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EXHIBIT 99.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of November 23,
1999, by and between REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED, a Missouri
corporation (the "Company"), and METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a New York
mutual life insurance company ("Buyer").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company and Buyer have entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement
(the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), dated as of November 23, 1999, pursuant to
which Buyer shall purchase from the Company shares of the Company's common
stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Company Common Stock"); and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to execute and deliver this Agreement in order
to induce Buyer to purchase shares of Company Common Stock under the Stock
Purchase Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement and the Stock Purchase Agreement, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following
respective meanings:
"Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any person, any other person who
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with such first person. The term "control", for the purposes of this definition,
means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies
of the controlled person, whether through stock ownership, contract or
otherwise.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday
or (iii) any other day on which banks are authorized or required to close in New
York, New York.
"Buyer" shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof and,
with respect to any Registrable Securities transferred on or after the date
hereof in accordance with Section 9.7, shall also have the meaning set forth in
Section 9.7.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
"Company Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
hereto.
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"Confidential Information" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9.12.
"Controlling persons" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
"Counterpart" means a counterpart to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit
A, pursuant to the execution of which a person shall become bound by all of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
"Damages" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
"Demand Notice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"Demand Registration" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"Filing Date" shall mean the date that is thirty (30) days after the date
of the Demand Notice.
"NASD" shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
"person" shall mean an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited
liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a business
trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a government entity or
any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Piggyback Registration" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"prospectus" means the prospectus included in a registration statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to such
prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
The terms "register, "registered" and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Securities Act and the declaration or ordering of
effectiveness of such registration statement by the SEC.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean any shares of Company Common Stock
acquired by Buyer pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement or its permitted
transferees; provided, that a Registrable Security ceases to be a Registrable
Security when (i) it is registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the registration statement covering it, (ii) it is sold or
transferred in accordance with the requirements of Rule 144 (or similar
provisions then in effect) promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act
("Rule 144"), or (iii) it is eligible to be
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sold or transferred under Rule 144 without being subject to any holding period
or volume limitations thereunder.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
"SEC" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means a registration statement of the
Company on Form S-3 or any other appropriate form under the Securities Act
including any prospectus included therein, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all materials incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such registration statement, for an offering to be made on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the
Securities Act (or similar provisions then in effect) that (i) covers all of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii)
sets forth a plan of distribution as determined by Buyer in accordance with
Section 2.2.
"Stock Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
hereto.
"Subsidiary" shall mean with respect to any person, any other person, of
which such first person, directly or indirectly, owns or controls 50% or more of
the securities or other interests entitled to vote under ordinary circumstances
in the election of directors or others performing similar functions with respect
to such other person, or to otherwise control such other person.
"Termination Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
ARTICLE II
DEMAND REGISTRATION
Section 2.1. Request for Shelf Registration. Buyer may make one (1) written
request to the Company (a "Demand Notice") that the Company register the offer
and sale of all or any part of Buyer's Registrable Securities under the
Securities Act (a "Demand Registration"). Upon receipt of the Demand Notice, the
Company shall: (i) prepare and file with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Date
a Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause
such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective and (iii) use its
reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously
effective until the earlier of (A) the date when all Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold, (B) the date on
which the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement are
eligible to be sold or transferred under Rule 144 without being subject to any
holding period or volume limitations thereunder (provided that Buyer has
received an opinion of counsel to the Company who is reasonably acceptable to
Buyer covering the matters referred to in this clause (B) and such opinion is
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer) and (C) the second (2nd) anniversary of the
date hereof (the "Termination Date").
