REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT By and Between BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Exhibit 4.1 |
By and Between
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
and
COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Dated as of August 22, 2007 |
Table of Contents | ||||
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||
Section 1.1. | Certain Defined Terms | 1 | ||
Section 1.2. | Terms Generally | 4 | ||
ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS | 5 | |||
Section 2.1. | Shelf Registration | 5 | ||
Section 2.2. | Demand Registrations | 6 | ||
Section 2.3. | Piggyback Registrations | 7 | ||
Section 2.4. | Shelf Take-Downs | 8 | ||
Section 2.5. | Lock-Up Agreements; Restrictions on the Company | 9 | ||
Section 2.6. | Registration Procedures | 10 | ||
Section 2.7. | Indemnification | 15 | ||
Section 2.8. | Rule 144; Rule 144A | 17 | ||
Section 2.9. | Underwritten Registrations | 18 | ||
Section 2.10. | Registration Expenses | 18 | ||
Section 2.11. | Other Agreements | 19 | ||
Section 2.12. | Securities Held by the Company or its Subsidiaries | 19 | ||
ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS | 19 | |||
Section 3.1. | Conflicting Agreements | 19 | ||
Section 3.2. | Termination | 19 | ||
Section 3.3. | Amendment and Waiver | 19 | ||
Section 3.4. | Severability | 20 | ||
Section 3.5. | Entire Agreement | 20 | ||
Section 3.6. | Successors and Assigns | 20 | ||
Section 3.7. | Counterparts; Execution by Facsimile Signature | 20 | ||
Section 3.8. | Remedies | 20 | ||
Section 3.9. | Notices | 20 | ||
Section 3.10. | Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction | 22 |
Index of Principal Terms | ||
Defined Term | Page(s) | |
Action | 1 | |
Affiliate | 1 | |
Agreement | 1 | |
automatic shelf registration statement | 4 | |
Beneficial Ownership | 1 | |
Beneficially Own | 2 | |
Business Day | 2 | |
Capital Stock | 2 | |
Certificate of Designations | 2 | |
Common Stock | 2 | |
Company | 1 | |
Company Indemnitees | 16 | |
Conversion Shares | 2 | |
Covered Securities | 2 | |
Demand Notice | 6 | |
Demand Registration | 6 | |
Demand Registration Statement | 6 | |
Exchange Act | 2 | |
Governmental Entity | 2 | |
Holder Indemnitees | 15 | |
Holders | 2 | |
Holders’ Representative | 2 | |
indemnified party | 16 | |
indemnifying party | 16 | |
Investment Agreement | 1 | |
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus | 2 | |
Law | 2 | |
Losses | 15 | |
Other Securities | 3 | |
Person | 3 | |
Piggyback Notice | 7 | |
Piggyback Registration | 8 | |
Preferred Securities | 1 | |
Prospectus | 3 | |
Purchaser | 1 | |
Registrable Securities | 3 | |
Registration Statement | 3 | |
Rule 144 | 3 | |
SEC | 3 | |
Securities Act | 3 | |
Selling Holder | 3 | |
Shelf Period | 5 | |
Shelf Registration Statement | 3 |
Shelf Take-Down Notice | 8 | |
Shelf Underwritten Offering | 8 | |
Subsidiary | 4 | |
Transfer | 4 | |
Transferee | 4 |
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT |
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of August 22, 2007, by and between Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association (“Purchaser”) and Countrywide Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
WHEREAS, the Company and Purchaser have entered into an Investment Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2007 (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Investment Agreement”), pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of which, among other things, the Company has agreed to sell to Purchaser and Purchaser has agreed to purchase from the Company 20,000 shares of the Company’s 7.25% Series B Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.05 per share and liquidation preference $100,000 (the “Preferred Securities”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Investment Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to Purchaser certain rights as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I |
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Certain Defined Terms. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Action” means any legal, administrative, regulatory or other suit, action, claim, audit, assessment, arbitration or other proceeding, investigation or inquiry.
“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise). To the extent that any such term is used in relation to or in connection with any statute and the definition of such term in such statute is broader or different, then, in such context, such term shall have the meaning set forth in such statute.
“Agreement” means this Registration Rights Agreement as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time.
