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SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
Warrant Agent
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WARRANT AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 15, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Defined Terms ................................................ 2
Section 1.02 Interpretive Provisions ...................................... 7
ARTICLE II
ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS; EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
Section 2.01 Issuance of Warrants ......................................... 9
Section 2.02 Form, Denomination and Execution of Warrant Certificates ..... 9
Section 2.03 Issuance and Delivery of Warrant Certificates ................ 10
Section 2.04 Temporary Warrant Certificates ............................... 11
Section 2.05 Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Warrant Certificates .... 11
Section 2.06 Payment of Certain Taxes ..................................... 11
Section 2.07 Holders of Warrants; Rights of Holders ....................... 12
ARTICLE III
DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
Section 3.01 Duration of Warrants ........................................ 13
Section 3.02. Exercise of Warrants ........................................ 13
Section 3.03. Redemption of Warrants ...................................... 14
Section 3.04. Redemption Procedures ....................................... 15
ARTICLE IV
ANTI-DILUTION PROVISIONS
Section 4.01. Warrant Adjustments .......................................... 16
Section 4.02 Merger, Consolidation, Sale, Transfer or Conveyance;
Change of Control ............................................ 23
Section 4.03 Other Events ................................................. 25
Section 4.04 Notice of Adjustment ......................................... 26
Section 4.05 Notice of Certain Transactions. .............................. 26
Section 4.06 Adjustment to Warrant Certificate. ........................... 27
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ARTICLE V
EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF WARRANTS
Section 5.01 Warrant Register; Exchange and Transfer of Warrants .......... 28
Section 5.02 Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates ................. 30
Section 5.03 Cancellation of Warrant Certificates ......................... 30
ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
Section 6.01 Warrant Agent ................................................ 31
Section 6.02 Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations .................... 31
Section 6.03 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor ............ 33
Section 6.04 Compliance With Applicable Laws .............................. 34
Section 6.05 Office ....................................................... 34
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS
Section 7.01 Financial Statements and Reports of the Company .............. 35
Section 7.02 Notices and Demands to the Company and Warrant Agent ......... 35
Section 7.03 Governmental Approvals ....................................... 35
Section 7.04 Satisfaction of Exercise Conditions .......................... 35
Section 7.05 Reservation of Shares ........................................ 35
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01 Supplements and Amendments ................................... 37
Section 8.02 Addresses for Notices ........................................ 37
Section 8.03 Governing Law ................................................ 38
Section 8.04 Persons Having Rights Under Warrant Agreement ................ 38
Section 8.05 Headings ..................................................... 38
Section 8.06 Counterparts ................................................. 38
Section 8.07 Inspection of Agreement ...................................... 38
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THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 15, 1999, between
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), and The
Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as warrant agent (the "Warrant
Agent").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to issue warrants (the
"Warrants") representing the right to purchase, under certain circumstances
described herein, Common Stock (as defined herein); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Warrant Agent act on
behalf of the Company in connection with the issuance of the Warrants as
provided herein and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act; and
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and
delivery of this Warrant Agreement to provide for the issuance of Warrants to be
exercisable at such times and for such prices, and to have such other
provisions, as shall be hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trust are entering into a unit
agreement (the "Unit Agreement") with, among others, The Bank of New York, as
unit agent (the "Unit Agent"), whereby the Units, which will each consist of a
Preferred Security and a Warrant, will be issued;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Defined Terms. Whenever used in this Warrant Agreement,
the following words and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall
have the meanings specified in this Article. Capitalized terms used herein but
not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Unit
Agreement or the Declaration, as the case may be.
"Applicable Procedures" shall mean, with respect to any transfer or
exchange of or for the beneficial interests in the Global Certificate, the rules
and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.
"Board of Directors" shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
"Board Resolution" shall mean a resolution duly adopted by the Board of
Directors, a copy of which, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification,
shall have been delivered to the Warrant Agent.
"Book-Entry Warrant" shall mean a Warrant evidenced by a Global
Certificate.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday
that is not a day on which banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, the
City of New York, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania or Wilmington, Delaware are
authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
"Calculation Agent" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
6.02(l).
"Cash Payment" shall mean, with respect to any Warrant, the payment by
the Holder thereof of the Exercise Price of such Warrant in lawful money of the
United States of America, in cash or by certified or official bank check to the
Warrant Agent, or by wire transfer to the account indicated to such Holder by
the Warrant Agent, as designated by the Company by notice to the Warrant Agent.
"Cede" shall mean Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC.
"Change of Control" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Unit
Agreement.
"Change of Control Notice Date" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
in Section 4.02(b).
"Change of Control Redemption" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
in Section 4.02(b).
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"Change of Control Redemption Date" shall have the meaning ascribed
thereto in Section 4.02(b).
"Change of Control Redemption Right" shall have the meaning ascribed
thereto in Section 4.02(b).
"Closing Price" of any security on any date of determination shall
mean:
(i) the closing sale price (or, if no closing sale price is
reported, the last reported sale price) of such security on the New
York Stock Exchange on such date;
(ii) if such security is not listed for trading on the New
York Stock Exchange on any such date, the closing sale price as
reported in the composite transactions for the principal U.S.
securities exchange on which such security is so listed;
(iii) if such security is not so listed on a U.S. national or
regional securities exchange, the closing sale price as reported by the
NASDAQ National Market;
(iv) if such security is not so reported, the last quoted bid
price for such security in the over-the-counter market as reported by
the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization; or
(v) if such bid price is not available, the average of the
mid-point of the last bid and ask prices of such security on such date
from at least three nationally recognized independent investment
banking firms retained for such purpose by the Company.
"Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company.
"Conditions to a Remarketing" shall mean the conditions to a
Remarketing specified in the Declaration and the Remarketing Agreement. A Failed
Remarketing shall not be considered an inability to satisfy the Conditions to a
Remarketing.
"Date of Determination" shall mean, with respect to the Exercise Price
of a Warrant (i) in connection with a Redemption of such Warrant or an exercise
of such Warrant in lieu of Redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, the end of the
day on the day preceding the Remarketing Date, and (ii) otherwise, the date of
exercise (or, in the case of a determination of the Warrant Value pursuant to
Section 4.02(b), the date of redemption) of such Warrant.
"Declaration" shall mean the amended and restated declaration of trust
of the Trust.
"Definitive Warrant" shall mean a Warrant Certificate in definitive,
registered form.
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"Discount" shall mean $17.50.
"DTC" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, and its successors.
"Ex Date" shall mean:
(i) with respect to any issuance or distribution, the first
date on which the Common Stock trades regular way on the relevant
exchange or in the relevant market from which the Closing Price was
obtained without the right to receive such issuance or distribution;
(ii) with respect to any subdivision or combination of shares
of Common Stock, the first date on which the Common Stock trades
regular way on such exchange or in such market after the time at which
such subdivision or combination becomes effective, and
(iii) with respect to any tender or exchange offer, the first
date on which the Common Stock trades regular way on such exchange or
in such market after the Tender Expiration Time of such offer.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exercise Amount" shall mean 5.3355; provided, that such amount may be
subject to adjustment as provided in Article IV.
"Exercise Conditions" shall mean, with respect to any Warrant on any
date on which such Warrant is to be exercised by the Holder thereof, that (i)
(a) the Company shall have a registration statement in effect under the
Securities Act covering the issuance and sale of the related Exercise Amount of
Common Stock upon exercise of such Warrant, or (b) the sale of such shares of
Common Stock shall be exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, (ii) such shares of Common Stock shall have been registered,
qualified or are deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of
residence of the exercising Holder, and (iii) a then-current prospectus relating
to the Common Stock shall be delivered to such exercising Holder.
"Exercise Price" shall mean, with respect to a Warrant as of any date,
$32.50, plus the accrual of Discount calculated from November 15, 1999 to the
Date of Determination, at the all-in yield of 11.74% per annum on a quarterly
bond equivalent yield basis using a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months until
such sum equals $50 on November 15, 2029.
"Expiration Date" shall mean, with respect to any Warrant, the earlier
of 5:00 p.m., New York time, on (i) November 20, 2029 and (ii) the Redemption
Date.
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"Failed Remarketing" shall mean the inability of the Remarketing Agent
by 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Remarketing Date, to remarket, pursuant to
the Remarketing Agreement, all of the Preferred Securities deemed tendered for
purchase.
"Fair Market Value" shall mean the amount which a willing buyer would
pay a willing seller in an arm's length transaction.
"Global Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.02(a).
"Holder" shall mean, with respect to a Warrant Certificate at any date,
(i) if such Warrant Certificate is not held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, the
person or persons in whose name such Warrant Certificate shall then be
registered as set forth in the Warrant Register maintained by the Warrant Agent
pursuant to Section 5.01(a) for such purpose or (ii) if such Warrant is held
pursuant to the Unit Agreement, the person or persons in whose name the related
Unit is registered as set forth in the Unit Register.
"Market Capitalization" shall mean, with respect to the Company as of
any date, the product of (i) the aggregate Market Price of all shares of Common
Stock outstanding (excluding treasury shares) as of such date and (ii) the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of such date.
"Market Price" shall mean the average of the daily Closing Prices per
share of Common Stock for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to
the date in question; provided, however, that if:
(i) the Ex Date for any event (other than the issuance or
distribution requiring such computation) that requires an adjustment to
the Exercise Amount pursuant to Section 4.01 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or
(f) occurs during such ten consecutive Trading Days, the Closing Price
for each Trading Day prior to the Ex Date for such other event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such Closing Price by the same fraction by
which the Exercise Amount is so required to be adjusted as a result of
such other event;
(ii) the Ex Date for any event (other than the issuance or
distribution requiring such computation) that requires an adjustment to
the Exercise Amount pursuant to Section 4.01 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or
(f) occurs on or after the Ex Date for the issuance or distribution
requiring such computation and prior to the day in question, the
Closing Price for each Trading Day on and after the Ex Date for such
other event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Closing Price by the
reciprocal of the fraction by which the Exercise Amount is so required
to be adjusted as a result of such other event; and
(iii) the Ex Date for the issuance or distribution requiring
such computation is prior to the day in question, after taking into
account any adjustment required pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above,
the Closing Price for each Trading Day on or after such Ex Date shall
be adjusted by adding thereto the amount of any cash and the Fair
Market Value (as determined by the Board of Directors in a manner
consistent with any determination of such value for purposes of Section
4.01 (d) or (f), whose determination shall be conclusive and set forth
in a Board Resolution) of the evidences of indebtedness, shares of
capital stock or assets being distributed applicable to one share of
Common Stock as of the close of business on the day before such Ex
Date.
