EXHIBIT 4.7
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED
AS GUARANTOR
and
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
AS GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
RELATING TO
SOUTHERN STATES CAPITAL TRUST I
Dated as of _________, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. DEFINITIONS.....................................................................1
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION................................................5
SECTION 2.2. LIST OF HOLDERS.................................................................5
SECTION 2.3. REPORTS BY THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE................................................5
SECTION 2.4. PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.......................................6
SECTION 2.5. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................................6
SECTION 2.6. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER.......................................................6
SECTION 2.7. EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE........................................................6
SECTION 2.8. CONFLICTING INTERESTS...........................................................7
ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE......................................7
SECTION 3.2. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.............................................8
SECTION 3.3. COMPENSATION; INDEMNITY; FEES..................................................10
ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.................................................11
SECTION 4.2. APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..................11
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. GUARANTEE......................................................................12
SECTION 5.2. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND....................................................12
SECTION 5.3. OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.......................................................12
SECTION 5.4. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS..............................................................13
SECTION 5.5. GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT...........................................................14
SECTION 5.6. SUBROGATION....................................................................14
SECTION 5.7. INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS........................................................14
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. SUBORDINATION..................................................................14
SECTION 6.2. PARI PASSU GUARANTEES..........................................................15
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. TERMINATION....................................................................15
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.........................................................15
SECTION 8.2. AMENDMENTS.....................................................................16
SECTION 8.3. NOTICES........................................................................16
SECTION 8.4. BENEFIT........................................................................17
SECTION 8.5. GOVERNING LAW..................................................................17
SECTION 8.6. COUNTERPARTS...................................................................17
CROSS REFERENCE TABLE*
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Guarantee Agreement
310 (a).................................................................4.1(a)
310 (b)............................................................4.1(c), 2.8
310 (c)...........................................................Inapplicable
311 (a).................................................................2.2(b)
311 (b).................................................................2.2(b)
311 (c)...........................................................Inapplicable
312 (a).................................................................2.2(a)
312 (b).................................................................2.2(b)
313 ...................................................................2.3
314 (a)....................................................................2.4
314 (b)...........................................................Inapplicable
314 (c)....................................................................2.5
314 (d)...........................................................Inapplicable
314 (e)..........................................................1.1, 2.5, 3.2
314 (f)...............................................................2.1, 3.2
315 (a).................................................................3.1(d)
315 (b)....................................................................2.7
315 (c)....................................................................3.1
315 (d)..................................................................3.1(d)
316 (a)..........................................................1.1, 2.6, 5.4
316 (b)....................................................................5.3
316 (c)....................................................................8.2
317 (a)...........................................................Inapplicable
317 (b)...........................................................Inapplicable
318 (a)....................................................................2.1
318 (b)....................................................................2.1
318 (b)....................................................................2.1
-------------------
* This Cross Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms
or provisions.
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of __________, 1999, between
SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED, an agricultural cooperative
corporation organized under the laws of Virginia (the "Guarantor"), having its
principal office at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 and FIRST
UNION NATIONAL BANK, a national banking association, as trustee (the "GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time
of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of Southern States Capital Trust
I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "ISSUER TRUST").
RECITALS OF THE CORPORATION
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as
of ________, 1999, among Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated, as
Depositor, First Union National Bank, as Property Trustee, First Union Trust
Company, National Association, as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative
Trustees named therein, the Issuer Trust is issuing up to $86,250,000 aggregate
Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of its _____% Capital
Securities, Series A (liquidation amount $25 per capital security) (the "CAPITAL
SECURITIES"), representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Issuer Trust and having the terms set forth in the Trust
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Securities will be issued by the Issuer Trust and
the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer
Trust's Common Securities (as defined herein), will be used to purchase the
Debentures (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which
Debentures will be deposited with First Union National Bank, as Property Trustee
under the Trust Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Holders to purchase Capital Securities,
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Capital Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined herein) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of Capital Securities
by each Holder, which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges will benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for
the benefit of the Holders from time to time.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION I.1. DEFINITIONS
For all purposes of this Guarantee Agreement, except as otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them
in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
(c) The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed
to be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(d) All accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles;
(e) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article"
or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this
Guarantee Agreement; and
(f) The words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Guarantee Agreement as a whole and not to
any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"AFFILIATE" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"CONTROL", when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the board of directors of the Guarantor or
the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor (or any other
committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor performing similar
functions) or a committee designated by the board of directors of the Guarantor
(or such committee), comprised of two or more members of the board of directors
of the Guarantor or officers of the Guarantor, or both.
"CAPITAL SECURITIES" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this
Guarantee Agreement.
"COMMON SECURITIES" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" means (i) a default by the Guarantor in any of its
payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement or (ii) a default by the
Guarantor in any other obligation hereunder that remains unremedied for 30 days.