“Beneficial Ownership” by a Person of any securities includes ownership by any Person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting
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of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; and shall otherwise be interpreted in accordance with the term “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 adopted by the SEC under the Exchange Act; provided, that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, in no event will Purchaser be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities which it has the right to acquire pursuant to this Agreement unless, and then only to the extent that, Purchaser shall have actually exercised such right. The term “Beneficially Own” shall have a correlative meaning.
“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated to close.
“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person at any time, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of capital stock, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or equivalent ownership interests in or issued by such Person.
“Certificate of Designations” shall mean the Certificate of Designations relating to the Preferred Securities, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A to the Investment Agreement.
“Common Stock” means the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share, of the Company.
“Conversion Shares” means the shares of Common Stock that are issuable from time to time upon conversion of the Preferred Securities in accordance with the Certificate of Designations.
“Covered Securities” means any shares of Preferred Securities and any Conversion Shares.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC from time to time thereunder.
“Governmental Entity” shall mean any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, whether federal, state, local or foreign and any applicable industry self-regulatory organization.
“Holders” means Purchaser and any Transferee of Registrable Securities.
“Holders’ Representative” means Purchaser or any or any other Holder designated by Purchaser as a Holders’ Representative.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of the Registrable Securities.
“Law” means any statute, law, code, ordinance, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity.
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“Other Securities” means Covered Securities or shares of other Capital Stock which are contractually entitled to registration rights or which the Company is registering pursuant to a registration statement covered by Section 2.3.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivisions thereof or any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) comprised of two or more of the foregoing.
“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto, and all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Securities” means any shares of Covered Securities and any securities which may be issued or distributed in respect thereof by way of stock dividend or stock split or other distribution, recapitalization or reclassification. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect to the sale by the Holder thereof shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, (ii) they shall have been distributed to the public in accordance with Rule 144 or (iii) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.
“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act which permits the public offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC from time to time thereunder.
“Selling Holder” means each Holder of Registrable Securities included in a registration pursuant to Article II.
“Shelf Registration Statement” means a Registration Statement of the Company filed with the SEC on either (a) Form S-3 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act) or (b) if the Company is not permitted to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3, an evergreen Registration Statement on Form S-1 (or any successor form or other appropriate
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form under the Securities Act), in each case for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act covering Registrable Securities. To the extent the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), a “Shelf Registration Statement” shall deemed to refer to an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “automatic shelf registration statement”) on Form S-3.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which 50% or more of the shares of the voting securities or other voting interests are owned or controlled, or the ability to select or elect 50% or more of the directors or similar managers is held, directly or indirectly, by such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries.
“Transfer” means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition.
“Transferee” means any of (i) the transferee of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by Purchaser or (ii) the subsequent transferee of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by any Transferee; provided, that no Transferee shall be entitled to any benefits of a Transferee hereunder unless such Transferee executes and delivers to the Company an instrument substantially in the form provided as Exhibit A attached hereto.
Section 1.2. Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 1.1 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, unless the context expressly provides otherwise. All references herein to Sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, clauses, Exhibits or Schedules shall be deemed references to Sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs or clauses of, or Exhibits or Schedules to this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise. Unless otherwise expressly defined, terms defined in this Agreement have the same meanings when used in any Exhibit or Schedule hereto. Unless otherwise specified, the words “this Agreement”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereto” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the Schedules and Exhibits) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The term “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”. Unless expressly stated otherwise, any Law defined or referred to herein means such Law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by succession of comparable successor Laws and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE II |
REGISTRATION RIGHTS |
Section 2.1. Shelf Registration. As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, the Company shall file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of all of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such holders and set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by Holders until the earlier of (i) the date as of which all Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or another registration statement filed under the Securities Act (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder) and (ii) the date as of which each of the Holders is permitted to sell its Registrable Securities without Registration pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer thereunder (such period of effectiveness, the “Shelf Period”). Subject to Section 2.1(c), the Company shall not be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Period if the Company voluntarily takes any action or omits to take any action that would result in Holders of Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement during the Shelf Period, unless such action or omission is required by applicable Law. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to remain a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the Shelf Period.
