REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of September 29, 2004, by and among Center Bancorp, Inc., a New
Jersey corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the investors signatory hereto (each a
"PURCHASER" and collectively, the "PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof, among the Company and the Purchasers (the "PURCHASE
AGREEMENT").
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained
in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers
agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such
terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1:
"Effective Date" means the date that the Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is first declared effective by the
Commission.
"Effectiveness Date" means: (a) with respect to the initial
Registration Statement required to be filed to cover the resale by the Holders
of the Registrable Securities, the earlier of: (i) the 120th day following the
Closing Date and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the
Company is notified by the Commission that the initial Registration Statement
will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, and
(b) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required
pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, the earlier of: (i) the 120th day following the
date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that
such additional Registration Statement is required under such Section and (ii)
the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is notified by the
Commission that such additional Registration Statement will not be reviewed or
is no longer subject to further review and comments.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means: (a) with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed to cover the resale by the Holders of the
Registrable Securities, the 30th day following the Closing Date, and (b) with
respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof, the 30th day following the date on which the Company
first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration
Statement is required under such Section.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may
be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including, without limitation, post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means the Shares issued pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, together with any securities issued or issuable in respect
of such Shares (including, without limitation, upon any stock split, dividend or
other distribution, merger, consolidation, recapitalization or similar event),
but only if and so long as they have not been sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement or in a sale exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144.
"Registration Statement" means each of the following: (i) an initial
registration statement which is required to register the resale of the
Registrable Securities, and (ii) each additional registration statement, if any,
contemplated by Section 2(a), and including, in each case, the Prospectus,
amendments and supplements to each such registration statement or Prospectus,
including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such registration statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
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2. Registration.
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all
Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective
Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the
Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate
form for such purpose) and shall contain (subject to such modification as may be
required pursuant to written comments received from the staff of the Commission
upon a review of such Registration Statement) the "Plan of Distribution"
attached hereto as Annex A. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities
Act as soon as possible but, in any event, no later than the Effectiveness Date,
and shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two
years after the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective by
the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities covered by
the Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume or other
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company
pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to
the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the "EFFECTIVENESS
PERIOD"). It is agreed and understood that the Company shall, from time to time,
be obligated to file an additional Registration Statement to cover any
Registrable Securities which are not registered for resale pursuant to a
pre-existing Registration Statement (e.g., following the receipt of a request
from a Holder, whose Registrable Securities are not so registered for resale,
that the Holder's Registrable Securities be registered for resale).
(b) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its
Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording the
Holders the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section
3(a) hereof, the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied this clause (i)),
or (ii) a Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on
or prior to its required Effectiveness Date, or (iii) after its Effective Date,
such Registration Statement or related Prospectus ceases for any reason to be
available to the Holders as to all Registrable Securities the offer and sale of
which it is required to cover at any time prior to the expiration of its
Effectiveness Period (whether due to the Registration Statement ceasing for any
reason to be effective or because use of the Prospectus has been suspended for
any reason, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 3(j) hereof) for
an aggregate of more than 20 consecutive Trading Days or an aggregate of 40
Trading Days (which need not be consecutive) in any twelve month period (any
such failure or breach being referred to as an "EVENT," and for purposes of
clauses (i) or (ii) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of
clause (iii) the date which such 20 consecutive or 40 Trading Day-period (as
applicable) is exceeded, being referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then, in addition
to any other rights available to the Holders: (x) on such Event Date the Company
shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a
penalty, equal to 1% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and (y) on each monthly anniversary of each
such Event Date thereof (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by
such date, subject to pro rata payment pursuant to the last sentence of this
Section 2(b)) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each
Holder an additional amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty,
equal to 1.5% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement, provided, that all periods shall be tolled, with respect
to a Holder, by the number of Trading Days in excess of ten (10) during which
such Holder fails to provide the Company with information regarding such Holder
which was requested by the Company in order to effect the registration of such
Holder's Registrable Securities (provided further, that in the event that the
Commission's staff takes the position in written comments to the Company that
such failure precludes such staff from declaring a Registration Statement
effective, then such Holder's Registrable Securities may be excluded by the
Company from such Registration Statement). It shall be a condition precedent to
the obligations of the Company to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this
Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any Holder that such
Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself and the
Registrable Securities held by it. If the Company fails to pay any liquidated
damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date
payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 12% per annum (or
such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to
the Holder, accruing daily from the date such liquidated damages are due until
such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated
damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a pro rata basis for any
portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
after such time as the Company shall have become obligated pursuant to this
Section 3(b) to any Holder to make payments (and shall have made such payments)
in the aggregate (excluding for such purposes payments of any interest thereon)
of 5.0% of the aggregate Investment Amount paid by such Holder for Shares
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, then the amount of liquidated damages to be
calculated in accordance with the above sentences shall thereafter for such
Holder be reduced from 1.0% to 0.5% and from 1.5% to 1.0%, respectively, with
respect to all such liquidated damages (other than with respect to interest
thereon) accruing in excess of 5.0% of the aggregate Investment Amount paid by
such Holder for such Shares.