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For purposes of any computation under Section 4.01 (f), the Market
Price of the Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily Closing Prices per share of Common Stock for such day and the next two
succeeding Trading Days; provided, however, that if the Ex Date for any event
(other than the tender offer requiring such computation) that requires an
adjustment to the Exercise Amount pursuant to Section 4.01 (a), (b), (c), (d),
(e) or (f) occurs on or after the Tender Expiration Time for the tender or
exchange offer requiring such computation and prior to the day in question, the
Closing Price for each Trading Day on and after the Ex Date for such other event
shall be adjusted by multiplying such Closing Price by the reciprocal of the
fraction by which the Exercise Amount is so required to be adjusted as a result
of such other event.
"Non-Electing Share" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
4.02(a).
"Participant" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(e).
"Purchased Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(f).
"Record Date" shall mean, with respect to any dividend, distribution or
other transaction or event in which the holders of Common Stock have the right
to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock
(or other applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any
combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such cash, securities or other
property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors or by statute,
contract or otherwise).
"Redemption" shall mean a redemption of the Warrants pursuant to
Sections 3.03 and 3.04.
"Redemption Conditions" shall mean, with respect to any proposed
Redemption, that (i) as of the date on which the Company elects to redeem the
Warrants and on the Redemption Date, the Exercise Conditions shall be satisfied
(provided, however, that clause (iii) of the definition of "Exercise Conditions"
need only be satisfied on the Redemption Date), (ii) on the Redemption Date, the
Company shall have complied with all other applicable laws and regulations, if
any (including, without limitation, the Securities Act), necessary to permit the
redemption of the Warrants, and (iii) in the case of a Remarketing upon a
Trading Remarketing Event or a Legal Cause Remarketing Event, the Company shall
have satisfied the applicable conditions to a Remarketing set forth in the
Declaration and the Remarketing Agreement.
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"Redemption Date" shall mean the Remarketing Settlement Date for the
contemporaneous Remarketing of Preferred Securities.
"Reference Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(d).
"Remarketing Payment" shall mean, with respect to any Warrant that is
held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, the application of the proceeds of the
Remarketing of the related Preferred Security in an amount equal to the Exercise
Price of such Warrant in accordance with the Remarketing Agreement and the Unit
Agreement.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Successful Remarketing" shall mean, with respect to any Redemption
Date, the contemporaneous settlement scheduled to occur on such Redemption Date
of the Remarketing that commenced on the Remarketing Date.
"Tender Expiration Time" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.01(f).
"Trading Day" shall mean:
(i) if the applicable security is listed or admitted for
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national security
exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other
national security exchange is open for business;
(ii) if the applicable security is quoted on the NASDAQ
National Market, a day on which trades may be made thereon; or
(iii) if the applicable security is not so listed, admitted
for trading or quoted, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day
on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Trigger Event" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
4.01(d).
"Trust" shall mean Sovereign Capital Trust II.
"Unit Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Unit Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Unit Register" shall mean the register to be maintained by the Unit
Agent pursuant to the Unit Agreement.
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"Warrant" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Warrant Certificate" shall mean each registered certificate
(including, without limitation, the Global Certificate) issued by the Company
pursuant to this Warrant Agreement evidencing a Warrant, substantially in the
form of Exhibit A hereto.
"Warrant Register" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(a).
"Warrant Value" shall mean, with respect to any Warrant as of any date,
$50 less the Exercise Price.
Section 1.02 Interpretive Provisions. With respect to all terms in this
Warrant Agreement, the singular includes the plural and the plural the singular;
words importing any gender include the other gender; references to "writing"
include printing, typing, lithography, and other means of reproducing words in a
visible form; references to agreements and other contractual instruments include
all subsequent amendments thereto or changes therein entered into in accordance
with their respective terms and not prohibited by this Indenture; references to
"persons" include their permitted successors and assigns; and the term
"including" means "including without limitation." All references herein to
Articles, Sections, Subsections and Exhibits are references to Articles,
Sections, Subsections and Exhibits contained in or attached to this Warrant
Agreement unless otherwise specified, and each such Exhibit is part of the terms
hereof.
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ARTICLE II
ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS AND EXECUTION AND DELIVERY
OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
Section 2.01 Issuance of Warrants.
The Company hereby issues the Warrants described herein, each of which
evidences the right of the Holder thereof, under the terms and conditions
provided for herein and in the related Warrant Certificate, to purchase the
Exercise Amount (subject to adjustment as provided in Article IV) of fully paid
and non-assessable shares of Common Stock at the Exercise Price. Each Warrant
shall be, after issuance thereof, separately transferable from the Preferred
Security which, together with such Warrant, comprises the related Unit.
Section 2.02 Form, Denomination and Execution of Warrant Certificates.
(a) Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Warrants
will be issued as a component of a Unit, in definitive, fully registered form
(the "Global Unit Certificate"), substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit
A of the Unit Agreement. In addition, the Warrants shall initially be issued in
the forms of one or more global Warrants in definitive, fully registered form
(the "Global Certificate"), substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A,
duly executed by the Company and countersigned by the Warrant Agent as
hereinafter provided. Each Warrant Certificate, upon issuance, shall be dated
the date hereof and may have such letters, numbers or other identifying marks
and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as
are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Warrant Agreement, or as may be
required to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation, or to conform to
usage, as the officer of the Company executing the same may approve (such
officer's execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval), and
shall bear the legends required by paragraph (e) below. Each Warrant Certificate
shall evidence one or more Warrants. Upon the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Global Certificate shall represent no outstanding Warrants, as
specified in the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests of Global Certificate"
attached thereto or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, and
the Global Unit Certificate shall represent 5,000,000 outstanding Warrants, as
specified in the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests of Global Certificate"
attached thereto or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
Thereafter, each of the Global Certificate and the Global Unit Certificate shall
represent such outstanding Warrants as shall be specified in the "Schedule of
Exchanges and Interests in Global Certificate" attached to such certificate or
otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
(b) The Warrant Certificates shall be signed in the name and on behalf
of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of
the Board of Directors, its President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior
Vice President or its Treasurer, and by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.
Such signatures may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any
future holder of any such office and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on
the Warrant Certificates.
9
(c) No Warrant Certificate shall be valid for any purpose, and no
Warrant evidenced thereby shall be deemed issued or exercisable, until such
Warrant Certificate has been countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature
of the Warrant Agent. Such signature by the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant
Certificate executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the
Warrant Certificate so countersigned has been duly issued hereunder.
(d) In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any
Warrant Certificate either manually or by facsimile signature shall cease to be
such officer before the Warrant Certificate so signed shall have been
countersigned and delivered by the Warrant Agent, such Warrant Certificate
nevertheless may be countersigned and delivered as though the person who signed
such Warrant Certificate had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and
any Warrant Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by such person
as, at the actual date of the execution of such Warrant Certificate, shall be a
proper officer of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this
Warrant Agreement such person was not such an officer.
(e) Each Global Certificate deposited with DTC shall bear the following
legend:
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE
TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN WHOLE,
BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE
WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN.
Section 2.03 Issuance and Delivery of Warrant Certificates. Upon the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver one or more
Global Certificates executed by the Company to the Warrant Agent for
countersignature. Except as provided in the following sentence, the Warrant
Agent shall thereupon countersign such Warrant Certificates and deliver the same
to DTC. Subsequent to the original issuance, the Warrant Agent shall countersign
new Warrant Certificates only if such Warrant Certificates are issued in
exchange or substitution for one or more previously countersigned Warrant
Certificates or in connection with their transfer, as hereinafter provided.
10
Section 2.04 Temporary Warrant Certificates. Pending the preparation of
Definitive Warrants, the Company may execute, and upon the order of the Company
the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, temporary Warrant Certificates
that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced,
substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Warrants in lieu of which they are
issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as the officer executing such Warrant Certificates may determine, as
evidenced by such officer's execution of such Warrant Certificates.
If temporary Warrant Certificates are issued, the Company will cause
Definitive Warrants to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the
preparation of Definitive Warrants, the temporary Warrant Certificates shall be
exchangeable for Definitive Warrants upon surrender of the temporary Warrant
Certificates at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent, without charge
to the Holder thereof. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more
temporary Warrant Certificates, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent
shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor Definitive Warrants
representing the same aggregate number of Warrants. Until so exchanged, the
temporary Warrant Certificates shall in all respects be entitled to the same
benefits under this Warrant Agreement as Definitive Warrants.
Section 2.05 Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Warrant Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Company and the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of any Warrant Certificate and of indemnity (other than in connection
with any mutilated Warrant Certificates surrendered to the Warrant Agent for
cancellation) reasonably satisfactory to them, the Company shall execute, and
Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of each
lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant
Certificate evidencing a like number of Warrants of the same title. Upon the
issuance of a new Warrant Certificate under this Section, the Company may
require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or other tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Warrant Agent) in connection
therewith. Every substitute Warrant Certificate executed and delivered pursuant
to this Section in lieu of any lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificate
shall represent a contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not such
lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable
by anyone, and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Warrant Agreement
equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant rights and remedies
with respect to the replacement of lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant
Certificates.
Section 2.06 Payment of Certain Taxes . The Company shall pay all stamp
and other duties, if any, to which this Warrant Agreement or the original
issuance of the Warrants or Warrant Certificates may be subject under the laws
of the United States of America or any state or locality.
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Section 2.07 Holders of Warrants; Rights of Holders.
(a) At any time that a Warrant is held pursuant to the Unit Agreement,
the Company shall, or shall cause the Unit Registrar to, make available to the
Warrant Agent at all times such information as to holders of Units as may be
necessary to keep the Warrant Register up to date.
(b) No Warrant or Warrant Certificate shall entitle the Holder thereof
to any of the rights, preferences and privileges of a holder of Common Stock,
including without limitation any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion,
exchange or liquidation rights.
