WARRANT AGREEMENT Dated as of December [ ], 2009 between JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Warrant Agent Warrants for Common Stock
Exhibit 4.1
Dated as of
December [ ], 2009
between
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
and
Mellon Investor Services LLC,
as Warrant Agent
Warrants for
Common Stock
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Table of Contents
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS | ||||
Section 1.01. | Definitions | 1 | ||
Section 1.02. | Other Definitions | 2 | ||
Section 1.03. | Rules of Construction | 3 | ||
ARTICLE II
WARRANTS | ||||
Section 2.01. | Form | 3 | ||
Section 2.02. | Execution and Countersignature | 4 | ||
Section 2.03. | Registry | 5 | ||
Section 2.04. | Transfer and Exchange | 5 | ||
Section 2.05. | Definitive Warrants | 7 | ||
Section 2.06. | Replacement Certificates | 8 | ||
Section 2.07. | Outstanding Warrants | 9 | ||
Section 2.08. | Cancellation | 9 | ||
Section 2.09. | CUSIP Numbers | 9 | ||
ARTICLE III
EXERCISE TERMS | ||||
Section 3.01. | Exercise | 9 | ||
Section 3.02. | Manner of Exercise and Issuance of Shares | 9 | ||
Section 3.03. | Covenant to Make Stock Certificates Available | 10 | ||
ARTICLE IV
ANTIDILUTION PROVISIONS | ||||
Section 4.01. | Antidilution Adjustments; Notice of Adjustment | 10 | ||
Section 4.02. | Adjustment to Warrant Certificate | 10 | ||
ARTICLE V
WARRANT AGENT | ||||
Section 5.01. | Appointment of Warrant Agent | 10 | ||
Section 5.02. | Rights and Duties of Warrant Agent | 11 | ||
Section 5.03. | Individual Rights of Warrant Agent | 12 | ||
Section 5.04. | Warrant Agent’s Disclaimer | 12 | ||
Section 5.05. | Compensation and Indemnity | 13 |
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Section 5.06. | Successor Warrant Agent | 13 | ||
Section 5.07. | Representations of the Company | 15 | ||
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
Section 6.01. | Persons Benefitting | 15 | ||
Section 6.02. | Amendment | 15 | ||
Section 6.03. | Notices | 16 | ||
Section 6.04. | Governing Law | 17 | ||
Section 6.05. | Successors | 17 | ||
Section 6.06. | Multiple Originals | 17 | ||
Section 6.07. | Inspection of Agreement | 18 | ||
Section 6.08. | Table of Contents | 18 | ||
Section 6.09. | Severability | 18 | ||
Section 6.10. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 18 | ||
EXHIBIT A | Form of Warrant |
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WARRANT AGREEMENT dated as of December [ ], 2009 (this “Agreement”), between JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“the Company”), and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Warrant Agent (the “Warrant Agent”).
The Company originally issued the warrants described herein (each, a “Warrant” and collectively, the “Warrants”) to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) in connection with Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program pursuant to the Letter Agreement dated October 26, 2008 between the Company and Treasury, which agreement incorporates by reference the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms attached thereto as Exhibit A. Each Warrant entitles the registered holder thereof (the “Holder”) to purchase one share of Common Stock, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the relevant Warrant Certificate. Each Warrant Certificate (including any Global Warrant) shall evidence such number of Warrants as is set forth therein, subject to adjustment pursuant to the provisions of the Warrant Certificate.
Treasury desires to sell all or a portion of the Warrants at any time or from time to time. The Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants will be freely transferable by Holders that are not Affiliates of the Company. The Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company in connection with the registration, transfer, exchange, redemption, exercise and cancellation of the Warrants as provided herein and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act.
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Warrants:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such other Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management and/or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agent Members” means the securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies, clearing organizations and certain other organizations that are participants in the Depositary’s system.
“business day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the State of New Jersey are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.
“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $1 per share, of the Company.
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“Definitive Warrant” means a Warrant Certificate in definitive form that is not deposited with the Depositary or with the Warrant Agent as custodian for the Depositary.
“Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exercise Price” has the meaning set forth in the form of Warrant Certificate attached as Exhibit A hereto.
“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. Such counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Share” has the meaning set forth in the form of Warrant Certificate attached as Exhibit A hereto.
“Warrant Certificate” means any fully registered certificate (including a Global Warrant) issued by the Company and authenticated by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement evidencing Warrants, in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.
“Warrant Share Number” has the meaning set forth in the form of Warrant Certificate attached as Exhibit A hereto.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term |
Defined in Section | |
“Agreement” | Recitals | |
“Company” | Recitals | |
“Global Warrant” | 2.01(a) |
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Term |
Defined in Section | |
“Holders” | Recitals | |
“Registry” | 2.03 | |
“Stock Transfer Agent” | 3.05 | |
“Treasury” | Recitals | |
“Warrant” | Recitals |
Section 1.03. Rules of Construction.
Unless the text otherwise requires:
(i) a defined term has the meaning assigned to it;
(ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date hereof;
(iii) “or” is not exclusive;
(iv) “including” means including, without limitation; and
(v) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular.
ARTICLE II
WARRANTS
Section 2.01. Form.
(a) Global Warrants. Except as provided in Section 2.04 or 2.05, Warrants issued upon any transfer or exchange thereof shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent global Warrants in fully registered form with the global securities legend set forth in Exhibit A hereto (each, a “Global Warrant”), which shall be deposited on behalf of the Company with the Warrant Agent, as custodian for the Depositary (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and countersigned by the Warrant Agent as hereinafter provided.
(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.01(b) shall apply only to a Global Warrant deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.
(i) The Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.02, countersign, either by manual or facsimile signature, and
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deliver one or more Global Warrants that (A) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and (B) shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instructions or held by the Warrant Agent as custodian for the Depositary. Each Global Warrant shall be dated the date of its countersignature.
(ii) Agent Members shall have no rights under this Agreement with respect to any Global Warrant held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Warrant Agent as the custodian of the Depositary or under such Global Warrant except to the extent set forth herein or in a Warrant Certificate, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent as the absolute owner of such Global Warrant for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall (A) prevent the Company, the Warrant Agent or any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or (B) impair, as between the Depositary and the Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Warrant.
(c) Definitive Securities. Except as provided in Section 2.04 or 2.05, owners of beneficial interests in Global Warrants will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Warrants.
(d) Warrant Certificates. Warrant Certificates shall be in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A hereto and shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of such methods or produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Warrants may be listed, all as determined by the Officer or Officers of the Company executing such Warrant Certificates, as evidenced by their execution thereof. Any Warrant Certificate shall have such insertions as are appropriate or required or permitted by this Agreement and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends and endorsements, stamped, printed, lithographed or engraved thereon, (i) as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) such as may be required to comply with this Agreement, any law or any rule of any securities exchange on which the Warrants may be listed, and (iii) such as may be necessary to conform to customary usage.
Section 2.02. Execution and Countersignature.
At least one Officer shall sign the Warrant Certificates for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Warrant Certificate no longer holds that office at the time the Warrant Agent countersigns the Warrant Certificate, the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificate shall be valid nevertheless.
The Warrant Agent shall initially countersign, either by manual or facsimile signature, and deliver Warrant Certificates entitling the Holders thereof to purchase in the
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aggregate not more than 88,401,697 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in such Warrant Certificates) upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company. Such order shall specify the number of Warrants to be evidenced on the Warrant Certificate to be countersigned, the date on which such Warrant Certificate is to be countersigned and the number of Warrants then authorized. Each Warrant Certificate shall be dated the date of its countersignature.
At any time and from time to time after the execution of this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company countersign, either by manual or facsimile signature, for issue a Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants specified in such order; provided, however, that the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of the Company to the effect that issuance and execution of such Warrants is authorized or permitted by this Agreement in connection with such countersignature of Warrants.
The Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Warrant Agent countersigns the Warrant Certificate. Such signature shall be solely for the purpose of authenticating the Warrant Certificate and shall be conclusive evidence that the Warrant Certificate so countersigned has been duly authenticated and issued under this Agreement.
Section 2.03. Registry.
The Warrants shall be issued in registered form only. The Warrant Agent shall keep a registry (the “Registry”) of the Warrant Certificates and of their transfer and exchange. The Registry shall show the names and addresses of the respective Holders and the date and number of Warrants evidenced on the face of each of the Warrant Certificates. The Holder of any Global Warrant will be the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary in whose name the Global Warrant is registered. The Warrant holdings of Agent Members will be recorded on the books of the Depositary. The beneficial interests in the Global Warrant held by customers of Agent Members will be reflected on the books and records of such Agent Members and will not be known to the Warrant Agent, the Company or to the Depositary.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat any Person in whose name a Warrant Certificate is registered in the Registry as the absolute owner of such Warrant Certificate for all purposes whatsoever and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Section 2.04. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Warrants.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Warrants or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the book-entry system maintained by Depositary, in accordance with this Agreement and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant (or the relevant Agent Member on behalf of such transferor) shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a written order
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given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the account of the Agent Member to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall, in accordance with such instructions, instruct the Depositary to credit to the account of the Agent Member specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Warrant and to debit the account of the Agent Member making the transfer of the beneficial interest in the Warrant being transferred.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.05), a Global Warrant may only be transferred as a whole, and not in part, and only by (i) the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, (ii) a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or (iii) the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or its nominee.
(iii) In the event that a Global Warrant is exchanged and transferred for Definitive Warrants pursuant to Section 2.05, such Warrants may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.04 and the requirements of any Warrant Certificate and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company that are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or of any Warrant Certificate.
(b) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Warrant. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Warrant have been exchanged for Definitive Warrants, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Warrant shall be returned to the Depositary for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Warrant Agent. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Warrant is transferred or exchanged for Definitive Warrants, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the number of Warrants represented by such Global Warrant shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Warrant Agent to reflect such reduction.
(c) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Warrants.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall countersign, by either manual or facsimile signature, Global Warrants and Definitive Warrants as required pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.02 and this Section 2.04.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessments, or governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or obligation under any Section of this Agreement requiring the payment of taxes, assessments, and/or governmental charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes, assessments, and/or governmental charges have been paid.
(iii) All Warrants issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be the valid obligations of the Company, entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as the Warrants surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
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(d) No Obligation of the Warrant Agent.
(i) The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Warrant, any Agent Member or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Warrants or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Warrants. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Warrants shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Warrant). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Warrant shall be exercised through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Warrant Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Agreement or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Warrant (including any transfer between or among the Agent Members or beneficial owners in any Global Warrant) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Agreement, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.05. Definitive Warrants.
(a) Beneficial interests in a Global Warrant deposited with the Depositary or with the Warrant Agent as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to Section 2.01 shall be transferred to each beneficial owner thereof in the form of Definitive Warrants evidencing a number of Warrants equivalent to such owner’s beneficial interest in such Global Warrant, in exchange for such Global Warrant, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.04 and (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Warrant or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each such case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, (ii) the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Warrant Agent in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Warrants under this Agreement, or (iii) the Company shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or institute proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization under Federal bankruptcy laws or any other similar applicable Federal or State law, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver or custodian of all or any substantial part of its property, or shall admit in writing its
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inability to pay or meet its debts as they mature, or if a receiver or custodian of it or all or any substantial part of its property shall be appointed, or if a public officer shall have taken charge or control of the Company or of its property or affairs, for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation.
(b) Any Global Warrant that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Warrants pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Warrant Agent, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign, by either manual or facsimile signature, and deliver to each beneficial owner in the name of such beneficial owner, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Warrant, Definitive Warrants evidencing a number of Warrants equivalent to such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in the Global Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall register such transfer in the Registry, and upon such transfer the surrendered Global Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent.
(c) All Definitive Warrants issued upon transfer pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same obligations of the Company and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement and the Global Warrant surrendered upon such transfer.
(d) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.05(b), the registered Holder of a Global Warrant may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Agreement or the Warrants.
(e) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.05(a), the Company will promptly make available to the Warrant Agent a reasonable supply of Definitive Warrants in definitive, fully registered form.
(f) Neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent will be liable or responsible for any registration or transfer of any Warrants that are registered or to be registered in the name of a fiduciary or the nominee of a fiduciary.
Section 2.06. Replacement Certificates.
If a mutilated Warrant Certificate is surrendered to the Warrant Agent or if the Holder of a Warrant Certificate provides proof reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent that the Warrant Certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Warrant Agent shall countersign a replacement Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing an equivalent number of Warrants, if the reasonable requirements of the Warrant Agent and of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York are met. If required by the Warrant Agent or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the reasonable judgment of the Company and the Warrant Agent to protect the Company and the Warrant Agent from any loss that either of them may suffer if a Warrant Certificate is replaced. The Company and the Warrant Agent may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Warrant Certificate. Every replacement Warrant Certificate evidences an additional obligation of the Company.
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Section 2.07. Outstanding Warrants.
Warrants outstanding at any time are all Warrants evidenced on all Warrant Certificates authenticated by the Warrant Agent except for those canceled by it and those delivered to it for cancellation. A Warrant ceases to be outstanding if the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Warrant.
If a Warrant Certificate is replaced pursuant to Section 2.06, the Warrants evidenced thereby cease to be outstanding unless the Warrant Agent and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Warrant Certificate is held by a bona fide purchaser.
Section 2.08. Cancellation.
In the event the Company shall purchase or otherwise acquire Definitive Warrants, the same shall thereupon be delivered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation.
The Warrant Agent and no one else shall cancel and destroy all Warrant Certificates surrendered for transfer, exchange, replacement, exercise or cancellation and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company unless the Company directs the Warrant Agent to deliver canceled Warrant Certificates to the Company. The Company may not issue new Warrant Certificates to replace Warrant Certificates to the extent they evidence Warrants that have been exercised or Warrants that the Company has purchased or otherwise acquired.
Section 2.09. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Warrants may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Warrant Agent shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Warrant Certificates or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Warrant Certificates.
ARTICLE III
EXERCISE TERMS
Section 3.01. Exercise.
The Exercise Price of each Warrant, the Warrant Share Number, the number of Warrants evidenced by any Warrant Certificate and the expiration time of each Warrant shall be set forth in the related Warrant Certificate. The Exercise Price of each Warrant and the Warrant Share Number are subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms set forth in the Warrant Certificate.
Section 3.02. Manner of Exercise and Issuance of Shares.
Warrants may be exercised in the manner set forth in Section 3 of the Warrant Certificate, and upon any such exercise, Shares shall be issued in the manner set forth in Section 4 of the Warrant Certificate.
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Section 3.03. Covenant to Make Stock Certificates Available.
The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to request from time to time from any stock transfer agents of the Company stock certificates required to honor outstanding Warrants upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and the Company agrees to authorize and direct such transfer agents to comply with all such requests of the Warrant Agent. The Company shall supply such transfer agents with duly executed stock certificates for such purposes and shall provide or otherwise make available any cash or scrip that may be payable upon exercise of Warrants as provided herein and in each Warrant Certificate.
ARTICLE IV
ANTIDILUTION PROVISIONS
Section 4.01. Antidilution Adjustments; Notice of Adjustment.
The Exercise Price and the Warrant Share Number shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 12 of the Warrant Certificate. Whenever the Exercise Price or the Warrant Share Number is so adjusted or is proposed to be adjusted as provided in Section 12 of the Warrant Certificate, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent the notices or statements, and shall cause a copy of such notices or statements to be sent or communicated to each Holder pursuant to Section 7.03, as provided in Sections 12(H) and (I) of the Warrant Certificate.
Section 4.02. Adjustment to Warrant Certificate.
The form of Warrant Certificate need not be changed because of any adjustment made pursuant to the Warrant Certificate, and Warrant Certificates issued after such adjustment may state the same Exercise Price and the same Warrant Share Number as are stated in the Warrant Certificates initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The Company, however, may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant Certificate that it may deem appropriate to give effect to such adjustments and that does not affect the substance of the Warrant Certificate, and any Warrant Certificate thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant Certificate or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
ARTICLE V
WARRANT AGENT
Section 5.01. Appointment of Warrant Agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for anything that it may do or refrain from doing in connection with this Agreement, except for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
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Section 5.02. Rights and Duties of Warrant Agent.
(a) Agent for the Company. In acting under this Warrant Agreement and in connection with the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligation or relationship or agency or trust for or with any of the holders of Warrant Certificates or beneficial owners of Warrants.
(b) Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to it (who may be counsel to the Company), and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice of such counsel.
(c) Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or thing suffered by it in reliance upon any Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper parties.
(d) No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth herein and in the Warrant Certificates, and no implied duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent shall be read into this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder that may involve it in any expense or liability for which it does not receive indemnity if such indemnity is reasonably requested. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any of the Warrant Certificates countersigned by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Holders or on behalf of the Holders pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Company in the performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the Warrant Certificates or in the case of the receipt of any written demand from a Holder with respect to such default, including any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to insure compliance with any applicable Federal or state securities law in connection with the issuance, transfer or exchange or any Warrants hereunder.
(e) Not Responsible for Adjustments or Validity of Stock. The Warrant Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether any facts exist that may require an adjustment of the Warrant Share Number or the Exercise Price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental agreement provided to be employed, in making the same. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value of any Shares or of any securities or property that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the exercise of any Warrant or upon any adjustment pursuant to Section 12 of the Warrant Certificate, and it makes no representation with respect thereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Company to make any cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver any Shares or stock certificates upon the surrender of any Warrant Certificate for the purpose of exercise or upon any adjustment pursuant to Section 12 of the Warrant Certificate, or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in the Warrant Certificate or this Agreement.
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(f) Notices. If the Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand (other than Notice of Exercise of Warrants) addressed to the Company by the Holder of a Warrant, the Warrant Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to the Company.
(g) Liability. In no event shall the Warrant Agent be liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Warrant Agent has been advised of the likelihood of the loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.
(h) No Liability for Interest. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement
(i) Force Majeure. In no event shall the Warrant Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Warrant Agent shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
(j) Ambiguity or Uncertainty. In the event the Warrant Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Warrant Agent hereunder, the Warrant Agent shall seek clarification and direction from the Company and shall be fully protected and shall not be in any way liable to the Company or any Holder for any action taken or omitted in accordance with written instructions signed by the Company which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty
Section 5.03. Individual Rights of Warrant Agent.
The Warrant Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Warrant Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Warrants or other securities of the Company or its affiliates or become pecuniarily interested in transactions in which the Company or its affiliates may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or its affiliates or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Warrant Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
Section 5.04. Warrant Agent’s Disclaimer.
The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for, and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of, this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates and it shall not be responsible for any statement of fact or recitals in this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates
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other than its countersignature thereon. The Warrant Agent will not be under any responsibility or liability in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery hereof by the Warrant Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Warrant Certificate (except the due countersignature thereof by the Warrant Agent)); nor will it be responsible or liable for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant Certificate; nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of stock or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant Certificate or as to whether any shares of stock or other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Section 5.05. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services as agreed and to reimburse the Warrant Agent upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Warrant Agent’s agents and counsel, incurred by the Warrant Agent in connection with the preparation, delivery, administration, execution and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company shall indemnify the Warrant Agent, its officers and directors, against any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Warrant Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Warrant Agent through willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall have a lien prior to the Holders on all money or property held or collected by the Warrant Agent.
No provision of this Agreement shall require the Warrant Agent to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of its rights and powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 5.06. Successor Warrant Agent
(a) Company to Provide and Maintain Warrant Agent. The Company agrees for the benefit of the Holders that there shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all the Warrants have been exercised or cancelled or are no longer exercisable.
(b) Resignation and Removal. The Warrant Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice to the Company of such intention on its part, specifying the date on which its desired resignation shall become effective; provided, however, that such date shall not be less than 60 days after the date on which such notice is given unless the Company otherwise agrees.
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The Warrant Agent hereunder may be removed at any time by the filing with it of an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of the Company and specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective, which date shall not be less than 60 days after such notice is given unless the Warrant Agent otherwise agrees. Any removal under this Section shall take effect upon the appointment by the Company as hereinafter provided of a successor Warrant Agent (which shall be (i) a bank or trust company, (ii) organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of the states thereof, (iii) authorized under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization to exercise corporate trust powers, (iv) having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 (as set forth in its most recent reports of condition published pursuant to law or to the requirements of any United States federal or state regulatory or supervisory authority) and (v) having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Warrant Agent. The obligations of the Company under Section 5.05 shall continue to the extent set forth herein notwithstanding the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent.
(c) Company to Appoint Successor. In the event that at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or shall be removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or shall commence a voluntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or under any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Warrant Agent or its property or affairs, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or shall take corporate action in furtherance of any such action, or a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered in respect of the Warrant Agent in an involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered for the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation, winding up or liquidation, a successor Warrant Agent, qualified as aforesaid, shall be appointed by the Company by an instrument in writing, filed with the successor Warrant Agent. In the event that a successor Warrant Agent is not appointed by the Company, a successor Warrant Agent, qualified as aforesaid, may be appointed by the Warrant Agent or the Warrant Agent may petition a court, at the expense of the Company, to appoint a successor Warrant Agent, at the expense of the Company. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Warrant Agent and acceptance by the successor Warrant Agent of such appointment, the Warrant Agent shall cease to be Warrant Agent hereunder; provided, however, that in the event of the resignation of the Warrant Agent under this subsection (c), such resignation shall be effective on the earlier of (i) the date specified in the Warrant Agent’s notice of resignation and (ii) the appointment and acceptance of a successor Warrant Agent hereunder.
(d) Successor to Expressly Assume Duties. Any successor Warrant Agent appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Warrant Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
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rights and obligations of such predecessor with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, and such predecessor, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to transfer, deliver and pay over, and such successor Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive, all monies, securities and other property on deposit with or held by such predecessor, as Warrant Agent hereunder.
(e) Successor by Merger. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may be merged or consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any entity to which the Warrant Agent shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets and business, shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, any successor to the Warrant Agent first named above; provided, however, that it shall be qualified as aforesaid.
Section 5.07. Representations of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Warrant Agent that:
(a) the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation;
(b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; and
(c) the execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and the issuance of the Warrants in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Warrant Certificate will not, (i) violate the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (ii) violate any law or regulation applicable to the Company or order or decree of any court or public authority having jurisdiction over the Company, or (iii) result in a breach of any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement or undertaking to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, except in the case of (ii) and (iii) for any violations or breaches that could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.01. Persons Benefitting.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon any Person other than the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or any part hereof.
Section 6.02. Amendment.
This Agreement and the Warrants may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or
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supplementing any defective provision contained herein or therein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement or the Warrants as the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that such action shall not adversely affect the rights of any of the Holders in any material respect. Any amendment or supplement to this Agreement or the Warrants that has a material adverse effect on the interests of any of the Holders or owners of a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant shall require the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants; provided that the consent of each Holder affected thereby shall be required for any amendment pursuant to which (i) the Exercise Price would be increased or the Warrant Share Number would be decreased (in each case, other than pursuant to adjustments provided for in Section 12 of the Warrant Certificate), (ii) the time period during which the Warrants are exercisable would be shortened or (iii) any change adverse to the Holder would be made to the anti-dilution provisions set forth in Article IV of this Agreement or Section 12 of the Warrant Certificate. In determining whether the Holders of the required number of Warrants have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Warrants owned by the Company or by any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Warrant Agent shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Warrants that the Warrant Agent knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Warrants outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty to determine whether any such amendment would have an effect on the rights or interests of the holders of the Warrants. Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the execution of the amendment have been complied with and such execution is permitted by this Agreement and the Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall join in the execution of such amendment; provided, that the Warrant Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any amendment or supplement which affects the rights or changes or increases the duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent.
Section 6.03. Notices.
Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person, mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or nationally recognized next-Business Day courier, addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary
if to the Warrant Agent:
Mellon Investor Services LLC
Newport Office Center VII
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Relationship Manager
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with a copy to:
Mellon Investor Services LLC
Newport Office Center VII
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
The Company or the Warrant Agent by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Unless the Warrant is a Global Warrant, any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the Registry and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed. Any notice to the owners of a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant shall be distributed through the Depositary in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Communications to such Holder shall be deemed to be effective at the time of dispatch to the Depositary.
Failure to provide a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is provided in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the intended recipient actually receives it.
Section 6.04. Governing Law.
This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 6.05. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Agreement and the Warrants shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Warrant Agent in this Agreement shall bind its successors.
Section 6.06. Multiple Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Agreement.
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Section 6.07. Inspection of Agreement.
A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by any registered Holder or owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant at the principal office of the Warrant Agent (or successor warrant agent).
Section 6.08. Table of Contents.
The table of contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 6.09. Severability.
The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any clause or provision shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, then such invalidity or unenforceability shall affect in that jurisdiction only such clause or provision, or part thereof, and shall not in any manner affect such clause or provision in any other jurisdiction or any other clause or provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction.
Section 6.10. Waiver of Jury Trial.
THE COMPANY AND THE WARRANT AGENT EACH IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TRIAL BY JURY.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Warrant Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. | ||
by |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC, as Warrant Agent, | ||
by |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF WARRANT