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Section 2.2. Selection of Plan of Distribution; Underwriters. The offering
of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement
shall be in the form of either (x) an underwritten offering or (y) through the
use of brokers or in privately negotiated transactions, in either case as
selected by Buyer within no more than five (5) Business Days following the date
of the Demand Notice. In the event that Buyer elects that the offering be an
underwritten offering, Buyer shall also select one or more nationally recognized
firms of investment bankers that is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company,
to act as the lead managing underwriter or underwriters in connection with such
offering and shall select any additional investment bankers or managers to be
used in connection with such offering. The Company and Buyer shall enter into a
customary underwriting agreement with such underwriter(s) (and Buyer may at its
option require that the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company
to or for the benefit of the underwriter(s) also be made for the benefit of
Buyer).
Section 2.3. Permitted Delay in Filing and Suspensions of Sales.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines in good faith that such
registration, or further sales under an effective Shelf Registration Statement,
will (1) have a material detrimental effect, as reasonably determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, on the completion of a
transaction currently being negotiated or a plan currently being considered by
the Board of Directors of the Company that would, if completed, be material to
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole at the time the right to delay
or withhold efforts or suspend sales is exercised (whether or not a final
decision has been made to undertake such transaction or plan), or (2) involve
initial or continuing disclosure obligations that are not in the best interests
of the Company's stockholders, as reasonably determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, then upon advance written notice to Buyer (a)
the Company may delay in filing the Shelf Registration Statement and may
withhold efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective,
but not more than once and for not more than thirty (30) days, or (b) the
Company may request Buyer to, and Buyer shall, suspend any further sales under
the Shelf Registration Statement (or under a registration statement of the
Company which includes Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3.1), but not
more than twice in any two-year period and for not more than thirty (30) days
each. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary that may be contained in this
Agreement, if the Company exercises its right to delay or to withhold efforts or
suspend sales, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the
Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement filed or
declared effective, or amended (or otherwise bringing the Shelf Registration
Statement or such other registration statement current with appropriate Exchange
Act filings), as the case may be, at the earliest reasonably practicable date
after the Company's reasons for delaying or withholding efforts or suspending
sales are no longer applicable (but subject to the time limitations in the
immediately preceding sentence).
ARTICLE III
PIGGYBACK REGISTRATIONS
Section 3.1. Right to Piggyback. Whenever the Company proposes to register
(including on behalf of a selling stockholder) any shares of Company Common
Stock under the
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Securities Act (except for the registration of shares of Company Common Stock to
be offered pursuant to an employee benefit plan on Form S-8 or pursuant to a
registration made on Form S-4, or any successor forms or any form that does not
include substantially the same information, other than information relating to
selling shareholders or their plan of distribution, that would be required to be
included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable
Securities) at any time other than pursuant to a Demand Registration and the
registration form to be used may be used for the registration of the Registrable
Securities (a "Piggyback Registration"), it will so notify Buyer in writing no
later than the earlier to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day following the
Company's receipt of notice of exercise of other demand registration rights, or
(ii) thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated date of filing. Subject to the
provisions of Section 3.2, the Company will include in the Piggyback
Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has
received written requests for inclusion from Buyer within ten (10) Business Days
after Buyer's receipt of the Company's notice. Buyer may withdraw all or any
part of the Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time
before five (5) Business Days prior to the effective date of the Piggyback
Registration. The Company, Buyer and any person who hereafter become entitled to
register its securities in a registration initiated by the Company shall sell
their securities on the same terms and conditions.
Section 3.2. Priority on Piggyback Registrations. If the managing
underwriter advises the Company in writing (a copy of which shall be provided to
Buyer) that a limitation on the total number of securities to be included in the
Piggyback Registration is advisable in order to avoid a likely material and
adverse effect on the success of the offering, the Company will so advise Buyer
and will include the securities in the registration in the following order of
priority: (i) first, all securities the Company or the holder for whom the
Company is effecting the registration, as the case may be, proposes to sell; and
(ii) second, any other securities requested to be included in the registration
(including Registrable Securities), allocated among the holders of such
securities in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of securities
which each holder requested to be included in the Piggyback Registration.
