Document:

exv4w15

Exhibit 4.15

 

PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

by and between

EVANS BANCORP, INC.,

as Guarantor

and

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Guarantee Trustee

relating to

EVANS CAPITAL TRUST II

Dated as of                     

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE I

	 	 	 	 
	Definitions
	 	 	 	 
	Section 1.1. Definitions. 
	 	 	1	 
	ARTICLE II

	 	 	 	 
	 
	Trust Indenture Act
	 	 	 	 
	Section 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application
	 	 	3	 
	Section 2.2. List of Holders
	 	 	3	 
	Section 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	3	 
	Section 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.7. Event of Default; Notice
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests
	 	 	4	 
	ARTICLE III

	 	 	 	 
	 
	Powers, Duties and Rights of the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	 	 
	Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	4	 
	Section 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	5	 
	Section 3.3. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees
	 	 	6	 
	ARTICLE IV

	 	 	 	 
	 
	Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	 	 
	Section 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
	 	 	7	 
	Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee
	 	 	7	 
	ARTICLE V
	 	 	 	 
	 
	Guarantee
	 	 	 	 
	Section 5.1. Guarantee
	 	 	8	 
	Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand
	 	 	8	 
	Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected
	 	 	8	 
	Section 5.4. Rights of Holders
	 	 	9	 
	Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment
	 	 	9	 
	Section 5.6. Subrogation
	 	 	9	 
	Section 5.7. Independent Obligations
	 	 	9	 

i

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VI
	 	 	 	 
	 
	Covenants and Subordination
	 	 	 	 
	Section 6.1. Subordination
	 	 	9	 
	Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees
	 	 	9	 
	ARTICLE VII
	 	 	 	 
	 
	Termination
	 	 	 	 
	Section 7.1. Termination. 
	 	 	10	 
	ARTICLE VIII
	 	 	 	 
	 
	Miscellaneous
	 	 	 	 
	Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns
	 	 	10	 
	Section 8.2. Amendments
	 	 	10	 
	Section 8.3. Notices
	 	 	10	 
	Section 8.4. Benefit
	 	 	11	 
	Section 8.5. Governing Law
	 	 	11	 
	Section 8.6. Counterparts
	 	 	11	 
	Section 8.7. Force Majeure
	 	 	11	 

ii

 

     GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of                     , between EVANS BANCORP, INC., a New York
corporation (the “Guarantor”), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as trustee (the “Guarantee Trustee”),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities
(as defined herein) of EVANS CAPITAL TRUST II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer Trust”).

RECITALS OF THE GUARANTOR AND THE ISSUER TRUST

     WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of
                     (the “Declaration of Trust”), among Evans Bancorp, Inc., as Sponsor, Wilmington
Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, and the
Administrative Trustees named therein, the Issuer Trust is issuing up to $                     aggregate
Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) of its                     % Preferred Securities
(liquidation amount $                     per Preferred Security) (the “Preferred Securities”), representing
preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust and having the terms set
forth in the Declaration of Trust; and

     WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer Trust and the proceeds thereof,
together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer Trust’s Common Securities (as defined
herein), will be used to purchase the Debentures (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) of the
Guarantor, which Debentures will be deposited with Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee
under the Declaration of Trust, as trust assets; and

     WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred Securities, the Guarantor
irrevocably and unconditionally agrees, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of
the Preferred 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 of Preferred Securities by each Holder, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and
delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred
Securities.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.1 Definitions.

     For all purposes of this Guarantee Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless
the context otherwise requires:

          (a) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this
Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

          (b) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined
herein), either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

          (c) The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”;

          (d) All accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in
accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles;

          (e) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a
“Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Guarantee
Agreement; and

          (f) The words “hereby”, “herein”, “hereof and “hereunder” and other words of similar
import refer to this Guarantee Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or
other subdivision.

          “Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the
purposes of this definition, “control”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the
power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and
“controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

1

 

          “Preferred Securities” shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Guarantee Agreement.

          “Common Securities” means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Issuer Trust.

          “Declaration of Trust” means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Issuer Trust
referred to in the recitals to this Guarantee Agreement, as modified, amended or supplemented from
time to time.

