EXHIBIT 4
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SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Allmerica Financial Corporation
Dated as of February 3, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION...........................................................2
SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation................................................2
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT....................................................................6
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application..............................................6
SECTION 2.2. Lists of Holders of Securities................................................6
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee...........................6
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee......................7
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..............................7
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.....................................................7
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice......................................................7
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.........................................................8
ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.............................................................8
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.......................................................................8
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.......................10
SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee.........................................................12
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..................................................12
SECTION 4.1. Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility............................12
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee............................................................13
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE..............................................................................14
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee....................................................................14
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand..................................................14
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.....................................................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
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ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION.............................................17
SECTION 6.1. Limitation of Transactions...................................................17
SECTION 6.2. Ranking......................................................................18
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION..........................................................................18
SECTION 7.1. Termination..................................................................18
ARTICLE VIII COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE..................................................................18
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................................19
SECTION 9.1. Exculpation..................................................................19
SECTION 9.2. Indemnification..............................................................20
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS..........................................................................20
SECTION 10.1. Successors and Assigns.......................................................20
SECTION 10.2. Amendments...................................................................20
SECTION 10.3. Notices......................................................................20
SECTION 10.4. Exchange Offer...............................................................21
SECTION 10.5. Benefit......................................................................22
SECTION 10.6. Governing Law................................................................22
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SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Series A Capital Securities Guarantee"),
dated as of February 3, 1997, is executed and delivered by Allmerica Financial
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, a New York banking corpora tion, as trustee (the "Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from
time to time of the Series A Capital Securities (as defined herein) of AFC
Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration"), dated as of February 3, 1997, among the trustees of the Issuer,
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 300,000 capital securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount
of $300,000,000, such capital securities being designated the 8.207% Series A
Capital Securities (collectively the "Series A Capital Securities") and, in
connection with an Ex change Offer (as defined in the Declaration) has agreed to
execute and deliver the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee (as defined in the
Declaration) for the benefit of holders of the Series B Capital Securities (as
defined in the Declaration).
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Series A Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay to
the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined below). The Guarantor agrees to
make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee"), with substantially identical
terms to this Series A Capital 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
Series A Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and the
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, as the case may be.
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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for
the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation
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In this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings
assigned to them in this Section 1.1;
(b) Terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" or
"this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" are to this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee to
Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise spec ified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise
defined in this Series A Capital 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
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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
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day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law or executive order to close.
"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means The Chase Manhattan Bank,
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a New York banking corporation, until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the
terms of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each
such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
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"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
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beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital Securities
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Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally
administered, which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located
at 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Global Trust
Services.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Series A
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Capital Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities of the
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Guarantor designated the 8.207% Series A Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due February 3, 2027 held by the Property Trustee (as defined in the
Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its
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payment or other obligations under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
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without duplication, with respect to the Series A Capital 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 Series A Capital 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 Series A Capital Securities called
for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
termination and liquidation of the Issuer (other than in connection with the
distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Series A Capital
Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of
the liquidation amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the
Series A Capital 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. 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
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of the Issuer, of any Series A Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Series A Capital
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
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"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee,
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any Affiliate of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any officers,
directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives,
nominees, custodians or agents of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of February 3, 1997, between
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the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee,
pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Property Trustee of the
Issuer.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities"
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means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) of
more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount
that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accumulated and
unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are
determined) of all Series A Capital Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any person, a
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certificate signed by 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 Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee (other than pursuant to Section 314(a)(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
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"Other Guarantees" in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures issued by
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the Guarantor from time to time and sold to trusts to be established by the
Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the Guarantor
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with respect to capital securities (if any) similar to the Series A Capital
Securities issued by other trusts to be established by the Guarantor (if any),
in each case similar to the Issuer.
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"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
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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.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
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Agreement, dated as of February 3, 1997, by and among the Guarantor, the Issuer
and the Initial Purchasers named therein as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Capital Securities
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Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant vice
president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant
treasurer, any trust officer, any senior trust officer or other officer in the
Corporate Trust Office of the Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a successor
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Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
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amended.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Series A Capital
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Securities and Series B Capital Securities, collectively.
