Exhibit 10.9
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Valley Commerce Bancorp
Dated as of March 27, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation....................................1
ARTICLE II
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 2.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee........................4
SECTION 2.2. Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee...........................5
SECTION 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.............7
SECTION 2.4. Events of Default; Waiver.........................................7
SECTION 2.5. Events of Default; Notice.........................................8
ARTICLE III
THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility................................8
SECTION 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.....9
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee.........................................................9
SECTION 4.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand......................................10
SECTION 4.3. Obligations Not Affected.........................................10
SECTION 4.4. Rights of Holders................................................11
SECTION 4.5. Guarantee of Payment.............................................11
SECTION 4.6. Subrogation......................................................11
SECTION 4.7. Independent Obligations..........................................12
SECTION 4.8. Enforcement......................................................12
ARTICLE V
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 5.1. Limitation of Transactions.......................................12
SECTION 5.2. Ranking..........................................................13
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
SECTION 6.1. Termination......................................................13
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 7.1. Exculpation......................................................14
SECTION 7.2. Indemnification..................................................14
SECTION 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses..........................15
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns...........................................16
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.......................................................16
SECTION 8.3. Notices..........................................................16
SECTION 8.4. Benefit..........................................................17
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law....................................................17
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.....................................................17
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Guarantee"), dated as of March 27,
2003, is executed and delivered by Valley Commerce Bancorp, incorporated in
California (the "Guarantor"), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a
national banking association with its principal place of business in the State
of Delaware, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the
Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as
defined herein) of Valley Commerce Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the
"Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
(the "Declaration"), dated as of March 27, 2003, among the trustees named
therein of the Issuer, Valley Commerce Bancorp, as sponsor, and the Holders from
time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the
Issuer is issuing on the date hereof securities, having an aggregate liquidation
amount of up to $3,000,000, designated the TP Securities (the "Capital
Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital
Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other
payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
the Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation.
In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the
preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this
Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to
this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to
Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) terms defined in the Declaration as of the date of execution of
this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless
otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Beneficiaries" means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter
becomes indebted or liable.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee
at which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Guarantee is located at 919 Market Street, Suite 700,
Wilmington, DE 19801.
"Covered Person" means any Holder of Capital Securities.
"Debentures" means the junior subordinated debentures of Valley
Commerce Bancorp, designated the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2033,
held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined
in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to
the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account (as defined in
the Declaration) therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in
the Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property
Account therefor at such time, with respect to any Capital Securities called for
redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price (as defined in the
Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account
therefor at such time, with respect to Capital Securities called for redemption
upon the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined in the Indenture), and (iv)
upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of
Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as
provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the
date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property
Account therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer
remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer
after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer as required by
applicable law (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given
any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee (including in its
individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any officers,
directors, shareholders,
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members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of
the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2003, between
the Guarantor and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, not in its individual
capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant
to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Institutional Trustee of the
Issuer.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Guarantee Payments" herein.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means
Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but
separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50% of the
aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to,
but excluding, the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all
Capital Securities then outstanding.
"Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not
including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer, other than obligations of
the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such
holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities.
"Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer's
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officer's Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officer's
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual,
corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee,
any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee with
direct responsibility for the administration of any matters relating to this
Guarantee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any
secretary, any
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assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer
or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that
officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital
Securities.
ARTICLE II
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 2.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee
Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of
Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b)
or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee
Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting
and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing
documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer
of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Capital Securities.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may
have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall
be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an
Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant
to Section 2.4(b)) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights
and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care
and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or
use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the
Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have
occurred:
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(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties and obligations as
are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee
against the Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively
rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of
the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to
the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case of any
such certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to
examine the same to determine whether or not on their face
they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible
Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made;
(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the written direction of the Holders of not less
than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this
Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee shall require the
Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties
or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee
Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the
repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the
terms of this Guarantee, or security and indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 2.2. Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be
fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note,
other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed
by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by
the proper party or parties.
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(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's
Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting any action
hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer's Certificate of
the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly
delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument or other writing
(or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof).
(v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its
selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to
legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee
Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of
competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall
have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs,
expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of
the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such
request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be
requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the
Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of
its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by
this Guarantee.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the
Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry
or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or
by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be
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responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents
hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the
signature of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party
shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee
Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and
provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively
evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such
action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions
with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions
from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or
taking such other action until such instructions are received and
(C) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in
accordance with such instructions.
(xi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action
taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and
reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion
or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it,
in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee
Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable
law to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power,
duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the
Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.
The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the
statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.
SECTION 2.4. Events of Default; Waiver.
(a) An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the
failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other
obligations hereunder.
(b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders
of all of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its
consequences. Upon such waiver, any
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such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have
been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair
any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.5. Events of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence
of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to
the Holders of the Capital Securities, notices of all Events of Default
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless
such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided,
however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such
notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in
good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any
Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written
notice thereof from the Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities,
or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of this Guarantee shall have actual knowledge thereof.
ARTICLE III
THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation or national association organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any
state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or Person
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust 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 national association publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then,
for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital
and surplus of such corporation or national association shall be
deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its
most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible
to so act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately
resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 3.2(c).
