full
payment of the applicable 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 must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Series A Capital Securities or under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE VIII - COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantor covenants and agrees to pay to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee from time to time, and the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing
between the Guarantor and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (which shall
not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust), and the Guarantor will pay or reimburse the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Capital
Securities Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ)
except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its
negligence or bad faith. The Guarantor also covenants to indemnify the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees)
for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability
or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith on the
part of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of this guarantee, including
the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the
premises. The obligations of the Guarantor under this Article VIII to compensate
and indemnify the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and to pay or reimburse
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for expenses, disbursements and
advances shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Series B Capital
Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit
of the holders of particular Series B Capital Securities.
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The provisions of this Article shall survive the termination of this
Capital Securities Guarantee or the resignation or removal of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 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 might properly be paid.
9.2 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 9.2
shall survive the termination of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee or
the resignation or removal of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
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ARTICLE X - MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 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
then outstanding.
10.2 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 the Declaration with
respect to consents to amendments thereof (whether at a meeting or otherwise)
shall apply to the giving of such approval.
10.3 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 and the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee):
Puget Sound Energy Capital Trust I
c/o Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
000 - 000xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Administrative Trustee
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(b) If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, at the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such
other address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to
the Holders and the Issuer):
The First National Bank of Chicago
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Services Division
Telecopy:
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(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 and the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee):
Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
000 - 000xx Xxxxxx X.X.
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Treasurer
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.
10.4 BENEFIT
This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the
Series B Capital Securities.
10.5 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.
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THIS SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and
year first above written.
PUGET SOUND ENERGY, INC.,
as Guarantor
By:
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Name:
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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