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3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of a
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, the Company shall furnish to the Holders copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed which documents (other than those incorporated by
reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders. The Company shall not
file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities shall reasonably object in writing in good faith unless and until the
Company shall have reasonably responded to the written comments of such Holders,
including, without limitation, by making such changes to such Registration
Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment thereto as are necessary to
reasonably address such objection.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to each Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to (x) keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for its Effectiveness Period, and (y) include any Registrable
Securities held by any person who becomes a successor or assign of a Holder (a
"SUCCESSOR HOLDER") in accordance with Section 6(e) hereof and Section 6.6 of
the Purchase Agreement; such amendment shall be filed promptly after notice of
transfer by a Holder to such Successor Holder has been provided to the Company
(provided, that if the inclusion of Registrable Securities held by a Successor
Holder may be accomplished by a Prospectus supplement, the Company may, in lieu
of filing an amendment to the Registration Statement, promptly prepare and file
pursuant to Rule 424 such prospectus supplement); (ii) cause the related
Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within ten Trading
Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from
and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement that pertains to
the Holders as Selling Stockholders but not any comments that would result in
the disclosure to the Holders of material and non-public information concerning
the Company; (iv) prepare and file with the Commission such additional
Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act
all of the Registrable Securities; and (v) comply in all material respects with
the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to each
Registration Statement and the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered
by each Registration Statement.
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(c) Notify the Holders in writing no later than two Trading Days
following the day (i)(A) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there
will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission
comments in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide to
each of the Holders true and complete copies thereof and all written responses
thereto that pertain to the Holders as Selling Stockholders or to the Plan of
Distribution, but not information which the Company reasonably believes would
constitute material and non-public information); and (B) with respect to each
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state
governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement
or Prospectus or for additional information that pertains to the Holders as
Selling Stockholders or the Plan of Distribution; (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of
any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (v) subject to Section 3(j), of the occurrence of any event or
passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration
Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in such
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
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(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, to obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness
of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed
copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.
(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies
of each Prospectus or Prospectuses and each amendment or supplement thereto as
such Holders may reasonably request. The Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from
such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and
sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of those jurisdictions within the
United States identified by each Purchaser on such Purchaser's signature page to
the Purchase Agreement to keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and
all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statements; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify
generally to do business or file a general consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject .
(h) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered
to a purchaser pursuant to the Registration Statements, which certificates shall
be free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to
be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may
request.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(v), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment,
including a post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements or
a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(j) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Holder and any Affiliate thereof and as to any other
information for such Holder which the Commission requires to be disclosed in any
Registration Statements. For not more than twenty (20) consecutive days or for a
total of not more than forty (40) days in any twelve (12) month period, the
Company may suspend the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration
Statement in connection with any of the events described in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v)
(an "ALLOWED DELAY"); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a) notify the
Holders in writing of the existence of (but in no event, without the prior
written consent of a Holder, shall the Company disclose to such Holder any of
the facts or circumstances regarding) material non-public information giving
rise to an Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Holders in writing to cease all sales
under the Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and (c) use
reasonable efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as practicable. The
periods set forth in Section 2(b) shall not be tolled during any Allowed Delay.
(k) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the Company's
performance of its obligation under this Agreement (excluding any underwriting
discounts and selling commissions and all legal fees and expenses of legal
counsel for any Holder, other than one counsel designated by the Holders of no
less than a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, whose fees
and expenses shall be borne by the Company up to an aggregate amount of $20,000)
shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the
foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and
filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) payable to the
Commission in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement, (B) with
respect to filings required to be made with the Trading Market on which the
Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (C) in compliance with applicable
state securities or Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of
printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by
the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv)
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability
insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses
of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company
shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual or
other audit or review of its financial statements and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder.
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5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, investment advisors, partners,
members, shareholders and employees of each of them, each Person who controls
any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and
employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of
preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively,
"LOSSES"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary
prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to
the extent, but only to the extent (1) that such untrue statements or omissions
are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to
the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement (it
being understood that each Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose),
such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (2) arising from any
offer or sale of Registrable Securities during a period in which the Company has
suspended use of the Prospectus pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii)-(v) and of which
suspension such Holder has been provided notice by the Company prior to such
offer or sale, or (3) if such Holder fails to deliver, within the time required
by the Securities Act, a Prospectus that is amended or supplemented, to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, would have corrected the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission of a material fact giving rise to such Loss
contained in the Prospectus delivered by such Holder, so long as the Prospectus,
as amended or supplemented, has been delivered to such Holder by the Company
reasonably prior to such time. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person
who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or
employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising solely out of
or based solely upon: any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent (1) that such
untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (it being understood that each Holder has approved
Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto, (2) arising from any offer or sale of Registrable Securities
during a period in which the Company has suspended use of the Prospectus
pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii)-(v) and of which suspension such Holder has been
provided notice by the Company prior to such offer or sale, or (3) if such
Holder fails to deliver, within the time required by the Securities Act, a
Prospectus that is amended or supplemented, to the extent, but solely to the
extent, that such Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, would have corrected
the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a
material fact giving rise to such Loss contained in the Prospectus delivered by
such Holder, so long as the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, has been
delivered to such Holder by the Company reasonably prior to such time. In no
event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount
than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale
of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
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(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the defense thereof; provided,
that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve
the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this
Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to
appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately and
materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party), provided, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to local counsel) at any time for all Indemnified Parties. The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding
effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or defending such Proceeding) shall be paid to the Indemnified
Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that
the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to
reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially
determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder).
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(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of
its security holders (other than the Purchasers in such capacity pursuant
hereto) may include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement
other than the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date
hereof and until the Registration Statement is declared effective, enter into
any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders. The
Company has not previously entered into any agreement granting any registration
rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person which have not been
fully satisfied.
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(c) Purchasers' Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time after the
Filing Date and prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period there is not
an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities
and the Company shall determine to prepare and file, or has filed, with the
Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account
or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than (i) on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under
the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to
be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans or (ii) on Form S-3 (as promulgated under the Securities Act) or
its then equivalent relating to equity securities to be issued solely in
connection with the Company's dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan,
then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such determination
and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such Holder shall
so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement
all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be
registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders
of registration rights.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be
waived or amended except in a written instrument signed by the Company and the
Holder or Holders (as applicable) of no less than a majority of the then
outstanding Registrable Securities. No waiver of any default with respect to any
provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a
continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a
waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any
delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner
impair the exercise of any such right.
(e) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile number specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on
a Business Day and confirmation of such delivery is received, (ii) the Business
Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered
via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Agreement
later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m.
(New York time) on such date and confirmation of such delivery is received,
(iii) the Business Day following the date of transmission, if sent by nationally
recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party
to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and
communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: Center Bancorp, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
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With a copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PC
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ (fax)
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esquire
If to a Purchaser: To the address set forth under such
Purchaser's name on the signature pages
hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears
in the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder, except to any surviving or successor corporation in connection with
a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation, after notice
duly given by the Company in writing to each Holder at least 20 days prior to
the consummation of such transaction. Each Holder may assign such Holder's
rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the
Purchase Agreement
(g) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of 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. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(h) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party agrees that all Proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and
defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought
against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, employees or agents) may be
commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in the State of New York (the
"NEW YORK COURTS"). Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any
dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated
hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to
assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of any New York Court, or that such Proceeding has been commenced
in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or
overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in
effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall
constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process
in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by
jury in any Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to
enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such
Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney's fees and
other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and
prosecution of such Proceeding.
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(i) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(j) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(k) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(l) Independent Nature of Holders' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Holder hereunder is several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in
any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder.
Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any
closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be
deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint
venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders
are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder acknowledges that no
other Holder has acted as agent for such Holder in connection with the
investment contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and this Agreement and that no
Holder will be acting as agent of such Holder in connection with monitoring its
investment in the Shares or enforcing its rights under the Transaction
Documents. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights,
including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it
shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party
in any proceeding for such purpose.
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[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
CENTER BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASERS TO FOLLOW]
SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
PURCHASERS:
BANC FUNDS V
By: /s/
BANC FUNDS VI
By: /s/
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PARTNERS, L.P.
By: /s/
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PARTNERS II, L.P.
By: /s/
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ OFFSHORE INVESTORS LTD
By: /s/
ENGINEERS JOINT PENSION PLAN
By: /s/
SUNOVA PARTNERS, L.P.
By: /s/
SUNOVA LONG TERM OPPORTUNITY FUND, L.P.
By: /s/
SUNOVA OFFSHORE LTD
By: /s/
FFC MANAGEMENT
By: /s/
SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
ANNEX A
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as
agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o short sales;
o sales by broker-dealers pursuant to an agreement with the Selling
Stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated
price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as
agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and
discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security
interest in some or all of the shares of Common Stock owned by them and, if they
default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured
parties may offer and sell shares of Common Stock from time to time under this
prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus amending the list of
Selling Stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in
interest as Selling Stockholders under this prospectus.
Upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that
any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale
of shares of common stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange
distribution or secondary distribution or purchase by a broker or dealer, a
supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, disclosing (i) the
name of each such Selling Stockholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s),
(ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such shares are
sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such
broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not
conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction.
In addition, upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder
that a donee or pledge intends to sell more than 500 shares of common stock, a
supplement to this prospectus will be filed if then required in accordance with
applicable securities law.
The Selling Stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in
other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors
in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this
prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has
represented and warranted to the Company that it does not have any agreement or
understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the shares
of common stock.
The Company has advised the Selling Stockholders that they are required to
comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act during such time as
they may be engaged in a distribution of the shares. The foregoing may affect
the marketability of the common stock.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.