GUARANTEE AGREEMENT CENTENNIAL FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICES Dated as of July 11, 2002
Exhibit 10.19
Dated as of July 11, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||
| ARTICLE I |
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| DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
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| SECTION 1.1. |
Definitions and Interpretation |
ii | ||
| ARTICLE II |
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| POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE |
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| SECTION 2.1 |
Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee |
4 | ||
| SECTION 2.2 |
Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee |
6 | ||
| SECTION 2.3 |
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee |
8 | ||
| SECTION 2.4 |
Events of Default; Waiver |
8 | ||
| SECTION 2.5 |
Events of Default; Notice |
8 | ||
| ARTICLE III |
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| THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE |
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| SECTION 3.1 |
The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility |
8 | ||
| SECTION 3.2 |
Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee |
9 | ||
| ARTICLE IV |
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| GUARANTEE |
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| SECTION 4.1 |
Guarantee |
10 | ||
| SECTION 4.2 |
Waiver of Notice and Demand |
10 | ||
| SECTION 4.3 |
Obligations Not Affected |
10 | ||
| SECTION 4.4 |
Rights of Holders |
11 | ||
| SECTION 4.5 |
Guarantee of Payment |
12 | ||
| SECTION 4.6 |
Subrogation |
12 | ||
| SECTION 4.7 |
Independent Obligations |
12 | ||
| SECTION 4.8 |
Enforcement |
12 | ||
| ARTICLE V |
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| LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION |
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| SECTION 5.1 |
Limitation of Transactions |
13 | ||
| SECTION 5.2 |
Ranking |
13 | ||
| ARTICLE VI |
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| TERMINATION |
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| SECTION 6.1 |
Termination |
14 |
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| ARTICLE VII |
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| INDEMNIFICATION |
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| SECTION 7.1 |
Exculpation |
14 | ||
| SECTION 7.2 |
Indemnification |
14 | ||
| SECTION 7.3 |
Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses |
15 | ||
| ARTICLE VIII |
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
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| SECTION 8.1 |
Successors and Assigns |
16 | ||
| 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 |
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the “Guarantee”), dated as of July 11, 2002, is executed and delivered by
Centennial First Financial Services, a bank holding company incorporated in California (the “Guarantor”), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, 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 Centennial 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 July 11, 2002, among the trustees named therein of the Issuer,
Centennial First Financial Services, 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 securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of up to
$6,000,000, designated the Floating Rate TRUPS® (the “Capital Securities”);
and
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 Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which purchase the
Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
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(a) capitalized terms used in this 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 Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to “the Guarantee” or “this Guarantee” are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Guarantee
have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
“Beneficiaries” means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or liable.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Guarantee is located at Xxxxxx Square North, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000.
“Covered Person” means any Holder of Capital Securities.
“Debentures” means the junior subordinated debentures of Centennial First Financial Services, designated the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities due 2032, held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
“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) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account (as defined in the Declaration) therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in
the Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture)
to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, with respect to Capital Securities called for redemption upon the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined in the Indenture), and (iv) upon a voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of
(a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at
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such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer as
required by applicable law (in either case, the “Liquidation Distribution”).
“Guarantee Trustee” means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor
Guarantee Trustee.
“Holder” means 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 Guarantee Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee.
“Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of July 11, 2002, between the Guarantor and
Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Institutional Trustee of the Issuer.
“Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Guarantee Payments” herein.
“Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities” means Holder(s) of
outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to, but excluding, the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then outstanding.
“Obligations” means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer, other than obligations of
the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust 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 Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officer’s Certificate 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 each officer in rendering the Officer’s
Certificate;
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(c) a statement that each such officer has made such
examination or investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been
complied with.
“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, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate
Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of any matters relating to this Guarantee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a
particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Successor Guarantee Trustee” means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1.
“Trust Securities” means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
ARTICLE II
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) This
Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically
vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, 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 actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has
occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
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undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.4(b)) and is actually known to a Responsible
Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under
the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this
Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all 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, 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, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; 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; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not on their face
they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee;
(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 such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or 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 written 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; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal
financial liability in the
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performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee, or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(a) Subject to
the provisions of Section 2.1:
(i) The 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 Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
before taking, suffering or omitting 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 conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate
of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument or other writing (or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof).
(v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel
with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the
Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs,
expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee’s agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such
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reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee;
provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) 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.
(vii) 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.
(viii) The 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 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 Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the 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 Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which
shall be conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee 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 of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (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 conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions.
(xi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers
conferred upon it by this Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee 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.
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The recitals contained in
this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.
(a) An Event of Default
under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations hereunder.
(b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities, waive any past
Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default
or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee
shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Guarantor or a Holder
of the Capital Securities, or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have actual knowledge thereof.
ARTICLE III
THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) There shall at
all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the
Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
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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 3.1(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 Guarantee Trustee shall cease
to be eligible to so act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 3.2(c).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to, this Guarantee.
(a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) 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.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may
resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after
delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition 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.
(e) No
Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee.
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(f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or
resignation of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination, removal or
resignation.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE
(a) The Guarantor irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except as defense of payment by the Issuer), 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.
(b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of
the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all
Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be for the Beneficiaries who have received notice hereof.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of
this 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.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of
the Guarantor under this 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) the extension of
time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special 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 (other than an extension of time for the payment of the
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Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or other sums payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise
any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency,
bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the 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, it being the intent of this Section 4.3 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 consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
(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 any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that (subject to Sections 2.1 and 2.2) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee
shall determine that the actions so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction or if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be
taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would
involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.
(b) Any Holder of Capital
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee’s rights under this Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other
Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such
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action be brought first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other
Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the
Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable
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 Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any
such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this 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.
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 Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof.
A Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained
in Section 4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the
Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights 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 Guarantee, if, after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee.
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ARTICLE V
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding,
if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing,
then the Guarantor may not (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor’s capital stock or (y) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than (i) payments under this Guarantee, (ii)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors, or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the Event of Default or the applicable Extension Period, (iii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor’s
capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor’s
capital stock, (iv) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (v) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with any stockholder’s rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder’s rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (vi) any dividend in the form
of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or
junior to such stock).
This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor
and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions
of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein.
The right of the Guarantor to participate in any
distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized
as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor’s obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the
assets of the Guarantor for payments
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thereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt
of the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture or agreement that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon
full payment of the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as the case may be, of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon
full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must
restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
(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 of such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this 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 Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or
claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person’s negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements
presented to the Issuer or 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, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected
with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid.
(a) The Guarantor agrees to indemnify
each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including but not limited to the costs and expenses (including
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reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself
against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person’s powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the
resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.
(b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under
this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor’s choice at the Guarantor’s expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which indemnification
is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall
be satisfactory to the Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor’s election to appoint counsel to represent the Indemnified Person in any action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local
counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel, if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest,
(ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other
Indemnified Persons which are different from or additional to those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time
after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Persons, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
proceeding.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by
it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which
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compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and
(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 it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (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 willful misconduct.
The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
All guarantees and agreements contained in this 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. Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of the
Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor’s assets to another entity, in each case to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations
under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount
of the Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof shall apply equally with respect to amendments of the Guarantee.
All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities):
Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
00
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
(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 of the Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee):
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxx. Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
(c) If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that
if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to
deliver.
This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities and, subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
This Guarantee may contain more than one counterpart of the
signature page and this Guarantee may be executed by the affixing of the signature of the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee to any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they
shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page.
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THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.
| CENTENNIAL FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICES, as Guarantor | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name Title
| ||
| WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Guarantee Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name Title
| ||
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