EXHIBIT 4.9
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SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Eagle Financial Corp.
Dated as of April 1, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation...................................................... 2
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
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
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
SECTION 4.1 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility................................... 13
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee........ 13
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ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee........................................................................... 14
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand......................................................... 15
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected............................................................ 15
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders................................................................... 16
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment................................................................ 16
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation ........................................................................ 16
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations............................................................. 17
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.......................................................... 17
SECTION 6.2 Ranking............................................................................. 18
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination......................................................................... 18
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation......................................................................... 18
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification..................................................................... 19
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.............................................................. 19
SECTION 9.2 Amendments.......................................................................... 19
SECTION 9.3 Notices............................................................................. 20
SECTION 9.4 Exchange Offer...................................................................... 21
SECTION 9.5 Benefit ............................................................................ 21
SECTION 9.6 Governing Law ...................................................................... 21
ii
SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Series A Capital Securities Guarantee"),
dated as of April 1, 1997, is executed and delivered by EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP., a
Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware
banking corporation, 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 EAGLE FINANCIAL 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 April 1, 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
50,000 capital securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of
$50,000,000, such capital securities being designated the Series A 10% Capital
Securities (collectively the "Series A Capital Securities") and, in connection
with an Exchange 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
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 specified;
(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
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Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on
which banking institutions in New York, New York, Wilmington, Delaware or
Bristol, Connecticut are authorized or required by law or executive order to
close.
"Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, a
Delaware 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.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital Securities
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 Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19890-0001.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Series A Capital
Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities of the
Guarantor designated the Series A 10% Junior Subordinated Debentures due April
1, 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 payment
or other obligations under this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
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"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, 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 dissolution, winding up or
termination 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 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 Person actually known to a Responsible
Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee to be an Affiliate of the
Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, 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.
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"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of April 1, 1997, among the
Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the
"Indenture Trustee"), pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the
Property Trustee of the Issuer.
"Indenture Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in Section 5.01
of the Indenture.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Series A Capital Securities" means,
except as provided by the Declaration or by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by
Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the aggregate
liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid upon
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 certificate
signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice
President, the Chief Financial Officer, 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 "Other
Guarantees" as defined in the Common Securities Guarantee.
"Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures issued by the
Guarantor from time to time and sold to any other trust, partnership or other
entity affiliated with the Guarantor that is a financing vehicle of the
Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer.
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"Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the Guarantor 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.
"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.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of April 1, 1997, by and among the Guarantor, the Issuer and the
initial purchaser named therein as such agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.
"Responsible Officer" means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office
of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, including any Vice President, any
Assistant Vice President, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer or other officer 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 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 amended.
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"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Series A Capital
Securities and Series B Capital Securities, collectively.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application
(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 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities
(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
April 1 and October 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
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.
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SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
Within 60 days after December 15 of each year, commencing December 15,
1997, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such
reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in
the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other
requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such documents, reports and information as are 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 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
such evidence of compliance with the 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 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Series A Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all Hold-
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ers, 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 Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
(a) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after
the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, to all Holders, notices of all Events of Default actually known
to a Responsible Officer, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving
of such notice, provided, that, except in the case of 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 a Responsible Officer in
good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of
the Holders.
(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 Responsible
Officer charged with the administration of the Declaration shall have obtained
actual knowledge, of such Event of Default.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
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 III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 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 exercising 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 Capital 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 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 or
obligations shall be read into this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
against the Series A 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, the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Series
A 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:
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(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, unless
it shall be proved that the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee was
negligent 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 relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy avail-
11
able 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
(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 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
(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 Securities
Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed)
may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely
upon an Officers' Certificate
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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 registration 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 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 provided 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
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indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The 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 evidenced 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 instructions 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) 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 may execute any of the
trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly
or by or through agents 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.
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(xii) 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.
(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. No
permissive power or authority available to the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee
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 IV
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 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 or other Person organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory
thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an
institu-
15
tional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such
laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and
surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to
supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of
Columbia authority. If such corporation or other Person 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.
SECTION 4.2 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
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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.
(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 V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of 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.
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SECTION 5.2 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 5.3 Obligations Not Affected
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:
(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
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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 5.4 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 Securities Guarantee Trustee under this
Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.
(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.
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SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
This Series A Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment
and not of collection.
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this 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 5.7 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.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions
So long as any Series A 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 of, premium, if any, or interest
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on, or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor
(including Other Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in right of
payment to the Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to
any guarantee by the Guarantor of the debt 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 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 stockholders' rights plan,
or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under this Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee, (d) the purchase of fractional interests in shares
resulting from a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock, (e) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged and (f) purchases of common stock of the
Guarantor related to the issuance of such common stock or rights under any of
the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees or any of
the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment plans), if at such time (1) there shall
have occurred any event of which the Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a) is
an Indenture Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor shall
not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (2) 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 (3) the
Guarantor shall have given notice of its election of its right to extend the
interest payment period pursuant to Section 16.01 of the Indenture and such
extension period, or any such extension thereof, shall have commenced and shall
be continuing.
SECTION 6.2 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 (except as indicated below), it being
understood that the terms of Article XV of the Indenture shall apply to the
obligations of the Guarantor under
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this 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, except that with respect to Section
15.03 of the Indenture only, the term "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean all
liabilities of the Guarantor, whether or not for money borrowed (other than
obligations in respect of Other Guarantees), (ii) pari passu with the most
senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor,
any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any
preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, any other
Guarantee and any Other Capital Securities Guarantee, and (iii) senior to the
Guarantor's capital stock.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 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, following the full
payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration or the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders 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 VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified
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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 and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold
each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage,
claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising
out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or
trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal
fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2
shall survive the termination of this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and
shall survive the resignation or removal of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series A Capital Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, as
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signs, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure
to the benefit of the Holders then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 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 9.3 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):
Eagle Financial Capital Trust I
222 Main Street
Bristol, CT 06010
Attention: Robert J. Britton
Administrative Trustee
Telecopy: (860) 314-6404
(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):
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
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Wilmington, DE 19890-0001
Attention: Corporate Trustee
Administration Department
Telecopy: (302) 651-8882
(c) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders
and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee):
Eagle Financial Corp.
222 Main Street
Bristol, CT 06010
Attention: Robert J. Britton
President and CEO
Telecopy: (860) 314-6404
(d) If given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4 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 agreement, in substantially the same form as
this Series A Capital Securities Guarantee, with respect to the Series B Capital
Securities.
SECTION 9.5 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.
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SECTION 9.6 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.
THIS SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and
year first above written.
EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP., as Guarantor
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Wilmington Trust Company, as
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
By:
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Name:
Title:
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