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Exhibit 4.7
EXECUTION COPY
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CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
MetLife Capital Trust I
Dated as of April 7, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS....................................... 2
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation.................................. 2
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT................................................... 5
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act: Application................................ 5
SECTION 2.2 List of Holders of Securities................................... 6
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee............. 6
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee........ 6
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent................ 7
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver....................................... 7
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice........................................ 7
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests........................................... 8
ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.................................. 8
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee... 8
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee......... 10
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.......... 12
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE................................. 12
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.............. 12
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustees............................................. 13
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE............................................................ 14
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee...................................................... 14
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.................................... 14
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected....................................... 15
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders.............................................. 15
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment........................................... 16
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation.................................................... 16
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations........................................ 16
ARTICLE VI [Intentionally Deleted].............................................. 17
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION.......................................................... 17
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ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION...................................................... 17
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation.................................................... 17
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification................................................ 18
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS........................................................ 18
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns......................................... 18
SECTION 9.2 Amendments..................................................... 18
SECTION 9.3 Notices........................................................ 19
SECTION 9.4 Benefit........................................................ 20
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law.................................................. 20
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CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Capital Securities Guarantee"), dated as of
April 7, 2000, is executed and delivered by MetLife, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as
defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein)
of MetLife 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 April 7, 2000, among the trustees of the Issuer
named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof 17,500,000 capital securities (20,125,000 if the
underwriters' overallotment option to purchase additional capital securities is
exercised), liquidation amount $50 per capital security, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $875,000,000 ($1,006,250,000 if the underwriters'
overallotment option to purchase additional capital securities is exercised),
designated the 8% Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities");
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities,
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth in this Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay on a senior basis to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other
payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee") in substantially identical terms
to this Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
Common Securities (as defined herein), except that if an event of default under
the Indenture (as defined herein), 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 rights of Holders to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Capital Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor
executes and delivers this Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
Holders.
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation
In this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Capital Securities Guarantee but not
defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to
them in this Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Capital Securities Guarantee has the
same meaning throughout;
(c) all reference to "the Capital Securities Guarantee" or "this Capital
Securities Guarantee" are to this Capital Securities Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Capital Securities Guarantee to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Capital Securities
Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in
this Capital Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given in the Indenture.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to
bind such Person.
"Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or day on which
banking institutions and trust companies in The City of New York are authorized
or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means The Bank of New York, until a
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this 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
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally
administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located
at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 21 West, New York, New York 10286, Attention:
Corporate Trust Administration.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Capital
Securities.
"Debenture Issuer" means the Guarantor in its capacity as the issuer of the
Debentures.
"Debentures" means the series of debentures of the Guarantor designated the
8% Debentures due May 15, 2005 held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the
Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Direction" by a person means a written direction signed: (a) if the Person
is a natural person, by that Person; or (b) in any other case in the name of
such Person by one or more Authorized Officers of that Person.
"Distribution" has the same meaning as given in the Declaration.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by the Issuer:
(i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the
Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the
extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and
(ii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution
of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Capital Securities as provided
in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
amount of such Capital Securities plus all accrued and unpaid Distributions
on such Capital Securities to and including the date of payment, to the
extent the Issuer shall have funds available
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therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available
for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (amounts in clause
(a) or (b), the "Liquidation Distribution").
If an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive
payments under the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement are subordinated
to the rights of Holders to receive Guarantee Payments.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer, 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 or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
including in its individual capacity, any Affiliate of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners,
employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of April 7, 2000, among the
Debenture Issuer and The Bank of New York, as trustee, and any indenture
supplemental thereto pursuant to which certain debt securities of the Debenture
Issuer are to be issued to the Property Trustee of the Issuer.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holders of Capital Securities,
voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation
amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on liquidation or
otherwise) of all Capital Securities.
"Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer's Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that the officer signing the Officer's Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officer's
Certificate;
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(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 or not, 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, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association or government or any agency
or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department
of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (or any successor of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee), including any vice president, any assistant vice
president, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer
or any other officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee who customarily
performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time
shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is
referred because of such person's knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the
administration of this Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act: Application
(a) This Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Capital Securities
Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions;
and
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(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Capital Securities
Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.
