EXHIBIT 4.7
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated April 1, 1997
among
EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP.
EAGLE FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I
and
SANDLER X'XXXXX & PARTNERS, L.P.
as Initial Purchaser
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of April 1, 1997 among EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation"), EAGLE FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I, a business
trust formed under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Trust"), and SANDLER
X'XXXXX & PARTNERS, L.P., (the "Initial Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated March
26, 1997 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among the Corporation, as issuer of the
Series A 10% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2027 (the
"Subordinated Debentures"), the Trust and the Initial Purchaser, which provides
for, among other things, the sale by the Trust to the Initial Purchaser of
50,000 of the Trust's Series A 10% Capital Securities, liquidation amount $1,000
per Capital Security (the "Capital Securities"), the proceeds of which will be
used by the Trust to purchase Subordinated Debentures. The Capital Securities,
together with the Subordinated Debentures and the Corporation's guarantee of the
Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities Guarantee"), are collectively
referred to as the "Securities". In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to
enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Corporation and the Trust have agreed to
provide to the Initial Purchaser and their direct and indirect transferees the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized
defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"Additional Distributions" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(e) hereof.
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in the last paragraph of Section
3 hereof.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"Applicable Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(t)
hereof.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on
which banking institutions in New York, New York, Wilmington, Delaware or
Bristol, Connecticut are authorized or required by law or executive order to
close.
"Closing Time" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Corporation" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and also includes the Corporation's successors and permitted assigns.
"Declaration" or "Declaration of Trust" shall mean the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of Eagle Financial Capital Trust I, dated as of
April 1, 1997, by the trustees named therein and the Corporation as sponsor.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depositary appointed by the Trust; provided, however, that such depositary must
have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the offer by the Corporation and the Trust to
the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities (other than Private
Exchange Securities) for a like principal amount of Exchange Securities pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the
Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and
all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchange Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean (i) with respect to the Subordinated
Debentures, the Series B 10% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
due April 1, 2027 (the "Exchange Debentures") containing terms substantially
identical to the Subordinated Debentures (except that they will not contain
terms with respect to the transfer restrictions under the Securities Act (other
than requiring minimum transfers thereof to be in blocks of $100,000 aggregate
principal amount), and will not provide for any Liquidated Damages thereon),
(ii) with respect to the Capital Securities, the Trust's Series B 10% Capital
Securities, liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security (the "Exchange
Capital Securities") which will have terms substantially identical to the
Capital Securities (except they will not contain
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terms with respect to transfer restrictions under the Securities Act (other than
requiring minimum transfers thereof to be in blocks of $100,000 aggregate
liquidation amount), and will not provide for any increase in Additional
Distributions thereon) and (iii) with respect to the Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Corporation's guarantee (the "Exchange Capital Securities
Guarantee") of the Exchange Capital Securities which will have terms
substantially identical to the Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any
Registrable Securities, and each of its respective successors, assigns and
direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable
Securities under the Indenture or Declaration of Trust.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Subordinated
Debentures and the Exchange Debentures dated as of April 1, 1997 between the
Corporation, as issuer, and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, as the same
may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchaser" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.
"Inspectors" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"Issue Date" shall mean April 1, 1997, the date of original issuance of
the Securities.
"Liquidated Damages" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
liquidation amount of outstanding Capital Securities.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(t) hereof.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization, limited liability corporation, or a government or
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Private Exchange" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Private Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a) hereof.
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"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus
supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all
other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.
"Records" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the
Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, that Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities for the exchange or resale thereof, as the case may
be, shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been sold to the
public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not
Rule 144A) under the Securities Act or are eligible to be sold without
restriction as contemplated by Rule 144(k), (iii) such Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have ceased to be outstanding or
(iv) with respect to the Securities, such Securities shall have been exchanged
for Exchange Securities upon consummation of the Exchange Offer and are
thereafter freely tradeable by the holder thereof (other than an Affiliate of
the Corporation).
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Corporation with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all SEC or National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD") registration and filing fees, including, if applicable, the
fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter" (and its counsel)
that is required to be retained by any Holder of Registrable Securities in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, (ii) all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue
sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for all
underwriters or Holders as a group in connection with blue sky qualification of
any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities) and compliance with
the rules of the NASD, (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or
assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto, and in preparing or assisting in preparing, printing and distributing
any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements
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and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this
Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Corporation and of the independent certified public accountants
of the Corporation, including the expenses of any "cold comfort" letters
required by or incident to such performance and compliance, (vi) the reasonable
fees and expenses of the Trustee and its counsel and any exchange agent or
custodian, (vii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing,
if any, of any of the Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange or exchanges, and (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of
any special experts retained by the Corporation in connection with any
Registration Statement.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Corporation and the Trust which covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all
amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Rule 144(k) Period" shall mean the period of two years (or such shorter
period as may hereafter be referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act
(or similar successor rule)) commencing on the Issue Date.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration statement
of the Corporation and the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b)
hereof which covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, on an appropriate form under Rule 415
under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC,
and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including
post-
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effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein,
all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
"Trustees" shall mean any and all trustees with respect to (i) the Capital
Securities under the Declaration, (ii) the Subordinated Debentures under the
Indenture and (iii) the Capital Securities Guarantee.
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2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Exchange Offer. Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the
Corporation and the Trust shall, for the benefit of the Holders, at the
Corporation's cost, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause to be filed
with the SEC within 140 days after the Issue Date an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the
Exchange Offer, (ii) cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC not later than the date
which is 180 days after the Issue Date, and (iii) keep such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective for not less than 30 calendar days (or longer
if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is
mailed to the Holders. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Corporation and the Trust shall promptly commence the Exchange
Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
eligible and electing to exchange Registrable Securities for a like principal
amount of Exchange Debentures or a like liquidation amount of Exchange Capital
Securities, together with the Exchange Guarantee, as applicable (assuming that
such Holder (i) is not an Affiliate of the Trust or the Corporation, (ii) is not
a broker-dealer tendering Registrable Securities acquired directly from the
Corporation for its own account, (iii) acquires the Exchange Securities in the
ordinary course of such Holder's business and (iv) has no arrangements or
understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the
purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) to transfer such Exchange
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and under state securities or blue sky laws (other than
requiring minimum transfers in blocks having an aggregate principal or
liquidation amount, as the case may be, of $100,000).
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Corporation and the Trust
shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not less
than 30 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or longer
if required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein as the "Exchange
Period");
(iii) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(iv) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to
the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day of the Exchange
Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder,
the principal amount
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of Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Securities exchanged;
(v) notify each Holder that any Security not tendered by such Holder in
the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest or
accumulate distributions, as the case may be, but will not retain any rights
under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchaser and
Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(vi) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws relating to
the Exchange Offer.
If the Initial Purchaser determines upon advice of its outside counsel
that it is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer with respect to the
exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment in the
initial distribution, as soon as practicable upon receipt by the Corporation and
the Trust of a written request from such Initial Purchaser, the Corporation and
the Trust, as applicable, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in
exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Securities held by such Initial
Purchaser, a like liquidation amount of Capital Securities of the Trust or, in
the event the Trust is liquidated and Subordinated Debentures are distributed, a
like principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures of the Corporation,
together with the Exchange Guarantee, in each case that are identical (except
that such securities may bear a customary legend with respect to restrictions on
transfer pursuant to the Securities Act) to the Exchange Securities (the
"Private Exchange Securities") and which are issued pursuant to the Indenture,
the Declaration or the Guarantee (which provides that the Exchange Securities
will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture or
the Declaration, as applicable (other than requiring minimum transfers in blocks
having an aggregate principal or liquidation amount, as the case may be, of
$100,000), and that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and
the Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and
that neither the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities nor the
Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any
matter). The Private Exchange Securities shall be of the same series as the
Exchange Securities and the Corporation and the Trust will seek to cause the
CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP Numbers for the Private Exchange
Securities as for the Exchange Securities issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and, if
applicable, the Private Exchange, the Corporation and the Trust, as the case
requires, shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities or portions thereof tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
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(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the applicable Trustee for
cancellation all Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the
Corporation; and
(iii) issue, and cause the applicable Trustee under the Indenture, the
Declaration or the Guarantee, as applicable, to promptly authenticate and
deliver to each Holder, new Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities,
as applicable, equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the
Subordinated Debentures or equal in liquidation amount to the liquidation amount
of the Capital Securities (together with the guarantee thereof) as are
surrendered by such Holder.
Distributions on each Exchange Capital Security and interest on each
Exchange Debenture and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Exchange
Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last date on which a
Distribution or interest was paid on the Capital Security or the Subordinated
Debenture surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no Distribution or interest
has been paid on such Capital Security or Subordinated Debenture, from the Issue
Date. To the extent not prohibited by any law or applicable interpretation of
the staff of the SEC, the Corporation and the Trust shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above, and shall
comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
and other applicable laws in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange
Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer
does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of
the SEC. Each Holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to exchange such
Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will be
required to make certain customary representations in connection therewith,
including, in the case of any Holder of Capital Securities, representations that
(i) it is not an Affiliate of the Trust or the Corporation, (ii) the Exchange
Securities to be received by it were acquired in the ordinary course of its
business and (iii) at the time of the Exchange Offer, it has no arrangement with
any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) of the Exchange Capital Securities. The Corporation and the
Trust shall inform the Initial Purchaser, after consultation with the applicable
Trustees, of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer
is made, and the Initial Purchaser shall have the right to contact such Holders
and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange
Offer.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis
mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Securities that are Private
Exchange Securities and Exchange Securities held by Participating
Broker-Dealers, and the Corporation and the Trust shall have no further
obligation to register the Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange
Securities) held by any Holder pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement.
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(b) Shelf Registration. In the event that (i) the Corporation, the
Trust or the Majority Holders reasonably determine, after conferring with
counsel (which may be in-house counsel), that the Exchange Offer Registration
provided in Section 2(a) above is not available under applicable law and
regulations and currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC,
(ii) the Corporation shall determine in good faith that there is a reasonable
likelihood that, or a material uncertainty exists as to whether, consummation of
the Exchange Offer would result in (x) the Trust becoming subject to federal
income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Subordinated
Debentures or the Exchange Debentures (collectively, the "Debentures"), (y)
interest payable by the Corporation on the Debentures not being deductible by
the Corporation for United States federal income tax purposes or (z) the Trust
becoming subject to more that a de minimus amount of other taxes, duties or
governmental charges, (iii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
declared effective within 180 days of the Issue Date or (iv) upon the request of
the Initial Purchaser with respect to any Registrable Securities held by it, if
such Initial Purchaser is not permitted, in the reasonable opinion of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, pursuant to applicable law or applicable
interpretations of the staff of the SEC, to participate in the Exchange Offer
and thereby receive securities that are freely tradeable without restriction
under the Securities Act and applicable blue sky or state securities laws (any
of the events specified in (i)-(iv) being a "Shelf Registration Event" and the
date of occurrence thereof, the "Shelf Registration Event Date"), then in
addition to or in lieu of conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section
2(a), as the case may be, the Corporation and the Trust shall, at their cost,
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as promptly as
practicable after such Shelf Registration Event Date, as the case may be, and,
in any event, within 45 days after such Shelf Registration Event Date (which
shall be no earlier than 75 days after the Closing Time), a Shelf Registration
Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable
Securities, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have such Shelf
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable. No
Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to include any of its
Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this Agreement
unless and until such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the
provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder and furnishes to the
Corporation and the Trust in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request
therefor, such information as the Corporation and the Trust may, after
conferring with counsel with regard to information relating to Holders that
would be required by the SEC to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement
or Prospectus included therein, reasonably request for inclusion in any Shelf
Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein. Each Holder as to which
any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish to the Corporation
and the Trust all information with respect to such Holder necessary to make the
information previously furnished to the Corporation by such Holder not
materially misleading.
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The Corporation and the Trust agree to use commercially reasonable
efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective and
usable for resales for (a) the Rule 144(k) Period in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b)(i), (ii) or (iii) or (b)
270 days in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section
2(b)(iv) (subject in each case to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of
Section 3 hereof), or for such shorter period which will terminate when all of
the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding
(the "Effectiveness Period"). The Corporation and the Trust shall not permit any
securities other than Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration. The Corporation and the Trust will, in the event a Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective, provide to each Holder a
reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus which is a part of the Shelf
Registration Statement, notify each such Holder when the Shelf Registration has
become effective and use commercially reasonable efforts to take certain other
actions as are required to permit certain unrestricted resales of the
Registrable Securities. The Corporation and the Trust further agree, if
necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, if required
by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form
used by the Corporation for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the
Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf
registrations, and the Corporation and the Trust agree to furnish to the Holders
of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly
after its being used or filed with the SEC.
(c) Expenses. The Corporation, as issuer of the Subordinated
Debentures, shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) and/or 2(b) hereof and
will reimburse the Initial Purchaser for the reasonable fees and disbursements
of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchaser,
incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, the Private
Exchange, and either Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP or any one other
counsel designated in writing by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the
Holders of the Registrable Securities in connection with a Shelf Registration
Statement, which other counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Corporation. Except as provided herein, each Holder shall pay all expenses of
its counsel, underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) Effective Registration Statement. An Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective
unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that if,
after it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration
Statement is
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interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have been effective during the period of such
interference, until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. The Corporation and the Trust will be
deemed not to have used commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
may be, to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite period if either
of them voluntarily takes any action that would result in any such Registration
Statement not being declared effective or that would result in the Holders of
Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and
sell such Registrable Securities during that period unless such action is
required by applicable law.
(e) Liquidated Damages. In the event that:
(i) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is filed
with the SEC on or prior to the 140th day after the Issue Date nor a Shelf
Registration Statement is filed with the SEC on or prior to the 45th day after
the Shelf Registration Event Date in respect of a Shelf Registration Event
attributable to any of the events set forth in Sections 2(b)(i), (ii) and (iii)
(provided that in no event shall such date be earlier than 75 days after the
Issue Date), then commencing on the day after the applicable required filing
date, liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages") shall accrue on the principal
amount of the Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions ("Additional
Distributions") shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Trust
Securities (as such term is defined in the Declaration), each at a rate of .25%
per annum; or
(ii) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the 180th
day after the Issue Date (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration
Statement) or on or prior to the later of (A) the 40th day after the date such
Shelf Registration Statement was required to be filed and (B) the 180th day
after the Issue Date (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, in respect
of a Shelf Registration Event attributable to any of the events set forth in
Sections 2(b)(i), (ii) and (iii)), then, commencing on the 181st day after the
Issue Date (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) or the
later of (A) the 41st day after the day such Shelf Registration Statement was
required to be filed and (B) the 181st day after the Issue Date (in the case of
a Shelf Registration Statement, in respect of a Shelf Registration Event
attributable to any of the events set forth in Sections 2(b)(i), (ii) and
(iii)), Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the principal amount of the
Subordinated Debentures, and Additional Distributions shall accumulate on the
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities, each at a rate of .25% per annum;
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(iii) (A) the Trust has not exchanged Exchange Capital Securities
for all Capital Securities or the Corporation has not exchanged Exchange
Guarantees or Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Guarantees or
Subordinated Debentures, as the case may be, validly tendered, in accordance
with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 45th day after the date
on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared effective or (B)
if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement in respect of Shelf Registration
Event attributable to any of the events set forth in Sections 2(b)(i), (ii) and
(iii) has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration Statement ceases
to be effective or usable for resales (whether as a result of an event
contemplated by Section 3(e) or otherwise) at any time prior to the expiration
of the Rule 144(k) Period (other than after such time as all Securities have
been disposed of thereunder or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities),
then Liquidated Damages shall accrue on the principal amount of Subordinated
Debentures, and Additional Distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation
amount of the Trust Securities, each at a rate of .25% per annum commencing on
(x) the 46th day after such effective date, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the
day such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or usable for
resales in the case of (B) above;
provided, however, that neither the Liquidated Damages rate on the Subordinated
Debentures, nor the Additional Distribution rate on the liquidation amount of
the Trust Securities, may exceed in the aggregate .25% per annum; provided,
further, however, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause (i) above),
(2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a
Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause (ii) above), or (3) upon the
exchange of Exchange Capital Securities, Exchange Guarantees and Exchange
Debentures for all Capital Securities, Guarantees and Subordinated Debentures
tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A) above), or at such time as the Shelf
Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective or usable for
resales again becomes effective and usable for resales (in the case of clause
(iii)(B) above), Liquidated Damages on the principal amount of the Subordinated
Debentures and Additional Distributions on the liquidation amount of the Trust
Securities as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof) shall
cease to accrue and accumulate.
Any amounts of Liquidated Damages and Additional Distributions due
pursuant to Section 2(e)(i), (ii) or (iii) above will be payable in cash on the
next succeeding April 1 and October 1, as the case may be, to Holders on the
relevant record dates for the payment of interest and distributions pursuant to
the Indenture and the Declaration, respectively.
(f) Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to
the Holders, the Corporation and the Trust acknowledge that any failure by the
Corporation or the Trust to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and
13
Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Holders for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it would not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically
enforce the Corporation's and the Trust's obligations under Section 2(a) and
Section 2(b) hereof.
(g) Distribution of Subordinated Debentures. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Agreement, in the event that Subordinated Debentures are
distributed to holders of Capital Securities in liquidation of the Trust
pursuant to the Declaration, (i) all references in this Section 2 and in Section
3 to Securities, Registrable Securities and Exchange Securities shall not
include the Capital Securities and Capital Securities Guarantee or Exchange
Capital Securities and Exchange Capital Securities Guarantee issued or to be
issued in exchange therefor in the Exchange Offer and (ii) all requirements for
action to be taken by the Trust in this Section 2 and in Section 3 shall cease
to apply and all requirements for action to be taken by the Corporation in this
Section 2 and in Section 3 shall apply to the Subordinated Debentures and
Exchange Debentures issued or to be issued in exchange therefor in the Exchange
Offer.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the
Corporation and the Trust with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant
to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Corporation and the Trust shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof
within the relevant time period specified in Section 2 hereof on the
appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (i) shall be selected
by the Corporation and the Trust, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf
Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the
selling Holders thereof and, in the case of an Exchange Offer, be available
for the exchange of Registrable Securities, and (iii) shall comply as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form
and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed
therewith; and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective (and, in the
case of a Shelf Registration Statement, usable for resales) in accordance
with Section 2 hereof; provided, however, that if (1) such filing is
pursuant to Section 2(b), or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who
seeks to sell Exchange Securities, before filing any Registration Statement
or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Corporation and
the Trust shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable
Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be,
covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the
14
managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of
all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by
reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed. The
Corporation and the Trust shall not file any Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the
Holders must be afforded an opportunity to review prior to the filing of
such document if the Majority Holders or such Participating Broker-Dealer,
as the case may be, their counsel or the managing underwriters, if any,
shall reasonably object;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period or the
Applicable Period, as the case may be; and cause each Prospectus to be
supplemented, if so determined by the Corporation or the Trust or requested
by the SEC, by any required prospectus supplement and as so supplemented to
be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in force) under
the Securities Act, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
by each Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period or the
Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the intended
method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof described
in this Agreement (including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, at
least three Business Days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration
Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and
advising such Holder that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be
made in accordance with the method selected by the Majority Holders; and
(ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf
Registration Statement and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering
of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter
may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) consent to the use of
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration
Statement in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(d) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use commercially reasonable
efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all
applicable
15
state securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions by the time the
applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC as any
Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement and
each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities shall
reasonably request in writing in advance of such date of effectiveness, and
do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
advisable to enable such Holder and underwriter to consummate the
disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned
by such Holder; provided, however, that the Corporation and the Trust shall
not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service
of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to
such service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction if it is not then so subject;
(e) (1) in the case of a Shelf Registration or (2) if Participating
Broker-Dealers from whom the Corporation or the Trust has received prior
written notice that they will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof,
are seeking to sell Exchange Securities and are required to deliver
Prospectuses, promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, or such
Participating Broker-Dealers, as the case may be, their counsel and the
managing underwriters, if any, and promptly confirm such notice in writing
(i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any
post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of
any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of
the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the
qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities to be
offered or sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer in any jurisdiction
described in paragraph 3(d) hereof or the initiation of any proceedings for
that purpose, (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, if, between the
effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of
Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties
of the Corporation and the Trust contained in any purchase agreement,
securities sales agreement or other similar agreement cease to be true and
correct in all material respects, (v) of the happening of any event or the
failure of any event to occur or the discovery of any facts or otherwise,
during the Effectiveness Period which makes any statement made in such
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or which causes such Registration Statement or Prospectus to omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they
16
were made, not misleading, and (vi) the Corporation and the Trust's
reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement would be appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities included within the coverage of such Shelf
Registration Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any
post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by
reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and
not bearing any restrictive legends (other than with respect to restrictions
requiring minimum transfers in blocks having an aggregate principal or
liquidation amount, as the case may be, of $100,000) and in such
denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture and the
Declaration) and registered in such names as the selling Holders or the
underwriters may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the
closing of any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance contemplated by
Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, use commercially
reasonable efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to
such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; and to notify each Holder to suspend use of the
Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event,
and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the
Corporation has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such
misstatement or omission;
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to
the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus after the initial filing of a
Registration Statement, provide a reasonable number of copies of such
17
document to the Holders; and make such of the representatives of the
Corporation and the Trust as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of
Registrable Securities or the Initial Purchaser on behalf of such Holders
available for discussion of such document;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Capital Securities and the
Capital Securities (and if the Trust has made a distribution of the
Subordinated Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities, the
Subordinated Debentures or the Exchange Debentures) as the case may be, not
later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the
Trustee with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities or the
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit
with the Depositary;
(l) cause the Indenture, the Declaration, the Guarantee and the
Exchange Guarantee to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
(the "TIA") in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities
or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, and effect such changes to
such documents as may be required for them to be so qualified in accordance
with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the relevant trustee to execute, all documents as may be
required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required
to be filed with the SEC to enable such documents to be so qualified in a
timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) as are customary in underwritten
offerings and take all such other appropriate actions in connection
therewith as are reasonably requested by the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal or liquidation amount, as the case may be, of the
Registrable Securities in order to expedite or facilitate the registration
or the disposition of the Registrable Securities; provided, that the
Corporation and the Trust shall not be required to enter into any such
agreement more than twice with respect to all of the Registrable Securities
and may delay entering into such agreement until the consummation of any
underwritten public offering which the Corporation shall have undertaken;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, whether or not an
underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration
is an underwritten registration, if requested by (x) the Initial Purchaser,
in the case where such Initial Purchaser holds Securities acquired by it as
part of its initial allotment and (y) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal or liquidation amount, as the case may be, of the Registrable
Securities covered thereby: (i) make such representations and warranties to
Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters (if any), with
respect to the business of the Trust, the Corporation and its subsidiaries
as then conducted
18
and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any,
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each
case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten
offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) obtain opinions
of counsel to the Corporation and the Trust and updates thereof (which may
be in the form of a reliance letter) in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriters (if any) and the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold,
addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters (if any) covering the
matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings
and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such underwriters
(it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion may be
subject to customary qualifications and exceptions); (iii) obtain "cold
comfort" letters and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriters from the independent certified
public accountants of the Corporation and the Trust (and, if necessary, any
other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the
Corporation and the Trust or of any business acquired by the Corporation and
the Trust for which financial statements and financial data are, or are
required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each
of the underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
connection with underwritten offerings and such other matters as reasonably
requested by such underwriters in accordance with Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the
same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less
favorable than those set forth in Section 4 hereof (or such other provisions
and procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount or liquidation amount, as the case may be, of Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement and the managing underwriters and
agents) customary for such agreements with respect to all parties to be
indemnified pursuant to said Section (including, without limitation, such
underwriters and selling Holders). The above shall be done at each closing
under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required
thereunder;
(o) if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 2(b) or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities
during the Applicable Period, make reasonably available for inspection by
any selling Holder of such Registrable Securities or Participating
Broker-Dealer, as applicable, who certifies to the Corporation and the Trust
that it has a current intention to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration, any underwriter participating in any such
disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney, accountant
or other agent
19
retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter (collectively, the
"Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during the Corporation's
normal business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Trust, the Corporation and its subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable
them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause
the officers, directors and employees of the Trust, the Corporation and its
subsidiaries to supply all relevant information in each case reasonably
requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration
Statement. Records and information which the Corporation and the Trust
determine, in good faith, to be confidential and any Records and information
which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed to
any Inspector unless such Inspector enters into a written agreement with the
Corporation providing for the confidentiality of such Records and
information, and such Inspector shall not disclose any such Records of
information, except when (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to
avoid or correct a material misstatement or omission in such Registration
Statement, (ii) the release of such Records or information is ordered
pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction
or is necessary in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or (iii)
such Records or information previously has been made generally available to
the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree in writing that
information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed
confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any market
transactions in the securities of the Trust or the Corporation unless and
until such is made generally available to the public through no fault of an
Inspector or a Selling Holder. Each selling Holder of such Registrable
Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to
further agree in writing that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such
Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, or in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding give notice to the Corporation and allow
the Corporation at its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
(p) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the 9 SEC so
long as any provision of this Agreement shall be applicable and make
generally available to its securityholders earning statements satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder
(or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45
days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any
12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end
of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to
underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and
(ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the
first day of the first
20
fiscal quarter of the Corporation after the effective date of a Registration
Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods provided that
the Corporation's obligations under this paragraph (o) shall be satisfied by
the timely filing of its quarterly and annual reports on Forms 10-Q and
10-K;
(q) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, if
requested by a Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Corporation
addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable
Securities participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as
the case may be, substantially to the effect that (i) the Corporation and
the Trust, as the case requires, has duly authorized, executed and delivered
the Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities, and (ii) each of
the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Corporation or
the Trust, as the case requires, enforceable against the Corporation or the
Trust, as the case requires, in accordance with its respective terms (in
each case, with customary exceptions);
(r) if an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Securities by Holders to the Corporation or
the Trust, as applicable (or to such other Person as directed by the
Corporation or the Trust, respectively), in exchange for the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the
Corporation or the Trust, as applicable, shall xxxx, or cause to be marked,
on such Registrable Securities delivered by such Holders that such
Registrable Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no
event shall such Registrable Securities be marked as paid or otherwise
satisfied;
(s) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered by
any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in
the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel
in connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD;
(t) use commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps
necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered
by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby;
(u) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i)
include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled
"Plan of Distribution," which section shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Initial Purchaser or another representative of the Participating
Broker-Dealers, and which shall contain a summary statement of the positions
taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential
"underwriter" status of any broker-dealer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer")
21
that holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities and that will be the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
Exchange Securities to be received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange
Offer, whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by
the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the reasonable
judgment of the Initial Purchaser or such other representative, represent
the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC, including a statement that any
such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory
underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities,
(ii) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the
Corporation the notice referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many
copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably
request (each of the Corporation and the Trust hereby consents to the use of
the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
any amendment or supplement thereto by any Person subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including all Participating
Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer of the Exchange
Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto), (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the
Prospectus contained therein in order to permit such Prospectus to be
lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such Persons
must comply with such requirements under the Securities Act and applicable
rules and regulations in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided,
however, that such period shall not be required to exceed 90 days (or such
longer period if extended pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3 hereof)
(the "Applicable Period"), and (iv) include in the transmittal letter or
similar documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable
Securities acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, it will
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities
Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Securities received
in respect of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange
Offer";
22
and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in
connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Corporation and the Trust agree to deliver to the Initial Purchaser or to
another representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, if requested by
the Initial Purchaser or such other representative of Participating
Broker-Dealers, on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) an opinion of counsel in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser or such other
representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in connection with Exchange Offer
Registration Statements and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion
may be subject to customary qualifications and exceptions), (ii) an
officers' certificate containing certifications substantially similar to
those set forth in Section 5(f) of the Purchase Agreement and such
additional certifications as are customarily delivered in a public offering
of debt securities and (iii) as well as upon the effectiveness of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a comfort letter, in each case, in
customary form if permitted by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72.
The Corporation or the Trust may require each seller of Registrable
Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the
Corporation or the Trust, as applicable, such information regarding such seller
as may be required by the staff of the SEC to be included in a Registration
Statement. The Corporation or the Trust may exclude from such registration the
Registrable Securities of any seller who unreasonably fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. The
Corporation shall have no obligation to register under the Securities Act the
Registrable Securities of a seller who so fails to furnish such information.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, or if Participating
Broker-Dealers who have notified the Corporation and the Trust that they will be
utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange Securities and
are required to deliver Prospectuses, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of
any notice from the Corporation or the Trust of the happening of any event of
the kind described in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof,
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof or
until it is advised in
23
writing (the "Advice") by the Corporation and the Trust that the use of the
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Corporation and
the Trust, such Holder will deliver to the Corporation or the Trust (at the
Corporation's or the Trust's expense, as the case requires) all copies in such
Holder's possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, current at the time of receipt of such notice.
If the Corporation or the Trust shall give any such notice to suspend the
disposition of Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Corporation and the Trust shall
use commercially reasonable efforts to file and have declared effective (if an
amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement and shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement
is required to be maintained effective and usable for resales pursuant to this
Agreement by the number of days in the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when the Corporation and the
Trust shall have made available to the Holders (x) copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or (y) the Advice.
4. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with any
Registration Statement, the Corporation and the Trust shall, jointly and
severally, indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchaser, each Holder, each
underwriter who participates in an offering of the Registrable Securities, each
Participating Broker-Dealer, each Person, if any, who controls any of such
parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and
agents, as follows:
(i) from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), covering Registrable
Securities or Exchange Securities, including all documents incorporated
therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
(ii) from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, to the extent of the
aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any court or governmental agency or body, commenced or
24
threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement
or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such
settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Corporation;
and
(iii) from and against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by such
Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer, or any underwriter (except to the
extent otherwise expressly provided in Section 4(c) hereof)), reasonably
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or
any investigation or proceeding by any court or governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to
the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii)
of this Section 4(a);
provided, however, that (i) this indemnity does not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished in writing to the
Corporation or the Trust by such Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer or any
underwriter with respect to such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or any
underwriter, as the case may be, for use in a Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
and (ii) the Corporation and the Trust shall not be liable to any such Holder,
Participating Broker-Dealer, any underwriter or controlling person, with respect
to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission in any preliminary Prospectus, to the extent that any such loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense of any Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer,
any underwriter or controlling person results from the fact that such Holder,
any underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer sold Securities to a person to
whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of
such sale, a copy of the final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented if the
Corporation had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder, underwriter
or Participating Broker-Dealer and the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
of such Holder, underwriter, Participating Broker-Dealer or controlling person
results from an untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in the
preliminary Prospectus which was corrected in the final Prospectus. Any amounts
advanced by the Corporation or the Trust to an indemnified party pursuant to
this Section 4 as a result of such losses shall be returned to the Corporation
or the Trust if it shall be finally determined by such a court in a judgment not
subject to appeal or final review that such indemnified party was not entitled
to indemnification by the Corporation or the Trust.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Corporation, the Trust, any underwriter and the other selling
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Holders and each of their respective directors, officers (including each officer
of the Corporation and the Trust who signed the Registration Statement),
employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Corporation, the
Trust, any underwriter or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any
and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever described in the
indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect
to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions,
made in a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Corporation or the Trust by such selling
Holder with respect to such Holder expressly for use in such Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), or any such Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto); provided, however, that in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement, no such Holder shall be liable for any claims hereunder
in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, enclosing a copy of all papers properly
served on such indemnified party, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party
shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may have
under this Section 4, except to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by
such failure. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of such action. If an indemnifying party so elects within a reasonable
time after receipt of such notice, an indemnifying party, severally or jointly
with any other indemnifying parties receiving such notice, may assume the
defense of such action with counsel chosen by it and reasonably acceptable to
the indemnified parties defendant in such action, provided, however, that if (i)
representation of such indemnified party by the same counsel would present a
conflict of interest or (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party and any such indemnified party reasonably determines that there may be
legal defenses available to such indemnified party which are different from or
in addition to those available to such indemnifying party, then in the case of
clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4(c) such indemnifying party and counsel
for each indemnifying party or parties shall not be entitled to assume such
defense. If an indemnifying party is not entitled to assume the defense of such
action as a result of the proviso to the preceding sentence, counsel for such
indemnifying party and counsel for each indemnified party or parties shall be
entitled to conduct the defense of such indemnified party or parties. If an
indemnifying party assumes the defense of such action, in accordance with and as
permitted by the provisions of this paragraph, such indemnifying parties shall
not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties
incurred thereafter in connection with such action. In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and
26
expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to local counsel), separate from
its own counsel, for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action
or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which
indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 4 (whether or
not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless
such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional written
release in form and substance satisfactory to the indemnified parties of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.
(d) Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 4(c), if at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel pursuant to
Section 4(a)(iii) above, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable
for any settlement effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of
the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice
of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement; provided that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such
settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying party (1)
reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such request to the extent
it considers reasonable and (2) provides written notice to the indemnified party
substantiating the unpaid balance as unreasonable, in each case prior to the
date of such settlement.
(e) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances under which any of the indemnity provisions set forth in this
Section 4 is for any reason held to be unavailable to the indemnified parties
although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Corporation, the Trust,
and the Holders shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement
incurred by the Corporation, the Trust, and the Holders, as incurred; provided
that no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
that was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. As between the
Corporation, the Trust, and the Holders, such parties shall contribute to such
aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature
contemplated by such indemnity agreement in such proportion as shall be
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
27
Corporation and Trust, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, with
respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Corporation and the
Trust, on the one hand, and of the Holders, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Corporation or the Trust,
on the one hand, or by or on behalf of the Holders, on the other, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Corporation, the Trust and
the Holders of the Registrable Securities agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were to be determined by
pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the relevant equitable considerations. For purposes of this Section 4,
each Affiliate of a Holder, and each director, officer, employee, agent and
Person, if any, who controls a Holder or such Affiliate within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each director of each of the
Corporation or the Trust, each officer of each of the Corporation or the Trust
who signed the Registration Statement, and each Person, if any, who controls
each of the Corporation and the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as each of the Corporation or the Trust.
5. Participation in an Underwritten Registration. No Holder may
participate in an underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a)
agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in the
underwriting arrangement approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
6. Selection of Underwriters. The Holders of Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell the
securities covered by such Shelf Registration in an underwritten offering,
subject to the provisions of section 3(l) hereof. In any such underwritten
offering, the underwriter or underwriters and manager or managers that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount or liquidation amount, as applicable, of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering; provided, however, that such
underwriters and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation and
the Trust.
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7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Corporation or the
Trust is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the
Exchange Act and any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, each of the
Corporation and the Trust, as the case may be, will use commercially reasonable
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act
and Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
adopted by the SEC thereunder, provided that if it ceases to be so required to
file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities (a) make publicly available such information as is necessary to
permit sales of its securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
(b) deliver such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to
permit sales of its securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act,
and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in
each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A
under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or
(iii) any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Corporation and the Trust
will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied
with such requirements.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Corporation or the Trust has not
entered into, nor will the Corporation or the Trust on or after the date of this
Agreement enter into, any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Corporation's or the Trust's other issued
and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Corporation and the Trust has obtained the written
consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or departure; provided that no amendment, modification or
supplement or waiver or consent to the departure with respect to the provisions
of Section 4 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable
Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder of Registrable
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, (i) this Agreement may be
amended, without the consent of any Holder of Registrable Securities, by written
agreement
29
signed by the Corporation, the Trust and the Initial Purchaser, to cure any
ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision of this Agreement that may be
inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement
which shall not be inconsistent with other provisions of this Agreement, (ii)
this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers and
consents to departures from the provisions hereof may be given by written
agreement signed by the Corporation, the Trust and the Initial Purchaser to the
extent that any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent is,
in their reasonable judgment, necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable
law (including any interpretation of the Staff of the SEC) or any change therein
and (iii) to the extent any provision of this Agreement relates to the Initial
Purchaser, such provision may be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers
or consents to departures from such provisions may be given, by written
agreement signed by the Initial Purchaser, the Corporation and the Trust.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Corporation or the Trust by means of a notice given in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7(d), which address initially is, with respect to the
Initial Purchaser, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if
to the Corporation or the Trust, initially at the Corporation's address set
forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of
which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(d).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of the Initial
Purchaser, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.
If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities
shall be held
30
subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such
Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed
to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement
and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Initial Purchaser and any
Participating Broker-Dealer shall be a third party beneficiary of the agreements
made hereunder between the Corporation and the Trust, on the one hand, and the
Holders, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements
directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to
protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY
PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO
SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION
OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Securities Held by the Corporation, the Trust or its Affiliates.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the
Corporation, the Trust or its Affiliates shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
EAGLE FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I
By:
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Administrative Trustee
By:
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Administrative Trustee
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above
written:
SANDLER X'XXXXX & PARTNERS, L.P.
By: SANDLER X'XXXXX & PARTNERS CORP.,
the sole general partner
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
