EXHIBIT 4.6
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TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
DATED AS OF ______ __, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION............................. 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION........................... 5
SECTION 2.2 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES............. 6
SECTION 2.3 REPORTS BY THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE 6
SECTION 2.4 PERIODIC REPORTS TO TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE.............................................. 6
SECTION 2.5 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT........... 7
SECTION 2.6 GUARANTEE EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER........................ 7
SECTION 2.7 GUARANTEE EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE......................... 7
SECTION 2.8 CONFLICTING INTERESTS...................................... 7
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE ................................... 8
SECTION 3.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE ............................................. 10
SECTION 3.3 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF TRUST
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE....................... 12
ARTICLE IV
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY 12
SECTION 4.2 APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF TRUST PREFERRED
SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE......................... 13
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PAGE
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 GUARANTEE.................................................. 14
SECTION 5.2 WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND................................ 14
SECTION 5.3 OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED................................... 14
SECTION 5.4 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.......................................... 15
SECTION 5.5 GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT....................................... 16
SECTION 5.6 SUBROGATION................................................ 16
SECTION 5.7 INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.................................... 16
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS................................. 16
SECTION 6.2 RANKING.................................................... 17
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 TERMINATION................................................ 17
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 EXCULPATION................................................ 18
SECTION 8.2 INDEMNIFICATION............................................ 18
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS..................................... 18
SECTION 9.2 AMENDMENTS................................................. 19
SECTION 9.3 NOTICES.................................................... 19
SECTION 9.4 BENEFIT.................................................... 20
SECTION 9.5 GOVERNING LAW.............................................. 20
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TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee"), dated as of _________ __, 1999, is executed
and delivered by Independent Bank Corp., a Massachusetts corporation (the
"Guarantor"), and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as
trustee, for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of
the Trust Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of Independent Capital Trust
II, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
(the "Declaration"), dated as of _______ __, 1999, among the trustees of the
Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the Holders from time to
time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer
is issuing on the date hereof, _______ trust preferred securities, having an
aggregate liquidation amount of $__________, such trust preferred securities
being designated the ___% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (collectively
the "Trust Preferred Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Trust
Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to
agree, to the extent set forth in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, to
pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make
certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee"), with substantially identical
terms to this Trust 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 Guarantee Payments under
the Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated, to the extent and in the
manner set forth in the Common Securities Guarantee, to the rights of holders of
Trust Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder,
which purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor,
the Guarantor executes and delivers this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
In this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Trust 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 in the Declaration as at the date of
execution of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee have
the same meaning when used in this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee" or "this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee"
are to this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of
this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise
specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same
meaning when used in this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa.
"AFFILIATE" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule
405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule
thereunder.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or Rockland,
Massachusetts are authorized or required by law or executive order 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 Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New
York 10286.
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"COVERED PERSON" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Trust
Preferred Securities.
"DEBENTURES" means the series of subordinated deferrable interest
debentures of the Guarantor designated the ____% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due ______ __, 2029 held by the Property Trustee (as defined
in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"GUARANTEE EVENT OF DEFAULT" means a default by the Guarantor on
any of its payment or other obligations under this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee; provided, however, that except with respect to a default in payment
of any Guarantee Payment, the Guarantor shall have received notice of default
and shall not have cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such
notice.
"GUARANTEE PAYMENTS" means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Trust Preferred
Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accumulated
and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) that are required to be
paid on such Trust Preferred Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds on
hand legally available therefor at such time; (ii) the redemption price,
including all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption
(the "Redemption Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally
available therefor at such time, with respect to any Trust Preferred Securities
called for redemption by the Issuer; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution or winding up of the Issuer (other than in connection with the
distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Trust Preferred
Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of
the liquidation amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Trust
Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds
on hand legally available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer
remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in
either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, no Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities
Guarantee with respect to the Common Securities or any guarantee payment under
any Other Common Securities Guarantees shall be made until the Holders shall be
paid in full the Guarantee Payments to which they are entitled under this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"HOLDER" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and
records of the Issuer, of any Trust Preferred Securities; provided, however,
that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Trust
Preferred 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 Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee.
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"INDENTURE" means the Indenture dated as of _____ __, 1999, among
the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Indenture Trustee"), pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the
Property Trustee of the Issuer.
"INDENTURE EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall mean any event specified in
Section 5.01 of the Indenture.
"MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF THE TRUST PREFERRED
SECURITIES" means, except as provided by the Declaration, the terms of the
Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) of more
than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount of all Trust Preferred Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Trust Preferred
Securities have voted, Trust Preferred Securities which are owned by the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or any other obligor on the Trust
Preferred Securities shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such
determination.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means, with respect to the Guarantor, a
certificate signed by any two of the following: the Chairman, a Vice Chairman,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Comptroller,
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor. Any Officers'
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee (other than pursuant
to Section 314(d)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto;
(b) a statement that each such officer has made such examination
or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable
such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(c) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"OTHER COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEES" shall have the same meaning
as "Other Guarantees" as defined in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"OTHER DEBENTURES" means all junior subordinated debentures
issued by the Guarantor from time to time and sold to trusts to be established
by the Guarantor, in each case similar to the Issuer, including but not limited
to Independent Capital Trust I.
"OTHER GUARANTEES" means all guarantees issued or to be issued by
the Guarantor with respect to trust preferred securities similar to the Trust
Preferred Securities issued by other
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trusts established or to be established by the Guarantor, in each case similar
to the Issuer, including but not limited to Independent Capital Trust I.
"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 Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for
the administration of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee 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 TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means a
successor Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee under
Section 4.1.
"TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE" means The Bank of
New York, a New York banking corporation, until a Successor Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
and thereafter means each such Successor Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"TRUST SECURITIES" means the Common Securities and the Trust
Preferred Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION
(a) This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed
by such provisions; and
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(b) if and to the extent that any provision of this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties
imposed by Section 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such
imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 2.2 LISTS OF HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee (unless the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee is
otherwise the registrar of the Trust Preferred Securities) with a list, in such
form as the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require,
of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities
("List of Holders") as of such date, (i) within 14 days after each record date
for payment of Distributions, as defined in the Declaration, and (ii) at any
other time within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a
List of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is
given to the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, PROVIDED, that the
Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the
List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as
is reasonably practicable, all information contained in a List 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 Holders.
(b) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply
with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 REPORTS BY THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, commencing May 15,
2000, the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the
Holders such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act,
if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act. The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also
comply with the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 PERIODIC REPORTS TO TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantor shall provide to the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance certificate required
by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the
times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, provided that such
compliance certificate shall be delivered on or before 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Guarantor.
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SECTION 2.5 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
The Guarantor shall provide to the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if
any, provided for in this Trust 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 EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Trust
Preferred Securities may, by vote or by written consent, on behalf of all
Holders, 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 Trust 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 Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall,
within 90 days after the occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, mail by
first class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all Guarantee Events of
Default actually known to a Responsible Officer, unless such defaults have been
cured before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of a
Guarantee Event of Default in the timing or payment of any Guarantee Payment,
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive
committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or a Responsible Officer of the
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the
withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
deemed to have knowledge of any Guarantee Event of Default unless the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from
the Guarantor, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge, of
such Guarantee Event of Default.
SECTION 2.8 CONFLICTING INTERESTS
The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the
first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders,
and the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising
his, her or its rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any
Successor Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and
succession of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents
have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If a Guarantee Event of Default actually known to a
Responsible Officer has occurred and is continuing, the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Trust Preferred Securities 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 Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Trust Preferred Securities 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, the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of
the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust 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 Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall be construed to relieve the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act,
or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any 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 Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee,
and the Trust Preferred Securities
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Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance
of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in
this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee against the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the
truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions
expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and conforming
to the requirements of this Trust 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
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the
same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements
of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee (but need not
confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations
or other facts stated therein);
(ii) the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a
Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders
of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities
relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall require the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of
any of its rights or powers, if the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of
such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of
this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
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SECTION 3.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may
conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining
from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by
the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently evidenced by
an Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trust
Preferred Securities 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 Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any
instrument (or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may
consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such
counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by 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 Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in
it by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee at the request or
direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses and the expenses of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such
reasonable advances as may be requested by the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee; provided
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that, nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to
relieve the Trust Preferred Securities 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 Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
(vii) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters
stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note,
other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see
fit.
(viii) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee may
execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or
attorneys, and the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not
be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent,
custodian, nominee or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the
signature of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee or its
agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action.
No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its
compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such
action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing
any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from
the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Trust 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.
(xi) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it
in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be
authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it
by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee to perform any
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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
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent
in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to
exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or
authority available to the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF TRUST PREFERRED
SECURITIES GUARANTEE
The recitals contained in this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for
their correctness. The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY
(a) There shall at all times be a Trust Preferred Securities
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 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 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 Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner
and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee has or
shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act, the Trust
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Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects
comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2 APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF TRUST PREFERRED
SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the
Guarantor except during a Guarantee Event of Default.