"GUARANTEE AGREEMENT" means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified,
amended or supplemented from time to time.
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"GUARANTEE PAYMENTS" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the
Capital Securities, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time; (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by
the Issuer Trust, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, unless Debentures
are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) with respect to the Capital Securities, and
(b) the amount of assets of the Issuer Trust remaining available for
distribution to Holders on liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Issuer Trust as required by applicable law.
"GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means First Union National Bank, solely in its
capacity as Guarantee Trustee and not in its individual capacity, until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement, and thereafter means each
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"GUARANTOR" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"HOLDER" means any Holder (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of any
Capital Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in determining whether the holders
of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request,
notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "HOLDER" shall not include the Guarantor,
the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee
Trustee.
"INDENTURE" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
__________, 0000, xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Cooperative, Incorporated and First
Union National Bank, as trustee, as the same may be modified, amended or
supplemented from time to time.
"ISSUER TRUST" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"LIST OF HOLDERS" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES" means, except
as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities representing more
than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement)
of all Capital Securities then Outstanding (as defined in the Trust Agreement).
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed by the Chairman or a
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor or the President or a
Vice President of the Guarantor, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer,
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor, and delivered to the
Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to
compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement
shall include:
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(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
that such officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"PERSON" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, business 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 Guarantee Trustee, any
Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any
Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of the Corporate
Trust Department of the Guarantee Trustee and also means, with respect to a
particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of
that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"SUCCESSOR GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"TRUST AGREEMENT" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Issuer Trust referred to in the recitals to this Guarantee Agreement, as
modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force
at the date as of which this Guarantee Agreement was executed; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date,
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
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ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION II.1. TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provisions of this Guarantee Agreement
limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c)
thereof, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Guarantee
Agreement modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which
may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to
this Guarantee Agreement as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION II.2. LIST OF HOLDERSSECTION II.2. LIST OF HOLDERS.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee (a) semiannually, on or before June 30 and December 31 of each
year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders (a "LIST OF HOLDERS") as of a date not
more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such other times as
the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt
by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more
than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to the
extent such information is in the possession or control of the Guarantor and has
not otherwise been received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as such.
The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on
receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Section
311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION II.3. REPORTS BY THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Not later than 60 days following December 31 of each year, commencing
December 31, 1999, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such
reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in
the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d)
of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION II.4. PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders
such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314
of the Trust Indenture Act, in the form, in the manner and at the times required
by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, PROVIDED that such documents, reports
and information shall not be required to be provided to the Securities and
Exchange Commission unless this Guarantee Agreement shall have been qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION II.5. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of
compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer of the Guarantor pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given
in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION II.6. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities,
waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such
waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
SECTION II.7. EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
an Event of Default known to it, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid,
to the Holders, notice of any such Event of Default, unless such Event of
Default has been cured before the giving of such notice, PROVIDED that, except
in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the Guarantee
Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the
board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors
and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines
that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written
notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of
Default.
SECTION II.8. CONFLICTING INTERESTS
The Trust Agreement and the Indenture shall be deemed to be specifically
described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the
first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION III.1. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for
the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee Agreement to any Person except to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as
Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee
Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee
Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment
hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or
not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1), and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee
Trustee. If an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 2.6), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same
degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
own negligent failure to act or its own wilful misconduct, except that:
(i) Prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1), and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance
of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.1); and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely,
as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any
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such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof or of
the Trust Indenture Act are specifically required to be furnished
to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a
duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform
to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement.
(ii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment
was made.
(iii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Guarantee Trustee, under this Guarantee Agreement.
(iv) Subject to Section 3.1(b), no provision of this Guarantee
Agreement shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance
of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers,
if the Guarantee Trustee shall believe in good faith that the repayment
of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the
terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION III.2. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected
in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or
other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter
be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take
any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt
of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly delivered
by the Guarantor.
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(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and
the written advice or opinion of such legal counsel with respect to
legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it
hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
Such legal counsel may be legal counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may be one of its or their employees. The Guarantee
Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning
the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of
competent jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder unless such Holder
shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate security and
indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the
Guarantee Trustee against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees
and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying
with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as
may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; PROVIDED that nothing
contained in this Section 3.2(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the
Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its
obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement.
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in
its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
facts or matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through its agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not
be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such
agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement
the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions
with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action
hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the
Holders, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking
such other action until such instructions are received, and (C) shall be
protected in acting in accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose
any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
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SECTION III.3. COMPENSATION; INDEMNITY; FEES.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as may
be agreed by the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee from time to time
(which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in
regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse
the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Guarantee Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents
and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder.
The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any
Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee
Agreement.
