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Exhibit 10.32
EXECUTION COPY
PARENT GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
by and between
CASTLEPOINT HOLDINGS, LTD.
and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated as of December 1, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
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2
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ARTICLE II
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POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE
TRUSTEE
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ARTICLE III
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GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
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ARTICLE IV
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GUARANTEE
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ARTICLE V
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LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; RANKING
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ARTICLE VI
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TERMINATION
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ARTICLE VII
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INDEMNIFICATION
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i
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ARTICLE VIII
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MISCELLANEOUS
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ii
PARENT GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This PARENT GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Guarantee"), dated as of
December 1, 2006, is executed and delivered by CastlePoint
Holdings, Ltd., a [PARENT STATE] corporation (the "Guarantor"), and
Wilmington Trust Company, a banking corporation, organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware, (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for
the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of
the Debentures (as defined herein) of CastlePoint Management Corp.,
a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Guarantor (the "Company"), and the Capital Securities (as defined
herein) of CastlePoint Management 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 Company, as sponsor of the Issuer, 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 $50,000,000 (the "Capital Securities");
WHEREAS, pursuant to a guarantee (the "Company Guarantee") dated
the date hereof executed and delivered by the Company and the
guarantee trustee named therein for the benefit of the holders from
time to time of the Capital Securities, the Company has agreed to
make certain payments with respect to the Capital Securities and to
make certain other payments with respect to obligations and
liabilities of the Issuer;
WHEREAS, pursuant to an indenture of trust (the "Indenture")
dated as of the date hereof between the Company and Wilmington
Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as
trustee, the Company is issuing on the date hereof $51,547,000
aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures");
WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to issue the Capital Securities and
to use the proceeds thereof to purchase the Debentures; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders of the Debentures to
purchase the Debentures from the Company and for the Holders of the
Capital Securities to purchase the Capital Securities from the
Issuer, 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).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of the
Debentures by each Debenture Holder and of the Capital Securities
by each Holder of 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" 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
(f)
a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
" Additional Amount " has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(b).
" Additional Junior Indebtedness " means, without
duplication and other than the Guarantee Payments, (a) any
indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Guarantor, or any
Subsidiary of the Guarantor, under debt securities (or guarantees
in respect of debt securities) initially issued on or after the
date of this Guarantee to any trust, or a trustee of a trust,
partnership or other entity affiliated with the Guarantor that is,
directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is
defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or
other financing vehicle of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the
Guarantor in connection with the issuance by that entity of
preferred securities, (b) other securities that are issued either
junior and subordinate to or on a pari passu basis with the
Guarantee Payments or (c) any guarantees of the Guarantor in
respect of the equity or other securities of any entity referred to
in clause (a).
" 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.
" Authorized Agent " has the meaning set forth in Section
8.6.
" Beneficiaries " means any Person to whom the Company,
under the terms of this Guarantee, is obligated to pay any
sum or hereafter becomes indebted or liable.
" Capital Securities " has the meaning set forth in the
recitals to this Guarantee.
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" Common Securities " means the common securities issued
by the Issuer to the Company pursuant to the Declaration.
" Company " means CastlePoint Management Corp. and each
of its successors and assigns.
" Company Guarantee " means the guarantee dated the date
hereof executed and delivered by the Company and the guarantee
trustee named therein for the benefit of the holders from time to
time of the Capital Securities.
" 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.
" Covered Person " means any Holder of Debentures or
Capital Securities.
" Debentures " means the debt securities of the Company
designated the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due 2034 held by the Institutional Trustee (as
defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
" Declaration " has the meaning set forth in the
recitals.
" 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).
" Foreign Jurisdiction " has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(b).
" Foreign Taxes " has the meaning set forth in Section
4.1(b).
" Guarantee Payments " means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, to the extent not paid or made
by the Company: (i) with respect to the Debentures, any
payment that the Company is obligated to make under the Debentures
and/or the Indenture; and (ii) with respect to the Capital
Securities, any payments that the Company is obligated to make with
respect to the Company Guarantee.
" 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 CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd. and each
of its successors and assigns.
" Holder " means (i) any holder, as registered on the
books and records of the Indenture Trustee, of any Debenture or
(ii) any holder, as registered on the books and records of the
Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided , however
, that, in determining whether the Holders
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of the requisite percentage of Debentures and 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.
" Indenture " means the Indenture dated as of the date
hereof between the Company 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.
" Indenture Trustee " means Wilmington Trust Company, in
its capacity as trustee under the Indenture, and its permitted
successors and assigns.
" 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.
" Majority of principal amount of the Debentures " means
Holder(s) of outstanding Debentures, voting together as a class, of
more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of all Debentures
then outstanding.
" Majority of the Holders of Debentures and Capital
Securities " means Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities and Majority of principal amount of the
Debentures.
" New York Court " has the meaning set forth in Section
8.6.
" 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:
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(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;
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(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.
" Optional Redemption Price " has the meaning set forth
in the Indenture.
" 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 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.
" Senior Indebtedness " means, with respect to the
Guarantor, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in
respect of (A) indebtedness of the Guarantor for money
borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities,
debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the
Guarantor; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the
Guarantor; (iii) all obligations of the Guarantor issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional
sale obligations of the Guarantor and all obligations of the
Guarantor under any title retention agreement; (iv) all
obligations of the Guarantor for the reimbursement of any letter of
credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security purchase
facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any
interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation
under options or any similar credit or other transaction;
(v) all obligations of the type referred to in
clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons for the
payment of which the Guarantor is responsible or liable as obligor,
guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type
referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons
secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Guarantor
(whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Guarantor),
whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or
thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Senior
Indebtedness" shall not include (1) any Additional Junior
Indebtedness, (2) trade accounts payable of the Guarantor
arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts
payable being pari passu in right of payment to the
Guarantee Payments), or (3) obligations with respect to which (a)
in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to
which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations
are pari passu , junior or otherwise not superior in right
of payment to the Guarantee Payments and (b) the Guarantor, prior
to the issuance thereof, has, if required, notified the relevant
state insurance regulatory agency. Senior Indebtedness shall
continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the
subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment,
modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
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" Special Event " has the meaning set forth in the
Indenture.
" Special Redemption Price " has the meaning set forth in
the Indenture.
" Subsidiary " means with respect to any Person, (i) any
corporation at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of
which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or
more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or
similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership
or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such
Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person
and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited
partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a
general partner. For the purposes of this definition, "voting
stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having
ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the
directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents having such power
only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
" Successor Guarantee Trustee " means a successor
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee
Trustee under Section 3.1.
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 Debentures and the Holders of the
Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer
this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Debentures or
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 Debentures and/or 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) 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
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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:
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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:
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(A) the
duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined
solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of
such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; and
(B)
in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee,
the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but
in the case of any such certificates or opinions 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
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 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 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.
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(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 Debentures and 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 a Majority of the Holders of Debentures and Capital
Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing su
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