1
EXHIBIT 4.8
================================================================================
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated December 23, 1996
among
FIRSTAR CORPORATION
FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
as Initial Purchasers
================================================================================
2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of December 23, 1996 among FIRSTAR CORPORATION, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Company"), FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I, a business trust formed
under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Trust"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH,
PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC
(together with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
dated December 23, 1996 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among the Company, as
issuer of the Series A 8.32% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
due 2026 (the "Subordinated Debentures"), the Trust and the Initial Purchasers,
which provides for among other things, the sale by the Trust to the Initial
Purchasers of 150,000 of the Trust's Series A 8.32% Capital Securities,
liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security (the "Capital Securities") the
proceeds of which will be used by the Trust to purchase Subordinated
Debentures. The Capital Securities, together with the Subordinated Debentures
and the Company's guarantee of the Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities
Guarantee") are collectively referred to as the "Securities". In order to
induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company
and the Trust have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their 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" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day
on which banking institutions in the City of New York or in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
2
3
"Closing Time" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted assigns.
"Declaration" or "Declaration of Trust" shall mean the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of December 23, 1996, by the trustees
named therein and the Company as sponsor.
"Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depositary appointed by the 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 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 Subordinated
Debentures, the Series B 8.32% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due December 15, 2026 (the "Exchange Debentures") containing terms
identical to the Subordinated Debentures (except that they will not contain
terms with respect to the transfer restrictions under the Securities Act, will
not require transfers thereof to be in minimum blocks of $100,000 principal
amount and will not provide for any increase in the interest rate thereon),
(ii) with respect to the Capital
3
4
Securities, the Trust's Series B 8.32% Capital Securities, liquidation amount
$1,000 per Capital Security (the "Exchange Capital Securities") which will have
terms identical to the Capital Securities (except they will not contain terms
with respect to transfer restrictions under the Securities Act, will not
require minimum transfers thereof to be in blocks of $100,000 liquidation
amount and will not provide for any increase in the Distribution rate thereon)
and (iii) with respect to the Capital Securities Guarantee, the Company's
guarantee (the "Exchange Capital Securities Guarantee") of the Exchange Capital
Securities which will have terms identical to the Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own
any Registrable Securities, and each of its respective successors, assigns and
direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable
Securities under the Indenture or Declaration of Trust.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Subordinated
Debentures and the Exchange Debentures dated as of December 23, 1996 among the
Company, as issuer, and Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Initial Purchasers" 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
4
5
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 Shelf 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.
"Registration Default" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(e) 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
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, (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 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 SEC 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
5
6
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 any 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 any Registration Statement.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company and the 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 three 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.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"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.
6
7
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company and the 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 SEC, 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.
"Trustees" shall mean any and all trustees with respect to (i) the
Capital Securities under the Declaration, (ii) the Subordinated Debentures
under the Indenture and (iii) the Capital Securities 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 SEC, the
Company and the Trust shall, for the benefit of the Holders, at the Company's
cost, use its best efforts to (i) cause to be filed with the SEC 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 SEC 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 calendar 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 Trust shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being
the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and
electing to exchange Registrable Securities for a like principal amount of
Exchange Debentures or a like liquidation amount of Exchange Capital
Securities, together with the Exchange 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.
7
8
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the
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 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 Purchasers and
Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(vi) otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws
relating to the Exchange Offer.
If any 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 Trust of a written request from such Initial Purchaser, the
Company and the 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 Capital Securities of the
Trust, together with the Exchange Guarantee, or a like principal amount of the
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
8
9
Act) to the Exchange Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities") and which
are issued pursuant to the Indenture, the Declaration or the Guarantee (which
provides that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Indenture or the Declaration, as applicable, 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 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 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 Declaration 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
Subordinated Debentures or equal in liquidation amount to the liquidation
amount to the Capital Securities (together with the guarantee thereof) as are
surrendered by such Holder.
Distributions on each Exchange Capital Security and interest
on each Exchange Debenture and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last
date on which a Distribution or interest was paid on the Capital Security or
the Subordinated Debenture surrendered in exchange therefore or, if no
Distribution or interest has been paid on such Capital Security or Subordinated
Debenture, from the Issue Date. To the extent not prohibited by any law or
applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company and the 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
9
10
conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law
or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. 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 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 Exchange Capital Securities. The Company and the Trust shall inform the
Initial Purchasers, after consultation with the Trustee, of the names and
addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial
Purchasers 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 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 Trust or the Majority Holders reasonably determine, after conferring with
counsel (which may be in-house 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 SEC, (ii) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 days
of the Issue Date or (iii) upon the request of any Initial Purchaser with
respect to any Registrable Securities held by it, if such Initial Purchaser is
not permitted, in the reasonable opinion of [Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇ LLP], pursuant to applicable law or applicable interpretations of the
staff of the SEC, to participate in the Exchange Offer and thereby receive
securities that are freely tradeable without restriction under the Securities
Act and applicable blue sky or state securities laws (any of the events
specified in (i)-(iii) being a "Shelf Registration Event" and the date of
occurrence thereof, the "Shelf Registration Event Date"), the Company and the
Trust shall, at their cost, use their best efforts to cause to be filed as
promptly as practicable after such Shelf Registration Event Date, as the case
may be, and, in any 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
10
11
Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable
Securities, and shall use its best efforts to have such Shelf Registration
Statement declared effective by the SEC 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
Trust in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information as the Company and the Trust may, after conferring with counsel
with regard to information relating to Holders that would be required by the
SEC to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included
therein, reasonably request for inclusion in any 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 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 Trust agree to use their 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 Trust shall not permit any
securities other than Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration. The Company and the 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 its best efforts to take certain other actions as are
required to permit certain unrestricted resales of the Registrable Securities.
The Company and the 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 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 SEC.
(c) Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b)
hereof and will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of [Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP], counsel for the
Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer and, if
applicable, the Private Exchange Offer, and either [Skadden, Arps, Slate,
11
12
[▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP], counsel for the initial purchasers, incurred in connection
with the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, the Private Exchange Offer, and
either Skadden, Arps, Slate ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ 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) hereof will not be deemed to
have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC;
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 SEC 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 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 take any action that would result in any such 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) Liquidated Damages. In the event that (i) (A) neither
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement is
filed with the SEC on or prior to the 150th day after the Issue Date or (B)
notwithstanding that the Company and the Trust have consummated or will
consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company and the 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, additional interest shall accrue
on the principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures, and additional
Distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities, each at a rate of 0.25% per annum; or
(ii) (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
12
13
nor a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC on or prior
to the 30th day after the applicable required filing date or (B)
notwithstanding that the Company and the Trust have consummated an Exchange
Offer, the Company and the Trust are required to file a Shelf Registration
Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by
the SEC on or prior to the 30th day after the date such Shelf Registration
Statement was required to be filed, then, commencing on the 31st day after the
applicable required filing date, additional interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions
shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, each at a
rate of 0.25% per annum; or
(iii) (A) the Trust has not exchanged Exchange Capital Securities for
all Capital Securities or the Company has not exchanged Exchange Guarantees or
Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Guarantees or 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 additional
interest shall accrue on the principal amount of Subordinated Debentures, and
additional distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the
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 additional interest rate on the
Subordinated Debentures, nor the additional distribution rate on the
liquidation amount of the 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 Exchange Capital Securities, Exchange
Guarantees and Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Capital Securities,
Guarantees and 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), additional
interest on the Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions on the
liquidation amount of the Capital
13
14
Securities as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as
the case may be, shall cease to accrue or accumulate, as the case may be.
Any amounts of additional interest 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 June 15 or December 15, 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 Declaration, respectively.
(f) Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies
available to the Holders, the Company and the Trust acknowledge that any
failure by the Company or the 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 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 Trust with respect to the Registration
Statements pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Trust
shall use their best efforts to:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC 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 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 (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 SEC to be
filed therewith; and use its 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 Trust shall
furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Securities and
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by
such ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-
▇▇
15
tion 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 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 SEC 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 Trust or requested by the SEC, 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 State- ment
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
15
16
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, use its best efforts
to 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 SEC
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 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 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 SEC or any state securities
authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement
or Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration
Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC 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 any 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
16
17
Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and
warranties of the Company and the Trust contained in any purchase
agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if
any cease to be true and correct in all material respects, and (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 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
Shelf 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 Declaration) 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 a
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
17
18
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, and each Holder
hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has
amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or
omission;
(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 Trust as shall be reasonably
requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities or the Initial
Purchasers on behalf of such Holders available for discussion of such
document;
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Capital Securities
and the Capital Securities (and if the Trust has made a distribution
of the Subordinated Debentures to the Holders of the Capital
Securities, the Subordinated Debentures or the Exchange Subordinated
Debentures) as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed
certificates for the Exchange Securities or the Registrable
Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with
the Depositary;
(l) cause the Indenture, the Declaration, the Guarantee and
the Exchange 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 SEC 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
18
19
requested by (x) any Initial Purchaser, in the case where an 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 Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries as then
conducted and the 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 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 opinion 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 Trust (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company and the
Trust or of any business acquired by the Company and the Trust for
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to
be, included in the 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 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
19
20
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, if
any, 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 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 Trust, the Company and its
subsidiaries to supply all relevant information in each case reasonably
requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement
provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering
shall be coordinated on behalf of the Purchasers by you and on behalf of the
other parties, by one counsel designated by you and on behalf of such other
parties as described in Section 2(c) hereof. Records which the Company and the
Trust determine, in good faith, to be confidential and any records which it
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 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;
20
21
(o) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC so long as any provision of this Agreement shall be applicable and
make generally available to its securityholders 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 and the Trust, as the case requires, has duly
authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Securities and Private
Exchange Securities, 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 Trust, as the case
requires, enforceable against the Company or the Trust, as the case
requires, in accordance with its 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 Trust, as applicable (or to such other Person as
directed by the Company or the Trust, respectively), in exchange for
the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the
case may be, the Company or the Trust, as applicable, shall ▇▇▇▇, 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
21
22
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 Purchasers 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 SEC 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 brokerdealer in
the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or policies have been
publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or
policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers or such
other representative, represent the prevailing views of the staff of
the SEC, 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 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) use its best efforts to
keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to 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
22
23
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 Trust agree to deliver to the Initial
Purchasers or to another representative of the Participating
Broker-Dealers, if requested by any such Initial Purchasers 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 Purchasers 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(g) 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.
23
24
The Company or the Trust may require each seller of
Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to
furnish to the Company or the Trust, as applicable, such information regarding
such seller as may be required by the staff of the SEC to be included in a
Registration Statement. The Company or the 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 Trust 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 each Holder agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company or the 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 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 Trust that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed,
and, if so directed by the Company and the Trust, such Holder will deliver to
the Company or the Trust (at the Company's or the 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 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 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 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 Trust shall, jointly and
severally, indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each Holder,
each underwriter who
24
25
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(b);
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 Trust by
25
26
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 the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and (ii)
the Company and the 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 Trust to an indemnified party pursuant
to this Section 4 as a result of such losses shall be returned to the Company
or the 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 Trust.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Trust, any underwriter and the
other selling Holders and each of their respective directors, officers
(including each officer of the Company and the Trust who signed the
Registration Statement), employees and agents and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company, the 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 the 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 Trust by such selling Holder with respect to such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or
any such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided,
however, that, in the case of Shelf Registration Statement, no such Holder
shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net
proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable
26
27
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
27
28
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 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 Trust, and the Holders, as incurred; provided that
no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person that
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. As between the Company,
the 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 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 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
28
29
information supplied by the Company or the 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 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 Trust, each officer of each of the Company or the Trust who signed the
Registration Statement, and each Person, if any, who controls each of the
Company and the 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 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 the 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 Trust.
29
30
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company or
the Trust is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the
Exchange Act and any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, the Company and
the Trust, as the case may be, will their 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 SEC
thereunder, that 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 SEC. Upon the request
of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company and the Trusts 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 Trust has
not entered into nor will the Company or the 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 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 Trust has
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
30
31
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 Trust and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, 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 Trust and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ 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 SEC) or any change therein
and (iii) to the extent any provision of this Agreement relates to the Initial
Purchasers, 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 Company and the 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 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 Purchasers, the address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company or the 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,
31
32
assigns and transferees of the Initial Purchasers, 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. Each of the Initial Purchasers
shall be a third party beneficiary of the agreements made hereunder between the
Company and the 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 NEW YORK. 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 NEW YORK 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 Trust or its
32
33
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 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.
33
34
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
FIRSTAR CORPORATION
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
35
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above
written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED,
as Representative of the
Several Initial Purchasers
By: _______________________________________
Name:
Title:
35