Section 3.3. Underwriters. If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten
offering, the Company and Buyer shall enter into a customary underwriting
agreement with the underwriter(s) administering the offering. Buyer may not
participate in any Piggyback Registration without (a) agreeing to sell
securities on the basis provided in the underwriting arrangements approved by
the Company, and (b) promptly completing, executing and delivering all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents required by the underwriting arrangements.
ARTICLE IV
RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC SALES
Section 4.1. Restrictions on Public Sales. The Company agrees not to make
any public sale or distribution of its equity securities, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for its equity securities,
including a sale under Regulation D under the Securities Act or under any other
exemption of the Securities Act (except pursuant to registrations on Forms S-8
or S-4 or any successor form), during the two (2) days prior to and the 180 days
after the
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effective date of any underwritten Demand Registration or any underwritten
Piggyback Registration unless the managing underwriter(s) agrees otherwise.
ARTICLE V
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Section 5.1. Obligations of the Company. Whenever the Company is required
to effect or cause the registration of the offer and sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to Article II or Article III, the Company will use its
reasonable best efforts to effect or cause the registration of the offer and
sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of
disposition thereof as quickly as reasonably practicable, and in connection with
any such request the Company shall:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on the
appropriate form and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the registration
statement to become effective. A reasonable time before filing a registration
statement or prospectus or before filing any amendments or supplements thereto,
the Company will furnish to Buyer and Buyer's counsel copies of all documents
proposed to be filed for their review, comment and approval, which comment or
approval shall be delivered within a reasonable time after receipt;
(b) immediately notify Buyer of any stop order threatened or issued by the
SEC and use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the entry of a stop order or,
if entered, to have it rescinded or otherwise removed;
(c) subject to Section 2.3, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments,
supplements and post-effective amendments to the registration statement and the
corresponding prospectus necessary to keep the registration statement
continuously effective until (x) the Termination Date in the case of a Shelf
Registration Statement or (y) otherwise for 180 days or such shorter period as
may be required to sell all Registrable Securities covered by the registration
statement; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to
the disposition of all securities covered by the registration statement during
each period in accordance with Buyer's intended method of disposition as set
forth in the registration statement;
(d) furnish to Buyer a sufficient number of copies of the registration
statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all
exhibits), the corresponding prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus),
and such other documents as Buyer may reasonably request to facilitate the
disposition of Buyer's Registrable Securities;
(e) register or qualify the Registrable Securities under securities or
blue sky laws of jurisdictions in the United States as Buyer requests and do any
and all other reasonable acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to
enable Buyer to consummate the disposition of its Registrable Securities in such
jurisdiction, provided that the Company shall not be required to subject itself
to service of process or taxation in such jurisdictions;
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(f) notify Buyer of any event as a result of which the prospectus or any
document incorporated therein by reference contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, and, subject to Section 2.3, prepare a supplement or
amendment to the prospectus or any such document incorporated therein so that
thereafter the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were
made;
(g) cause all registered Registrable Securities to be listed on each
securities exchange, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company
are then listed;
(h) provide an institutional transfer agent and registrar and a CUSIP
number for all Registrable Securities on or before the effective date of the
registration statement;
(i) enter into such reasonably customary agreements (including an
underwriting agreement in reasonably customary form) and take all other actions
in connection with those agreements as Buyer or the underwriter(s), if any,
reasonably request to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable
Securities (and Buyer may at its option require that the representations,