(b) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
removed in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold
office until a Successor Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have
been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or
subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which
resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section
4.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation,
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after
prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
or removal or resignation of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee all amounts due to the Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee Trustee for fees and reimbursement of expenses which have accrued to
the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
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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 Trust
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.
SECTION 5.3 OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the
Guarantor under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be absolute and
unconditional and shall remain in full force and effect until the entire
liquidation amount of all Trust Preferred Securities shall have been paid and
such obligations, covenants, agreements and duties 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 Trust 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 (as
defined in the Declaration) or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Trust Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any
other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Trust
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
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
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on the Property Trustee or the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust
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 Trust
Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred;
(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 with
respect to the Guarantee Payments shall be absolute and unconditional under any
and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing. 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 Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.
SECTION 5.4 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Trust
Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(b) If the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to
enforce such Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other Person or entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Guarantor has failed to make a Guarantee
Payment, a Holder may directly institute a proceeding against the Guarantor for
enforcement of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee for such payment to the
Holder 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 Trust Preferred Securities. The Guarantor
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waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought first against
the Issuer or any other Person or entity before proceeding directly against the
Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT
This Trust 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 against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this Trust 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 Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Trust 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 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 Trust 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 Trust
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 Trust Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if
there shall have occurred a Guarantee Event of Default or an Event of Default,
or an event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would
be a Guarantee Event of Default or an Event of Default then, prior to the
payment of all accrued interest on outstanding Debentures , the Guarantor shall
not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's
capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock), (ii) make any payment
of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Guarantor (including any Other Debentures) that rank
PARI PASSU with or junior in right of payment to the Debentures or (iii) make
any guarantee
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payments with respect to any guarantee by the Guarantor of the debt securities
of any Subsidiary (including under Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks
equal or junior in right of payment to the Debentures (other than (a) dividends
or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants, rights to subscribe for or
purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders' rights plan,
or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the Trust
Preferred Securities Guarantee, (d) the purchase of fractional shares resulting
from a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock, (e) 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 and (f) purchases of common stock related to the issuance
of common stock or rights under any of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its
directors, officers or employees or any of the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment
plans).
SECTION 6.2 RANKING
This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an
unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior
in right of payment to Senior and Subordinated Indebtedness (as defined in the
Indenture), to the same extent and in the same manner that the Debentures are
subordinated to Senior and Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture,
(ii) PARI PASSU with the Debentures, the Other Debentures, the Common Securities
Guarantee, any Other Guarantee and any Other Common Securities Guarantee, (iii)
senior to the Guarantor's capital stock and (iv) effectively subordinated to the
liabilities and obligations of the Guarantor's subsidiaries. If an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of the holders of the Common
Securities to receive any payments shall be subordinated to the rights of the
Holders to receive Guarantee Payments hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 TERMINATION
This Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i)
upon full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration) of all
Trust Preferred Securities or (ii) upon liquidation of the Issuer and the full
payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration or the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders and the holders of Common
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Trust Preferred Securities or under this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.
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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 Trust
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 Trust 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 might 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 and all loss,
liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on
its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or
investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
then outstanding.
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SECTION 9.2 AMENDMENTS
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect
the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required),
this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior
approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Trust
Preferred Securities (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined). The provisions of
the Declaration with respect to consents to amendments thereof (whether at a
meeting or otherwise) shall apply to the giving of such approval.
Prior to executing any amendment hereto, the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be entitled to receive and rely upon an
Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or
permitted by this Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement.
SECTION 9.3 NOTICES
All notices provided for in this Trust Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and
shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Issuer, in care of the Trustee at the
Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Issuer
may give notice of to the Holders and the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee
Trustee):
Independent Capital Trust II
c/o The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
21st Floor West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration
Telecopy: (212) 815-5917
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(b) If given to the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee,
at the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee
may give notice of to the Holders, the Guarantor and the Issuer):
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
21st Floor West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee Administration
Telecopy: (212) 815-5917
(c) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address
set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to
the Holders and the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee):
Independent Bank Corp.
288 Union Street
Rockland, Massachusetts 02370
Attention: Richard J. Seaman
Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (781) 878-6100
(d) If given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books
and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received
in person, 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 Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the
benefit of the Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately
transferable from the Trust Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.5 GOVERNING LAW
THIS TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
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THIS TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the
day and year first above written.
INDEPENDENT BANK CORP., as Guarantor
By:
------------------------------------------
Richard J. Seaman
Chief Financial Officer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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