          “Event of Default” means (i) a default by the Guarantor in any of its payment obligations
under this Guarantee Agreement or (ii) a default by the Guarantor in any other obligation hereunder
that remains unremedied for 30 days.

          “Guarantee Agreement” means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified, amended or
supplemented from time to time.

          “Guarantee Payments” means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with
respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer
Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration of Trust)
required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on
hand available therefor at such time; (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration of
Trust) with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer Trust, to the
extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time; and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, unless
Debentures are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution (as
defined in the Declaration of Trust) with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent that
the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of
assets of the Issuer Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders on liquidation of the
Issuer Trust.

          “Guarantee Trustee” means Wilmington Trust Company, solely in its capacity as Guarantee
Trustee and not in its individual capacity, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed
and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement, and thereafter
means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

          “Guarantor” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Guarantee Agreement.

          “Holder” means any Holder (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) of any Preferred
Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage
of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder” shall
not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the
Guarantee Trustee.

          “Indenture” means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of __________, between
Evans Bancorp, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, as the same may be modified, amended
or supplemented from time to time.

          “Issuer Trust” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Guarantee Agreement.

          “List of Holders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).

          “Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities” means, except as provided by the
Trust Indenture Act, Preferred Securities representing more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation
Amount (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) of all Preferred Securities then Outstanding (as
defined in the Declaration of Trust).

          “Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer, the President or a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers’
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement shall include:

2

 

          (a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers’ Certificate that such officer 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 Officers’ Certificate;

          (c) a statement that each 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 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, company, limited liability company, trust,
business trust, statutory trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

          “Preferred Securities” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Guarantee
Agreement.

          “Successor Guarantee Trustee” means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.

          “Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of
which this Guarantee Agreement was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent
required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

ARTICLE II

TRUST INDENTURE ACT

     Section 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.

          (a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that
are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be
governed by such provisions.

          (b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement limits, qualifies
or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act
through the operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control. If any
provision of this Guarantee Agreement modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act
which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this
Guarantee Agreement as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

     Section 2.2 List of Holders.

          (a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee (a)
semiannually, on or before June 30 and December 31 of each year, a list, in such form as the
Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders (a “List of
Holders”) as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such other
times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the
Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
time such list is furnished, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or
control of the Guarantor and is not identical to a previously supplied list of Holders or has not
otherwise been received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as such. The Guarantee Trustee may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.

          (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Section 31l(a), Section
31l(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

     Section 2.3 Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.

3

 

     Not later than June 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2008, the Guarantee Trustee shall
provide to the Holders such reports, if any, as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture
Act in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee
Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

     Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.

     The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the
Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture
Act, in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture
Act.

     Section 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.

     The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with such
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the
matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required
to be given by an officer of the Guarantor pursuant to Section 314(c)(l) maybe given in the form of
an Officers’ Certificate.

     Section 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver.

     The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, by
vote, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred Securities, waive any past default or Event of
Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to
exist, and any default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured,
for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.

     Section 2.7 Event 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, notice of any such Event of
Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such Event of Default has been cured before the
giving of such notice, provided that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee
Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the
board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors of the Guarantee
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders.

          (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default
unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice, or an officer of the Guarantee
Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained written
notice of such Event of Default.

     Section 2.8 Conflicting Interests.

     The Declaration of Trust and the Indenture shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section
310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

ARTICLE III

POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

     Section 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.

          (a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the
Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any Person except
to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment to act as Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee
Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting of
title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered
pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

4

 

          (b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall
enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders.

          (c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default, and after the
curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties
as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read
into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. If an Event of Default has occurred
(that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, 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 Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own
willful misconduct, except that:

               (i) Prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or
waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:

                    (A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined
solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to
Section 2.1), 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 Agreement; 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 Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by
any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act 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 Agreement.

               (ii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by an officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that 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 direction of the Holders of
not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred 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 Agreement.

               (iv) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement 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 or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

     Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.