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ARTICLE XII
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 12.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application
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(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be
governed by such provisions; and
(b) if and to the extent that any provision of this Series A Capital
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 12.2. Lists of Holders of Securities
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(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee (unless the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is otherwise the
registrar of the Capital Securities) with a list, in such form as the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses
of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i) within one Business Day
after June 1 and December 1 of each year, 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
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee provided, that the Guarantor shall not be
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obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does
not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
Holders.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its
obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 12.3. Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
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Within 90 days after December 31 of each year, commencing December 31,
1997, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such
reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in
the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other
requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 12.4. Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
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The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and
the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in
the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act provided that such compliance certificate shall be delivered on or
before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor. Delivery of
such reports, information and documents to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any
information contained therein or determinable from information contained
therein, including the Guarantor's compliance with any of its covenants
hereunder (as to which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is entitled to
rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
SECTION 12.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
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The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for
in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters
set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or
opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be
given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 12.6. Events of Default; Waiver
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The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Series A Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all the Holders, waive any past Event of
Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall
cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to
have been cured, for every purpose of this Series A Capital Securiti es
Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 12.7. Event of Default; Notice
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(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within five Business
Days after the occurrence of an Event of Default is actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, mail by first
class postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all defaults actually known to
a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, unless such
defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that,
except in the case of default in the payment of any Guarantee Payment, the
Capital 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 Responsible Officers of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the holders of the Series A Capital
Securities.
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(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor or a Holder, or a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall have obtained
actual knowledge, of such Event of Default.
SECTION 12.8. Conflicting Interests
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The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the
first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE XIII
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 13.1. Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
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(a) This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exer cising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee of
its appointment to act as Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. The
right, title and interest of the Cap ital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Capital 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of
any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have
occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set
forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants
shall be read into this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee against the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred
(that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually
known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and
powers vested in it by this Series A
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Capital Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its
exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee from liability for
its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, 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 such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for
the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically
set forth in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and
the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
certificates or opinions furnished to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are
specifically required to be furnished to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they
conform to the requirements of this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee;
(ii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee was negli gent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith
in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities relat ing to the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee; and
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(iv) no provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall
require the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of
any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for
believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably
assured to it under the terms of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 13.2. Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
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(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely,
and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and
to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem
it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Capital Securiti es
Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed)
may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request, shall be entitled to
receive and may conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon
receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to
see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
rerecording, refiling or regis tration thereof).
(v) The Capital 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall have
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the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee from any court of competent
jurisdiction.
(vi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any
Holder, unless such Holder shall have pro vided to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or
direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in
this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its
obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound
to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or
investiga tion into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may execute
any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder
either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys,
and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for
any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed
with due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the signature of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall
be required to inquire as to the authority of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms
and provisions of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, both of which
shall be conclusively evi denced by the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
desirable to receive instrutions with respect to enforcing any remedy or
right or taking any other action hereunder, the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities, (ii)
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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 Capital 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(xii) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is
discretionary hereunder.
(b) No provision of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty
or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall
be illegal, or in which the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation, or
which would expose the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to liability,
financial or otherwise. No permissive power or authority available to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 13.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series A Capital
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Securities Guarantee
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The recitals contained in this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity
or sufficiency of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE XIV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 14.1. Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
-------------------------------------------------
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(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
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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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall cease
to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in
Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire
any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in
all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.
SECTION 14.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities
----------------------------------------------------------
Guarantee Trustee
-----------------
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except
during an Event of Default.
(b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written
instrument executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold office until a
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or
until its removal or resignation. The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may
resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a
Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the
resigning Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
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(d) If no Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have
been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within
60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if
any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
(e) No Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or
removal or resignation of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee pursuant to
this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee all amounts due to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee accrued to
the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE XV
GUARANTEE
SECTION 15.1. 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 15.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand
---------------------------
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may
apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first
against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor,
protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all
other notices and demands.
SECTION 15.3. Obligations Not Affected
------------------------
Except as otherwise provided herein, the obligations, covenants,
agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening
from time to time of any of the following:
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(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 Series A 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, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Series A Capital Securities or the
extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out
of, or in connection with, the Series A Capital 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 Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Series A Capital
Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the
Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Series A Capital
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred;
(g) the consummation of the Exchange Offer; or
(h) 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.
SECTION 15.4. Rights of Holders
-----------------
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A
Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital
-15-
Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
provided, however, that, subject to Section 3.1, the Capital Securities
- -------- -------
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction
if the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall determine that the action so
directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such
direction or if the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee being advised by
counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be
taken or if the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its
Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed
would involve the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.
(b) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce such
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. The Guarantor 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 15.5. Guarantee of Payment
--------------------
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of
payment and not of collection.
SECTION 15.6. 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 Series A Capital Securities Guarantee; provided, however,
that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory
provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may
acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other
agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall
be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor
agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount
to the Holders.
