Exhibit 10.1
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
HF FINANCIAL CORP.
Dated as of December 7,
2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
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SECTION 1.1
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Definitions and Interpretation
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1
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ARTICLE II
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POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
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SECTION 2.1
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Powers and Duties of the Guarantee
Trustee
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4
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SECTION 2.2
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Certain Rights of the Guarantee
Trustee
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5
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SECTION 2.3
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Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
Guarantee
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7
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SECTION 2.4
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Events of Default; Waiver
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7
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SECTION 2.5
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Events of Default; Notice
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8
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ARTICLE III
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THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
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SECTION 3.1
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The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
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8
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SECTION 3.2
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Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee
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9
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ARTICLE IV
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GUARANTEE
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SECTION 4.1
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Guarantee
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SECTION 4.2
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Waiver of Notice and Demand
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10
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SECTION 4.3
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Obligations Not Affected
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10
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SECTION 4.4
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Rights of Holders
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11
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SECTION 4.5
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Guarantee of Payment
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11
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SECTION 4.6
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Subrogation
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11
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SECTION 4.7
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Independent Obligations
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12
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SECTION 4.8
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Enforcement
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12
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ARTICLE V
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LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS;
SUBORDINATION
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SECTION 5.1
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Limitation of Transactions
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12
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SECTION 5.2
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Ranking
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13
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i
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Page
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ARTICLE VI
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TERMINATION
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SECTION 6.1
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Termination
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13
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ARTICLE VII
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INDEMNIFICATION
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SECTION 7.1
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Exculpation
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13
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SECTION 7.2
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Indemnification
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14
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SECTION 7.3
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Compensation; Reimbursement of
Expenses
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15
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ARTICLE VIII
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MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 8.1
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Successors and Assigns
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15
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SECTION 8.2
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Amendments
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16
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SECTION 8.3
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Notices
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16
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SECTION 8.4
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Benefit
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16
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SECTION 8.5
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Governing Law
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16
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SECTION 8.6
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Counterparts
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17
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ii
GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the
“Guarantee”), dated as of December 7, 2006, is executed
and delivered by HF Financial Corp., a savings and loan holding
company incorporated in the State of Delaware (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
HF Financial Capital Trust V, a Delaware statutory trust (the
“Issuer”).
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”),
dated as of December 7, 2006, among the trustees named therein of
the Issuer, HF Financial Corp., as sponsor, and the Holders from
time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof securities, having
an aggregate liquidation amount of $10,000,000, designated in the
Declaration as MMCapS SM (the “Capital Securities”);
and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the
Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires
irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth
in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the
Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other
payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor,
the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit
of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND
INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and
Interpretation .
In this Guarantee, unless the
context otherwise requires:
(a)
capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the
preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in
this Section 1.1;
(b)
a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning
throughout;
(c)
all references to “the Guarantee” or “this
Guarantee” are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or
amended from time to time;
(d)
all references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to
Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise
specified;
(e)
terms defined in the Declaration as of the date of execution of
this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee,
unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context
otherwise requires; and
(f)
a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa.
“Beneficiaries” means
any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or
liable.
“Common Securities” has
the meaning specified in the Declaration.
“Corporate Trust
Office” means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at
which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
principally administered, which at all times shall be located
within the United States and at the time of the execution of this
Guarantee shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street,
Wilmington, DE 19890-0001.
“Covered Person” means
any Holder of Capital Securities.
“Debenture Issuer” means
HF Financial Corp. or any successor entity resulting from any
consolidation, amalgamation, merger or other business combination,
in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures.
“Debentures” means the
junior subordinated debentures of the Debenture Issuer that are
designated in the Indenture as the “Fixed/Floating Rate
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2037” and held by the
Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the
Issuer.
“Event of Default” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
“Guarantee Payments”
means the following payments or distributions, without duplication,
with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as
defined in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such
Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds available in
the Property Account (as defined in the Declaration) therefor at
such time, (ii) the price payable upon the redemption of any
Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds available in
the Property Account therefor at such time, with respect to any
Capital Securities that are (1) called for redemption by the Issuer
or (2) mandatorily redeemed by the Issuer, in each case, in
accordance with the terms of such Capital Securities, and (iii)
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 of the
Capital Securities and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the
Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer
has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time,
and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for
distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer as required
by applicable law (in either case, the “Liquidation
Distribution”).
“Guarantee Trustee”
means 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.
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“Holder” means any
Person in whose name any Capital Securities are registered on the
books and records of the Issuer; provided, however,
that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite
percentage of Capital Securities have given any request, notice,
consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder” shall not include
the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
“Indemnified Person”
means the Guarantee Trustee (including in its individual capacity),
any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives,
nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee.
“Indenture” means the
Indenture, dated as of December 7, 2006, between the Debenture
Issuer 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.
“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 amount that
would be paid upon the redemption, liquidation or otherwise on the
date upon which the voting percentages are determined, plus unpaid
Distributions accrued thereon to such date) 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 such 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 such officer in rendering the
Officer’s Certificate;
(c)
a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to
enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with;
and
(d)
a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
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“Person” means a legal
person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership,
joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability
company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of
whatever nature.
“Responsible Officer”
means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within
the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee with direct
responsibility for the administration of any matters relating to
this Guarantee, including any vice president, any assistant vice
president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer,
any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the
Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
“Successor Guarantee
Trustee” means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section
3.1.
“Trust Securities” means
the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
ARTICLE II
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 2.1 Powers and Duties of
the Guarantee Trustee .
(a)
This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee
Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a
Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant
to Section 4.4 (b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment
to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and
interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any
Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of
title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have
been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b)
If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of
the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities.
(c)
The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default
that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties
as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee
Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has
not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.4(b)) and is
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee,
the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and
skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise
or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
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(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 or bad
faith, except that:
(i)
prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A)
the duties and
obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by
the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee
shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee
against the Guarantee Trustee; and
(B)
in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee,
the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but
in the case of any such certificates or opinions furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to
examine the same to determine whether or not on their face they
conform to the requirements of this Guarantee;
(ii)
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible Officer of
the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was
made;
(iii)
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the written direction of the Holders of a Majority
in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or
power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee;
and
(iv)
no provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in
the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee
Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the
repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the
terms of this Guarantee, or security and indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 2.2 Certain Rights of the
Guarantee Trustee .
(a)
Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1:
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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 other writing (or any
rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof).
(v)
The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection,
and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal
matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in
good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from
any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi)
The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the
request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have
provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the
costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and
the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee’s agents, nominees or
custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in
complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable
advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided,
however, that nothing contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall be
taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and
powers vested in it by this Guarantee.
(vii)
The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee,
in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation
into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
6
(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