warranties and covenants of the Company to or for the benefit of the
underwriter(s) also be made for the benefit of Buyer);
(j) make reasonably available for inspection by Buyer, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to the registration statement, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent of Buyer or such underwriter, all financial
and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company,
and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by Buyer or such underwriter, attorney,
accountant or other agent in connection with the registration statement;
provided that an appropriate confidentiality agreement reasonably satisfactory
to the Company is executed by Buyer and such underwriter, attorney, accountant
or other agent;
(k) in connection with any underwritten offering, obtain a "cold comfort"
letter from the Company's independent public accountants in customary form and
covering those matters customarily covered by "cold comfort" letters as Buyer or
the managing underwriter reasonably requests, addressed to Buyer, the Company
and the underwriter(s);
(l) in connection with any underwritten offering, furnish, at the request
of Buyer or any underwriter(s) of the offering, an opinion of counsel
representing the Company for the purposes of the registration, in the form and
substance customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering
and reasonably satisfactory to counsel representing Buyer and the underwriter(s)
of the offering, addressed to Buyer and the underwriter(s);
(m) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and, if
applicable, make available to its security holders, no later than 90 days after
the end of the 12-month period beginning with the first day of the Company's
first quarter commencing after the effective date of a registration statement,
an earnings statement complying with the provisions of Section 11(a)
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and Rule 158 of the Securities Act and covering the period of at least twelve
(12) months, but not more than eighteen (18) months, beginning with the first
month after the effective date of the registration statement;
(n) cooperate with Buyer and each underwriter participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in
connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD;
(o) in connection with any underwritten offering, participate, to the
extent reasonably requested by Buyer or the managing underwriter or underwriters
for the offering, in customary efforts to sell the securities under the
offering, including, without limitation, participating in "road shows," unless
the Company demonstrates to Buyer's reasonable satisfaction that such
participation will materially interfere with the management of the Company's
business; and
(p) take all other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of
the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.
Section 5.2. Buyer Information. In the event of any registration by the
Company, the Company may request from time to time that Buyer furnish to the
Company information regarding Buyer and its affiliates and associates and the
distribution of the securities subject to the registration, and Buyer shall
furnish all such information reasonably requested by the Company.
Section 5.3. Notice by Buyer. Whenever Buyer has requested that any
Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement, Buyer shall
notify the Company, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required
to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event which to
its knowledge relates to matters concerning Buyer or its Affiliates or
associates, as a result of which the prospectus included in the registration
statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Section 5.4. "Market Stand-Off" Agreement. Buyer, if reasonably requested
in writing by the managing underwriter(s) of an underwritten public offering of
the Company's securities, agrees not to sell, make any short sale of, loan,
grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any
Registrable Securities owned by Buyer (other than (y) to a Subsidiary or
Affiliate of Buyer, or (z) Registrable Securities included in such public
offering) without the prior written consent of such managing underwriter(s)
during a period of up to two (2) days prior to and 180 days following the
effective date of such underwritten registration of the Company's securities,
but only to the extent that Registrable Securities owned by Buyer have not been
requested to be included in such underwritten registration following the
Company's compliance with Article III. Such agreement shall be in writing in
form reasonably satisfactory to such managing underwriter(s), and may be
included in the underwriting agreement. The Company may impose stop-transfer
instructions with respect to the securities subject to the foregoing restriction
until the end of the required stand-off period and shall lift such stop-transfer
restrictions immediately upon the end of such period.
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ARTICLE VI
REGISTRATION EXPENSES
Section 6.1. Generally. All Registration Expenses incident to the Company's
performance of or compliance with this Agreement shall be paid by the Company.