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(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest' within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act,
the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign to
the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to, this Guarantee.
SECTION 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except
during an Event of Default.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with
Section 3.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and
has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office
until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its
removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in
writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor,
which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after
delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee
resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court
may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions
to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of
the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall
pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee
under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination,
removal or resignation.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee.
(a) The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in
full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any
defense (except as defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or
counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The
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Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by
direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or
by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
(b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all
Obligations of the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so
assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full
payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such
Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be for the Beneficiaries who
have received notice hereof.
SECTION 4.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee
and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for
payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other
Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment,
notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 4.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the
happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities
to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or
any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption
Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms
of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of
any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the
Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for the payment of the
Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or other sums payable that results from the extension of any
interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity
date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital
Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of
any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the
Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;
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(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby
or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it
being the intent of this Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 4.4. Rights of Holders.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any
trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee;
provided, however, that (subject to Sections 2.1 and 2.2) the Guarantee
Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if
the Guarantee Trustee shall determine that the actions so directed would
be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction
or if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by legal counsel determines that
the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the
Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees,
executive committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or
Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so
directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.
(b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee
Trustee's rights under this Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.
The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action
be brought first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other
Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
SECTION 4.5. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
SECTION 4.6. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the
Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid
to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that
the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions
of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way
of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases
as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such
payment, any
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amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to
the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to
hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the
Holders.
SECTION 4.7. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof.
SECTION 4.8. Enforcement.
A Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained
in Section 4.1 (b) directly against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor waives any
right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any
other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any
Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the
Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 5.1. Limitation of Transactions.
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor
shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration and such
period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then
the Guarantor may not (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Guarantor's capital stock or (y) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior
in interest to the Debentures (other than (i) payments under this Guarantee,
(ii) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock
of the Guarantor (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or
other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees,
officers, directors, or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend
reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the
issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the Event of Default or the
applicable Extension Period, (iii) as a result of any exchange,
reclassification, combination or
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conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or any
capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the
Guarantor's capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor's
indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iv) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (v) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (vi) any dividend in the form of
stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock
issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or
junior to such stock).
SECTION 5.2. Ranking.
This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the
Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees
to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth
herein.
The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of
assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary's liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that
subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a
creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor's obligations under this
Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to
the assets of the Guarantor for payments thereunder. This Guarantee does not
limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the
Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture
or agreement that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
SECTION 6.1. Termination.
This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon
full payment of the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as the
case may be, of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the
distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital
Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with
the Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to
be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Capital Securities or under this Guarantee.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 7.1. 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 of
such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee
and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be
within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by
this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be
liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such
Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such
acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such
information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Issuer or
the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person
reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence and who, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been
selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including
information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of
the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to
the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of
Capital Securities might properly be paid.
SECTION 7.2. Indemnification.
(a) The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for,
and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss,
liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including but not limited to the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending
itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection
with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person's powers
or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this
Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee
Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.
(b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this
Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified
Person will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will
not relieve the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless
and to the extent that the Guarantor did not otherwise learn of such
action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Guarantor of
substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve
the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than
the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. The
Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor's choice
at the Guarantor's
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expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which
indemnification is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not
thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate
counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth
below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor's election to appoint
counsel to represent the Indemnified Person in any action, the Indemnified
Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local
counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and
expenses of such separate counsel, if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the
Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel
with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in,
or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the
Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified
Persons which are different from or additional to those available to the
Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person
within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or
(iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not,
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of
which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or
not the Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim
or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
SECTION 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the parties
shall agree to from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited
by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an
express trust); and
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements
and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of
this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or
willful misconduct.
The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.
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ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind
the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the
Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or
consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer
or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another entity, in each case to the extent
permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or
delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the
Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which
case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only
with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration
with respect to amendments thereof shall apply equally with respect to
amendments of the Guarantee.
SECTION 8.3. Notices.
All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or
mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's
mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee
Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities):
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
919 Market Street
Suite 700
Wilmington, DE 19801
Attention: Corporate Trust Division
Telecopy: 302-575-2006
Telephone: 302-575-2005
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(a) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address
set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of
to the Holders of the Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee):
Valley Commerce Bancorp
200 S. Court St.
Visalia, California 93291
Attention: Roy O. Estridge
Telecopy: (559) 740-0747
Telephone: (559) 622-9000
(b) If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address
set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 8.4. Benefit.
This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the
Capital Securities and, subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately
transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS
PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.
This Guarantee may contain more than one counterpart of the
signature page and this Guarantee may be executed by the affixing of the
signature of the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee to any of such counterpart
signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though
one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers
had signed a single signature page.
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THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
Valley Commerce Bancorp,
as Guarantor
By: /s/ Donald A. Gilles
---------------------------------
Name: Donald A. Gilles
-------------------------------
Title: President and CEO
------------------------------
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ Edward L. Truitt, Jr.
---------------------------------
Name: Edward L. Truitt, Jr.
-------------------------------
Title: Vice President
------------------------------
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