(c) Any Holder may, without the consent of the Warrant Agent, enforce,
and may institute and maintain, any suit, action or proceeding against the
Company suitable to enforce, or otherwise in respect of, its right to exercise
its Warrants as provided in the related Warrant Certificates and this Warrant
Agreement.
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ARTICLE III
DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
Section 3.01 Duration of Warrants. Each Warrant shall be exercisable
on any date prior to the Expiration Date by the Holder thereof at the Exercise
Price for such date, provided that the Exercise Conditions are met as of such
date. Each Warrant not exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., New York time, on its
Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights of the Holder of such Warrant
under the related Warrant Certificate and under this Agreement shall cease.
Section 3.02. Exercise of Warrants.
(a) Subject to Section 3.03 and Article IV, the Holder of a Warrant
shall have the right, prior to the Expiration Date, at such Holder's option, to
exercise such Warrant and purchase the Exercise Amount of Common Stock at the
Exercise Price. A Warrant may be exercised by giving notice to the Warrant Agent
no later than 5:00 p.m. New York time on the Business Day preceding the proposed
date of exercise of such Warrant and completing the form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse side of such Warrant Certificate, and delivering the
same, together with the related Warrant Certificate (in the case of Definitive
Warrants), to the Warrant Agent no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the
date of such exercise, together with a Cash Payment (unless, in accordance with
Section 3.03(c), a Remarketing Payment is to be made). In no event may a Holder
satisfy its obligation to pay the Exercise Price by tendering Preferred
Securities.
(b) On the date of exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall issue, and
the Warrant Agent shall deliver, to or upon the order of the Holder of such
Warrant, the Exercise Amount of Common Stock to which such Holder is entitled,
registered in such name or names as may be directed by such Holder. The date on
which such Warrant Certificate and payment are received by the Warrant Agent as
aforesaid shall be deemed to be the date on which the related Warrant is
exercised and the related Common Stock is issued. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this paragraph (b), (i) no fractional shares of Common Stock
shall be issued by the Company upon the exercise of any Warrant, (ii) if more
than one Warrant shall be exercised at the same time by the same Holder, the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with such exercise shall
be computed on the basis of the aggregate Exercise Amount of the Warrants so
exercised, and (iii) on the date a Holder exercises such Holder's Warrant, the
Company shall pay such Holder an amount in cash equal to the then-current Market
Price (multiplied by the related fraction) of Common Stock for such fractional
shares, computed to the nearest whole cent.
(c) If fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by a Warrant
Certificate are exercised, the Company shall execute, and an authorized officer
of the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, a new Warrant Certificate
evidencing the number of Warrants remaining unexercised.
13
(d) The Warrant Agent shall deposit all funds received by it in
connection with a Cash Payment of the Exercise Price into the account of the
Company maintained with it for such purpose by notice in writing to the Warrant
Agent, and shall notify the Company by telephone by 5:00 p.m., New York time, of
each day on which a Cash Payment of the Exercise Price for Warrants is so
deposited of the amount of such deposit into its account. The Warrant Agent
shall promptly confirm such notice in writing to the Company.
(e) The Warrant Agent shall, from time to time, as promptly as
practicable, advise the Company of (i) the number of Warrants exercised as
provided herein, (ii) the instructions of each Holder with respect to delivery
of the Common Stock to which such Holder is entitled upon such exercise, and
(iii) such other information as the Company shall reasonably require. Such
notice may be given by telephone to be promptly confirmed in writing.
(f) The Company shall pay all documentary stamp taxes attributable to
the initial issuance of Warrants or to the issuance of Common Stock to the
registered Holder of such Warrants upon exercise thereof; provided, however,
that such Holder, and not the Company, shall be required to pay any stamp or
other tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with
any transfer involved in the issuance of the Common Stock; and in the event that
any such transfer is involved, the Company shall not be required to issue any
Common Stock (and such Holder's purchase of the Common Stock issued upon the
exercise of such Holder's Warrant shall not be deemed to have been consummated)
until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it has been established
to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax or other charge is due.
Section 3.03. Redemption of Warrants.
(a) Subject to satisfaction of the Redemption Conditions, the Company
shall redeem the Warrants on the Redemption Date for cash in an amount equal to
the Warrant Value as of the Remarketing Date in accordance with Section 3.04.
(b) A Holder may elect to exercise a Warrant in lieu of Redemption, if
(i) such Warrant is held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, and such Holder has
opted out of participating in the Remarketing, by notice given to the Warrant
Agent and the Unit Agent as provided in the Unit Agreement; or (ii) such Warrant
is not held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, by notice given to the Warrant
Agent, in each case prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Business Day prior
to the related Redemption Date. In the absence of an election to exercise a
Warrant in lieu of a Redemption, a Holder will be deemed to have elected to have
its Warrants redeemed on the Redemption Date.
(c) If a Holder elects to exercise a Warrant pursuant to paragraph (b)
above, then such Holder shall tender the Exercise Price for such Warrant as a
Cash Payment, and shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 3.02;
provided, however, that if (i) such Warrant is, on the Remarketing Date, held
pursuant to the Unit Agreement, (ii) such Holder has not opted out of
participating in the Remarketing, and (iii) a Successful Remarketing shall have
occurred, then the Exercise Price of such Warrant shall be deemed to have been
paid by a Remarketing Payment, and the Remarketing Agent will, in connection
with such Remarketing Payment, apply the proceeds of the Remarketing of the
related Preferred Security in accordance with the terms of the Remarketing
Agreement and the Unit Agreement.
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(d) Any Warrant redeemed or exercised pursuant to the provisions of
this Section shall, upon such redemption or exercise, cease to be outstanding.
(e) If a Redemption cannot occur because of an inability to satisfy the
Redemption Conditions, the Company shall promptly notify the Warrant Agent and
each Holder (at its address specified in the Warrant Register) thereof. Such
event shall not constitute a default under this Agreement so long as the Company
is exercising its best efforts to satisfy the Redemption Conditions and is not
otherwise in violation of this Agreement (including the provisions of Article
VII hereof) and the Company may, under such circumstances, subsequently seek to
remarket the Preferred Securities and contemporaneously redeem the Warrants.
Section 3.04. Redemption Procedures.
(a) The Company shall, contemporaneously with the giving of notice of
Remarketing pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Declaration, furnish notice of
Redemption to the Warrant Agent, which shall, within two (2) Business Days of
receipt thereof, furnish notice of such Redemption to Holders of Definitive
Warrants, and the Company shall request, not later than 15 nor more than 30
calendar days prior to the Remarketing Date, that DTC notify its Participants
holding Warrants of the Remarketing. The Company shall cause notice of such
redemption to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in New York
City, once a week for two successive weeks commencing not less than 20 nor more
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. If the Company gives a notice of
Redemption of the Warrants, then by 12:00 noon, New York time, on the Redemption
Date, the Company shall deposit irrevocably with DTC consideration sufficient to
pay the Warrant Value for all Book-Entry Warrants (other than Warrants held by
persons electing to exercise their Warrants in lieu of a Redemption). If any
Warrants are not represented by one or more Global Certificates, the Company
shall irrevocably deposit with the Warrant Agent consideration sufficient to pay
the applicable Warrant Value, and shall give the Warrant Agent irrevocable
instructions and authority to pay the Warrant Value to the related Holders upon
surrender of the related Warrant Certificates. If notice of redemption shall
have been given and consideration deposited or paid as required hereby, then,
immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Redemption Date, all
rights of Holders shall cease, except the right of Holders to receive the
Warrant Value (or Common Stock if the related Holder elected to exercise such
Holder's Warrant on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Redemption
Date), and the Warrants shall cease to be outstanding.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and subject to
applicable law, the Company and its subsidiaries may at any time, and from time
to time, purchase outstanding Warrants by tender, in the open market or by
private agreement.
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ARTICLE IV
ANTI-DILUTION PROVISIONS
Section 4.01. Warrant Adjustments. The Exercise Amount shall be subject
to adjustments, calculated by the Company, from time to time as follows:
(a) In case the Company shall hereafter pay a dividend or make a
distribution to all holders of the outstanding Common Stock in shares
of Common Stock, the Exercise Amount in effect at the opening of
business on the date following the date fixed for the determination of
stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution
shall be increased by multiplying such Exercise Amount by a fraction,
(i) the numerator of which shall be the sum of the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of
business on the Record Date fixed for such determination and
the total number of shares constituting such dividend or other
distribution, and
(ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on
the Record Date fixed for such determination.
Such increase shall become effective immediately after the opening of
business on the day following the Record Date. If any dividend or
distribution of the type described in this paragraph (a) is declared
but not so paid or made, the Exercise Amount shall again be adjusted to
the Exercise Amount which would then be in effect if such dividend or
distribution had not been declared.
(b) In case the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be
subdivided into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the
Exercise Amount in effect at the opening of business on the day
following the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective shall
be proportionately increased, and conversely, in case outstanding
shares of Common Stock shall be combined into a smaller number of
shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Amount in effect at the opening of
business on the day following the day upon which such combination
becomes effective shall be proportionately decreased, such reduction or
increase, as the case may be, to become effective immediately after the
opening of business on the day following the day upon which such
subdivision or combination becomes effective.
(c) In case the Company shall issue rights or warrants (other
than any rights or warrants referred to in paragraph (d) below) to all
holders of its outstanding shares of Common Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock (or securities
convertible into Common Stock) at a price per share (or having a
conversion price per share) less than the Market Price on the Record
Date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive
such rights or warrants, the Exercise Amount shall be adjusted so that
the same shall equal the amount determined by multiplying the Exercise
Amount in effect at the opening of business on the date after such
Record Date by a fraction:
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(i) the numerator of which shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding on the close of business on
the Record Date plus the total number of additional shares of
Common Stock so offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so offered are convertible),
and
(ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on
the Record Date plus the number of shares which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of shares so offered for
subscription or purchase (or the aggregate conversion price of
the convertible securities so offered) would purchase at such
Market Price.
Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the opening of
business on the day following the Record Date fixed for determination
of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants. To the
extent that shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into
Common Stock) are not delivered pursuant to such rights or warrants,
upon the expiration or termination of such rights or warrants the
Exercise Amount shall be readjusted to the Exercise Amount which would
then be in effect had the adjustments made upon the issuance of such
rights or warrants been made on the basis of the delivery of only the
number of shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into Common
Stock) actually delivered. In the event that such rights or warrants
are not so issued, the Exercise Amount shall again be adjusted to be
the Exercise Amount which would then be in effect if such date fixed
for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights
or warrants had not been fixed. In determining whether any rights or
warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of
Common Stock at less than such Market Price, and in determining the
aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be
taken into account any consideration received for such rights or
warrants, the value of such consideration if other than cash, to be
determined by the Board of Directors.
(d) In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise,
distribute to all holders of its Common Stock shares of any class of
capital stock of the Company (other than any dividends or distributions
to which paragraph (a) above applies) or evidences of its indebtedness,
cash or other assets, including securities, but excluding (i) any
rights or warrants referred to in paragraph (c) above, (ii) any stock,
securities or other property or assets (including cash) distributed in
connection with a reclassification, change, merger, consolidation,
statutory share exchange, combination, sale or conveyance to which
Section 4.02 hereof applies and (iii) dividends and distributions paid
exclusively in cash, then, in each such case, subject to the second
succeeding paragraph of this paragraph (d), the Exercise Amount shall
be increased so that the same shall be equal to the amount determined
by multiplying the Exercise Amount in effect immediately prior to the
close of business on the Record Date with respect to such distribution
by a fraction:
17
(i) the numerator of which shall be the Market Price
on such date plus the Fair Market Value (as determined by the
Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive
and set forth in a Board Resolution) on such date of the
portion of the securities so distributed applicable to one
share of Common Stock (determined on the basis of the number
of shares of the Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date),
and
(ii) the denominator of which shall be such Market
Price.
Such increase shall become effective immediately prior to the opening
of business on the day following the Record Date. However, in the event
that the then Fair Market Value (as so determined) of the portion of
the securities so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock
is equal to or greater than the Market Price on the Record Date, in
lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so
that each Holder shall have the right to receive upon exercise of a
Warrant the amount of securities such Holder would have received had
such Holder exercised such Warrant immediately prior to such Record
Date. In the event that such dividend or distribution is not so paid or
made, the Exercise Amount shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise
Amount which would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution
had not been declared.
If the Board of Directors determines the Fair Market
Value of any distribution for purposes of this paragraph (d) by
reference to the actual or when issued trading market for any
securities comprising all or part of such distribution, it must in
doing so consider the prices in such market over the same period (the
"Reference Period") used in computing the Market Price pursuant to
paragraph (g) below to the extent possible, unless the Board of
Directors in a Board Resolution determines in good faith that
determining the Fair Market Value during the Reference Period would not
be in the best interest of the Holders.
Rights or warrants distributed by the Company to all
holders of Common Stock entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for
or purchase shares of the Company's capital stock (either initially or
under certain circumstances), which rights or warrants, until the
occurrence of a specified event or events ("Trigger Event"):
(1) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of
Common Stock;
(2) are not exercisable; and
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(3) are also issued in respect of future issuances of
Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes
of this paragraph (d) (and no adjustment to the Exercise Amount under
this paragraph (d) will be required) until the occurrence of the
earliest Trigger Event. If such right or warrant is subject to
subsequent events, upon the occurrence of which such right or warrant
shall become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of
indebtedness or other assets or entitle the holder to purchase a
different number or amount of the foregoing or to purchase any of the
foregoing at a different purchase price, then the occurrence of each
such event shall be deemed to be the date of issuance and record date
with respect to a new right or warrant (and a termination or expiration
of the existing right or warrant without exercise by the holder
thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed
distribution) of rights or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other
event (of the type described in the preceding sentence) with respect
thereto, that resulted in an adjustment to the Exercise Amount under
this paragraph (d):
(x) in the case of any such rights or warrants which
shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise
by any holders thereof, the Exercise Amount shall be
readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give
effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may
be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per
share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder of
Common Stock with respect to such rights or warrant (assuming
such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all
holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or
repurchase, and
(y) in the case of such rights or warrants all of
which shall have expired or been terminated without exercise,
the Exercise Amount shall be readjusted as if such rights and
warrants had never been issued.
For purposes of this paragraph (d) and paragraphs (a), (b) and
(c), any dividend or distribution to which this paragraph (d) is
applicable that also includes shares of Common Stock, a subdivision or
combination of Common Stock to which paragraph (c) applies, or rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock to
which paragraph (c) applies (or any combination thereof), shall be
deemed instead to be:
(I) a dividend or distribution of the evidences of
indebtedness, assets, shares of capital stock, rights or
warrants other than such shares of Common Stock, such
subdivision or combination or such rights or warrants to which
paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above apply, respectively (and any
Exercise Amount increase required by this paragraph (d) with
respect to such dividend or distribution shall then be made),
immediately followed by,
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(II) a dividend or distribution of such shares of
Common Stock, such subdivision or combination or such rights
or warrants (and any further Exercise Amount increase required
by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) with respect to such dividend
or distribution shall then be made), except:
(A) the Record Date of such dividend or
distribution shall be substituted as (x) "the date
fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled
to receive such dividend or other distribution",
"Record Date fixed for such determinations" and
"Record Date" within the meaning of paragraph (a)
above, (y) "the day upon which such subdivision
becomes effective" and "the day upon which such
combination becomes effective" within the meaning of
paragraph (b) above, and (z) as "the date fixed for
the determination of stockholders entitled to receive
such rights or warrants", "the Record Date fixed for
the determination of the stockholders entitled to
receive such rights or warrants" and such "Record
Date" within the meaning of paragraph (c) above, and
(B) any shares of Common Stock included in
such dividend or distribution shall not be deemed
"outstanding at the close of business on the date
fixed for such determination" within the meaning of
paragraph (a) above and any reduction or increase in
the number of shares of Common Stock resulting from
such subdivision or combination shall be disregarded
in connection with such dividend or distribution..
(e) In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise,
distribute to all holders of its Common Stock cash (excluding any cash
that is distributed upon a reclassification, change, merger,
consolidation, statutory share exchange, combination, sale or
conveyance to which Section 4.02 hereof applies or as part of a
distribution referred to in paragraph (d) hereof), in an aggregate
amount that, combined together with:
(i) the aggregate amount of any other such
distributions to all holders of Common Stock made exclusively
in cash within the 12 months preceding the date of payment of
such distribution, and in respect of which no adjustment
pursuant to this paragraph (e) has been made, and
(ii) the aggregate of any cash plus the Fair Market
Value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be conclusive and set forth in a Board
Resolution) of consideration payable in respect of any tender
offer by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for all or any
portion of the Common Stock concluded within the 12 months
preceding the date of such distribution, and in respect of
which no adjustment pursuant to paragraph (f) below has been
made,
20
exceeds 10% of the product of the Market Price (determined as provided
in paragraph (g) below) on the Record Date with respect to such
distribution times the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on
such date, then and in each such case, immediately after the close of
business on such date, the Exercise Amount shall be increased so that
the same shall equal the amount determined by multiplying the Exercise
Amount in effect immediately prior to the close of business on such
Record Date by a fraction:
(i) the numerator of which shall be equal to the
Market Price on such Record Date, and
(ii) the denominator of which shall be equal to the
Market Price on such Record Date less an amount equal to the
quotient of (x) the excess of such combined amount over such
10% and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
on such Record Date.
However, in the event that the then Fair Market Value (as so
determined) of the portion of the securities so distributed applicable
to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Market
Price on the Record Date, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate
provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have the right to
receive upon exercise of a Warrant the amount of cash such Holder would
have received had such Holder exercised such Warrant immediately prior
to such Record Date. In the event that such dividend or distribution is
not so paid or made, the Exercise Amount shall again be adjusted to be
the Exercise Amount which would then be in effect if such dividend or
distribution had not been declared.
(f) In case a tender offer made by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries for all or any portion of the Common Stock shall expire
and such tender offer (as amended upon the expiration thereof) shall
require the payment to stockholders (based on the acceptance (up to any
maximum specified in the terms of the tender offer) of Purchased
Shares) of an aggregate consideration having a Fair Market Value (as
determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be
conclusive and set forth in a Board Resolution) that combined together
with:
(i) the aggregate of the cash plus the Fair Market
Value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be conclusive and set forth in a Board
Resolution), as of the expiration of such tender offer, of
consideration payable in respect of any other tender offers,
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for all or any
portion of the Common Stock expiring within the 12 months
preceding the expiration of such tender offer and in respect
of which no adjustment pursuant to this paragraph (f) has been
made, and
(ii) the aggregate amount of any distributions to all
holders of Common Stock made exclusively in cash within 12
months preceding the expiration of such tender offer and in
respect of which no adjustment pursuant to paragraph (e) has
been made,
21
exceeds 10% of the product of the Market Price (determined as provided
in paragraph (g) below) as of the last time (the "Tender Expiration
Time") tenders could have been made pursuant to such tender offer (as
it may be amended) times the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding (including any tendered shares) on the Tender Expiration
Time, then, and in each such case, immediately prior to the opening of
business on the day after the date of the Tender Expiration Time, the
Exercise Amount shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the
amount determined by multiplying the Exercise Amount in effect
immediately prior to close of business on the date of the Tender
Expiration Time by a fraction:
(A) the numerator of which shall be the sum of (x)
the Fair Market Value (determined as aforesaid) of the
aggregate consideration payable to stockholders based on the
acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the
tender offer) of all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn
as of the Tender Expiration Time (the shares deemed so
accepted, up to any such maximum, being referred to as the
"Purchased Shares") and (y) the product of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding (less any Purchased Shares)
on the Tender Expiration Time and the Market Price of the
Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the Tender
Expiration Time, and
(B) the denominator shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding (including any tendered shares) at
the Tender Expiration Time multiplied by the Market Price of
the Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the Tender
Expiration Time.
Such increase (if any) shall become effective immediately prior to the
opening of business on the day following the Tender Expiration Time. In
the event that the Company is obligated to purchase shares pursuant to
any such tender offer, but the Company is permanently prevented by
applicable law from effecting any such purchases or all such purchases
are rescinded, the Exercise Amount shall again be adjusted to be the
Exercise Amount which would then be in effect if such tender offer had
not been made. If the application of this paragraph (f) to any tender
offer would result in a decrease in the Exercise Amount, no adjustment
shall be made for such tender offer under this paragraph (f).
