Guarantee Agreement



 






Exhibit
10.2




GUARANTEE AGREEMENT




Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida




Dated as of December 16, 2005




 









 








TABLE OF CONTENTS




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	 

	 	ARTICLE I	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 1.1.

	 	Definitions and Interpretation
	 	 	1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	ARTICLE II	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 2.1.

	 	Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	4	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 2.2.

	 	Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	5	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 2.3.

	 	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee
	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 2.4.

	 	Events of Default; Waiver
	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 2.5.

	 	Events of Default; Notice
	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	ARTICLE III	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 3.1.

	 	The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 3.2.

	 	Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	ARTICLE IV	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	GUARANTEE	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.1.

	 	Guarantee
	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.2.

	 	Waiver of Notice and Demand
	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.3.

	 	Obligations Not Affected
	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.4.

	 	Rights of Holders
	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.5.

	 	Guarantee of Payment
	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.6.

	 	Subrogation
	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.7.

	 	Independent Obligations
	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 4.8.

	 	Enforcement
	 	 	12	 






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	 	TABLE OF CONTENTS	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	(continued)	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Page

	 

	 	ARTICLE V	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 5.1.

	 	Limitation of Transactions
	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 5.2.

	 	Ranking
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	ARTICLE VI	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	TERMINATION	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 6.1.

	 	Termination
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	ARTICLE VII	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	INDEMNIFICATION	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 7.1.

	 	Exculpation
	 	 	14	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 7.2.

	 	Indemnification
	 	 	14	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 7.3.

	 	Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses
	 	 	15	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 ARTICLE VIII	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	MISCELLANEOUS	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 8.1.

	 	Successors and Assigns
	 	 	16	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 8.2.

	 	Amendments
	 	 	16	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 8.3.

	 	Notices
	 	 	16	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 8.4.

	 	Benefit
	 	 	17	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 8.5.

	 	Governing Law
	 	 	17	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SECTION 8.6.

	 	Counterparts
	 	 	17	 






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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT




          This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the “Guarantee”), dated as of December 16, 2005, is executed and
delivered by Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, incorporated in Florida (the “Guarantor”),
and U.S. Bank National Association, 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 SBCF
Statutory Trust II, a Connecticut statutory trust (the “Issuer”).



          WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”), dated
as of December 16, 2005, among the trustees named therein of the Issuer, Seacoast Banking
Corporation of Florida, 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 up to $20,000,000, designated the TP Securities (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.



          “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.



          “Covered Person” means any Holder of Capital Securities.



          “Debentures” means the junior subordinated debentures of Seacoast Banking Corporation of
Florida, designated the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2036, 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 Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture)
to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, with
respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption
Price (as defined in the Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property
Account therefor at such time, with respect to Capital Securities called for redemption upon the
occurrence of a Special Event (as defined in the Indenture), 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 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 U.S. Bank National Association, 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.



          “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 (including in its individual capacity), any
Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders,



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members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee
Trustee.



          “Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of December 16, 2005, between the Guarantor and U.S.
Bank National Association, 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 stated amount that
would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to,
but excluding, 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 each 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 each officer in rendering the Officer’s Certificate;




     (c) 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




     (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such 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.



          “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



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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.




     (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 Events of Default that may have occurred:



- 4 -









 






     (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 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 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:




     (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.



- 5 -









 






     (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.




     (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



- 6 -









 







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 (A) may request
instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other
action until such instructions are received and (C) 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 and reasonably believed by it to be
authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this
Guarantee.




     (b) No provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on
the 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 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 Guarantee Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.



SECTION 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.




          The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor,
and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Guarantee
Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.



SECTION 2.4. Events of Default; Waiver.





     (a) An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations hereunder.




     (b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may,
voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities,
waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any



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such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for
every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.



SECTION 2.5. Events of Default; Notice.





     (a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of
Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital
Securities, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice;
provided, however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in
good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders
of the Capital Securities.




     (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default
unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Guarantor
or a Holder of the Capital Securities, or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee
charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have actual knowledge thereof.



ARTICLE III

THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE




SECTION 3.1. The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.





     (a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:




     (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and




     (ii) be a corporation or national association 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 Person authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least Fifty
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 national association 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 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and
surplus of such corporation or national association 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 Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under
Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the
effect set forth in Section 3.2(c).



- 8 -









 






     (c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest’ within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject
to, this Guarantee.



SECTION 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.





     (a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed
without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default.




     (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until
a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor.




     (c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The
Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting)
by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has
been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by
such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.




     (d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted
appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument
of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court
may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a
Successor Guarantee Trustee.




     (e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any
Successor Guarantee Trustee.




     (f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee all
amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of
such termination, removal or resignation.



ARTICLE IV

GUARANTEE




SECTION 4.1. Guarantee.





     (a) The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders
the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as
and when due, regardless of any defense (except as defense of payment by the Issuer), right
of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The



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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.




     (b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer
and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary
the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This
Guarantee is intended to be for the Beneficiaries who have received notice hereof.