(c) The Company shall be entitled to postpone (but not more than once in any 6-month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of 30 days, the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend the use of, a Shelf Registration Statement if the Company delivers to the Holders’ Representative a certificate signed by both the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, such registration, offering or use would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require the disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company. Such certificate shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement or suspension and an approximation of the anticipated delay.
(d) If any of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in a firm commitment underwritten offering, and the managing underwriter(s) of such underwritten offering advise the Holders in writing that it is their good faith opinion that the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such offering, together with any Other Securities proposed to be included by holders
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thereof which are entitled to include securities in such Registration Statement, exceeds the total number or dollar amount of such securities that can be sold without having an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities to be so included together with all such Other Securities, then there shall be included in such firm commitment underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities and such Other Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter(s) can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering, and such number of Registrable Securities and Other Securities shall be allocated for inclusion as follows:
(i) first, the Registrable Securities for which inclusion in such underwritten offering requested by the Holders, pro rata (if applicable), based on the number of Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by each such Holder; and
(ii) second, among any holders of Other Securities, pro rata, based on the number of Other Securities Beneficially Owned by each such holder of Other Securities.
(e) The Holders’ Representative shall have the right to notify the Company that it has determined that the Shelf Registration Statement be abandoned or withdrawn, in which event the Company shall promptly abandon or withdraw such Shelf Registration Statement.
Section 2.2. Demand Registrations. (a) If, following the date hereof, the Company is unable to file, cause to be effective or maintain the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement as required under Section 2.1, the Holders’ Representative shall have the right by delivering a written notice to the Company (a “Demand Notice”) to require the Company to, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, register under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act the number of Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by any Holders and requested by such Demand Notice to be so registered (a “Demand Registration”); provided, however, that a Demand Notice may only be made if the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered by the Holders’ Representative is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross cash proceeds in excess of $100,000,000 (without regard to any underwriting discount or commission). A Demand Notice shall also specify the expected method or methods of disposition of the applicable Registrable Securities. Following receipt of a Demand Notice, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file, as promptly as reasonably practicable, but not later than 30 days after receipt by the Company of such Demand Notice (subject to paragraph (d) of this Section 2.2), a Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by the Holders thereof in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders (a “Demand Registration Statement”) and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof.
(b) If any of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to a Demand Registration are to be sold in a firm commitment underwritten offering, and the managing underwriter(s) of such underwritten offering advise the Holders in writing that it is their good faith opinion that the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such offering, together with any Other Securities proposed to be included by holders thereof which are entitled to include securities in such Registration Statement, exceeds the total number or dollar amount of such securities that can be sold without having an adverse effect on the price,
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timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities to be so included together with all such Other Securities, then there shall be included in such firm commitment underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities and such Other Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter(s) can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering, and such number of Registrable Securities and Other Securities shall be allocated for inclusion as follows:
(i) first, the Registrable Securities for which inclusion in such underwritten offering was requested by the Holders, pro rata (if applicable), based on the number of Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by each such Holder; and
(ii) second, among any holders of Other Securities, pro rata, based on the number of Other Securities Beneficially Owned by each such holder of Other Securities.
(c) In the event of a Demand Registration, the Company shall be required to maintain the continuous effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement for a period of at least 180 days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold.
(d) The Company shall be entitled to postpone (but not more than once in any 6-month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of 30 days, the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend the use of, a Demand Registration Statement if the Company delivers to the Holders’ Representative a certificate signed by both the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, such registration, offering or use would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require the disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company. Such certificate shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement or suspension and an approximation of the anticipated delay.
(e) The Holders’ Representative shall have the right to notify the Company that it has determined that the Registration Statement relating to a Demand Registration be abandoned or withdrawn, in which event the Company shall promptly abandon or withdraw such Registration Statement.
Section 2.3. Piggyback Registrations. (a) If, other than pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2, the Company proposes or is required to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Common Stock, any other of its equity securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of its equity securities, whether or not for sale for its own account (other than a registration statement (i) on Form X-0, Xxxx X-0 or any successor forms thereto or (ii) filed solely in connection with any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan), then the Company shall give prompt written notice of such proposed filing at least 30 days before the anticipated filing date (the “Piggyback Notice”) to the Holders. The Piggyback Notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities (for purposes of this Section 2.3,
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“Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to mean solely securities of the same type as those proposed to be offered by the Company for its own account) as they may request (a “Piggyback Registration”). Subject to Section 2.3(b) hereof, the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 15 days after notice has been given to the Holders. The Holders shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of the Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time at least 2 Business Days prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to such Piggyback Registration. The Company shall be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration for a period of 180 days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold.