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever successive
adjustments to the Exercise Amount are called for pursuant to this
Section 4.01, such adjustments shall be made to the Market Price as may
be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the intent of this Section
4.01 and to avoid unjust or inequitable results as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors.
(h) The Company may make such reductions in the Exercise Price
as the Board of Directors considers to be advisable to avoid or
diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to
purchase Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of
stock (or rights to acquire stock) or from any event treated as such
for income tax purposes.
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To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company from
time to time may reduce the Exercise Price by any amount for any period
of time if the period is at least 20 days and the reduction is
irrevocable during the period and the Board of Directors determines in
good faith that such reduction would be in the best interests of the
Company, which determination shall be conclusive and set forth in a
Board Resolution. Whenever the Exercise Price is reduced pursuant to
the preceding sentence, the Company shall mail to the Warrant Agent and
each Holder at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Warrant
Register a notice of the reduction at least 15 days prior to the date
the reduced Exercise Price takes effect, and such notice shall state
the reduced Exercise Price and the period during which it will be in
effect.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
4.01, no adjustment in the Exercise Amount shall be required unless
such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in
such amount; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of
this paragraph (i) are not required to be made shall be carried forward
and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations
under this Article IV shall be made by the Company and shall be made to
the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundredth of a share, as the
case may be. No adjustment need be made for a change in the par value
or no par value of the Common Stock.
(j) In any case in which this Section provides that an
adjustment shall become effective immediately after a Record Date for
an event, the Company may defer until the occurrence of such event (i)
issuing to any Holder of a Warrant exercised after such Record Date and
before the occurrence of such event the additional shares of Common
Stock issuable upon such exercise by reason of the adjustment required
by such event over and above the Common Stock issuable upon such
exercise before giving effect to such adjustment and (ii) paying to
such Holder any amount in cash in lieu of any fraction pursuant to
Section 3.02(b) hereof.
(k) For purposes of this Section, the number of shares of Common
Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the
treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of
scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common
Stock. The Company shall not pay any dividend or make any distribution
on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.
(l) If the distribution date for the rights provided in the
Company's rights agreement, if any, occurs prior to the date a Warrant
is exercised, the Holder who exercises such Warrant after the
distribution date is not entitled to receive the rights that would
otherwise be attached (but for the date of exercise) to the shares of
Common Stock received upon such exercise; provided, however, that an
adjustment shall be made to the Exercise Amount pursuant to paragraph
(b) above as if the rights were being distributed to the common
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such exercise. If such
an adjustment is made and the rights are later redeemed, invalidated or
terminated, then a corresponding reversing adjustment shall be made to
the Exercise Amount, on an equitable basis, to take account of such
event.
23
Section 4.02 Merger, Consolidation, Sale, Transfer or Conveyance;
Change of Control.
(a) If any of following events occur, namely:
(i) any reclassification or change of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to
no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a
subdivision or combination),
(ii) any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or
combination of the Company with another corporation as a result of
which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock,
securities or other property or assets (including cash) with respect to
or in exchange for such Common Stock, or
(iii) any sale or conveyance of the properties and assets of
the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety to any other
corporation as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive stock, securities or other property or assets
(including cash) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock,
the Company or the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be,
shall execute with the Warrant Agent an amendment to this Warrant Agreement
providing that the Warrants shall, upon exercise, entitle the Holder thereof to
the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property or
assets (including cash) which such Holder would have been entitled to receive
upon such reclassification, change, merger, consolidation, statutory share
exchange, combination, sale or conveyance had such Warrants been exercised
immediately prior to such reclassification, change, merger, consolidation,
statutory share exchange, combination, sale or conveyance, assuming such holder
of Common Stock did not exercise its rights of election, if any, as to the kind
or amount of securities, cash or other property receivable upon such merger,
consolidation, statutory share exchange, sale or conveyance (provided that, if
the kind or amount of securities, cash or other property receivable upon such
merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, sale or conveyance is not the
same for each share of Common Stock in respect of which such rights of election
shall not have been exercised ("Non-Electing Share"), then for the purposes of
this Section, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property
receivable upon such merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, sale or
conveyance for each Non-Electing Share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount
so receivable per share by a plurality of the Non-Electing Shares). Such
amendment shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as
may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article IV. If, in
the case of any such reclassification, change, merger, consolidation, statutory
share exchange, combination, sale or conveyance, the stock or other securities
and assets receivable thereupon by a holder of shares of Common Stock includes
shares of stock or other securities and assets of a corporation other than the
successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such
reclassification, change, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange,
combination, sale or conveyance, then such amendment shall also be executed by
such other corporation and shall contain such additional provisions to protect
the interests of the Holders as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider
necessary by reason of the foregoing.
24
The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such amendment to be
mailed to each Holder, at the address of such Holder as it appears on the
Warrant Register, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver
such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such amendment.
The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to
successive reclassifications, mergers, consolidations, statutory share
exchanges, combinations, sales and conveyances.
If this Section applies to any event or occurrence, Section
4.01 hereof shall not apply.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, if a Change of Control
occurs, each Holder shall have the right (a "Change of Control Redemption
Right") to require the Company to redeem such Holder's Warrants (a "Change of
Control Redemption") on the date that is 45 days after the Change of Control
Notice Date (the "Change of Control Redemption Date"), at the Warrant Value on
such Change of Control Redemption Date. Within 30 days after the date of
occurrence of a Change of Control (the "Change of Control Notice Date"), the
Company shall give notice to each Holder and the Warrant Agent of the
transaction that gave rise to such Change of Control and of the resulting Change
of Control Redemption Right. To exercise such Change of Control Redemption
Right, a Holder shall deliver, on or prior to the 30th day after the Change of
Control Notice Date, irrevocable written notice to the Warrant Agent of such
Holder's election to exercise such Change of Control Redemption Right and the
number of Warrants to be so redeemed. On the Change of Control Redemption Date,
the Company shall redeem the related Warrants at the Warrant Value on such date
in accordance with the procedures for Redemption set forth in Section 3.04(a)
In connection with a Change of Control Redemption, not less than three
Business Days prior to the Change of Control Redemption Date:
(i) if the Warrants to be redeemed are represented by
a Global Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall make the necessary
endorsement to the "Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global
Certificate" attached to the Global Certificate to reduce the amount of
Warrants represented thereby; and
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(ii) if the Warrants to be redeemed are Definitive
Warrants, the Holder of such Definitive Warrants shall present the
related Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent for cancellation in
accordance with Section 5.03.
The Company shall comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and
any other applicable securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent
such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with any redemption of
the Warrants by the Company pursuant to this paragraph (b).
Section 4.03 Other Events. If any event occurs as to which the
foregoing provisions of this Article IV are not strictly applicable or, if
strictly applicable, would not, in the good faith judgment of the board of
directors of the Company, fairly and adequately protect the rights of the
Holders of the Warrants in accordance with the essential intent and principles
of such provisions, then the board of directors of the Company shall make such
adjustments in the application of such provisions, in accordance with such
essential intent and principles, as shall be reasonably necessary, in their good
faith opinion, to protect such purchase rights as aforesaid, but in no event
shall any such adjustment have the effect of decreasing the Exercise Amount of
any Warrant.
Section 4.04 Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the Exercise Amount is
adjusted as herein provided (other than in the case of an adjustment pursuant to
the second paragraph of Section 4.01(h) for which the notice required by such
paragraph has been provided), the Company shall promptly file with the Warrant
Agent an Officers' Certificate setting forth the adjusted Exercise Amount and
showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based.
Promptly after delivery of such Officers' Certificate, the Company shall prepare
a notice stating that the Exercise Amount has been adjusted and setting forth
the adjusted Exercise Amount and the date on which each adjustment becomes
effective, and shall mail such notice to each Holder at the address of such
Holder as it appears in the Warrant Register within 20 days of the effective
date of such adjustment. Failure to deliver such notice shall not effect the
legality or validity of any such adjustment.
Section 4.05 Notice of Certain Transactions. In case at any time after
the date hereof:
(a) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on
its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash out of its capital surplus or
its consolidated retained earnings;
(b) the Company shall authorize the granting to the holders of its
Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
capital stock of any class (or of securities convertible into shares of capital
stock of any class) or of any other rights;
(c) there shall occur any reclassification of the Common Stock of the
Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common
Stock, a change in par value, a change from par value to no par value or a
change from no par value to par value), or any merger, consolidation, statutory
share exchange or combination to which the Company is a party and for which
approval of any shareholders of the Company is required, or the sale, transfer
or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or
26
(d) there shall occur the voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Company;
then the Company shall cause to be filed at each the corporate trust office of
the Warrant Agent, and shall cause to be provided to the Warrant Agent and all
Holders in accordance with Section 8.02 hereof, at least 20 days (or 10 days in
any case specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above) prior to the applicable record
or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating:
(i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose
of such dividend, distribution, rights or warrants, or, if a record is
not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of
record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights or
warrants are to be determined, or
(ii) the date on which such reclassification, merger,
consolidation, statutory share exchange, combination, sale, transfer,
conveyance, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to
become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders
of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of
Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon
such reclassification, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange,
sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up.
Neither the failure to give such notice nor any defect therein
shall affect the legality or validity of the proceedings or actions described in
clauses (a) through (d) of this Section.
Section 4.06 Adjustment to Warrant Certificate. The form of Warrant
Certificate need not be changed because of any adjustment made pursuant to this
Article IV, and Warrant Certificates issued after such adjustment may state the
same Exercise Amount as is stated in the Warrant Certificates initially issued
pursuant to this Warrant 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.
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ARTICLE V
EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF WARRANTS
Section 5.01 Warrant Register; Exchange and Transfer of Warrants.
(a) The Warrant Agent shall maintain, at its corporate trust office, a
register (the "Warrant Register") in which, upon the issuance of the Warrants,
and subject to such reasonable regulations as the Warrant Agent may prescribe,
it shall register Warrant Certificates and exchanges and transfers thereof
(including in connection with any change by a Holder from holding a Warrant
pursuant to the Unit Agreement to not holding such Warrant pursuant to the Unit
Agreement). The Warrant Register shall be in written form or in any other form
capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.