          (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:

               (i) The Guarantee Trustee may 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 reasonably 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 Agreement
shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate unless otherwise prescribed
herein.

               (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee
Trustee

5

 

shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering
or omitting to take 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
rely upon an Officers’ Certificate which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee
Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.

               (iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and the written advice or
opinion of such legal counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken
by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such legal
counsel may be legal counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its
employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent
jurisdiction.

               (v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate security and
indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the Guarantee Trustee
against the costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) 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 that nothing
contained in this Section 3.2(a)(v) 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 Agreement.

               (vi) 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.

               (vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys, and
the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part
of any such agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder.

               (viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement 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, (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 acting
in accordance with such instructions.

               (ix) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with
knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee
has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of such a Default is received from the
Depositor, any Administrative Trustee, Debenture Trustee or a Holder
by the Guarantee Trustee at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee, and such notice references the Trust Securities;

               (x) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Guarantee
Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be
enforceable by, the Guarantee Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent,
custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

               (xi) anything in this Agreement notwithstanding, in no event shall the Guarantee Trustee be
responsible or liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever  (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustees have been
advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage regardless of the form of action.

          (b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement 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 to
act in accordance with such power and authority.

     Section 3.3 Compensation; Indemnity; Fees. The Guarantor agrees:

          (a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation for all
services rendered by it hereunder as may be agreed by the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee 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);

          (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 the Guarantee
Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement (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;
and

6

 

          (c) to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee and its directors, officers, employees and agents
(collectively with the Guarantee Trustee, the “Indemnitees”) for, and to hold them harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense, including without limitation, damages, fines, suits,
actions, demands, penalties, costs, out-of-pocket or incidental expenses, reasonable legal fees and
expenses and the costs and expenses of defending or preparing to defend against any claim
(collectively, “Losses”), that may be imposed on or incurred by any Indemnitee for or in respect of
the Guarantee Trustee’s (i) execution and delivery of this Guarantee Agreement, (ii) compliance or
attempted compliance with or reliance upon any instruction or other direction upon which the
Guarantee Trustee is authorized to rely pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and (iii)
performance under this Guarantee Agreement, except in each case to the extent that the Loss
resulted from the Guarantee Trustee’s or such Indemnitee’s negligence or willful misconduct. The
provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of the Guarantee Agreement and the
resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee for any reason. The Guarantee Trustee will not
claim or exact any lien or charge on any Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it
under this Guarantee Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

     Section 4.1 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 Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such
and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and shall be a corporation
meeting the requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of
its supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1 and to the
extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.

          (b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under
Section 4.1 (a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect
set out in Section 4.2.

          (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 and Guarantor shall in
all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

          Section 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.

          (a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed (i) at
any time by the action of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities
delivered to the Guarantee Trustee and (ii) by the Guarantor (A) for cause or (B) if a Debenture
Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) shall have occurred and be continuing at
any time.

          (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed 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 hereunder 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 and the Holders, which
resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by 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 4.2 within 60 days after delivery to the Guarantor and the Holders of an
instrument of

7

 

resignation, the resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor,
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.

ARTICLE V

GUARANTEE

     Section 5.1 Guarantee.

     The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the
Guarantee Payments (subject to the limitations contained in the definition of that term) (without
duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust), as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer Trust may have or
assert, except the defense of payment. The Guarantor’s obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may
be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by
causing the Issuer Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders.

     Section 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.

     The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee Agreement and of any
liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust or any other Person before
proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of
redemption and all other notices and demands.

     Section 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.

     The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee
Agreement 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 Trust of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition
relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer Trust;

          (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust of all or any portion of the
Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions that results from the
extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture),
Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities;

          (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 Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer Trust granting
indulgence or extension of any kind;

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

          (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred 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 (other than payment of the underlying obligation), it being the
intent of this Section 5.3 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 the consent of, the
Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.

8

 

     Section 5.4 Rights of Holders.

     The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with
the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the
right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred 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 Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee
under this Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer Trust or any other Person.

     Section 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.