(b) If any of the securities to be registered pursuant to the registration giving rise to the Holders’ rights under this Section 2.3 are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Holders shall be permitted to include all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration in such offering on the same terms and conditions as any other shares of Capital Stock, if any, of the Company included therein; provided, however, that if such offering involves a firm commitment underwritten offering and the managing underwriter(s) of such underwritten offering advise the Company in writing that it is their good faith opinion that the total amount of Registrable Securities requested to be so included, together with all Other Securities that the Company and any other Persons having rights to participate in such registration intend to include in such offering, exceeds the total number or dollar amount of such securities that can be sold without having an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities to be so included together with all Other Securities, then there shall be included in such firm commitment underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities and such Other Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter(s) can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering, and such number of Registrable Securities and Other Securities shall be allocated for inclusion as follows:
(i) first, all Other Securities being sold by the Company or, subject to Section 2.11, by any Person (other than a Holder) exercising a contractual right to demand registration;
(ii) second, all Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Holders, pro rata (if applicable), based on the number of Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by each such Holder; and
(iii) third, among any other holders of Other Securities requesting such registration, pro rata, based on the number of Other Securities Beneficially Owned by each such holder of Other Securities.
Section 2.4. Shelf Take-Downs. At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 is effective, if the Holders’ Representative delivers a notice to the Company (a “Shelf Take-Down Notice”) stating that one or more of the Holders intends to effect an underwritten offering of all or part of the Registrable Securities included by the Holders on the Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering”) or any other offering of such securities and stating the number of the
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Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering or other offering, then the Company shall amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities and Other Securities, as the case may be, to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Underwritten Offering (taking into account the inclusion of Other Securities by any other holders pursuant to this Section 2.4) or other offering. In connection with any Shelf Underwritten Offering:
(i) such Proposing Holder shall also deliver the Shelf Take-Down Notice to all other holders whose securities are included on such Shelf Registration Statement and permit each holder to include its Other Securities included on the shelf registration statement in the Shelf Underwritten Offering if such other holder notifies the Proposing Holder and the Company within 5 Business Days after delivery of the Shelf Take-Down Notice to such other holder; and in the event that the managing underwriter(s) have informed the Company in writing that it is their good faith opinion that the total amount of Registrable Securities requested to be so included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering, together with all Other Securities that the Company and any other Persons having rights to participate in such Shelf Underwritten Offering exceeds the total number or dollar amount of such securities that can be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering without having an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities proposed to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering, then there shall be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering the number or dollar amount of such securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter(s) can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering, and such number of Registrable Securities and Other Securities shall be allocated (i) if the applicable Registration Statement was filed pursuant to Section 2.1, then in accordance with Section 2.1(d), and (ii) if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement was filed pursuant to Section 2.3, then in accordance with Section 2.3(d) ..
Section 2.5. Lock-Up Agreements; Restrictions on the Company. (a) Each Holder agrees, in connection with any underwritten offering made pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Article II in which such Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities, or which underwritten offering is being effected by the Company for its own account, if requested (pursuant to a written notice) by the managing underwriter(s) not to effect any public sale or distribution of any common equity securities of the Company (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such common equity securities) (except as part of such underwritten offering) during the period commencing 7 days prior to and continuing for not more than 90 days (or such shorter period as the managing underwriter(s) may permit) after the date of the Prospectus (or Prospectus supplement if the offering is made pursuant to a “shelf” registration) pursuant to which such underwritten offering shall be made; provided, that the Holders shall only be so bound so long as and to the extent that any other stockholder having registration rights with respect to the securities of the Company is similarly bound.