(b) The Warrant Certificates shall be issued in registered form only
and shall be transferable only upon surrender thereof for registration of
transfer. When a Warrant Certificate is presented to the Warrant Agent with a
request to register a transfer thereof, the Warrant Agent shall register such
transfer as requested.
(c) Except as provided in the following sentence, upon surrender at the
corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent, Warrant Certificates may be
exchanged for one or more other Warrant Certificates evidencing the same
aggregate number of Warrants of the same title, or may be transferred in whole
or in part. A Warrant Certificate evidencing Warrants that are then held
pursuant to the Unit Agreement may be exchanged or transferred prior to the date
such Warrant is not held pursuant to the Unit Agreement only pursuant to and in
accordance with the Unit Agreement. A transfer shall be registered upon
surrender of a Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust
office for transfer, properly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments
of transfer and written instructions for transfer, all in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Warrant Agent, duly signed by the registered holder or
holders thereof or by the duly appointed legal representative thereof or by a
duly authorized attorney, such signature to be guaranteed by (a) a bank or trust
company, (b) a broker or dealer that is a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or (c) a member of a national securities
exchange. Upon any such registration of transfer, a new Warrant Certificate
shall be issued to the transferee. Whenever a Warrant Certificate is surrendered
for exchange or transfer, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall
countersign and deliver to the person or persons entitled thereto, one or more
Warrant Certificates, as so requested. The Warrant Agent shall not be required
to effect any exchange or transfer which will result in the issuance of a
Warrant Certificate evidencing a fraction of a Warrant. All Warrant Certificates
issued upon any exchange or transfer of a Warrant Certificate shall be the valid
obligations of the Company, evidencing the same obligations, and entitled to the
same benefits under this Warrant Agreement, as the Warrant Certificate
surrendered for such exchange or transfer. No service charge shall be made for
any exchange or transfer of Warrants, but the Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
in connection with any such exchange or transfer, in accordance with Section
3.02(f) hereof.
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(d) As noted in Section 2.02, the Global Certificate shall represent
such of the outstanding Warrants as shall be specified in the "Schedule of
Exchanges of Interests of Global Certificate" attached thereto or otherwise in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures, initially equal to zero Warrants. At
any time after issuance, the Preferred Security and Warrant components of any
Unit may be transferred separately. In the event of any separation of the
components of a Unit, the Unit Agreement provides (i) if such Unit is
represented by a definitive certificate, the holder shall present such
definitive certificate to the Unit Agent for cancellation and the Unit Agent
shall deliver the Warrant component of such Unit to the Warrant Agent with an
instruction for it to countersign and deliver to, or upon the instruction of,
such holder a Warrant not held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, bearing the
separate "CUSIP" number assigned to the Warrant (and not the Unit) and (ii) if
such Unit is represented by the Global Unit Certificate, the Unit Agent will
make the necessary endorsement to the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests of
Global Certificate" attached to the Global Unit Certificate or otherwise comply
with the Applicable Procedures to reduce the amount of Units represented thereby
and will instruct the Warrant Agent to effect a corresponding increase in the
Warrants represented by the Global Certificate and bearing a separate "CUSIP"
number. The Warrant Agent shall make such other necessary endorsements to the
Global Certificate consistent with the terms of this agreement to reflect the
appropriate number of Warrants represented thereby.
Once not held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, the Preferred Security
and Warrant components of a Unit may at a later time be held pursuant to the
Unit Agreement. In the event a holder of a Preferred Security and a Holder of a
Warrant desire to cause such Preferred Security and Warrant to once again be
held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, (i) if the constituent components are
represented by definitive certificates, the holder shall present (x) the
Preferred Security to the Property Trustee and (y) the Warrant to the Warrant
Agent, in each case for cancellation and the Property Trustee and the Warrant
Agent shall so notify the Unit Agent, who shall in turn so notify the Unit
registrar with an instruction for the Unit registrar to countersign and deliver
to, or upon the instruction of, such holder a Unit bearing the separate "CUSIP"
number assigned to the Units and (ii) if the constituent components are
represented by global certificates, each of the Property Trustee and the Warrant
Agent shall make the necessary endorsement to their respective global
certificates or otherwise comply with the Applicable Procedures to reduce the
amount of Preferred Securities and Warrants, respectively, represented thereby
and shall instruct Unit Agent to effect a corresponding increase in the Units
represented by the Global Unit Certificate bearing a separate "CUSIP" number.
The Warrant Agent shall make such other necessary endorsements to the Global
Certificate consistent with the terms of this Agreement to reflect the
appropriate number.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, unless and
until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Definitive Warrants, the Global
Certificate may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC
or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such
29
nominee to a successor depositary or a nominee of such successor depositary.
Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Certificate may be transferred in
accordance with the rules and procedures of DTC. Members of, or participants in,
DTC ("Participants") shall have no rights under this Agreement with respect to
the Global Certificate held on their behalf by DTC or the Warrant Agent as its
custodian, and DTC 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
Certificate for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein shall 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 DTC, or impair, as between DTC and its
Participants, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the
rights of a Holder of any Warrants. The registered Holder of the Global
Certificate may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including
Participants and persons that may hold interest through Participants, to take
any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Warrant Agreement or
the Warrants.
If DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as depositary for the Global Certificate, or if at any time DTC shall no longer
be eligible under the next sentence of this paragraph, the Company shall appoint
a successor depositary with respect to the Warrants. Each depositary appointed
pursuant to this Section shall, at the time of its appointment and at all times
while it serves as depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act, and any other applicable statute or regulation. The Company shall
execute, and the Warrant Agent, upon receipt of written instructions from the
Company, shall countersign and deliver, Warrants in definitive registered form
in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of
the Global Certificate or Certificates if DTC notifies the Company that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as depositary therefor or if at any time DTC
shall no longer be eligible to serve as depositary and a successor depositary
for the Warrants is not appointed by the Company within 60 days after the
Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility or if there
shall have occurred and be continuing a default by the Company in respect of its
obligations under this Warrant Agreement, the Indenture, the Declaration or the
Unit Agreement.
Section 5.02 Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates. At all such
times as any Warrant is held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, the Company, the
Warrant Agent and all other persons may treat the holder of the related Unit as
the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant for any purpose
and as the person entitled to exercise the rights relating to such Warrant and
Warrant Certificate, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding. After the date
that a Warrant is no longer held pursuant to the Unit Agreement and prior to due
presentment of the related Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the
Company and the Warrant Agent may treat the registered Holder of such Warrant
Certificate as the absolute Holder thereof for any purpose and as the person
entitled to exercise the rights relating to such Warrant and Warrant
Certificate, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding.
Section 5.03 Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. In the event that
the Company shall purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Warrants after the
issuance thereof pursuant to the terms of this Warrant Agreement, the Warrant
Certificate or Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants shall thereupon be
delivered to the Warrant Agent and be canceled by it. The Warrant Agent shall
also cancel any Warrant Certificate delivered to it for exercise, in whole or in
part, or for exchange or transfer. Warrant Certificates so canceled shall be
delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time, or disposed of
in accordance with the instructions of the Company; provided, that the Warrant
Agent shall not be required to destroy the Warrant Certificates.
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ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
Section 6.01 Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints The Bank of New
York as Warrant Agent, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein; and The Bank of New York hereby accepts such appointment. The Warrant
Agent shall have the powers and authority granted to and conferred upon it in
the Warrant Certificates and hereby, and such further powers and authority
acceptable to it to act on behalf of the Company as the Company may hereafter
grant to or confer upon it. All of the terms and provisions with respect to such
powers and authority contained in the Warrant Certificates are subject to and
governed by the terms and provisions hereof.
Section 6.02 Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations. The Warrant
Agent accepts its obligations set forth herein upon the terms and conditions
hereof, including the following, to all of which the Company agrees and to all
of which the rights hereunder of the Holders shall be subject:
(a) Compensation and Indemnification. The Company agrees to promptly
pay the Warrant Agent the compensation set forth in Exhibit B hereto (or as
otherwise agreed to in writing from time to time by the Company and the Warrant
Agent), and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Warrant Agent in
connection with the services rendered hereunder by the Warrant Agent. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability) incurred without
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Warrant Agent arising out of or in
connection with its appointment, status or service as Warrant Agent hereunder.
(b) Agent for the Company. In acting under this Warrant Agreement and
in connection with any Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent is acting solely
as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligation or relationship of
agency or trust for or with any Holder.
(c) Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to
it, 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.
31
(d) Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
reliance upon any 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.
(e) Officer's Certificate. Whenever in the performance of its duties
hereunder the Warrant Agent shall reasonably deem it necessary that any fact or
matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or
omitting any action hereunder, the Warrant Agent may (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed), in the absence of bad faith
on its part, rely upon a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, an
Executive Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company delivered by the Company to the Warrant
Agent.
(f) Actions Through Agents. The Warrant Agent may execute and exercise
any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder
either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Warrant Agent
shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or
misconduct of any such attorney or agent or for any loss to the Company
resulting from such neglect or misconduct; provided, however, that reasonable
care shall have been exercised in the selection and continued employment of such
attorneys and agents.
(g) Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, and any officer, director
or employee thereof, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, any
Warrant, with the same rights that he, she or it would have if it were not the
Warrant Agent, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, he, she or it may
engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company
and may serve on, or as depository, trustee or agent for, any committee or body
of holders of Common Stock or other obligations of the Company as if it were not
the Warrant Agent.
(h) No Liability For Interest. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable
for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the
provisions of this Warrant Agreement or of the Warrant Certificates, except as
otherwise agreed with the Company.
(i) No Liability For Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall incur no
liability with respect to the validity of this Warrant Agreement (except as to
the due execution hereof by the Warrant Agent) or any Warrant Certificate
(except as to the countersignature thereof by the Warrant Agent).
(j) No Responsibility For Company Representations. The Warrant Agent
shall not be responsible for any of the recitals or representations contained
herein (except as to such statements or recitals as describe the Warrant Agent
or action taken or to be taken by it) or in any Warrant Certificate (except as
to the Warrant Agent's countersignature on such Warrant Certificate), all of
which recitals and representations are made solely by the Company.