The term "Registration Expenses" includes, without limitation, all registration
filing fees, professional fees and other expenses of the Company's compliance
with federal and state securities laws (including fees and disbursements of
counsel for the underwriter(s) in connection with state securities law
qualifications and registrations), printing expenses, messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses; fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for Buyer; fees and
disbursements of all independent certified public accountants (including the
expenses relating to any audit or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to the performance of the obligations contemplated by this Agreement); fees and
expenses of the underwriter(s) (excluding discounts and commissions); fees and
expenses of any special experts retained by the Company at the reasonable
request of the managing underwriter(s) in connection with the registration and
as shall be customary in transactions of that kind; and applicable stock
exchange and NASD registration and filing fees. The term "Registration Expenses"
does not include Buyer's internal expenses (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), any fees or disbursements of any other counsel for Buyer, or
the underwriting discounts or commissions or transfer taxes applicable to the
Registrable Securities, all of which shall be paid by Buyer.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1. Indemnification by the Company. In the event of any
registration of Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this
Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company agrees to
indemnify Buyer, its officers, directors, trustees, partners, employees,
advisors and agents, and each person who controls Buyer (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), together
with all officers, directors, trustees, partners, employees, advisors and agents
of such controlling person (collectively, "Controlling persons"), against all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, attorneys' fees, costs and expenses and
expenses of investigating and defending any claims (collectively, "Damages")
that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue or allegedly untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any registration statement under which such
Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act or any
prospectus or preliminary prospectus contained therein or any omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, except to the extent
the untrue statement or omission resulted from information that Buyer furnished
in writing to the Company expressly for use therein and except to the extent
that the Company advised Buyer not to dispose of any Registrable Securities
pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof and Buyer disregarded such advice. In connection
with a firm or best efforts underwritten offering, to the extent customarily
required by the managing underwriter, the Company will indemnify the
underwriters, their officers, directors,
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trustees, partners, employees, advisors and agents, and each person who controls
the underwriters (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and each of the Underwriter's Controlling
persons, to the extent customary in such agreements.
Section 7.2. Indemnification by Buyer. In the event of any registration of
Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, Buyer agrees to indemnify the Company, its
officers, directors, trustees, partners, employees, advisors and agents, and
each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and each of the Company's
Controlling persons, against any Damages that arise out of, or are based upon
any untrue or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
registration statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered
under the Securities Act or any prospectus or preliminary prospectus contained
therein or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made,
but only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission is contained in or
omitted from any information Buyer furnished in writing to the Company expressly
for use therein and only in an amount not exceeding the net proceeds received by
Buyer with respect to securities sold pursuant to such registration statement
and except to the extent that the Company advised Buyer not to dispose of any
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof and Buyer disregarded such
advice. In connection with a firm or best efforts underwritten offering, to the
extent customarily required by the managing underwriter, Buyer will indemnify
the underwriters, their officers, directors, trustees, partners, employees,
advisors and agents, and each person who controls the underwriters (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act),
and each of the underwriters' Controlling persons, to the extent customary in
such agreements.
Section 7.3. Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement will (i) give prompt (but in no event more
than thirty (30) days') notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with
respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided, however, that failure to so
promptly notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party
from liability except to the extent the indemnifying party is prejudiced
thereby) and (ii) unless in the indemnified party's reasonable judgment a
conflict of interest may exist between the indemnified and indemnifying parties
with respect to the claim, permit the indemnifying party, at its expense, to
assume the defense of the claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party. If the indemnifying party does not assume the defense, the
indemnifying party will not be liable for any compromise or settlement made
without its consent or judgment consented to without its consent, but any such
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. An indemnifying party who is not
entitled to or elects not to assume the defense of a claim will not be under an
obligation to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one counsel for
all parties indemnified by the indemnifying party with respect to the claim,
unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of
interest may exist between the indemnified party and any other indemnified party
with respect to the claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be
obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one additional
counsel for the indemnified parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
that may be contained in this Section 7.3, the indemnifying party shall not,
without the indemnified
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party's prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
settle or compromise any claim or consent to the entry of any judgment in
respect thereof which imposes any future obligation on the indemnified party or
which does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to the indemnified party, a release from all liability in
respect of such claim.
