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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST VII
Dated as of August 31, 1999
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CROSS REFERENCE TABLE*
Section of Trust Section of
Indenture Act of Guarantee
1939, as amended Agreement
- ---------------- ----------
310(a) ...................................................................4.1(a)
310(b) ....................................................................41(c)
310(c) .............................................................Inapplicable
311(a) ...................................................................2.2(b)
311(b) ...................................................................2.2(b)
311(c) .............................................................Inapplicable
312(a) ...................................................................2.2(a)
312(b) ...................................................................2.2(b)
312(c) ......................................................................2.9
313(a) ......................................................................2.3
313(b) ......................................................................2.3
313(c) ......................................................................2.3
313(d) ......................................................................2.3
314(a) ......................................................................2.4
314(b) .............................................................Inapplicable
314(c) ......................................................................2.5
314(d) .............................................................Inapplicable
314(e) ......................................................................2.5
314(f) .............................................................Inapplicable
315(a) ...........................................................3.1(d); 3.2(a)
315(b) ...................................................................2.7(a)
315(c) ...................................................................3.1(c)
315(d) ...................................................................3.1(d)
316(a) ..............................................................2.6; 5.4(a)
317(a) ................................................................2.10; 5.4
318(a) ...................................................................2.1(b)
- ----------------------
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee Agreement
and shall not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions...............................1
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.............................4
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities...............................4
SECTION 2.3 Reports by Preferred Guarantee Trustee.......................5
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee..............5
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.............5
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver...........................5
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice...........................5
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests........................................6
ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.............6
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee................7
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee........8
ARTICLE IV PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.....................9
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred
Guarantee Trustee..........................................9
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee...................................................10
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.................................10
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected....................................10
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders...........................................11
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment........................................12
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation.................................................12
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations.....................................12
ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions..................................12
SECTION 6.2 Ranking.....................................................13
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination.................................................13
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation.................................................13
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification.............................................14
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ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns......................................14
SECTION 9.2 Amendments..................................................14
SECTION 9.3 Notices.....................................................14
SECTION 9.4 Benefit.....................................................15
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law...............................................15
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee"), dated
as of August 31, 1999, is executed and delivered by Conseco, Inc., an Indiana
corporation (the "Guarantor"), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
trustee (the "Preferred Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as
defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined
herein) of Conseco Financing Trust VII, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
"Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration (as defined herein), the Issuer is
issuing up to 13,800,000preferred securities, having an aggregate liquidation
amount of $345,000,000, designated the 9.44%Trust Originated Preferred
Securities (the "Preferred Securities") of which 12,000,000Preferred Securities
having an aggregate liquidation amount of $ 300,000,000, are being issued as of
the date hereof. Up to the remaining 1, 800,000 Preferred Securities, having an
aggregate liquidation amount of 45,000,000, may be issued by the Issuer if and
to the extent that the over-allotment option in the Underwriting Agreement (as
defined in the Declaration) is exercised by the Underwriters named therein.
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the
Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein)
and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Common
Securities Guarantee") in substantially identical terms to this Preferred
Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Common Securities (as
defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as defined in the
Declaration), has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the
Common Securities to receive payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are
subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions.
In this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee has
the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this
Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to Articles
and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
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(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Preferred 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 to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Base Indenture" means the Indenture dated November 14, 1996 among the
Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
successor trustee to Fleet National Bank, as trustee, as supplemented by the
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996, the Second
Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 22, 1996, the Third Supplemental
Indenture dated as of March 26, 1997, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as
of August 24, 1998, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 14,
1998, and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 31, 1999.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banking
institutions in New York, New York or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office
are authorized or required by law to close.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the
date of execution of this Preferred Securities Guarantee is located at 225
Asylum Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06103, Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated deferrable interest
debentures to be issued by the Guarantor designated the 9.44%Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2029 held by the Property Trustee (as defined
in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust,
dated as of August 31, 1999, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, 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.
"Guarantee Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
its payment or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities to
the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption
price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption
(the "Redemption Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor,
with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer,
and (iii) 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 Preferred Securities as provided in the Declaration
or the redemption of all the Preferred Securities upon maturity or redemption of
the Debentures as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate
of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on
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the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer shall
have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer
remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in
either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If an Event of Default (as defined
in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the
Common Securities to receive payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are
subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
of the Issuer of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor; and provided
further, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite liquidation
amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, then for the purpose of such determination only
(and not for any other purpose hereunder), if the Preferred Securities remain in
the form of one or more Global Certificates (as defined in the Declaration), the
term "Holders" shall mean the holder of the Global Certificate acting at the
direction of the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners (as defined in the
Declaration).
"Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any
Affiliate of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees,
custodians or agents of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Base Indenture and any indenture supplemental
thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Property
Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities" means,
except as provided in the terms of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust
Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Preferred Securities, voting separately
as a class, who are the record holders 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
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding
Preferred Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount
of Preferred Securities have voted, Preferred Securities which are owned by the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or any other obligor on the
Preferred Securities shall be disregarded (to the extent known to be so owned by
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee) for the purpose of any such determination.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by two Authorized Officers (as defined in the Declaration) of
such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with
a condition or covenant provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(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
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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.
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust Company
until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president,
the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer
or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred
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 Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee Trustee with a
list, in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders of the Preferred Securities ("List of
Holders"), (i) within one Business Day after January 1 and June 30 of each year
and current as of such date, and (ii) at any other time, within 30 days of
receipt by the Guarantor of a written request from the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List
of Holders is given to the Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all
information contained in Lists of Holders given to it, provided that it may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
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Holders.