SECTION 2.2 List of Holders of Securities
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
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 15 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
15 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 Section 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
Within 60 days after March 15 of each year, commencing March 15, 2001, the
Capital Securities 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
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of
Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and
the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in
the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is for informational purposes only and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute
constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from
information contained therein, including the Guarantor's compliance
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with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer's Certificates).
SECTION 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 Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth
in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion
required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in
the form of an Officer's Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Capital Securities may,
by vote, on behalf of all 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 Capital Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee obtains actual
knowledge of the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first
class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all such Events of Default
actually known to such Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice,
provided, that, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(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 thereof, or a Responsible Officer of
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the
Declaration shall have obtained actual knowledge thereof.
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SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
The Declaration and the Indenture shall be deemed to be specifically
described in this Capital Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of
the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
(a) This 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 Capital Securities
Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to
Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment to act as Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. The right,
title and interest of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, and
such vesting and cessation 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 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 or waiver of all Events of Default that
may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Capital Securities Guarantee
against the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default
has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this 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.
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(d) No provision of this 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, its own bad faith or its own
willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of 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 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
Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations
shall be read into this Capital Securities Guarantee against the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates
or opinions furnished to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this 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 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 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
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Capital
Securities Guarantee; and
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(iv) no provision of this 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 Capital Securities Guarantee or if
indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
(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
Capital Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Direction
or an Officer's Certificate.
(iii)Whenever, in the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable
that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting
any action hereunder, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee (unless
other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, request and
conclusively rely upon an Officer's 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 reregistration thereof).
(v) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may consult with
competent legal counsel of its selection, and the advice or written opinion
of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete
authorization and
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protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such
counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may
include any of its employees. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this 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
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 reasonable costs, expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and reasonable 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 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 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
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compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this 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 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 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.
(b) No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to
impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to
perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation
conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or
in which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts
or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or
authority available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee
The recitals contained in this 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 Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
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(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 a Property Trustee under the
Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S.
dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to
law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority
referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall cease to
be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in
Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in
all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustees
(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.
(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 appointed to office 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
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executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Guarantor and the resigning Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60
days after the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has received notice of
removal or delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee being removed or resigning, whichever the
case may be, 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 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
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full on a
senior unsecured basis to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without
duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may
have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the
Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this 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.
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SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Capital Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by
reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed
or observed by the Issuer;
(b) 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 granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(c) 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;
(d) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities;
(e) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(f) 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 hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee in respect of this Capital Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under this
Capital Securities Guarantee.
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(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this
Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Capital
Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Issuer, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Guarantor has failed to make a Guarantee
Payment, a Holder may directly institute a proceeding against the Guarantor for
enforcement of the Capital Securities Guarantee for such payment. The Guarantor
waives any right or remedy to require that any action on this Capital Securities
Guarantee be brought first against the Issuer or any other person or entity
before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
This Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection.
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights, if any, of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this 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 Capital Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Capital Securities
Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the
preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the
Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (f), inclusive, of Section 5.3.
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ARTICLE VI
[Intentionally Deleted]
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
This Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) the distribution
of the Debentures to all Holders or (ii) full payment of the amounts payable in
accordance with the Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this 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 Capital Securities or under this
Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this 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
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, bad faith 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.
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SECTION 8.2 Indemnification
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and against any and
all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense incurred by such Indemnified
Person by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified
Person in good faith in accordance with this Capital Securities Guarantee and in
a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of
authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Capital Securities
Guarantee, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified
in respect of any loss, damage, claim, liability or expense incurred by such
Indemnified Person by reason of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable legal fees) incurred by an
Indemnified Person in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding
shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Guarantor prior to the final
disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by
the Guarantor of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to
repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not
entitled to be indemnified as authorized in Section 8.2(a).
(c) The provisions set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the
termination of the Capital Securities Guarantee and any resignation or removal
of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Capital Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights
of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Capital
Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders
of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital
Securities. The provisions of
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Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders apply to the
giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices
All notices provided for in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be in
writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered by
registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, at the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other
address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the
Holders of the Capital Securities):
The Bank of New York
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(b) 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):
MetLife, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Treasurer
with a copy to:
Debevoise & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
(c) If given to any Holder, 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, 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.
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SECTION 9.4 Benefit
This Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders
and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital
Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first
above written.
METLIFE, INC.
as Guarantor
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
-------------------------------
Name: XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Title: VICE PRESIDENT
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