     This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee
Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without
duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer Trust) or upon the distribution of Debentures
to Holders as provided in the Declaration of Trust.

     Section 5.6 Subrogation.

     The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the Holders against the Issuer
Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee
Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by
mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which 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 Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in
violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the
Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.

     Section 5.7 Independent Obligations.

     The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations
of the Issuer Trust with respect to the Preferred 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 Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.

ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION

     Section 6.1 Subordination.

     The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement will constitute unsecured
obligations of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Debt (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth in
the Indenture with respect to the Debentures, and the provisions of Article XIII of the Indenture
will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder. The obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder do not constitute Senior Debt of the Guarantor.

     Section 6.2 Pari Passu Guarantees.

     The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall rank pari passu with the
obligations of the Guarantor under any other security, guarantee or other agreement that is
expressly stated to rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee
Agreement and which includes the obligations of the Guarantor under (i) the Indenture, (ii) the
Securities, and (iii) the Expense Agreement (as defined in the Declaration of Trust).

9

 

ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

     Section 7.1 Termination.

     This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (i) full
payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) of all Preferred
Securities, (ii) the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred
Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with Article IX of the
Declaration of Trust upon liquidation of the Issuer Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at
any time any Holder is required to repay any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or this
Guarantee Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 8.1 Successors and Assigns.

     All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors,
assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of
the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a
consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the successor or assignee agrees in writing to perform the
Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder, and
any purported assignment other than in accordance with this provision shall be void.

     Section 8.2 Amendments.

     Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in
any material respect (in which case no consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee
Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Declaration of
Trust concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.

     Section 8.3 Notices.

     Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall
be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by
first class mail as follows:

          (a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or facsimile number set forth below or such
other address or facsimile number as the Guarantor may give notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the
Holders:

Evans Bancorp, Inc.

14-16 North Main Street

Angola, New York 14006

Attention: _________________

          (b) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the address or facsimile number set forth below
or such other address or facsimile number as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice to the Guarantor
and the Holders:

Wilmington Trust Company

Rodney Square North,

1100 North Market Street,

Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Facsimile No.: ___________________

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

          (c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the

10

 

Issuer Trust.

          All notices hereunder 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 Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not
separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.

     Section 8.5 Governing Law.

     THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     Section 8.6 Counterparts.

     This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall
be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.

     Section 8.7 Force Majeure.

     In no event shall the Guarantee Trustee or the Delaware Trustee
be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including
without limitation strikes, work stoppages, any provision of any law or regulation or any act of
any governmental authority, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, sabotage, epidemics, riots, civil
or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss
or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

11

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Guarantee Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	EVANS BANCORP, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 
	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Guarantee Trustee

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 

12exv4w16

Exhibit 4.16

CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

OF

EVANS CAPITAL TRUST III

     THIS Certificate of Trust of Evans Capital Trust III (the “Trust”), is being duly executed and
filed by the undersigned, as trustees, to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust
Act (12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq.) (the “Act”).

     1. Name. The name of the statutory trust being formed hereby is Evans Capital Trust
III.

     2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with a
principal place of business in the State of Delaware are Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square
North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration.

     3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing.

[Signature page follows]

 

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the Trust, have executed this
Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811(a)(1) of the Act.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

not in its individual capacity but solely as

trustee

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Geoffrey J. Lewis	 
	 	 	Name:  	Geoffrey J. Lewis	 
	 	 	Title:  	Senior Financial Services Officer	 
	 
	 	ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES

 	 
	 	/s/ David J. Nasca
 	 
	 	Name: DAVID J. NASCA, 

not in his individual 	 
	 	capacity but solely as Administrative Trustee 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	                                                    /s/ Gary A. Kajtoch
 	 
	 	Name:  GARY A. KAJTOCH, 

not in his individual 	 
	 	capacity but solely as Administrative Trustee 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	                                                 /s/ John B. Connerton
 	 
	 	Name:  JOHN B. CONNERTON, 

not in his individual 	 
	 	capacity but solely as Administrative Trustee

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00171-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00171-of-00352.parquet"}]]