GUARANTEE AGREEMENT between EVERESTREINSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC., as Guarantor, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Guarantee Trustee

EX-4.3 7 dex43.htm GUARANTEE AGREEMENT Guarantee Agreement

Exhibit 4.3

Execution Copy

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

between

EVEREST REINSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.,

as Guarantor,

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,

as Guarantee Trustee

EVEREST RE CAPITAL TRUST I I

Dated as of March 29, 2004

EVEREST RE CAPITAL TRUST II

Certain Sections of this Guarantee Agreement relating to

Sections 310 through 318 of the

Trust Indenture Act of 1939:


Section of Trust Indenture Act				Section of Guarantee Agreement
310(a)				4.1(a)
(b)				4.1(c), 2.8
(c)				Inapplicable
311(a)				2.2(b)
(b)				2.2(b)
(c)				Inapplicable
312(a)				2.2(a)
(b)				2.2(b)
313				2.3
314(a)				2.4
(b)				Inapplicable
(c)				2.5
(d)				Inapplicable
(e)				2.5, 3.2
(f)				2.1, 3.2
315(a)				3.1(d)
(b)				2.7
(c)				3.1
(d)				3.1(d)
316(a)				2.6, 5.4
(b)				5.3
(c)				Inapplicable
317(a)				Inapplicable
(b)				Inapplicable
318(a)				2.1(b)
(b)				2.1
(c)				2.1(a)

Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Guarantee Agreement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
ARTICLE I	INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS	1

Section 1.1.	Interpretation	1

Section 1.2.	Definitions	2

ARTICLE II	TRUST INDENTURE ACT	5

Section 2.1.	Trust Indenture Act; Application	5

Section 2.2.	List of Holders	6

Section 2.3.	Reports by the Guarantee Trustee	6

Section 2.4.	Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee	6

Section 2.5.	Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent	6

Section 2.6.	Events of Default; Waiver	7

Section 2.7.	Events of Default; Notice	7

Section 2.8.	Conflicting Interests	7

ARTICLE III	POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE	7

Section 3.1.	Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee	7

Section 3.2.	Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee	9

Section 3.3.	Compensation	11

Section 3.4.	Indemnity	11

ARTICLE IV	GUARANTEE TRUSTEE	11

Section 4.1.	Guarantee Trustee: Eligibility	11

Section 4.2.	Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee	12

ARTICLE V	GUARANTEE	12

Section 5.1.	Guarantee	12

Section 5.2.	Waiver of Notice and Demand	12

Section 5.3.	Obligations Not Affected	12

Section 5.4.	Rights of Holders	13

Section 5.5.	Guarantee of Payment	14

Section 5.6.	Subrogation	14

Section 5.7.	Independent Obligations	14

ARTICLE VI	COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION	14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)


		Page

Section 6.1.	Subordination	14

Section 6.2.	Pari Passu Guarantees	15

ARTICLE VII	TERMINATION	15

Section 7.1.	Termination	15

ARTICLE VIII	MISCELLANEOUS	15

Section 8.1.	Successors and Assigns	15

Section 8.2.	Amendments	15

Section 8.3.	Notices	16

Section 8.4.	Benefit	17

Section 8.5.	Governing Law	17

Section 8.6.	Counterparts	17

iii

Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2004, executed and delivered by Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), having its principal office at 477 Martinsville Road, Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, as trustee (the “Guarantee Trustee”), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined hereinafter) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined hereinafter) of Everest Re Capital Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer”).

W i t n e s s e t h :

Whereas, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2004 (the “Trust Agreement”), among the Guarantor, as Depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Property Trustee, Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees named therein and the Holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing up to Two Hundred Eighty Million Dollars ($280,000,000) aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) (Three Hundred Twenty Million Dollars ($320,000,000) if the Underwriters (as defined in the Indenture) exercise their over-allotment option in full) of its 6.20% Preferred Securities (Liquidation Amount $25 per preferred security) (the “Preferred Securities”) representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;

Whereas, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer’s Common Securities to the Guarantor (as defined hereinafter), will be used to purchase the Debt Securities (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which will be deposited with JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, as trust assets; and

Whereas, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined hereinafter) 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 Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement to provide as follows for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities:

ARTICLE I

Interpretation and Definitions

Section 1.1. Interpretation.

In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.2;

(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same meaning throughout;

(c) all references to “the Guarantee Agreement” or “this Guarantee Agreement” are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified;

(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;

(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice –versa; and

(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.

Section 1.2. Definitions.

As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Guarantor. 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.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Guarantor or any duly authorized committee of that board.

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

“Debt” means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent and without duplication, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person, (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the

ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) all Other Financial Obligations (as defined hereinafter) of such Person; (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise; and (viii) all renewals, extensions, refundings, amendments or modifications of any obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vii).

“Event of Default” means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that, except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, the Guarantor shall have received notice of default from the Guarantee Trustee and shall not have cured such default within 30 days after receipt of such notice.

“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: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time; (ii) the redemption price, including all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Price”), with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, to the extent the Issuer 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, unless Debt Securities are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount of $25 per Preferred Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent that the Issuer shall have funds available 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 in accordance with applicable law and the Expense Agreement (as defined in the Trust Agreement) (in either case, the “Liquidation Distribution”).

“Guarantee Trustee” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee (as defined hereinafter) 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 set forth in the caption hereto.

“Holder” means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, 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 November 14, 2002, as amended and supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, among the

Guarantor, the Indenture Trustee, as trustee, and for the limited purposes therein specified, Everest Re Group, Ltd., dated as of March 29, 2004, and as further supplemented and amended, between the Guarantor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee.

“Issuer” has the meaning set forth in the caption hereto.

“Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning specified in the definition of Guarantee Payments.

“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, a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding Preferred Securities issued by the Issuer.

“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by the Chairman or a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of such Person or the President or a Vice President of such Person, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person, 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 (other than the compliance certificate required by Section 2.4) include:

(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers’ 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 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.

“Other Financial Obligations” means, with respect to a Person, all obligations to make payment pursuant to the terms of (i) securities contracts and foreign currency exchange contracts, (ii) derivative instruments, such as swap agreements (including interest rate and foreign exchange rate swap agreements), cap agreements, floor agreements, collar agreements, interest rate agreements, foreign exchange rate agreements, options, commodity futures contracts and commodity option contracts and (iii) in the case of both (i) and (ii) above, similar financial instruments.

“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.

“Preferred Securities” has the meaning specified in the first recital hereto.

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Senior Trust Officer, any Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Guarantee Trustee 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.

“Senior Debt” means the principal of, and any premium and interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Guarantor whether or not such claim for post–petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) on, all Debt, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Guarantee Agreement or thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Debt Securities or this Guarantee Agreement or to other Debt which is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Debt Securities; provided, however, that Senior Debt shall not be deemed to include (i) any Debt of the Guarantor which, when incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to the Guarantor, (ii) any Debt of the Guarantor to any of its subsidiaries, (iii) Debt to any employee of the Guarantor and (iv) any other debt securities issued pursuant to the Indenture.

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

“Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the first recital hereto.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

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. If any provision of this Guarantee Agreement modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that 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.

(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, such imposed duties shall control.

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 (the “List of Holders”) as of a date not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than fifteen (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 its obligations under Section 311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.

Not later than November 15 of each year, commencing November 15, 2004, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports dated as of the preceding September 15 as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other requirements of Section 313 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, such compliance certificate to be provided within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor.

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 pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate.

Section 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.

The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any 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. Events of Default; Notice.

(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders notices of all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided, however, 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 and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee determines in good faith 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 a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default from the Guarantor or a Holder.

Section 2.8. Conflicting Interests.

The Trust Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2002, between the Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc., as Guarantor, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, relating to Everest Re Capital Trust (“Trust I”), and the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2002, among Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc., as Depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Property Trustee, Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein, relating to Trust I, 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 a Holder exercising its rights pursuant to Section 5.4(iv) 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, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, 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 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. In case 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, 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 a Responsible 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; and

(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 reasonably 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 conclusively rely on, 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 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, the Guarantee Trustee or any of their respective Affiliates and may be one of the Guarantor’s, the Guarantee Trustee’s or their respective Affiliate’s

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 with due care by it hereunder; and

(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 of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred 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 acting in accordance with such instructions.

(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.

The Guarantor agrees to pay to the Guarantee Trustee, from time to time, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) and to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its attorneys and agents) incurred or made by the Guarantee Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement.

Section 3.4. Indemnity.

The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. 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 the 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).

(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, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.

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 without cause at any time by the Guarantor.

(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, 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 sixty (60) days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of 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 (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert. 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 to pay such amounts to the Holders. The Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event it makes any direct payment hereunder.

Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.

The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the 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, 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 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 of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred 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 (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debt Securities 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 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;

(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, 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.

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; provided, however, that, subject to Section 3.1, the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such

direction if the Guarantee Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Guarantee Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of the Holders not party to such direction; and provided further that nothing in this Guarantee Agreement shall impair the right of the Guarantee Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Guarantee Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction; 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 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) or upon distribution of Debt Securities to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement.

Section 5.6. Subrogation.

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have the right to waive payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.1; 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 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.

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 of the Guarantor to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture. The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement do not constitute Senior Debt.

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 similar Guarantee Agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of preferred securities issued by any Issuer Trust (as defined in the Indenture).

ARTICLE VII

Termination

Section 7.1. Termination.

This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the earlier to occur of (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) the distribution of Debt Securities to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Issuer. 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 must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or this Guarantee Agreement. The obligations of the Guarantor under Sections 3.3 and 3.4 shall survive any such termination.

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns.

All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, permitted 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.

Section 8.2. Amendments.

Except with respect to any changes which 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 Trust Agreement concerning meetings or consents 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 set forth below or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as the Guarantor may give notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:

Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.

477 Martinsville Road

P.O. Box 830

Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938

Facsimile No.: (908) 604-3450

Attention: General Counsel

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

Everest Re Capital Trust II

c/o Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.

477 Martinsville Road

P.O. Box 830

Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938

Facsimile No.: (908) 604 –3450

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza, 15^th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Facsimile No.: (212) 623-6167

Attention: Institutional Trust Services

(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee’s 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:

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza, 15^th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Facsimile No.: (212) 623-6167

Attention: Institutional Trust Services

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

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, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.

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.

[THE NEXT PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE]

In Witness Whereof, the undersigned have executed this Guarantee Agreement as of the date first above written.


EVEREST REINSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

By:		/s/ Stephen L. Limauro
		Name: Stephen L. Limauro
		Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Guarantee Trustee

By:		/s/ James D. Heaney
		Name: James D. Heaney
		Title: Vice President