The provisions of this Section 3.3 shall survive the termination of this
Guarantee Agreement or the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION IV.1. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
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(ii) be a Person that is a national or state chartered bank and
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, and that
has at the time of such appointment securities rated in one of the three
highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000,
and shall be a corporation meeting the requirements of Section 310(a) of
the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of
its supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this
Section 4.1 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report
of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in
the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2.
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions
of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION IV.2. APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF THE GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(c), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or
removed at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) Subject to Section 4.2(c), the Guarantee Trustee may resign from
office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by giving written
notice thereof to the Holders and the Guarantor and by appointing a successor
Guarantee Trustee.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold office until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and shall have accepted
such appointment. No removal or resignation of a Guarantee Trustee shall be
effective until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and, in the case of any
resignation, the resigning Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If the Guarantee Trustee shall resign, be removed or become
incapable of acting as Guarantee Trustee and a replacement shall not be
appointed prior to such resignation or removal, or if a vacancy shall occur in
the office of Guarantee Trustee for any reason, and no Successor Guarantee
Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this
Section 4.2 within 60 days after delivery to the Holders and the Guarantor of a
notice of resignation, the resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the
expense of the Guarantor, any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of
a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such
notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
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ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION V.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 or on behalf of the Issuer Trust), as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer Trust may have or
assert, except the defense of payment. 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 Trust to pay such amounts
to the Holders.
SECTION V.2. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee
Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the
Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust 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 V.3. OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of
the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise (other
than by Act (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Holders), of the
performance or observance by the Issuer Trust of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer Trust;
(b the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust of
all or any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time
for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of any
interest payment period on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture),
Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable
under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for
the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Capital Securities;
(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
Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer Trust
granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
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(d the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of
debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer Trust or any
of the assets of the Issuer Trust;
(e any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital
Securities;
(f the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor
(other than payment of the underlying obligation), it being the intent
of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain the
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION V.4. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement
will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the
Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee
Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust
or any other Person.
SECTION V.5. GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of
the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer Trust) or upon the distribution of Debentures to Holders as
provided in the Trust Agreement.
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SECTION V.6. SUBROGATION.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the Holders
against the Issuer Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Guarantor
shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be
entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any
amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence,
the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay
over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION V.7. INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer Trust with respect to the Capital
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections
(a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION VI.1. SUBORDINATION.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement will
constitute unsecured obligations of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the
Indenture) of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Indenture with respect to the Debentures, and the provisions of Article XIII of
the Indenture will apply, MUTATIS MUTANDIS, to the obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder do not constitute Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor.
SECTION VI.2. PARI PASSU GUARANTEES.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall
rank PARI PASSU with the obligations of the Guarantor under (i) any similar
guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of
preferred or capital securities issued by any Issuer Trust (as defined in the
Indenture); (ii) the Indenture and the Securities (as defined therein) issued
thereunder; (iii) the Expense Agreement (as defined in the Trust Agreement) and
any similar expense agreements entered into by the Guarantor in connection with
the offering of Capital Securities (as defined in the Indenture) by any Issuer
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Trust (as defined in the Indenture); and (iv) any other security, guarantee or
other agreement or obligation that is expressly stated to rank PARI PASSU with
the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement or with any
obligation that ranks PARI PASSU with the obligations of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION VII.1. TERMINATION.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) of all Capital Securities, (ii) the distribution of Debentures to the
Holders in exchange for all of the Capital Securities, or (iii) full payment of
the amounts payable in accordance with Article IX of the Trust Agreement upon
liquidation of the Issuer Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee
Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder is required to repay any sums paid with respect to
Capital Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION VIII.1. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger
or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the successor or assignee agrees in writing to
perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign
its obligations hereunder, and any purported assignment other than in accordance
with this provision shall be void.
SECTION VIII.2. AMENDMENTS.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the
Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of the Capital Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
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SECTION VIII.3. NOTICES.
(a) Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to
be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice, and delivered, by facsimile or first class mail as follows:
(i) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or facsimile number set forth
below or such other address or facsimile number as the Guarantor may give notice
to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:
Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: _______________
Facsimile: _______________
(ii) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the address or facsimile
number set forth below or such other address or facsimile number as the
Guarantee Trustee may give notice to the Guarantor and the Holders:
First Union National Bank
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Group
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(iii) if given to any Holder, in the manner set forth in Section 10.8 of
the Trust Agreement.
(b) All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when
received in person, by facsimile 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, PROVIDED that any
notice given as provided in Section 8.3(a)(iii) shall be deemed to have been
given at the time specified in Section 10.8 of the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 8.4. BENEFIT.
This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is
not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.5. GOVERNING LAW.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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SECTION 8.6. COUNTERPARTS.
This Guarantee Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Guarantee
Agreement to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE,
INCORPORATED
[SEAL]
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest: __________________________
Name:
Title:
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Guarantee Trustee
[SEAL]
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest: __________________________
Name:
Title:
