EXHIBIT 4.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated March 5, 1998
among
FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.,
FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST I
and
WHEAT FIRST SECURITIES, INC.
as Initial Purchaser
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of March 5, 1998, among FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC., a registered
bank holding company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the
"Company"), FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST I, a statutory business trust created under the
laws of the state of Delaware (the "Issuer Trust"), and WHEAT FIRST SECURITIES,
INC. (the "Initial Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated March 2,
1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among the Company, as issuer of the 8.05%
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due March 1, 2028 (the
"Junior Subordinated Debentures"), the Issuer Trust and the Initial Purchaser,
which provides for among other things, the sale by the Issuer Trust to the
Initial Purchaser of 15,000 of the Issuer Trust's 8.05% Capital Securities,
liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security (the "Capital Securities"), the
proceeds of which will be used by the Issuer Trust to purchase the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The Capital Securities, together with the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Company's guarantee of the Capital Securities
(the "Guarantee") are collectively referred to as the "Securities." In order to
induce the Initial Purchaser to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company
and the Issuer Trust have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchaser and its
direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in the last paragraph of Section
3 hereof.
"Applicable Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(t)
hereof.
"Business Day" shall mean a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day
on which banking institutions in New York, New York or in Raleigh, North
Carolina, are authorized or required to be closed.
"Closing Time" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted assigns.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depositary appointed by the Issuer Trust; provided, however, that such
depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New
York.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.
"Exchange Offer" shall mean the offer by the Company and the Issuer Trust
to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities (other than Private
Exchange Securities) for a like principal amount of Exchange Securities pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the
Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and
all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Exchange Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Exchange Securities" shall mean (i) with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the 8.05% New Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due March 1, 2028 (the "New Junior Subordinated Debentures")
containing terms substantially identical to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(except that they will not contain terms with respect to the transfer
restrictions under the Securities Act and will not provide for any liquidated
damages thereon), (ii) with respect to the Capital Securities, the Issuer
Trust's 8.05% New Capital Securities, liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital
Security (the "New Capital Securities") which will have terms substantially
identical to the Capital Securities (except that they will not contain terms
with respect to transfer restrictions under the Securities Act and will not
provide for any increase in the distribution rate thereon) and (iii) with
respect to the Guarantee, the Company's guarantee (the "New Guarantee") of the
New Capital Securities which will have terms substantially identical to the
Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any
Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and
indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities
under the Indenture or the Trust Agreement.
"Indenture" shall mean the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of March
5, 1998 relating to the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures among the Company, as issuer, and Bankers Trust Company,
as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the
terms thereof.
"Initial Purchaser" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.
"Inspectors" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"Issue Date" shall mean the date of original issuance of the Securities.
"Liquidated Damages" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.
"Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
liquidation amount of outstanding Capital Securities.
"Participating Broker-Dealer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(t) hereof.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization, limited liability company, or a government or
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Private Exchange" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
"Private Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a) hereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus
supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and by all other
amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments,
and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.
"Records" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.
"Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the
Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, that Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities for the exchange or resale thereof, as the case may
be, shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been
exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been
sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in
force, but not Rule 144A) under the Securities Act, or (iii) such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have ceased to be
outstanding or (iv) with respect to the Securities, such Securities shall have
been exchanged for Exchange Securities upon consummation of the Exchange
Offer and are thereafter freely tradeable by the holder thereof (other than an
affiliate of the Company).
"Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
without limitation: (i) all Commission or National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") registration and filing fees, including, if
applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter"
(and its counsel) that is required to be retained by any Holder of Registrable
Securities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, (ii) all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities
or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any
underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the
Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities) and compliance with the rules of
the NASD, (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in
preparing, word processing, printing and distributing the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and in
preparing or assisting in preparing, printing and distributing any underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the
performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees,
(v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance,
(vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, and any exchange agent or custodian,
(vii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing, if any, of
any of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or exchanges, and
(viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the
Company in connection with the Registration Statement.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company and the Issuer Trust which covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all
amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.
"Rule 144(k) Period" shall mean the period of two years (or such shorter
period as may hereafter be referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act
(or similar successor rule)) commencing on the Issue Date.
"Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time.
"Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)
hereof.
"Shelf Registration Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b) hereof.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf registration" statement
of the Company and the Issuer Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b)
hereof which covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, on an appropriate form under Rule 415
under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the
Commission, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.
"TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.
"Trust Agreement" shall mean the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement,
dated as of March 5, 1998, by the trustees named therein and the Company as
depositor.
"Trustees" shall mean any and all trustees with respect to (i) the Capital
Securities under the Trust Agreement, (ii) the Junior Subordinated Debentures
under the Indenture and (iii) the Guarantee.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) Exchange Offer. To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law
or applicable interpretation of the staff of the Commission, the Company and the
Issuer Trust shall, for the benefit of the Holders, at the Company's cost, use
their respective best efforts to (i) cause to be filed with the Commission
within 150 days after the Issue Date an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on
an appropriate form under the Securities Act covering the Exchange Offer, (ii)
cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under
the Securities Act by the Commission not later than the date which is 180 days
after the Issue Date, and (iii) keep such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective for not less than 30 Business Days (or longer if required by
applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the
Holders. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company and the Issuer Trust shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer and
use their respective best efforts to enable each Holder eligible and electing to
exchange Registrable Securities for a like principal amount of New Junior
Subordinated Debentures or a like liquidation amount of New Capital Securities,
together with the New Guarantee, as applicable (assuming that such Holder is not
an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act and is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable Securities acquired
directly from the Company for its own account, acquires the Exchange Securities
in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no arrangements or
understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the
purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) to transfer such Exchange
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and under state securities or blue sky laws.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Issuer Trust
shall:
(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus
forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together
with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(ii) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for
a period of not less than 30 days after the date notice thereof is
mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such
period referred to herein as the "Exchange Period");
(iii) utilize the services of the Depositary for the
Exchange Offer;
(iv) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities
at any time prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the
last Business Day of the Exchange Period, by sending to the institution
specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of
Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Securities exchanged;
(v) notify each Holder that any Security not tendered
by such Holder in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and
continue to accrue interest or accumulate distributions, as the case
may be, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in
the case of the Initial Purchaser and Participating Broker-Dealers as
provided herein); and
(vi) otherwise comply in all respects with all
applicable laws relating to the Exchange Offer.
If the Initial Purchaser determines upon advice of its outside counsel that
it is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer with respect to the
exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment in the
initial distribution, as soon as practicable upon receipt by the Company and the
Issuer Trust of a written request from such Initial Purchaser, the Company and
the Issuer Trust, as
applicable, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange
(the "Private Exchange") for the Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a
like liquidation amount of New Capital Securities of the Issuer Trust, together
with the New Guarantee, or a like principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the Company, as applicable, that are identical (except that such
securities may bear a customary legend with respect to restrictions on transfer
pursuant to the Securities Act) to the Exchange Securities (the "Private
Exchange Securities") and which are issued pursuant to the Indenture, the Trust
Agreement or the Guarantee (which provides that the Exchange Securities will not
be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture or the Trust
Agreement, as applicable (other than to require minimum transfers thereof to be
in blocks of $100,000 principal amount or liquidation amount, as the case may
be), and that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
neither the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities nor the
Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any
matter). The Private Exchange Securities shall be of the same series as the
Exchange Securities and the Company and the Issuer Trust will seek to cause the
CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP Numbers for the Private Exchange
Securities as for the Exchange Securities issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and, if
applicable, the Private Exchange, the Company and the Issuer Trust, as the case
requires, shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Securities or portions thereof
tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or
the Private Exchange;
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the applicable
Trustee for cancellation all Securities or portions thereof so accepted
for exchange by the Company; and
(iii) issue, and cause the applicable Trustee under the
Indenture, the Trust Agreement or the Guarantee, as applicable, to
promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, new Exchange
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as applicable, equal in
principal amount to the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or equal in liquidation amount to the liquidation amount of
the Capital Securities (together with the guarantee thereof) as are
surrendered by such Holder.
Distributions on each New Capital Security and interest on each New Junior
Subordinated Debenture issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and
Distributions or interest, as the case may be, on each Private Exchange Security
issued in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last date on which a
Distribution or interest was paid on the Capital Security or the Junior
Subordinated Debenture surrendered in exchange therefore or, if no Distribution
or interest has been paid on such Capital Security or Junior Subordinated
Debenture, from the Issue Date. To the extent not prohibited by any law or
applicable interpretation of the staff of the Commission, the Company and the
Issuer Trust shall use their best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above, and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws in connection with
the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions,
other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any
applicable interpretation of the staff of the Commission. Each Holder of
Registrable Securities who wishes to exchange such Registrable Securities for
Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required to make certain
customary representations in connection therewith, including, in the case of any
Holder of Capital Securities, representations that (i) it is not an affiliate of
the Issuer Trust or the Company, (ii) the Exchange Securities to be received by
it were acquired in the ordinary course of its business and (iii) at the time of
the Exchange Offer, it has no arrangement with any person to participate in the
distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the New Capital
Securities. The Company and the Issuer Trust shall inform the Initial Purchaser,
after consultation with the Trustee, of the names and addresses of the Holders
to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchaser shall have the
right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable
Securities in the Exchange Offer.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section
2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis
mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Securities that are Private
Exchange Securities and Exchange Securities held by Participating
Broker-Dealers, and the Company and the Issuer Trust shall have no further
obligation to register the Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange
Securities) pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement.
(b) Shelf Registration. In the event that: (i) the Company, the Issuer
Trust or the Majority Holders reasonably determine, after conferring with
counsel, that the Exchange Offer Registration provided in Section 2(a) above is
not available because of any change in law or in currently prevailing
interpretations of the staff of the Commission; (ii) the Company has received an
opinion of counsel, rendered by a law firm having a recognized national tax
practice, to the effect that, as a result of the consummation of the Exchange
Offer, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (x) the Issuer Trust would
be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received
or accrued on the Junior Subordinated Debentures or New Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (y) interest payable by the Company on such Junior Subordinated
Debentures or New Junior Subordinated Debentures would not be deductible by the
Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or
(z) the Issuer Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis amount of other
taxes, duties or other governmental charges; (iii) the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 days of the Issue
Date; or (iv) upon notice from any Holder on or before the 20th Business Day
following the consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) it is prohibited by
law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) it may
not resell the New Capital Securities, the New Guarantee and the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public
without delivering a prospectus and that the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales or (C) it is a broker-dealer and owns Capital Securities acquired
directly from the Issuer Trust or an affiliate of the Issuer Trust, (any of the
events specified in clauses (i) through (iv) being a "Shelf Registration Event"
and the date of occurrence thereof, the "Shelf Registration Event Date"), the
Company and the Issuer Trust shall, at their cost, use their respective best
efforts to cause to be filed as promptly as practicable after such Shelf
Registration Event Date, as the case may be, and, in event, within 45 days after
such Shelf Registration Event Date (which shall be no earlier than 75 days after
the Closing Time), a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale by the
Holders of all of the Registrable Securities, and shall use their respective
best efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the
Commission as soon as practicable. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration
pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder agrees in writing to be
bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder and
furnishes to the Company and the Issuer Trust in writing, within 15 days
after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company and
the Issuer Trust may, after conferring with counsel with regard to information
relating to Holders that would be required by the Commission to be included in
such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, reasonably
request for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included
therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees
to furnish to the Company and the Issuer Trust all information with respect to
such Holder necessary to make the information previously furnished to the
Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
The Company and the Issuer Trust agree to use their respective best efforts
to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for the Rule
144(k) Period (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3
hereof) or for such shorter period which will terminate when all of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding
(the "Effectiveness Period"). The Company and the Issuer Trust shall not permit
any securities other than Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration. The Company and the Issuer Trust will, in the event a Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective, provide to each Holder a
reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus which is a part of the Shelf
Registration Statement, notify each such Holder when the Shelf Registration has
become effective and use their respective best efforts to take certain other
actions as are required to permit certain unrestricted resales of the
Registrable Securities. The Company and the Issuer Trust further agree, if
necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, if required
by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form
used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities
Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registrations,
and the Company and the Issuer Trust agree to furnish to the Holders of
Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after
its being used or filed with the Commission.
(c) Expenses. The Company, as issuer of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof and will
reimburse the Initial Purchaser for the reasonable fees and disbursements of
Alston & Bird LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchaser, incurred in connection
with the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, the Private Exchange, and either
Alston & Bird LLP or any one other counsel designated in writing by the Majority
Holders to act as counsel for the Holders of the Registrable Securities in
connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, which other counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company. Except as provided herein, each Holder
shall pay all expenses of its counsel, underwriting discounts and commissions
and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder's
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) Effective Registration Statement. An Exchange Offer Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 2(b) will not be deemed to have become effective unless it
has been declared effective by the Commission; provided, however, that if, after
it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant
to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or any other
governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to
have been effective during the period of such interference, until the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally
resume. The Company and the Issuer Trust will be deemed not to have used their
best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf
Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective
during the requisite period if either of them voluntarily takes any action that
would result in such any Registration Statement not being declared effective or
in the Holders of Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to
exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during that period unless
such action is required by applicable law.
(e) Additional Interest. In the event that:
(i) (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement is filed with the
Commission on or prior to the 150th day after the Issue Date
or (B) notwithstanding that the Company and the Issuer Trust
have consummated or will consummate an Exchange Offer, the
Company and the Issuer Trust are required to file a Shelf
Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement
is not filed on or prior to the date required by Section 2(b)
hereof, then commencing on the day after the applicable
required filing date, liquidated damages shall accrue on the
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and, if
the Exchange Offer has been consummated, the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures, and additional Distributions shall
accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
and, if the Exchange Offer has been consummated, the New
Capital Securities, each at a rate of 0.25% per annum; or
(ii) (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the 180th day after
the Issue Date or (B) notwithstanding that the Company and the
Issuer Trust have consummated or will consummate an Exchange
Offer, the Company and the Issuer Trust are required to file a
Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration
Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the 30th day after the date such Shelf Registration
Statement was required to be filed, then, commencing on the
181st day after the Issue Date, liquidated damages shall
accrue on the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and, if the Exchange Offer has been consummated,
the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, and additional
Distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of
the Capital Securities and, if the Exchange Offer has been
consummated, the New Capital Securities, each at a rate of
0.25% per annum; or
(iii) (A) the Issuer Trust has not exchanged New
Capital Securities for all Capital Securities validly tendered
for exchange by their respective Holders or the Company has
not exchanged the New Guarantee or New Junior Subordinated
Debentures for the Guarantee or Junior Subordinated Debentures
validly tendered, in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer on or prior to the 30th day after the date on which the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared effective
or (B) if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement has
been declared effective and such Shelf Registration Statement
ceases to be effective at any time prior to the expiration of
the Rule 144(k) Period (other than after such time as all
Capital Securities have been disposed of thereunder or
otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities), then liquidated
damages shall accrue on the principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and, if the Exchange Offer has been
consummated, the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, and
additional Distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities and, if the Exchange Offer
has been consummated, the New Capital Securities, each at a
rate of 0.25% per annum commencing on (x) the 31st day after
such effective date, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the day
such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective in
the case of (B) above;
provided, however, that neither the liquidated damages on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and any outstanding New Junior Subordinated
Debentures, nor the additional distribution rate on the liquidation amount
of the Capital Securities and any outstanding New Capital Securities, may
exceed in the aggregate 0.25% per annum; provided, further, however, that (1)
upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf
Registration Statement (in the case of clause (i) above), (2) upon the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf
Registration Statement (in the case of clause (ii) above), or (3) upon the
exchange of New Capital Securities, the New Guarantee and New Junior
Subordinated Debentures for all Capital Securities, the Guarantee and all Junior
Subordinated Debentures tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A) above), or upon
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to
remain effective (in the case of clause (iii)(B) above) liquidated damages
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and any outstanding New Junior
Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions on the liquidation amount
of the Capital Securities and any outstanding New Capital Securities as a result
of such clause (or relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease
to accrue and accumulate.
Any amounts of liquidated damages and additional distributions due pursuant
to Section 2(e)(i), (ii) or (iii) above ("Liquidated Damages"), will be payable
in cash on the next succeeding March 1 or September 1, as the case may be, to
Holders on the relevant record dates for the payment of interest and
distributions pursuant to the Indenture and the Trust Agreement, respectively.
(f) Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to
the Holders, the Company and the Issuer Trust acknowledge that any failure by
the Company or the Issuer Trust to comply with its obligations under Section
2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the
Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it would not be
possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event
of any such failure, any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's and the Issuer Trust's obligations under
Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the
Company and the Issuer Trust with respect to the Registration Statements
pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Issuer Trust
shall use their best efforts to:
(a) prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof within
the relevant time period specified in Section 2 hereof on the appropriate form
under the Securities Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company and
the Issuer Trust, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available
for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and,
in the case of an Exchange Offer, be available for the exchange of the
Registrable Securities, and (iii) shall comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial
statements required by the Commission to be filed therewith; and use their best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain
effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof, provided, however, that if (1)
such filing is pursuant to Section 2(b), or (2) a Prospectus contained in an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is required
to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who
seeks to sell Exchange Securities, before filing any Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company and the Issuer
Trust shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Securities and
each Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by such
Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a
reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies
of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits
thereto) proposed to be filed. The Company and the Issuer Trust shall not file
any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto in respect of which the Holders must be afforded an opportunity to
review prior to the filing of such document if the Majority Holders or such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel or the managing
underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object;
(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period or the
Applicable Period, as the case may be; and cause each Prospectus to be
supplemented, if so determined by the Company or the Issuer Trust or requested
by the Commission, by any required prospectus supplement and as so supplemented
to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in force) under
the Securities Act, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to
it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by each
Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period,
as the case may be, in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution by the selling Holders thereof described in this Agreement
(including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, at least
three Business Days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with
respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holder
that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with
the method selected by the Majority Holders; and (ii) furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement and to each
underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any,
without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary
Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as
such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the
public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii)
consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by
each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf
Registration Statement in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto;
(d) in the case of a Shelf Registration, register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws
of such jurisdictions by the time the applicable Registration Statement is
declared effective by the Commission as any Holder of Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten
offering of Registrable Securities shall reasonably request in writing in
advance of such date of effectiveness, and do any and all other acts and things
which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder and
underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such
Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company
and the Issuer Trust shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any
general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be subject to such service of process or (iii) subject itself to
taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not then so subject;
(e) in the case of (1) a Shelf Registration or (2) Participating
Broker-Dealers from whom the Company or the Issuer Trust has received prior
written notice that they will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are
seeking to sell Exchange Securities and are required to deliver Prospectuses,
notify each Holder of Registrable Securities or such Participating
Broker-Dealers, as the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters,
if any, promptly and promptly confirm such notice in writing (i) when a
Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective
amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the
Commission or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after the
Shelf Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the qualification of the
Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities to be offered or sold by the
Participating Broker-Dealer in any jurisdiction described in paragraph 3(d)
hereof or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) in the case
of a Shelf Registration, if, between the effective date of a Registration
Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby,
any of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Issuer Trust
contained in any purchase agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar
agreement shall cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (v) of
the happening of any event or the failure of any event to occur or the discovery
of any facts or otherwise, during the Effectiveness Period which makes any
statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue
in any material respect or which causes such Registration Statement or
Prospectus to omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (vi) the Company and the Issuer Trust's reasonable determination
that a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement would be
appropriate;
(f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
possible moment;
(g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
Registrable Securities included within the coverage of such Registration
Statement, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration
Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any post-effective amendment
thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits
thereto, unless requested);
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not
bearing any restrictive legends and in such denominations (consistent with the
provisions of the Indenture and the Trust Agreement) and registered in such
names as the selling Holders or the underwriters may reasonably request at least
two Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement;
(i) in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance contemplated by Section
3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, use its best efforts to prepare
a supplement or post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of
the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; and to notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus
as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event;
(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to the
filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a
Registration Statement or a Prospectus after the initial filing of a
Registration Statement, provide a reasonable number of copies of such document
to the Holders; and make such of the representatives of the Company and the
Issuer Trust as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable
Securities or the Initial Purchaser on behalf of such Holders available for
discussion of such document;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all New Capital Securities and the
Capital Securities (and if the Issuer Trust has made a distribution of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or New Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
Holders of the Capital Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures), not
later than the effective date of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and
provide the Trustee with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities or the
Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(1) cause the Indenture, the Trust Agreement, the Guarantee, and the
New Guarantee to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "TIA")
in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, and effect such changes to such documents as may
be required for them to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA
and execute, and use its best efforts to cause the relevant trustee to execute,
all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and
documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such documents to
be so qualified in a timely manner;
(m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such agreements
(including underwriting agreements) as are customary in underwritten offerings
and take all such other appropriate actions as are reasonably requested in order
to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such
Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten
registration, if requested by (x) the Initial Purchaser, in the case where such
Initial Purchaser holds Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution and (y) other Holders of Securities covered thereby: (i) make such
representations and warranties to Holders of such Registrable Securities and the
underwriters (if any), with respect to the business of the Issuer Trust, the
Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted and the Shelf Registration
Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings, and confirm the same if and
when requested; (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Issuer
Trust and updates thereof (which may be in the form of a reliance letter) in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters (if any)
and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities
being sold, addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters (if any)
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten
offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such
underwriters (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinions
may be subject to customary qualifications and exceptions); (iii) obtain "cold
comfort" letters and updates thereof in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriters from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company and the Issuer
Trust (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company and the Issuer Trust or of any
business acquired by the Company and the Issuer Trust for which financial
statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Shelf
Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to
be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
"cold comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings and such other
matters as reasonably requested by such underwriters in accordance with
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is
entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures
no less favorable than those set forth in Section 4 hereof (or such other
provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement and the managing underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties
to be indemnified pursuant to said Section (including, without limitation, such
underwriters and selling Holders). The above shall be done at each closing under
such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;
(n) if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 2(b) or
(2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by
any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the
Applicable Period, make reasonably available for inspection by any selling
Holder of such Registrable Securities being sold or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such
disposition of Registrable Securities, and any attorney, accountant or other
agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter (collectively, the
"Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business
hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Issuer Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively,
the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any
applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and
employees of the Issuer Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all
relevant information in each case reasonably requested by any such Inspector in
connection with such Shelf Registration Statement provided, however, that the
foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated by the
Initial Purchaser and, on behalf of the selling Holders of Registrable
Securities, by one counsel designated as described in Section 2(c) hereof.
Records which the Company and the Issuer Trust determine, in good faith, to be
confidential and any records which either of them notifies the Inspectors are
confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure
of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or
omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is
ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent
jurisdiction or is necessary in connection with any action, suit or proceeding
or (iii) the information in such Records has been made generally available to
the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree in writing that
information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed
confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any market
transactions in the securities of the Issuer Trust or the Company unless and
until such is made generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of
such Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be
required to further agree in writing that it will, upon learning that disclosure
of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to
the Company and allow the Company at its expense to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
(o) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
so long as any provision of this Agreement shall be applicable and make
generally available to their respective security holders earning statements
satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158
thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later
than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of
any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end
of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters
in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold
to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first
fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a Registration
Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods;
(p) upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, if
requested by a Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to
the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Securities
participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be,
and which includes an opinion that (i) the Company or the Issuer Trust, as the
case requires, has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and (ii) each
of the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company or the
Issuer Trust, as the case requires, enforceable against the Company or the
Issuer Trust, as the case requires, in accordance with their respective terms
(in each case, with customary exceptions);
(q) if an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Securities by Holders to the Company or the
Issuer Trust, as applicable (or to such other Person as directed by the Company
or the Issuer Trust, respectively), in exchange for the Exchange Securities or
the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, mark, or cause to be
marked, on such Registrable Securities delivered by such Holders that such
Registrable Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange
Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event
shall such Registrable Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied;
(r) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered by any
Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in
connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD;
(s) use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect
the registration of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement contemplated hereby;
(t) (A) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i)
include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of
Distribution," which section shall be reasonably acceptable to the Initial
Purchaser or another representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and
which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made
by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter"
status of any broker-dealer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer") that holds
Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that will be the beneficial owner (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Securities to be
received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or
policies have been publicly disseminated
by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the
reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchaser or such other representative,
represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission, including a
statement that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Securities for
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory
underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (ii)
furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company the
notice referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any
preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such
Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request (each of the Company and the
Issuer Trust hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto by
any Person subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or
transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto), (iii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective and amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order to
permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time
as such Persons must comply with such requirements under the Securities Act and
applicable rules and regulations in order to resell the Exchange Securities;
provided, however, that such period shall not be required to exceed 90 days (or
such longer period if extended pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3
hereof) (the "Applicable Period"), and (iv) include in the transmittal letter or
similar documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:
"If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable
Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of Exchange Securities received in respect of such Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer";
and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in
connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act; and
(B) in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company and the Issuer Trust agree to deliver to the Initial Purchaser or to
another representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, if requested by such
Initial Purchaser or such other representative of the Participating
Broker-Dealers, on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers upon consummation
of the Exchange Offer (i) an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser or such other representative of the
Participating Broker-Dealers, covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in connection with Exchange Offer Registration Statements and
such other matters as may be reasonably requested (it being agreed that the
matters to be covered by such opinion may be subject to customary qualifications
and exceptions), (ii) an officers' certificate containing certifications
substantially similar to those set forth in Section 5(f) of the Purchase
Agreement and such additional certifications as are customarily delivered in a
public offering of debt securities and (iii) as well as upon the effectiveness
of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a comfort letter, in each case, in
customary form if permitted by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72.
The Company or the Issuer Trust may require each seller of Registrable
Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the
Company or the Issuer Trust, as applicable, such information regarding such
seller as may be required by the staff of the Commission to be included in a
Registration Statement. The Company or the Issuer Trust may exclude from such
registration the Registrable Securities of any seller who unreasonably fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
The Company shall have no obligation to register under the Securities Act the
Registrable Securities of a seller who so fails to furnish such information.
In the case of (1) a Shelf Registration Statement or (2) Participating
Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company and the Issuer Trust that they will
be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof and are seeking to sell Exchange
Securities and are required to deliver Prospectuses, each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company or the Issuer Trust of the happening
of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or
3(e)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith suspend use of the Prospectus and
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company and the Issuer Trust that the use of the
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company and the
Issuer Trust, such Holder will deliver to the Company or the Issuer Trust (at
the Company's or the Issuer Trust's expense, as the case requires) all copies in
such Holder's possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, current at the time of receipt of such notice.
If the Company or the Issuer Trust shall give any such notice to suspend the
disposition of Registrable Securities, or Exchange Securities, as the case may
be, pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company and the Issuer Trust shall
use their best efforts to file and have declared effective (if an amendment) as
soon as practicable an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and
shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be
maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days in the
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including
the date when the Company and the Issuer Trust shall have made available to the
Holders (x) copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume
such dispositions or (y) the Advice.
4. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) In connection with any Registration Statement, the Company and the
Issuer Trust shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless the
Initial Purchaser, each Holder, each underwriter who participates in an offering
of the Registrable Securities, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each Person, if
any, who controls any of such parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each of their respective
directors, officers, employees and agents, as follows:
(i) from and against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, joint or several, as
incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto), covering Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, including all
documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) from and against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage and expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, to the
extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or
any investigation or proceeding by any court or governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon
any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the prior
written consent of the Company; and
(iii) from and against any and all expenses whatsoever, as
incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen
by such Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer, or any underwriter
(except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in Section 4(c)
hereof)), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any court
or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this Section
4(a);
provided, however, that (i) this indemnity does not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished in writing to the
Company or the Issuer Trust by such Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer, or
any underwriter with respect to such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or any
underwriter, as the case may be, expressly for use in a Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) and (ii) the Company and the Issuer Trust shall not be liable to any
such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, any underwriter or controlling person,
with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission in any preliminary Prospectus to the extent that any such loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense of any Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer,
any underwriter or controlling person results from the fact that such Holder,
any underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer, sold Securities to a person to
whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of
such sale, a copy of the final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented if the
Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder, underwriter, or
Participating Broker-Dealer, and the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
of such Holder, underwriter, Participating Broker-Dealer, or controlling person
results from an untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in the
preliminary Prospectus which was corrected in the final Prospectus. Any amounts
advanced by the Company or the Issuer Trust to an indemnified party pursuant to
this Section 4 as a result of such losses shall be returned to the Company or
the Issuer Trust if it shall be finally determined by such a court in a judgment
not subject to appeal or final review that such indemnified party was not
entitled to indemnification by the Company or the Issuer Trust.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, the Issuer Trust, any underwriter and the other
selling Holders and each of their respective directors, officers (including each
officer of the Company and the Issuer Trust who signed the Registration
Statement), employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the
Company, the Issuer Trust, any underwriter or any other selling Holder within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever described in the indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as
incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions, made in a Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company or the Issuer Trust by such selling Holder with respect to such Holder
expressly for use in such Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or
any such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided, however,
that, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, no such Holder shall be
liable for any amount hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received
by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement.
(c) Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, enclosing a copy of all papers properly
served on such indemnified party, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party
shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may have
under this Section 4, except to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by
such failure. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of such action. If an indemnifying party so elects within a reasonable
time after receipt of such notice, an indemnifying party, severally or jointly
with any other indemnifying parties receiving such notice, may assume the
defense of such action with counsel chosen by it and reasonably acceptable to
the indemnified parties defendant in such action, provided, however, that if (i)
representation of such indemnified party by the same counsel would present a
conflict of interest or (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party and any such indemnified party reasonably determines that there may be
legal defenses available to such indemnified party which are different from or
in addition to those available to such indemnifying party, then in the case of
clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4(c) such indemnifying party and counsel
for each indemnifying party or parties shall not be entitled to assume such
defense. If an indemnifying party is not entitled to assume the defense of such
action as a result of the proviso to the preceding sentence, counsel for such
indemnifying party and counsel for each indemnified party or parties shall be
entitled to conduct the defense of such indemnified party or parties. If an
indemnifying party assumes the defense of such action, in accordance with and as
permitted by the provisions of this paragraph, such indemnifying parties shall
not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties
incurred thereafter in connection with such action. In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
counsel (in addition to local counsel), separate from its own counsel, for all
indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are
actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise
or consent (i) includes an unconditional written release in form and substance
satisfactory to the indemnified parties of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and
(ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 4(c), if at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel pursuant to
Section 4(a)(iii) above, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable
for any settlement effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of
the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice
of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement; provided that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such
settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying party (1)
reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such request to the extent
it considers reasonable and (2) provides written notice to the indemnified party
substantiating the unpaid balance as unreasonable, in each case prior to the
date of such settlement.
(e) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances under which any of the indemnity provisions set forth in this
Section 4 is for any reason held to be unavailable to the indemnified parties
although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company, the Issuer Trust,
and the Holders shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement
incurred by the Company, the Issuer Trust, and the Holders, as incurred;
provided that no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any Person that was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. As between
the Company, the Issuer Trust, and the Holders, such parties shall contribute to
such aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature
contemplated by such indemnity agreement in such proportion as shall be
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and Issuer Trust, on
the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, with respect to the statements
or omissions which resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense,
or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Issuer Trust, on the
one hand, and of the Holders, on the other hand, shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Issuer Trust, on the one
hand, or by or on behalf of the Holders, on the other, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Company, the Issuer Trust and the Holders of the
Registrable Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were to be determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the relevant equitable considerations. For purposes of this Section 4, each
affiliate of a Holder, and each director, officer, employee, agent and Person,
if any, who controls a Holder or such affiliate within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as such Holder, and each director of each of the Company
or the Issuer Trust, each officer of each of the Company or the Issuer Trust who
signed the Registration Statement, and each Person, if any, who controls each of
the Company and the Issuer Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as each of the Company or the Issuer Trust.
5. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Holder may participate
in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell
such Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such
arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
6. Selection of Underwriters. The Holders of Registrable Securities covered
by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell the securities
covered by such Shelf Registration in an underwritten offering. In any such
underwritten offering, the underwriter or underwriters and manager or managers
that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such
offering; provided, however, that such underwriters and managers must be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Issuer Trust.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company or the Issuer
Trust is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the
Exchange Act and any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, each of the
Company and the Issuer Trust, as the case may be, will use its best efforts to
file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the
Commission thereunder, or, if it ceases to be so required to file such reports,
it will, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make
publicly available such information as is necessary to permit sales of their
securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such
information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales of their
securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and it will take such
further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request,
and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in
each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A
under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or
(iii) any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon
the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company or the Issuer
Trust, as the case may be, will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such requirements.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company or the Issuer Trust has not
entered into nor will the Company or the Issuer Trust on or after the date of
this Agreement enter into any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's or the Issuer Trust's other
issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given unless the Company and the Issuer Trust have obtained the written
consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or departure; provided no amendment, modification or
supplement or waiver or consent to the departure with respect to the provisions
of Section 4 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable
Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder of Registrable
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, (i) this Agreement may be
amended, without the consent of any Holder of Registrable Securities, by written
agreement signed by the Company, the Issuer Trust and the Initial Purchaser, to
cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision of this Agreement that
may be inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement or to make any
other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this
Agreement which shall not be inconsistent with other provisions of this
Agreement, (ii) this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented, and
waivers and consents to departures from the provisions hereof may be given, by
written agreement signed by the Company, the Issuer Trust and the Initial
Purchaser to the extent that any such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent is, in their reasonable judgment, necessary or appropriate to
comply with applicable law (including any interpretation of the Staff of the
Commission) or any change therein and (iii) to the extent any provision of this
Agreement relates to the Initial Purchaser, such provision may be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from such
provisions may be given, by written agreement signed by the Initial Purchaser,
the Company and the Issuer Trust.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company or the Issuer Trust by means of a notice given in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 7(d), which address initially is, with respect to
the Initial Purchaser, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii)
if to the Company or the Issuer Trust, initially at the Company's address set
forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of
which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(d).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on
the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of the Initial
Purchaser, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be
deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable
Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.
If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities
shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and
holding such Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed to
have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of
this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(f) Third-Party Beneficiary. The Initial Purchaser shall be a third
party beneficiary of the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the
Issuer Trust, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall
have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of
Holders hereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN
THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT,
AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS. EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT.
(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(k) Securities Held by the Company, the Issuer Trust or its Affiliates.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the
Company, the Issuer Trust or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.
By: s/ Kenneth A. Black
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Name: Kenneth A. Black
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Title: Vice President
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FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST I
By: s/ John H. Gray
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Name: John H. Gray
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Title: Administrator
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Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
WHEAT FIRST SECURITIES, INC.
By: s/ Scott R. Anderson
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Name: Scott R. Anderson
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Title: Managing Director
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