(b) In connection with any underwritten offering made pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Article II, the Company will not effect any public sale or distribution of any common equity securities of the Company (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such common equity securities) for its own account (other than (x) a registration statement (i) on Form X-0, Xxxx X-0 or any successor forms thereto or (ii) filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend
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reinvestment plan or (y) pursuant to such underwritten offering), during the period commencing 7 days prior to and continuing for not more than 90 days (or such shorter period as the managing underwriter(s) may permit) after the date of the Prospectus (or Prospectus supplement if the offering is made pursuant to a “shelf” registration) pursuant to which such underwritten offering shall be made.
Section 2.6. Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required to use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Article II, the Company shall effect such registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall cooperate in the sale of the securities and shall, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on such form which shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders or the Company in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus (including any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto) or any amendments or supplements thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Selling Holders, their counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such counsel, and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the SEC, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement and each Prospectus included therein (including any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto) and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Company’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors. The Company shall not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto) or any amendments or supplements thereto (including such documents that, upon filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) with respect to any registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2 to which the Holders' Representative, its counsel, or the managing underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company, such filing is necessary to comply with applicable Law.
(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 continuously effective during the period provided herein and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement, and cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the securities covered
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by such Registration Statement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act.
(c) Notify each Selling Holder and the managing underwriter(s), if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other Governmental Entity for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement contemplated by Section 2.6(o) below) cease to be true and correct, (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (vi) of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, documents or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading, and that in the case of any Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the reasonably earliest practical date.
(e) If requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement, post-effective amendment or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus such information as the managing underwriter(s), if any, or such Holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement, such post-effective amendment or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as soon as practicable after the Company has received such request.
(f) Furnish or make available to each Selling Holder, and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits, unless requested in writing by such Holder, counsel or managing
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underwriter(s)), and such other documents, as such Holders or such managing underwriter(s) may reasonably request, and upon request a copy of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence to or received from, the SEC or any other Governmental Entity relating to such offering.
(g) Deliver to each Selling Holder, and the managing underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related to any such Prospectuses) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities; and the Company, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 2.6, hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the Selling Holders and the managing underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Selling Holders, the managing underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any seller or managing underwriter(s) reasonably requests in writing and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and to take any other action that may be necessary or advisable to enable such Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Selling Holders and the managing underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from each Selling Holder that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such Selling Holder will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Selling Holders may request at least 2 Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other Governmental Entities within the United States, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such Selling Holder’s business, in which case the Company will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals, as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the managing underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
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(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 2.6(c)(ii), (c)(iii), (c)(iv), (c)(v) or (c)(vi) above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the Selling Holders, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities.
(m) Provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.
(n) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be authorized to be listed on each national securities exchange, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed.
(o) Enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith or by the managing underwriter(s), if any, to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in connection therewith, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the Selling Holders and the managing underwriter(s), if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to the Selling Holders of such Registrable Securities opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter(s), if any, and counsels to the Selling Holders of the Registrable Securities), addressed to each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities and each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such counsel and managing underwriter(s), (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any Subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) who have certified the financial statements included in such Registration Statement, addressed to each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities (unless such accountants shall be prohibited from so addressing such letters by applicable standards of the accounting profession) and each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold
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comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 2.7 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section except as otherwise agreed by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith and the managing underwriter(s) and (v) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith, their counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.
(p) Upon execution of a customary confidentiality agreement, make available for inspection by a representative of the Selling Holders, the managing underwriter(s), if any, and any attorneys or accountants retained by such Selling Holders or managing underwriter(s), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such representative, managing underwriter(s), attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement.
(q) Cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, by participation in “road shows”) taking into account the Company’s business needs.
(r) Otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and any applicable national securities exchange, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable (but not more than 18 months) after the effective date of the registration statement, an earnings statement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
The Company may require each Selling Holder to furnish to the Company in writing such information required in connection with such registration regarding such Selling Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any Selling Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
Each Selling Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.6(c)(ii), (c)(iii), (c)(iv), (c)(v) or (c)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 2.6(k) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed
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to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a Registration Statement must be maintained by the amount of time the Holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.
Section 2.7. Indemnification. |
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, each Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are covered by a Registration Statement or Prospectus, the officers, directors, partners (limited and general), members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each of them, each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) each such Selling Holder and the officers, directors, partners (limited and general), members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each such controlling person, each underwriter (including any Holder that is deemed to be an underwriter pursuant to any SEC comments or policies), if any, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter (collectively, “Holder Indemnitees”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including, without limitation, costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or Action), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any applicable Registration Statement (or in any preliminary or final Prospectus contained therein, any document incorporated by reference therein or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto) or any other offering circular, amendment of or supplement to any of the foregoing or other document incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein (in the case of a final or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act in connection with any such registration, qualification, or compliance; provided, that the Company will not be liable to a Selling Holder or underwriter in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission by such Selling Holder or underwriter, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement (or in any preliminary or final Prospectus contained therein, any document incorporated by reference therein or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto), offering circular, amendment of or supplement to any of the foregoing or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Selling Holder or underwriter specifically for inclusion in such document. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder Indemnitee or any other Holder and shall survive the transfer of such securities. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have to each Holder Indemnitee.
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(b) Indemnification by Selling Holders. In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Selling Holder is participating by registering Registrable Securities, such Selling Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests specifically for use in connection with any Registration Statement or Prospectus and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, severally and not jointly, the Company, the officers and directors of the Company, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, and each underwriter, if any, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter (collectively, “Company Indemnitees”), from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement (or in any preliminary or final Prospectus contained therein, any document incorporated by reference therein or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto) or any other offering circular or any amendment of or supplement to any of the foregoing or any other document incident to such registration, or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a final or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each case solely to the extent that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement (or in any preliminary or final Prospectus contained therein, any document incorporated by reference therein or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus related thereto), offering circular, or any amendment of or supplement to any of the foregoing or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in such document; and provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder hereunder shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “indemnified party”), such indemnified party shall give prompt notice to the party from which such indemnity is sought (the “indemnifying party”) of any claim or of the commencement of any Action with respect to which such indemnified party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any obligation or liability except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been actually prejudiced by such delay or failure. The indemnifying party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an indemnified party promptly after the receipt of written notice from such indemnified party of such claim or Action, to assume, at the indemnifying party’s expense, the defense of any such Action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless: (i) the indemnifying party agrees to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying party fails promptly to assume, or in the event of a conflict of interest cannot assume, the defense of such Action or fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, in which case the indemnified party shall also have the right to employ counsel and to assume the defense of such Action; or (iii) in the indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying
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parties may exist in respect of such Action; provided, further, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such Action or separate but substantially similar or related Actions in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the indemnified parties, or for fees and expenses that are not reasonable. Whether or not such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, such indemnified party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The indemnifying party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by all claimants or plaintiffs to such indemnified party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.
(d) Contribution. (i) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.7 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any Losses (other than in accordance with its terms), then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and indemnified party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been taken by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission.
(ii) The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.7(d), an indemnifying party that is a Selling Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party exceeds the amount of any damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Section 2.8. Rule 144; Rule 144A. The Company covenants that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 or 144A under the Securities Act), and it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required
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from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 or 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or (ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof.
Section 2.9. Underwritten Registrations. (a) If any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement or any Demand Registration is an underwritten offering, the Holders’ Representative shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer the offering, subject to approval by the Company, not to be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer any incidental or piggyback registration.
(b) No Person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell the Registrable Securities or Other Securities it desires to have covered by the registration on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in customary form and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, provided that such Person shall not be required to make any representations or warranties other than those related to title and ownership of shares and as to the accuracy and completeness of statements made in a Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the managing underwriter(s) by such Person and provided further, that such Person's liability in respect of such representations and warranties shall not exceed such Person's net proceeds from the offering.
Section 2.10. Registration Expenses. The Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Article II, including (i) all registration and filing fees (including fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with all applicable securities exchanges and/or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (B) of compliance with securities or Blue Sky laws including any fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriter(s) in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.6(h)), (ii) printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any, or by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses of the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) expenses of the Company incurred in connection with any road show, and (vi) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants (including, without limitation, the expenses of any “cold comfort” letters required by this Agreement) and any other persons, including special experts retained by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not pay any fees or disbursements of counsel for the Selling Holders, or any other expenses of Selling Holders. In addition, the Company shall bear all of its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the
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expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and rating agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company.
Section 2.11. Other Agreements. The Company covenants and agrees that, so long as any Holder holds any Registrable Securities in respect of which any registration rights provided for in this Article II remain in effect, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, grant to any Person or agree to or otherwise become obligated in respect of (a) rights of registration in the nature or substantially in the nature of those set forth in this Article II that would have priority over the Registrable Securities with respect to the inclusion of such securities in any registration or (b) rights of registration in the nature or substantially in the nature of those set forth in this Article II that would be pari passu with the Registrable Securities with respect to the inclusion of such securities in any registration, without the prior written consent of the Holders’ Representative.
Section 2.12. Securities Held by the Company or its Subsidiaries. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, in the event that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds Registrable Securities, such Registrable Securities shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS |
Section 3.1. Conflicting Agreements. Each party represents and warrants that it has not granted and is not a party to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement that is inconsistent with or conflicts with any provision of this Agreement.
Section 3.2. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the later of the expiration of the Shelf Period and such time as there are no Registrable Securities, except for the provisions of Sections 2.7, 2.8, 2.10 and this Article III, which shall survive such termination.
Section 3.3. Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Company and Purchaser (or, in the case of an amendment at any time when Purchaser is not the sole Holder, signed on behalf of each of (i) the Company and (ii) the Holders of a majority of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities then held by all Holders). Any party hereto may waive any right of such party hereunder by an instrument in writing signed by such party and delivered to the other parties (or, in the case of a waiver of any rights of the Holders at any time when Purchaser is not the sole Holder, by an instrument in writing signed by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities then held by all Holders and delivered to the Company and the Holders’ Representative). The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
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Section 3.4. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, all other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 3.5. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement and the Investment Agreement, together with the several agreements and other documents and instruments referred to herein or therein or annexed hereto or thereto, embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, that may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
Section 3.6. Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation hereunder is assignable in whole or in part by any party without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, provided that Purchaser may transfer its rights and obligations hereunder (in whole or in part) to any Transferee (and any Transferee may transfer such rights and obligations to any subsequent Transferee) without the prior written consent of the Company. Any such assignment shall be effective upon receipt by the Company of (x) written notice from the transferring Holder stating the name and address of any Transferee and identifying the number of shares of Registrable Securities with respect to which the rights under this Agreement are being transferred and the nature of the rights so transferred and (y) a written agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A hereto from such Transferee to be bound by the applicable terms of this Agreement.
Section 3.7. Counterparts; Execution by Facsimile Signature. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature(s).
Section 3.8. Remedies. (a) Each party hereto acknowledges that monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach or threatened breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof. Each party hereto agrees not to oppose the granting of such relief in the event a court determines that such a breach has occurred, and to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy.
(b) All rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any thereof by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such party.
Section 3.9. Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (i) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) when sent by confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the
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recipient, if not, then on the next Business Day or (iii) one Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the addresses set forth below or such other address or facsimile number as a party may from time to time specify by notice to the other parties hereto:
If to the Company: |
Countrywide Financial Corporation |
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
Fax: (000) 000-0000 |
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Wachtell, Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx |
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx |
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx |
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
Fax: (000) 000-0000 |
If to Purchaser: |
Bank of America, N.A. |
Bank of America Corporate Center |
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, |
Executive Vice President and General Counsel |
Fax: (000) 000-0000 |
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP |
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX |
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. |
Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
Fax: (000) 000-0000 |
and |
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP |
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx |
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx |
Fax: (000) 000-0000 |
Section 3.10. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. (a) This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York.
(b) Each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any Federal or state court located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, New York in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement in any court other than a Federal or state court located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, New York.
(c) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding in relation to this Agreement and for any counterclaim therein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORPORATION | ||
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Title: | Chairman of the Board | |
and Chief Executive Officer | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | ||
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]
EXHIBIT A |
JOINDER |
By execution of this Joinder, the undersigned agrees to become a party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2007 (the “Agreement”), between Countrywide Financial Corporation and Bank of America, N.A. By execution of this Joinder, the undersigned shall have all the rights and shall observe all the obligations of a Holder (as defined in the Agreement) contained in the Agreement.
Name: _______________________ ___ |
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Address for Notices: |
With Copies to: __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ | |
Signature: _____________________________ _ |
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Date: __________________________________ |