SECTION 4.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.




          The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this 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 4.3. Obligations Not Affected.




          The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this 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 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, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for
the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the
Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for the payment of the Distributions,
Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sums payable
that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any
extension of the maturity date of 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 Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer
granting indulgence or extension of any kind;




     (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral,
receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors,
reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar
proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;



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     (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities;




     (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby
incurred; or




     (g) 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 4.3 that
the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder 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 4.4. Rights of Holders.





     (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of
any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee;
provided, however, that (subject to Sections 2.1 and 2.2) the Guarantee
Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee
Trustee shall determine that the actions so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the
Holders not taking part in such direction or if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by legal
counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if
the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive
committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall
determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in
personal liability.




     (b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee’s rights under this Guarantee, without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other
Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action be brought
first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding
directly against the Guarantor.



SECTION 4.5. Guarantee of Payment.




          This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.



SECTION 4.6. Subrogation.




          The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital Securities
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this
Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent
required by applicable 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 Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such payment, any



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amounts are due and unpaid under this 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 4.7. Independent Obligations.




          The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations
of the Issuer with respect to the 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
Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g),
inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof.



SECTION 4.8. Enforcement.




          A Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.1(b)
directly against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any
action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the
Guarantor.



          The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer
in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee;
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by
applicable provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights 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 Guarantee, if, after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and
unpaid under this Guarantee.



ARTICLE V

LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION




SECTION 5.1. Limitation of Transactions.




          So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be
continuing an Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as
provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be
continuing, then the Guarantor may not (x) 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 or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with
or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than (i) payments under this Guarantee, (ii)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor (A) in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors, or consultants, (B) in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of
capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the
Event of Default or the applicable Extension Period, (iii) as a result of any exchange,
reclassification, combination or



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conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a
subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock or of any
class or series of the Guarantor’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital
stock, (iv) 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, (v) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder’s
rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder’s rights
plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (vi) any dividend in the form
of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon
exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend
is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).



SECTION 5.2. Ranking.




          This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as
defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital
Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth
herein.



          The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its
subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to
the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be
recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor’s obligations under this
Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Guarantor’s subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for
payments thereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or
unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any
indenture or agreement that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise.



ARTICLE VI

TERMINATION




SECTION 6.1. Termination.




          This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the
Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as the case may be, of all Capital Securities
then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the
Capital Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee.



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ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION




SECTION 7.1. 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 of such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with
this 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 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 Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Issuer or 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, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with
reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, 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 of Capital Securities might properly be paid.



SECTION 7.2. Indemnification.





     (a) 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 willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person,
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including but not limited to the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal
fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any
claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified
Person’s powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this
Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the
termination of this Guarantee.




     (b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of
the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing
of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve
the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the
Guarantor did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture
by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve
the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the indemnification
obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint
counsel of the Guarantor’s choice at the Guarantor’s



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expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which indemnification is
sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set
forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to
the Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor’s election to appoint counsel to
represent the Indemnified Person in any action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right
to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the
reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (and local counsel), if (i) the
use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present
such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or
targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the
Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses
available to it and/or other Indemnified Persons which are different from or additional to
those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a
reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall
authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor.
The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle
or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or
threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or
contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Persons are actual or
potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out
of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.



SECTION 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses.




          Other than as provided in the Fee Agreement of even date herewith between Cohen Bros. &
Company and the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantor agrees:




     (a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all
services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which
compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust); and




     (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee
upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it
in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.



          The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee
Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.



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ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS




SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.




          All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the
Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or
consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the
Guarantor’s assets or capital stock to another entity, in each case to the extent permitted under
the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this
Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities.



SECTION 8.2. Amendments.




          Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of Holders of the
Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required),
this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration with
respect to amendments thereof shall apply equally with respect to amendments of the Guarantee.



SECTION 8.3. Notices.




          All notices provided for in this 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 Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee’s mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the
Holders of the Capital Securities):


U.S. Bank National Association

225 Asylum Street, 23rd Floor

Hartford, CT 06103

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

SBCF Statutory Trust II




With a copy to:



U.S. Bank National Association

One Federal Street, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

SBCF Statutory Trust II

Telecopy: (617) 603-6683

Telephone: (617) 603-6549




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     (b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor’s mailing address set forth below (or
such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital
Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee):


Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida

815 Colorado Avenue

Stuart, Florida 34995

Attention: William R. Hahl

Telecopy: (772) 288-6012

Telephone: (772) 287-4000





     (c) If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Issuer.



          All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with
receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other
document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice
was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such
refusal or inability to deliver.



SECTION 8.4. Benefit.




          This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities and, subject
to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.



SECTION 8.5. Governing Law.




          THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE
GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).



SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.




          This Guarantee may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Guarantee
may be executed by the affixing of the signature of the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee to any
of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as
though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a
single signature page.



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     THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida,

as Guarantor	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as

Guarantee Trustee	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 






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