Section 7.4. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Sections
7.1 or 7.2 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any Damages
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party thereunder shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Damages
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of and
relative benefit to the Company and Buyer in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such Damages, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and Buyer shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by Buyer and the
parties' relative intent and knowledge. The parties hereto agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7.4 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding sentence. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Buyer shall
not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
net proceeds of the offering (before deducting expenses, if any) received by
Buyer exceeds the amount of any Damages that Buyer has otherwise been required
to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
ARTICLE VIII
SECURITIES ACT AND EXCHANGE ACT FILINGS
Section 8.1. Securities Act and Exchange Act Filings. The Company covenants
that it will promptly file all documents required to be filed by it under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by
the SEC thereunder, including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and it will take such further action as
Buyer reasonably may request, all to the extent required from time to time, so
that the Company will qualify for registration on Form S-3 and to enable Buyer
to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, or (ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter promulgated by
the SEC. Upon the request of Buyer, the Company will deliver to Buyer a written
statement as to whether it has complied with Rule 144's or any successor rule's
requirements.
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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Recapitalizations, Exchanges, etc. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary that may be contained in this Agreement, the provisions of this
Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to (i)
the shares of Company Common Stock, (ii) any and all shares of voting common
stock of the Company, into which the shares of Company Common Stock are
converted, exchanged or substituted in any recapitalization or other capital
reorganization by the Company and (iii) any and all equity securities of the
Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger,
consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of,
in conversion of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the shares of Company
Common Stock, and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends,
splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring
after the date hereof.
Section 9.2. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each
party hereto and delivered to the other party. Copies of executed counterparts
transmitted by telecopy, telefax or other electronic transmission service shall
be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section,
provided receipt of copies of such counterparts is confirmed.
Section 9.3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri without reference
to the choice of law principles thereof, except for the validity of corporate
action by the parties hereto, which shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of
such party.
Section 9.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, and the certificates,
instruments and other documents delivered pursuant hereto, contain the entire
agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and there are no agreements, understandings, representations or warranties
between the parties hereto other than those set forth or referred to herein.
This Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person not a party hereto any
rights or remedies hereunder.
Section 9.5. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and delivered
personally, sent by documented overnight delivery service or, to the extent
receipt is confirmed, telecopy, telefax or other electronic transmission service
to the appropriate address or number as set forth below. If sent via overnight
delivery service, notice is deemed to have been received on the next succeeding
Business Day. Notices to the Company shall be addressed to:
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Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated
1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway
Chesterfield, Missouri 63107-6039
Attention: Jack B. Lay, Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: 636-736-7839
with copies to:
Reinsurance Group of America Incorporated
c/o General American Life Insurance Company
700 Market Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
Attention: James E. Sherman, Esq.
Telecopy: 314-444-0510
Bryan Cave LLP
One Metropolitan Square
211 North Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2750
Attention: R. Randall Wang, Esq.
Telecopy: 314-259-2020
Notices to Buyer shall be addressed to:
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
One Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Attention: William J. Wheeler, Treasurer
Telecopy: 212-578-0266
with a copy to:
Dewey Ballantine LLP
1301 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Linda E. Ransom, Esq.
Telecopy: 212-259-6333
Either party may change the person, address and number to which notices are to
be sent by giving written notice of any such change in the manner provided
herein.
Section 9.6. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto
without the prior written consent of the other party, except that Buyer may
assign its rights hereunder to a Subsidiary or Affiliate of Buyer (and such
Subsidiary or Affiliate shall execute a Counterpart and deliver same to the
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Company prior to or at the time of assignment) or in accordance with Section 9.7
without the consent of the Company.
Section 9.7. Transfer of Registration Rights. Provided that the Company is
given written notice by Buyer prior to or at the time of such transfer stating
the name and address of the transferee and identifying the securities with
respect to which the rights under this Agreement are being assigned, the
registration rights under this Agreement may be transferred with the transfer of
Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such transfer is
subject to covenants, agreements or other undertakings restricting
transferability thereof, the registration rights under this Agreement shall not
be transferred in connection with such transfer unless such transfer complies
with all such covenants, agreements and other undertakings. In all cases, such
registration rights shall not be transferred unless the transferee thereof
executes a Counterpart and delivers same to the Company. Upon a transfer in
compliance with this Section 9.7, all references in this Agreement to "Buyer"
shall be deemed to refer in addition to any transferee hereunder with respect to
such transferred Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary that may be contained in this Agreement, in the event that Buyer does
not transfer all of the Registrable Securities or transfers the Registrable
Securities to more than one transferee, the holders of the Registrable
Securities thereafter shall be entitled to take any action hereunder by majority
vote of all Registrable Securities or by majority vote of the Registrable
Securities which are the subject of such registration, as appropriate.
