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GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT
by and between
FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP,
INC.
and
WILMINGTON TRUST
COMPANY
Dated as of December 14,
2006
_________________________________________________
GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this
“Guarantee”), dated as of December 14, 2006, is
executed and delivered by First National Community Bancorp, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation (the “Guarantor”), and
Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as
trustee (the “Guarantee Trustee”), for the benefit of
the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital
Securities (as defined herein) of First National Community
Statutory Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the
“Issuer”).
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”),
dated as of the date hereof among Wilmington Trust Company, not in
its individual capacity but solely as institutional trustee, the
administrators of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as
sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the
date hereof those undivided beneficial interests, having an
aggregate liquidation amount of $10,000,000.00 (the “Capital
Securities”); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the
Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires
irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth
in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the
Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other
payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor,
the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit
of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND
INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1.
Definitions and Interpretation. In this
Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized
terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above
have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section
1.1;
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(b)
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a term defined anywhere in this
Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;
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(c) all
references to “the Guarantee” or “this
Guarantee” are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or
amended from time to time;
(d) all
references in this Guarantee to “Articles” or
“Sections” are to Articles or Sections of this
Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) terms
defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this
Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee,
unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context
otherwise requires; and
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(f)
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a reference to the singular includes
the plural and vice versa.
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“ Affiliate ” has
the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule
thereunder.
“ Beneficiaries ”
means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes
indebted or liable.
“ Capital Securities
” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Guarantee.
“ Common Securities
” means the common securities issued by the Issuer to the
Guarantor pursuant to the Declaration.
“ Corporate Trust
Office ” means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at
which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall,
at any particular time, be principally administered, which office
at the date of execution of this Guarantee is located at Rodney
Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
“ Covered Person
” means any Holder of Capital Securities.
“ Debentures ”
means the debt securities of the Guarantor designated the Floating
Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2036
held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration)
of the Issuer.
“ Declaration Event of
Default ” means an “Event of Default” as
defined in the Declaration.
“ Event of Default
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“ Guarantee Payments
” means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent
not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are
required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the
Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the
Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available
therefor, with respect to any Capital Securities called for
redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price
to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect
to Capital Securities redeemed upon the occurrence of a Special
Event, and (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in
connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of
the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the
Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the
Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer
shall have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of
assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to
Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the
“Liquidation Distribution”).
“ Guarantee Trustee
” means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
“ Guarantor ”
means First National Community Bancorp, Inc. and each of its
successors and assigns.
“ Holder ” means
any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer,
of any Capital Securities; provided , however , that,
in determining whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of
Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or
waiver hereunder, “Holder” shall not include the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
“ Indemnified Person
” means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Guarantee
Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or
agents of the Guarantee Trustee.
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“ Indenture ”
means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the
Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual
capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental
thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the
institutional trustee of the Issuer.
“ Issuer ” has
the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph to this
Guarantee.
“ Liquidation
Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in the
definition of “Guarantee Payments” herein.
“ Majority in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities ” means Holder(s) of
outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but
separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50%
of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount
that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting
percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then
outstanding.
“ Obligations ”
means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including
liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer other than obligations
of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts
due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust
Securities.
“ Officer’s
Certificate ” means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any
Officer’s Certificate delivered with respect to compliance
with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee shall
include:
(a) a
statement that the officer signing the Officer’s Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating
thereto;
(b) a
brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by the officer in rendering the
Officer’s Certificate;
(c) a
statement that the officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to
enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with;
and
(d) a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of the officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
“ Person ” means
a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any
other entity of whatever nature.
“ Redemption Price
” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
“ Responsible Officer
” means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer
within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee
including any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary,
Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any
of the above designated officers and also, 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.
“ Special Event ”
has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
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“ Special Redemption
Price ” has the meaning set forth in the
Indenture.
“ Successor Guarantee
Trustee ” means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing
the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under
Section 3.1.
“ Trust Securities
” means the Common Securities and the Capital
Securities.
ARTICLE II
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS
OF
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
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Section 2.1.
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Powers and Duties of the
Guarantee Trustee .
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(a) This
Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of
the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee
shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of
Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section
4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor
Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee
Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee
Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and
delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee
Trustee.
(b) If
an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities.
(c) The
Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after curing all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set
forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read
into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event
of Default has occurred (that has not been waived pursuant to
Section 2.4) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of
the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of
the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the
same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent
person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct
of his or her own affairs.
(d) No
provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the
Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) prior
to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or
waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the
duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined
solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of
such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in
the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
upon any certificates or opinions furnished
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to the Guarantee Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case
of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof
are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee,
the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Guarantee;
(ii) the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible Officer of
the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was
made;
(iii) the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the written direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee, or relating to the exercise of
any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this
Guarantee; and
(iv) no
provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the
exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee
shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of
such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
Guarantee or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the
Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
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Section 2.2.
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Certain Rights of Guarantee
Trustee .
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(a)
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Subject to the provisions of Section
2.1:
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(i) The
Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it
to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the
proper party or parties.
(ii) Any
direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee
shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s
Certificate.
(iii) Whenever,
in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee
shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request
and conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate of the
Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly
delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The
Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
filing or registration of any instrument (or any re-recording,
refiling or re-registration thereof).
(v) The
Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and
the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters
shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect
of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and
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in accordance with such advice or
opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee
Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of
competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The
Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request
or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided
to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses
(including attorneys’ fees and expenses and the expenses of
the Guarantee Trustee’s agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such
request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be
requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided ,
however , that nothing contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi)
shall relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and
powers vested in it by this Guarantee.
(vii) The
Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee,
in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation
into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The
Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder
or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through
agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee
Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence
on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.
(ix) Any
action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall
bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of
the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and
effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be
required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to
so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions
of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by
the Guarantee Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such
action.
(x) Whenever
in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall
deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing
any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the
Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the 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
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken,
suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith,
without