32
(k) No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth herein, and no other
duties or obligations shall be implied. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any
obligation to take any action hereunder that may subject it to any expense or
liability, the payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its
reasonable opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or
under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Warrant
Certificate countersigned by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the
Company pursuant to this Warrant Agreement or for the application by the Company
of the proceeds of the issuance or exercise of 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 any Warrant
Certificate or in case of the receipt of any written demand from a Holder with
respect to such default, including, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any
proceedings at law or otherwise or, except as provided in Section 7.02 hereof,
to make any demand upon the Company.
(l) No Liability for Calculations by Calculation Agent. The Warrant
Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any determination by the
Calculation Agent under the Calculation Agency Agreement dated as of November
15, 1999, between the Company and Lehman Brothers Inc., as calculation agent
(the "Calculation Agent"), of the Accreted Value or Discount relating to the
Preferred Securities and shall not incur any liability to the Company any Holder
relating to inaccuracies in calculating such Accreted Value or Discount.
Section 6.03 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) The Company agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of the Warrants,
that there shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all Warrants
have expired.
(b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as such by giving written
notice to the Company, specifying the date on which its desired resignation
shall become effective; provided that such date shall not be less than 30 days
after the date on which such notice if given unless the Company agrees to accept
a shorter notice. 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.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (b), such resignation or
removal shall take effect upon the appointment by the Company, as hereinafter
provided, of a successor Warrant Agent (which shall be a banking institution
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any
State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under the laws of such
jurisdiction to exercise corporate trust powers and having at the time of its
appointment as Warrant Agent a combined capital and surplus (as set forth in its
most recent published report of financial condition) of at least $50,000,000)
and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Warrant Agent. In the
event a successor Warrant Agent has not been appointed and has not accepted its
duties within 30 days of the Warrant Agent's notice of resignation, the Warrant
Agent may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the designation of a
successor Warrant Agent. The obligations of the Company under Section 6.02(a)
shall continue to the extent set forth therein notwithstanding the resignation
or removal of the Warrant Agent.
33
(c) In case at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or shall be
removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall file a petition seeking
relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter
amended or under any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy law or similar
law, or make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or consent to the
appointment of a receiver or custodian of all or any substantial part of its
property, or shall admit in writing its 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 an order of any court shall be entered
for relief against it under the provisions of Title 11 of the United States
Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or under any other applicable
federal or state bankruptcy or similar law, or if any public officer shall have
taken charge or control of the Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs, for
the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation 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. Upon the
appointment as aforesaid of a successor Warrant Agent and acceptance by the
latter of such appointment, the Warrant Agent so superseded shall cease to be
Warrant Agent hereunder.
(d) 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 authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties 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 moneys,
securities and other property on deposit with or held by such predecessor, as
Warrant Agent hereunder.
(e) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may be
merged or converted or any corporation with which the Warrant Agent may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any corporation to
which the Warrant Agent shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially
all of the assets and business of the Warrant Agent, provided that such
corporation shall be qualified as aforesaid, shall be the successor Warrant
Agent under this Warrant Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper
or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
Section 6.04 Compliance With Applicable Laws. The Warrant Agent agrees
to comply with all applicable federal and state laws imposing obligations on it
in respect of the services rendered by it under this Warrant Agreement and in
connection with the Warrants, including (but not limited to) the provisions of
United States federal income tax laws regarding information reporting and backup
withholding. The Warrant Agent expressly assumes all liability for its failure
to comply with any such laws imposing obligations on it, including (but not
limited to) any liability for failure to comply with any applicable provisions
of United States federal income tax laws regarding information reporting and
backup withholding.
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Section 6.05 Office. The Company will maintain an office or agency
where Warrant Certificates may be presented for exchange, transfer or exercise.
The office initially designated for this purpose shall be the corporate trust
office of the Warrant Agent at its address set forth in Section 8.02.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS
Section 7.01 Financial Statements and Reports of the Company. The
Company agrees (a) to provide to each Holder, without cost to such Holder,
copies of the annual and quarterly reports and documents that the Company files
with the Commission (to the extent such filings are accepted by the Commission
and whether or not the Company has a class of securities registered under the
Exchange Act) or that the Company would be required to file were it subject to
Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act, within 15 days after the date of such
filing or the date on which the Company would be required to file such reports
or documents, and all such annual or quarterly reports shall include the
geographic segment financial information as has heretofore been disclosed by the
Company in its public filings with the Commission, and (b) if filing such
reports and documents is not accepted by the Commission or is prohibited under
the Exchange Act, to supply at the Company's expense copies of such reports and
documents to any prospective Holder promptly upon request.
Section 7.02 Notices and Demands to the Company and Warrant Agent. If
the Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to the Company by
any Holder pursuant to the provisions of the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant
Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to the Company.
Section 7.03 Governmental Approvals. The Company shall from time to
time use all reasonable efforts to obtain and keep effective any and all
permits, consents and approvals of governmental agencies and authorities and the
national securities exchange on which the Warrants may be listed or authorized
for trading from time to time and will make all filings under the federal and
state securities laws (including without limitation the Securities Act), as may
be or become requisite in connection with the issuance, sale, trading, transfer
or delivery of the Warrants and Warrant Certificates, the exercise of the
Warrants and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Common Stock issued upon the
exercise of the Warrants.
Section 7.04 Satisfaction of Exercise Conditions. Subject to Section
3.03(e), the Company shall at all times exercise its best efforts to satisfy or
cause to be satisfied the Exercise Conditions. In connection therewith, the
Company shall exercise its best efforts to (a) prior to the exercise of any
Warrant (whether in connection with a Redemption or otherwise), furnish the
Warrant Agent with sufficient copies of a then-current prospectus relating to
the Common Stock deliverable upon exercise of any outstanding Warrants (and the
Warrant Agent, upon receipt thereof, if any, shall deliver, at the expense of
the Company, the same to exercising Holders), (b) cause the related registration
statement to be effective until the expiration of all Warrants, and (c)
otherwise cause to be satisfied the Exercise Conditions.
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Section 7.05 Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times keep
reserved out of its authorized shares of Common Stock a number of shares of
Common Stock sufficient to provide for the exercise of all outstanding Warrants.
The registrar for the Common Stock shall at all times, until the Warrants have
expired, reserve such number of authorized shares as shall be required for such
purpose. All Common Stock issued upon exercise of Warrants shall, and the
Company covenants that it will, upon issuance, be fully paid, nonassessable,
free of preemptive rights and free from all taxes, liens, charges and security
interests with respect to the issue thereof.
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ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01 Supplements and Amendments.
(a) The Company and Warrant Agent may from time to time supplement or
amend this Warrant Agreement without the approval or consent of any Holder in
order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
or to make any other provision in regard to matters or questions arising
hereunder that the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem necessary or desirable
and that shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders. Every Holder
of Warrants, whether issued before or after any such supplement or amendment,
shall be bound thereby. Promptly after the effectiveness of any supplement or
amendment that affects the interest of the Holders, the Company shall give
notice thereof, as provided in Section 8.02 hereof, to the Holders affected
thereby, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplement or
amendment.
(b) The Company and the Warrant Agent may modify or amend this Warrant
Agreement and the Warrant Certificates with the consent of the Holders of not
fewer than a majority in number of the then-outstanding unexercised Warrants,
for any purpose; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment that
(i) changes the Exercise Price of the Warrants other than in accordance with
Section 4.01(h), (ii) reduces the Exercise Amount other than in accordance with
Article IV, (iii) accelerates the Expiration Date of the Warrants, (iv)
materially and adversely affects the rights of any Holder, or (v) reduces the
percentage of outstanding unexercised Warrants the consent of the Holders of
which is required hereunder for modification or amendment of this Warrant
Agreement or the Warrants, may be made without the consent of each Holder.
Section 8.02 Addresses for Notices. Any communications from the Company
to the Warrant Agent with respect to this Warrant Agreement shall be addressed
to The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West, New York, New York
10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration; any communications from the
Warrant Agent to the Company with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed
to Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., 1130 Berkshire Boulevard, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
19610, Attention: Treasurer (with a copy to the Secretary); or such other
addresses as shall be specified in writing by the Warrant Agent or by the
Company, as the case may be.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to the
Holder at the Holder's address as it appears on the Warrant Register and shall
be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.
37
Failure to mail 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 mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given,
whether or not the addressee receives it.
Section 8.03 Governing Law. This Warrant Agreement and the Warrant
Certificates shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Section 8.04 Persons Having Rights Under Warrant Agreement. Nothing in
this Warrant Agreement, express or implied, and nothing that may be inferred
from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer
upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the Company, the Warrant
Agent and the Holders any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or
agreement hereof; and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and
agreements in this Warrant Agreement contained shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company and the Warrant Agent and their respective
successors and of the Holders.
Section 8.05 Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Articles
and Sections and the Table of Contents of this Warrant Agreement are for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
Section 8.06 Counterparts. This Warrant Agreement may be executed by
the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed
and delivered shall be deemed to be an original; but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 8.07 Inspection of Agreement. A copy of this Warrant Agreement
shall be available at all reasonable times at the principal corporate trust
office of the Warrant Agent, for inspection by the Holders of Warrants.
38
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Warrant
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
/s/ THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Warrant Agent
39
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]
THE WARRANTS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE INITIALLY ISSUED AS PART OF AN
ISSUANCE OF UNITS, EACH OF WHICH CONSISTS OF A WARRANT TO PURCHASE 5.3355 SHARES
(SUBJECT TO ANTI-DILUTION ADJUSTMENTS) OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY AT THE
EXERCISE PRICE SET FORTH IN THE BELOW-REFERENCED WARRANT AGREEMENT AND A
PREFERRED SECURITY OF SOVEREIGN CAPITAL TRUST II (THE "TRUST"). THE WARRANTS AND
THE PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE SEPARATED AND TRANSFERRED SEPARATELY, AND
RE-ATTACHED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIT AGREEMENT.
[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO
THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND
ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED
OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
[TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT
NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR'S
NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO
TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE WARRANT
AGREEMENT.]
No. { } Certificate for [_____ Warrants]
[Number of Warrants set forth on Schedule A hereto]
WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK OF
SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
THIS CERTIFIES THAT __________, or its registered assigns, is the
registered holder of the number of Warrants set forth above (the "Warrants").
Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof (the "Holder"), at its option and
subject to the provisions contained herein and in the Warrant Agreement referred
to below, to purchase from Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation
("the Company"), 5.3355 shares (subject to certain adjustments as set forth in
the Warrant Agreement) of common stock of the Company (the "Common Stock") at
the Exercise Price. This Warrant Certificate shall terminate and become void,
and the related Warrants shall expire, as of 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the
earlier of (i) November 20, 2029 or (ii) the date the Warrants are redeemed by
the Company pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agreement, as described below
(the "Expiration Date"), or upon the earlier exercise hereof as to all the
shares of Common Stock subject hereto. The number of shares issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as set
forth in the Warrant Agreement.
A-1
This Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance
with a Warrant Agreement dated as of November 15, 1999 (the "Warrant
Agreement"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as warrant agent (the
"Warrant Agent", which term includes any successor Warrant Agent under the
Warrant Agreement), and is subject to the terms and provisions contained in the
Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms and provisions the Holder of this
Warrant Certificate consents by acceptance hereof. The Warrant Agreement is
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. Reference is
hereby made to the Warrant Agreement for a full statement of the respective
rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations of the Company, the
Warrant Agent and the Holders of the Warrants. Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Warrant
Agreement. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained for inspection by the
Holder hereof upon written request to the Warrant Agent at its address for
notices specified in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to redemption as described below, the Holder of this Warrant
Certificate shall have the right, prior to the Expiration Date, at such Holder's
option, to exercise the related Warrant and purchase the Exercise Amount
(subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Warrant Agreement) of Common
Stock at the Exercise Price, provided that the Exercise Conditions are met as of
such date. If the Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate is not exercised
at or before 5:00 p.m., New York time, on its Expiration Date, such Warrant
shall become void, and all rights of the Holder of this Warrant Certificate
hereunder and under the Warrant Agreement shall cease. The Warrant or Warrants
evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may be exercised by giving notice to the
Warrant Agent no later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Business Day
preceding the proposed date of exercise of such Warrants and completing the form
of election to purchase set forth on the reverse hereof, and delivering the
same, together with this Warrant Certificate (if this Warrant Certificate shall
then be held in definitive form), to the Warrant Agent no later than 5:00 p.m.,
New York time, on the date of such exercise, together with a Cash Payment
(unless, in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, a Remarketing Payment is to
be made). In no event may a Holder satisfy its obligation to pay the Exercise
Price by tendering Preferred Securities.
On the date of exercise of the Warrant or Warrants evidenced by this
Warrant Certificate, the Company shall issue, and the Warrant Agent shall
deliver, to or upon the order of the Holder hereof, the Exercise Amount of
Common Stock to which such Holder is entitled, registered in such name or names
as may be directed by such Holder. The date on which this Warrant Certificate
and payment are received by the Warrant Agent as aforesaid shall be deemed to be
the date on which the related Warrant is exercised and the related Common Stock
is issued.
A-2
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Warrant Certificate or
in the Warrant Agreement, (i) no fractional shares of Common Stock shall be
issued by the Company upon the exercise of any Warrant, (ii) if more than one
Warrant shall be exercised at the same time by the same Holder, the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with such exercise shall be
computed on the basis of the aggregate Exercise Amount of the Warrants so
exercised, and (iii) on the date a Holder exercises such Holder's Warrant, the
Company shall pay such Holder an amount in cash equal to the then-current Market
Price (multiplied by the related fraction) of Common Stock for such fractional
shares, computed to the nearest whole cent.
If fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate
are exercised, the Company shall execute, and an authorized officer of the
Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, a new Warrant Certificate
evidencing the number of Warrants remaining unexercised.
The "Exercise Conditions" require that, with respect to any Warrant on
any date on which such Warrant is or is proposed to be exercised by the Holder
thereof, that (i) (a) the Company shall have a registration statement in effect
under the Securities Act covering the issuance and sale of the related Exercise
Amount of Common Stock upon exercise of such Warrant, or (b) the sale of such
shares of Common Stock shall be exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, (ii) such shares of Common Stock shall have been registered,
qualified or are deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of
residence of the exercising Holder, and (iii) a then-current prospectus relating
to the Common Stock shall be delivered to such exercising Holder.
As provided in the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants is subject to an anti-dilution
adjustment upon the happening of certain events. The Warrant Agreement also
provides for certain adjustments and/or distributions in the event of certain
events relating to a merger or combination of the Company, and similar events.
Subject to satisfaction of the Exercise Conditions and certain other
conditions, the Company may elect to cause a remarketing of the Preferred
Securities and a contemporaneous redemption of the Warrants on the Redemption
Date, for cash, in an amount equal to the Warrant Value as of the Remarketing
Date, in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and related agreements.
A Holder (i) may elect to exercise a Warrant in lieu of Redemption, if
(A) such Warrant is held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, and such Holder has
opted out of participating in the Remarketing, by notice given to the Warrant
Agent and the Unit Agent; or (B) such Warrant is not held pursuant to the Unit
Agreement, by notice given to the Warrant Agent, in each case prior to 5:00
p.m., New York time, on the Business Day prior to the related Redemption Date;
and (ii) as provided in the Unit Agreement, shall be deemed to have elected to
exercise such Warrant in lieu of Redemption, if such Warrant is held pursuant to
the Unit Agreement and such Holder has not opted out of participating in the
Remarketing. In the absence of an election to exercise a Warrant in lieu of a
Redemption, including a deemed election pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding
sentence, a Holder will be deemed to have elected to have its Warrants redeemed
on the Redemption Date.
A-3
If a Holder elects or is deemed to have elected to exercise a Warrant
pursuant to the preceding paragraph, then such Holder must tender the Exercise
Price for such Warrant as a Cash Payment, and must follow certain procedures set
forth in the Warrant Agreement; provided, however, that if (i) such Warrant is,
on the Remarketing Date, held pursuant to the Unit Agreement, (ii) such Holder
has not opted out of participating in the Remarketing, and (iii) a Successful
Remarketing shall have occurred, then the Exercise Price of such Warrant will be
deemed to have been paid by a Remarketing Payment, and the Remarketing Agent
will, in connection with such Remarketing Payment, apply the proceeds of the
Remarketing of the related Preferred Security in accordance with the terms of
the Remarketing Agreement and the Unit Agreement.
Any Warrant so redeemed or exercised will, upon such redemption or
exercise, cease to be outstanding.
If a Redemption cannot occur because of an inability, following the
Company's best efforts, to satisfy the Redemption Conditions, the Company will
promptly notify the Warrant Agent and each Holder (at its address specified in
the Warrant Register) thereof. Such event will not constitute a default under
the Warrant Agreement so long as the Company is not otherwise in violation
thereof; and the Company may, under such circumstances, subsequently seek to
remarket the Preferred Securities and contemporaneously redeem the Warrants.
The Company will, contemporaneously with the giving of notice of
Remarketing, furnish notice of Redemption to the Warrant Agent, which will,
within two (2) Business Days after receipt thereof, furnish notice of such
Redemption to Holders of Definitive Warrants, and the Company will request, not
later than 15 nor more than 30 calendar days prior to the Remarketing Date, that
DTC notify its Participants holding Warrants of the Remarketing.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes,
assessments or other governmental charges in connection with the transfer or
exchange of the Warrant Certificates pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, but not
for any exchange or original issuance (not involving a transfer) with respect to
temporary Warrant Certificates, the exercise of the Warrants or the issuance of
the Common Stock.
This Warrant Certificate may be exchanged at the office of the Warrant
Agent by presenting this Warrant Certificate properly endorsed with a request to
exchange this Warrant Certificate for other Warrant Certificates evidencing an
equal number of Warrants, in accordance with the Warrant Agreement.
A-4
All shares of Common Stock issuable by the Company upon the exercise of
the Warrants shall, upon such issue, be duly and validly issued and fully paid
and non-assessable.
The holder in whose name this Warrant Certificate is registered may be
deemed and treated by the Company and the Warrant Agent as the absolute owner of
this Warrant Certificate for all purposes whatsoever and neither the Company nor
the Warrant Agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Neither this Warrant Certificate, nor the Warrant evidenced hereby,
entitles the Holder hereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Warrant Agent.
SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
By: ___________________________
Name:
Title:
DATED:
Countersigned:
- ------------------------------
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Warrant Agent
By ___________________________
Authorized Signatory
A-5
[REVERSE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
(to be executed only upon exercise of Warrants)
SOVEREIGN BANCORP, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ___ Warrants at an
Exercise Price of $______ per Warrant to acquire the Exercise Amount (as
determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement) per Warrant of Common Stock of
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. on the terms and conditions specified within this
Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agreement therein referred to, surrenders
this Warrant Certificate and all right, title and interest therein and directs
that the shares of Common Stock deliverable upon such exercise be registered or
placed in the name and at the address specified below and delivered thereto.
The signature below must correspond with the name as written upon the
face of the within Warrant Certificate in every particular, without alteration
or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed.
Dated: ____________, ____
-------------------------------------
(Signature of Holder)
-------------------------------------
(Street Address)
-------------------------------------
(City) (State) (Zip Code)
Signature Guaranteed by:
-------------------------------------
{Signature must be guaranteed by an
eligible guarantor institution (banks,
stock brokers, savings and loan
associations and credit unions) with
membership in an approved guarantee
medallion program pursuant to Securities
and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-5)
A-6
Common Stock to be issued to:
Please insert social security or identifying number:
Name:____________________________________________
Street Address:__________________________________
City, State and Zip Code:________________________
Any unexercised Warrants represented by the Warrant Certificate to be issued to:
Please insert social security or identifying number:
Name:____________________________________________
Street Address:__________________________________
City, State and Zip Code:________________________
A-7
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL CERTIFICATES]
SCHEDULE A
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL CERTIFICATE
This Global Certificate shall represent [0] Warrants unless otherwise
indicated below.
The following increases or decreases in this Global Certificate have
been made:
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Amount of decrease Amount of increase Number of Warrants Signature of
in Number of in Number of evidenced by the authorized officer
Warrants evidenced Warrants evidenced Global Certificate of Agent
by the Global by the Global following such
Date Certificate Certificate decrease or increase
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EXHIBIT B
[Compensation of Warrant Agent]
A-8