Section 9.8. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience of reference only and will not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. All references in this Agreement to Sections,
Articles or Exhibits mean Sections or Articles of or Exhibits to this Agreement
unless otherwise stated.
Section 9.9. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the party
against whom enforcement of any such modification or amendment is sought. Either
party hereto may waive compliance by the other party hereto with any term or
provision hereof on the part of such other party hereto to be performed or
complied with only by an instrument in writing. The waiver by any party hereto
of a breach of any term or provision hereof shall not be construed as a waiver
of any subsequent breach.
Section 9.10. Severability. Any provision hereof which is invalid or
unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions hereof.
Section 9.11. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents and
warrants that it has not granted to any person the right to request or require
the Company to register any securities issued by the Company other than pursuant
to this Agreement and that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
April 15, 1993 between the Company and General American Life Insurance Company.
Except with the prior written consent of Buyer, the Company will not enter into
any agreement with respect to its securities that shall grant to any person
registration rights that in any way conflict with or are prior in right to the
rights provided under this Agreement.
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Section 9.12. Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Agreement, Buyer may not use any Confidential Information received by it
from the Company pursuant to this Agreement in violation of the Exchange Act or
reproduce, disclose or disseminate such information to any person (other than
its directors, officers, employees, financial advisors, legal advisors,
accountants, consultants and other persons having a reasonable reason for
knowing the contents of such information and who agree for the benefit of the
Company (in writing, with respect to financial advisors, legal advisors,
accountants and consultants) to be bound hereby), unless such information is (i)
available to the public generally (other than by the recipient in violation of
any confidentiality agreement or obligation with the Company), (ii) available to
Buyer or such recipient on a non-confidential basis from a third party that is
not, to Buyer's or such recipient's knowledge, bound by any other
confidentiality agreement or obligation with the Company or (iii) required to be
disclosed by Buyer or such recipient by a governmental body or regulatory agency
or by law. "Confidential Information" shall mean only the following information:
(i) confidential or proprietary information of the Company supplied by or on
behalf of the Company which Buyer requested in writing to the Company pursuant
to this Agreement or the Stock Purchase Agreement and (ii) the fact that the
Company requested that Buyer suspend further sales pursuant to Section 2.3.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Stock Purchase
Agreement, Buyer and the Company agree that the Company shall not furnish to
Buyer any of its confidential or proprietary information, including without
limitation, in advance of the filing of any registration statement (including
the Shelf Registration Statement) or prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereof, except upon receipt of a written request from Buyer.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by or on behalf
of each of the parties hereto as of the date first above written.
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Jack B. Lay
-----------------------------------------
Name: Jack B. Lay
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ William J. Wheeler
-----------------------------------------
Name: William J. Wheeler
Title: Senior Vice-President & Treasurer
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EXHIBIT A TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
COUNTERPART
THIS INSTRUMENT forms part of the Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Agreement"), dated as of November 23, 1999, by and between REINSURANCE GROUP OF
AMERICA, INCORPORATED, a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), and METROPOLITAN
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a New York mutual life insurance company, which
Agreement permits execution (including by facsimile) by counterpart. The
undersigned hereby acknowledges having received a copy of the Agreement (which
is annexed hereto as Schedule I) and having read the Agreement in its entirety,
and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, hereby agrees that the
terms and conditions of the Agreement binding upon and inuring to the benefit of
Buyer shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the undersigned and its
successors and permitted assigns as if it were the original Buyer thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this ____
day of ______________, ____.
__________________________________
(Signature of Transferee)
__________________________________
(Name in Block Letters)