(b) The Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year (commencing with the year of
the first anniversary of the issuance of the Preferred Securities), the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture
Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) of the
Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent provided for in this
Preferred 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 Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred
Securities, waive any past Guarantee Event of Default and its consequences. Upon
such waiver, any such Guarantee Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
Guarantee Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured,
for every purpose of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Guarantee Event of Default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all
Guarantee Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the
giving of such notice; provided, that the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any Guarantee Event of Default unless the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall have received written notice thereof, or a Responsible Officer of
the Preferred 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 shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture. ARTICLE III POWERS,
DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer for the benefit of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer
this Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Preferred
Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in and
to this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall automatically vest in any Successor
Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If a Guarantee Event of Default actually known to a Responsible
Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee
for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any
Guarantee Event of Default and after the curing of all Guarantee Events of
Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as
are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no
implied covenants shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. In case a Guarantee 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested
in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care
and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Preferred 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 Guarantee Event of Default and
after the curing or waiving of all such Guarantee Events of Default that may
have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically
set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to
the truth of the statements
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and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not
they conform to the requirements of this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made;
(iii) the Preferred 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 Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
require the Preferred 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 Preferred
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Preferred 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
Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter
be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action
hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request
and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to
any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any rerecording,
refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and
the written 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
7
Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation
to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Preferred
Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such security and
indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against
the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of
the Preferred 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
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, that nothing contained in this Section
3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, upon the
occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the
rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may
make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may
see fit.
(viii) The Preferred 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 Preferred
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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Preferred Securities, and the
signature of the Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee to so
act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive
instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions
from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed
to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred 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
Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.
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The recitals contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred
Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee which
shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation or trust company organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof
or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the
Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S.
dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal,
State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or
trust company 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
(d) Any corporation into which the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be
merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this
Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto.
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance
with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
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(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold
office until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
or until its removal or resignation. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may resign
from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument
in writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60
days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the
resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or
omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or removal
or resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2,
the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing for
fees and reimbursement of expenses which have 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 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 Preferred
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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Guarantor retains all of its rights under the Indenture to (i) extend the
interest payment period on the Debentures and the Guarantor shall not be
obligated hereunder to make any Guarantee Payments during any Extended Interest
Payment Period (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Distributions
(as defined in the Declaration) on the Preferred Securities, and (ii) change the
maturity date of the Debentures to the extent permitted by the Indenture.
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Preferred
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Securities Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional and shall remain in
full force and effect until the entire liquidation amount of all outstanding
Preferred Securities shall have been paid and such obligation shall in no way be
affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any event,
including without limitation, the following, whether or not with notice to, or
the consent of, the Guarantor:
(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 Preferred Securities to be performed
or observed by the Issuer;
(b) The extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension
of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for
payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other
sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Debentures or any change to the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by
the Indenture);
(c) Any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Property Trustee or the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Property Trustee or the Holders
pursuant to the terms of the Preferred 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 Preferred
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 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee or the Holders to give notice to,
or obtain consent of, the Guarantor or any other Person with respect to the
happening of any of the foregoing. No set-off, counterclaim, reduction or
diminution of any obligation, or any defense of any kind or nature that the
Guarantor has or may have against any Holder shall be available hereunder to the
Guarantor against such Holder to reduce the payments to it under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in
respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
(b) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, then any Holder of Preferred Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Preferred Securities
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Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Guarantor has failed to make a Guarantee Payment, a Holder of
Preferred Securities may directly institute a proceeding against the Guarantor
for enforcement of the Preferred Securities Guarantee for such payment to the
Holder of the Preferred Securities of the principal of or interest on the
Debentures on or after the respective due dates specified in the Debentures, and
the amount of the payment will be based on the Holder's pro rata share of the
amount due and owing on all of the Preferred Securities. The Guarantor hereby
waives any right or remedy to require that any action on this Preferred
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and
not of collection.
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
of Preferred Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to
such Holders by the Guarantor under this Preferred 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 Preferred
Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Preferred 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of 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 Preferred
Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.
So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall
have occurred a Guarantee Event of Default or an event of default under the
Declaration, then (a) the Guarantor shall not declare or pay any dividend on,
make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, (b) the Guarantor
shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by
the Guarantor which rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures and (c) the
Guarantor shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing
(other than pursuant to this Preferred Securities Guarantee); provided, however,
the Guarantor may declare and pay a stock dividend where the dividend stock is
the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or (ii) purchase or
acquire shares of its common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the
Guarantor of its obligations under any employee
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benefit plans.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, except those liabilities of
the Guarantor made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu
with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by
the Guarantor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the
Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of
the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the
Declaration, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to receive any
payments under the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement shall be subordinated
to the rights of the Holders of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee
Payments hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full
payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) upon the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities
or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Preferred Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Preferred
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities
or under this Preferred 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 Preferred
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 Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an
Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders of Preferred Securities might
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properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to
hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability
in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall
survive the termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred 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 Preferred Securities then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will be
required), this Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of
the Preferred Securities. The provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with
respect to meetings of, and action by written consent of, the Holders of the
Securities apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices.
All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be
delivered, telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Guarantor and the
Holders of the Preferred Securities):
State Street Bank and Trust Company
225 Asylum Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
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
Preferred Guarantee Trustee and the Holders of the Preferred Securities):
Conseco, Inc.
11825 North Pennsylvania Street
Carmel, Indiana 46032
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Attention: John J. Sabl, Esq.
(c) If given to any Holder of Preferred Securities, at the address set
forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4 Benefit.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not
separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law.
THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Preferred Securities Guarantee is executed as
of the day and year first above written.
CONSECO, INC., as Guarantor
By: /S/ ROLLIN M. DICK
-----------------------------------
Name: Rollin M. Dick
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
as Preferred Guarantee Trustee
By: /S/ SUSAN KELLER
-----------------------------------
Name: Susan Keller
Title: Vice President
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