SECTION 15.7. Independent Obligations
-----------------------
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Series A
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 Series
A Capital Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event
referred to in subsections (a) through (h), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
-16-
ARTICLE XVI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 16.1. Limitation of Transactions
--------------------------
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, 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, 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 Junior
Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any
guarantee by the Guarantor of any securities of any subsidiary of the Guarantor
(including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior
in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
dividends or distributions in shares of or options, warrants or 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
stockholder's 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 Guarantee, (d) as a direct result of, and only to the extent
required in order to avoid the issuance of fractional shares of capital stock
following, a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange
or conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for
another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or pursuant to an
acquisition in which fractional shares of the Guarantor's capital stock would
otherwise be issued, (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 benefit plan for directors, officers, agents or employees of the
Guarantor or its subsidiaries or any of the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment or
director, officer, agent or employee stock purchase plans) if at such time (i)
an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) shall have occurred and be
continuing, or would occur upon the taking of any action specified in clauses
(i) through (iii) above, (ii) there shall have occurred any event of which the
Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving of notice or the
lapse of time, or both, would be an Event of Default (as defined in the
Indenture) and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor shall not have taken
reasonable steps to cure, (iii) if such Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment of any
obligations under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or (iv) the
Guarantor shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right
to extend the interest payment period pursuant to Section 16.01 of the Indenture
or with respect to certain other debentures of the Guarantor and any such
extension shall be continuing.
-17-
SECTION 16.2. Ranking
-------
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of
payment to Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), to the same extent
and in the same manner that the Debentures are subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture, it being understood that the terms of
Article XV of the Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the Guarantor
under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee as if (x) such Article XV were
set forth herein in full and (y) such obligations were substituted for the term
"Securities" appearing in such Article XV, (ii) pari passu with the Debentures,
the Other Debentures and with the most senior preferred or preference stock now
or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any Other Guarantee (as defined
herein) and any Other Common Securities Guarantee and any guarantee now or
hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or
preference stock of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the
Guarantor's common stock.
ARTICLE XVII
TERMINATION
SECTION 17.1. Termination
-----------
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i) upon
full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration) of all
Series A Capital Securities, (ii) upon liquidation of the Issuer, the full
payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration or the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Series A Capital
Securities or (iii) upon exchange of all the Series A Capital Securities for the
Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer and the execution and delivery
of the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or
will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Series A Capital Securities or under this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE XVIII
COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantor covenants and agrees to pay to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee from time to time, and the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in
writing between the Guarantor and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
(which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Guarantor will pay or
reimburse the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee upon its request for all
reasonable expenses, disburse-
-18-
ments and advances incurred or made by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
in accordance with any of the provisions of this Capital Securities Guarantee
(including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of
its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith.
The Guarantor also covenants to indemnify the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it
harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense
including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and arising out of or in connection with
the acceptance or administration of this guarantee, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises. The
obligations of the Guarantor under this Article VIII to compensate and indemnify
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be
secured by a lien prior to that of the Series A Capital Securities upon all
property and funds held or collected by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular
Series A Capital Securities.
The provisions of this Article shall survive the termination of this
Capital Securities Guarantee or the earlier resignation or removal of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE XIX
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 19.1. 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 Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee or by law,
except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or
claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence 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, 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.
-19-
SECTION 19.2. 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 9.2 shall survive the termination of this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE XX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 20.1. Successors and Assigns
----------------------
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series A Capital
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.
SECTION 20.2. Amendments
----------
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely
affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be
required), this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee may only be amended with
the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
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.
SECTION 20.3. Notices
-------
All notices provided for in this Series A Capital 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 Administrative 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee):
-20-
AFC Capital Trust I
c/o Allmerica Financial Corporation
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (508) 852-7588
(b) If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, at the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such
other address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to
the Holders and the Issuer):
The Chase Manhattan Bank
Global Trust Services
450 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Global Trust Services
Telecopy: (212) 946-8161
(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 of the Series A Capital Securities and the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee):
Allmerica Financial Corporation
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (508) 852-7588
(d) If given to any Holder of Series A 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 20.4. Exchange Offer
--------------
In the event an Exchange Offer Registration Statement (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement) becomes effective and the Issuer issues any
Series B Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer, the Guarantor will enter into
a new capital securities guarantee agree-
-21-
ment, in substantially the same form as this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee, with respect to the Series B Capital Securities.
SECTION 20.5. Benefit
-------
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of
the Holders and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from
the Series A Capital Securities.
SECTION 20.6. Governing Law
-------------
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL 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.
-22-
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day
and year first above written.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION, as
Guarantor
By:/s/ Edward J. Parry III
--------------------------------------
Name: Edward J. Parry III
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:/s/ Andrea Koster-Crair
--------------------------------------
Name: Andrea Koster-Crair
Title: