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DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Distribution Agreement

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT | Document Parties: CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP | Deutsche Bank Securities Inc | JP Morgan Securities Inc You are currently viewing:
This Distribution Agreement involves

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP | Deutsche Bank Securities Inc | JP Morgan Securities Inc

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Title: DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 9/9/2009
Industry: Regional Banks     Law Firm: Manatt Phelps;Davis Polk     Sector: Financial

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, Parties: cathay general bancorp , deutsche bank securities inc , jp morgan securities inc
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EXHIBIT 10.1

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

September 9, 2009

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Cathay General Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), confirms its agreement with J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as agent and/or principal under any Terms Agreement (as defined in Section 1(a) below) (“ you ” or “ JPMS ”), with respect to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company, in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions described below (this “ Agreement ”), of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company having an aggregate Gross Sales Price (as defined in Section 2(b) below) of up to $75,000,000 (the “ Maximum Amount ”) on the terms set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement. Such shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Shares ” and are described in the Prospectus referred to below.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-161591) (the “ registration statement ”) for the registration of the Shares and other securities of the Company, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “ Act ”); and such registration statement sets forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Shares and contains additional information concerning the Company and its business. Except where the context otherwise requires, “ Registration Statement ,” as used herein, means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to JPMS, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Act, to be part of the registration statement at the effective time. “ Basic Prospectus ” means the prospectus dated September 9, 2009, filed as part of the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such prospectus; “ Prospectus Supplement ” means the most recent prospectus supplement relating to the Shares, to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act on or before the second business day after the date of its first use in connection with a public offering or sale of Shares pursuant hereto (or such earlier time as may be required under the Act), in the form furnished by the Company to JPMS in connection with the offering of the Shares; “ Prospectus ” means the Prospectus Supplement (and any additional prospectus supplement prepared in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4(b) or 4(g) of this Agreement and filed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b)) together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement; and “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b). Any reference


herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless otherwise stated, be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein (the “ Incorporated Documents ”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “ amend ,” “ amendment ” or “ supplement ” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless stated otherwise, be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ Exchange Act ”) on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

The Company has also entered into a distribution agreement (the “ Alternative Distribution Agreement ”), dated as of even date herewith, with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (an “ Alternative Agent ” and together with JPMS, the “ Agents ”). The aggregate Gross Sales Price of the Shares that may be sold pursuant to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, the Alternative Distribution Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Amount. This Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreement are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “ Distribution Agreements .”

The Company and JPMS agree as follows:

1. Issuance and Sale .

 

 

(a)

Upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, on any Exchange Business Day (as defined below) selected by the Company, the Company and JPMS shall enter into an agreement in accordance with Section 2 hereof regarding the number of Shares to be placed by JPMS and the manner in which and other terms upon which such placement is to occur (each such transaction being referred to as an “ Agency Transaction ”). The Company may also offer to sell the Shares directly to JPMS, as principal, in which event such parties shall enter into a separate agreement (each, a “ Terms Agreement ”) in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2(g) of this Agreement (each such transaction being referred to as a “ Principal Transaction ”). Whenever the Company determines to sell the Shares directly to an Alternative Agent as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, an “ Alternative Terms Agreement ”) in substantially the form of Exhibit A to the Alternative Distribution Agreements. As used herein, (i) the “ Term ” shall be the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earliest of (x) the date on which the Gross Sales Price of Shares issued and sold pursuant to the Distribution Agreements, any Terms Agreements and any Alternative Terms Agreements is equal to the Maximum Amount and (y) any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8, (ii) an “ Exchange Business Day ” means any day during the Term that is a trading day for the Exchange other than a day on which trading on the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time, and (iii) “ Exchange ” means the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

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(b)

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, the Company appoints JPMS as agent in connection with the offer and sale of Shares in any Agency Transactions entered into hereunder. JPMS will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof and of the applicable Transaction Notice (as defined below). Neither the Company nor JPMS shall have any obligation to enter into an Agency Transaction. The Company shall be obligated to issue and sell through the Agents, and the Agents shall be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein and in the applicable Transaction Notice, to place Shares issued by the Company only if and when a Transaction Notice related to such an Agency Transaction has been delivered by JPMS and accepted by the Company as provided in Section 2 below.

 

 

(c)

JPMS, as agent in any Agency Transaction, hereby covenants and agrees not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Agreement, other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the Exchange that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus in accordance with Rule 153 under the Act and meet the definition of an “ at the market offering ” under Rule 415(a)(4) under the Act (such transactions are hereinafter referred to as “ At the Market Offerings ”) and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as shall be agreed by the Company and JPMS in writing.

 

 

(d)

If Shares are to be sold in an Agency Transaction in an At The Market Offering, JPMS will confirm in writing to the Company the number of Shares sold on any Exchange Business Day and the related Gross Sales Price and Net Sales Price (as each of such terms is defined in Section 2(b) below) no later than the opening of trading on the immediately following Exchange Business Day.

 

 

(e)

If the Company shall default on its obligation to deliver Shares to JPMS pursuant to the terms of any Agency Transaction or Terms Agreement, the Company shall (i) indemnify and hold JPMS and its successors and assigns harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (ii) notwithstanding any such default, pay to JPMS the commission to which it would otherwise be entitled in connection with such sale in accordance with Section 2(b) below.

 

 

(f)

The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that JPMS will be successful in selling the Shares, (ii) JPMS shall incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by JPMS to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (iii) JPMS shall be under no obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as may otherwise be specifically agreed by JPMS and the Company in a Terms Agreement.

 

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2. Transaction Notices and Terms Agreements .

 

 

(a)

The Company may, from time to time during the Term, propose to JPMS that they enter into an Agency Transaction to be executed on a specified Exchange Business Day or over a specified period of Exchange Business Days. If JPMS agrees to the terms of such proposed Agency Transaction or if the Company and JPMS mutually agree to modified terms for such proposed Agency Transaction, then JPMS shall promptly send to the Company (by any means permissible under Section 10 hereof) a notice, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (each, a “ Transaction Notice ”), confirming the agreed terms of such proposed Agency Transaction. If the Company wishes such proposed Agency Transaction to become a binding agreement between it and JPMS, the Company shall promptly indicate its acceptance thereof by countersigning and returning such Transaction Notice to JPMS or sending a written notice to JPMS (by any means permissible under Section 10 hereof) indicating its acceptance. The terms reflected in a Transaction Notice shall become binding on JPMS and the Company only if accepted by the Company no later than the dates and times specified in such Transaction Notice. Each Transaction Notice shall specify, among other things:

(i) the Exchange Business Day(s) on which the Shares subject to such Agency Transaction are intended to be sold (each, a “ Purchase Date ”);

(ii) the maximum number of Shares that the Company intends to sell (the “ Specified Number of Shares ”) on, or over the course of, such Purchase Date(s), which shall be no less than 5% and no more than 25% of the average daily trading volume (as defined in Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act) in the Common Stock on the Exchange for the thirty (30) Exchange Business Days preceding the date of delivery of the Transaction Notice, or as otherwise agreed between the Company and JPMS and documented in the relevant Transaction Notice; and

(iii) the lowest price, if any, at which the Company is willing to sell Shares on each such Purchase Date or a formula pursuant to which such lowest price shall be determined (each, a “ Floor Price ”).

A Transaction Notice shall not set forth a Specified Number of Shares that, when added to the aggregate number of Shares previously purchased and to be purchased pursuant to pending Transaction Notices (if any) hereunder, any Terms Agreement, an Alternative Distribution Agreement and any Alternative Terms Agreement, results in a total Gross Sales Price exceeding the Maximum Amount. Provided that JPMS confirms to the Company the number of Shares sold in accordance with Section 1(d) above, the Company shall have responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the aggregate dollar amount of Shares sold, or for otherwise monitoring the availability of Shares for sale under the Registration Statement. In the event that more than one Transaction Notice

 

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with respect to any Purchase Date(s) is accepted by the Company, the latest executed Transaction Notice shall govern any sales of Shares for the relevant Purchase Date(s), except to the extent of any action occurring pursuant to a prior accepted Transaction Notice and prior to the acceptance of such latest Transaction Notice. The Company or JPMS may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by e-mail or facsimile), suspend the offering of the Shares for any reason; provided , however , that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the terms of any Agency Transaction contemplate that Shares shall be sold on more than one Purchase Date, then the Company and JPMS shall mutually agree to such additional terms and conditions as they deem reasonably necessary in respect of such multiple Purchase Dates, and such additional terms and conditions shall be set forth in the relevant Transaction Notice and be binding to the same extent as any other terms contained therein.

 

 

(b)

The Purchase Date in respect of the Shares deliverable pursuant to any Transaction Notice shall be set forth in the Transaction Notice. Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Agents, each Agent’s commission shall be 2.00% of the actual sales price of the Shares (the “ Gross Sales Price ”) sold pursuant to this Agreement; provided , however , that such commission shall not apply when JPMS acts as principal, in which case such commission shall be set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement. The Gross Sales Price less JPMS’s commission is referred to herein at the “ Net Sales Price .”

 

 

(c)

Payment of the Net Sales Price for Shares sold by the Company on any Purchase Date pursuant to a Transaction Notice shall be made to the Company by federal funds wire transfer to the account of the Company, the details of which are set forth on Schedule I hereto, against delivery of such Shares to JPMS’s account, or an account of JPMS’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“ DWAC ”) or by such other means of delivery as may be agreed to by the Company and JPMS. Such payment and delivery shall be made at or about 10:00 a.m., (New York City time), on the third Exchange Business Day (or such other day as may, from time to time, become standard industry practice for settlement of such a securities issuance or as agreed to by the Company and JPMS) following each Purchase Date (each, an “ Agency Settlement Date ”). If the Company fails for any reason to make timely delivery of such Shares after receiving payment for such Shares, the Company shall indemnify JPMS and its successors and assigns and hold them harmless from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim that JPMS may incur as a result of such failure.

 

 

(d)

If, as provided in the related Transaction Notice, a Floor Price has been agreed to by the parties with respect to a Purchase Date, and JPMS thereafter determines and notifies the Company that the Gross Sales Price for such Agency Transaction would not be at least equal to such Floor Price, then the Company shall not be obligated to issue and sell through JPMS, and JPMS shall not place, the Shares proposed to be sold pursuant to such Agency Transaction on such Purchase Date, unless the Company otherwise agrees in writing.

 

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(e)

If either party has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other party and sales of the Shares under this Agreement, any Transaction Notice or any Terms Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party. On or prior to the delivery of a prospectus that is required (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, JPMS and the Company shall each calculate the average daily trading volume (as defined under “ ADTV ” by Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock based on market data provided by Bloomberg L.P. or such other sources as agreed upon by JPMS and the Company.

 

 

(f)

(i) If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement but other than as set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement, it will notify JPMS of the proposed terms of the Principal Transaction. If JPMS, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Company and JPMS shall enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Principal Transaction.

(ii) The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement shall not be binding on the Company or JPMS, unless and until the Company and JPMS have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement shall control.

 

 

(g)

Each sale of the Shares to JPMS in a Principal Transaction shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and a Terms Agreement, which shall provide for the sale of such Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, JPMS. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by JPMS. The commitment of JPMS to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Any such Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by JPMS pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with JPMS in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “ Principal Settlement Date ”; and, together with any Agency Settlement Date, a “ Settlement Date ”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. The Company acknowledges and agrees that compensation in a Principal Transaction shall be customary for similar transactions.

 

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(h)

Without the prior written consent of each of the Company and each of the Agents, the Company shall not request the sale of any Shares that would be sold, and JPMS need not make any sale of Shares, (i) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information, (ii) the Company’s insider trading policy, as it exists on the date of the Agreement, would prohibit the purchases or sales of the Company’s Common Stock by its officers or directors; provided that, unless otherwise agreed between the Company and JPMS, for purposes of this clause (ii), such period shall be deemed to end on the date on which the Company’s next subsequent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, is filed with the Commission or (iii) except as provided in Section 2(i) below, at any time from and including the date (each, an “ Announcement Date ”) on which the Company shall issue a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (each, an “ Earnings Announcement ”) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files (a “ Filing Time ”) a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement.

 

 

(i)

If the Company wishes to offer, sell or deliver Shares at any time during the period from and including an Announcement Date through and including the time that is 24 hours after the corresponding Filing Time, the Company shall (i) prepare and deliver to JPMS (with a copy to counsel to JPMS) a Current Report on Form 8-K which shall include substantially the same financial and related information as was set forth in the relevant Earnings Announcement (other than any earnings projections, similar forward-looking data and officers’ quotations) (each, an “ Earnings 8-K ”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to JPMS, (ii) provide JPMS with the officers’ certificate, accountants’ letter and opinions and letters of counsel called for by Sections (5)(a)(i) through (iv) hereof; respectively, (iii) afford JPMS the opportunity to conduct a due diligence review in accordance with Section 6(f) hereof and (iv) file such Earnings 8-K with the Commission, then the provisions of clause (iii) of Section 2(h) shall not be applicable for the period from and after the time at which the foregoing conditions shall have been satisfied (or, if later, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the relevant Earnings Announcement was first publicly released) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the Filing Time of the relevant Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be. For purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that (A) the delivery of any officers’ certificate, accountants’ letter and opinions and letters of counsel pursuant to this Section 2(i) shall not relieve the Company from any of its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be, including, without limitation, the obligation to deliver officers’ certificates, accountants’ letters and legal opinions and letters as provided in Section 6 hereof and (B) this Section 2(i) shall in no way affect or limit the operation of the provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 2(h), which shall have independent application.

 

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(j)

The Company agrees that any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Shares or any other equity security of the Company by the Company shall only be effected by or through only one of JPMS or an Alternative Agent on any single given day (subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 4(n) below), but in no event by more than one Agent, and the Company shall in no event request that JPMS and an Alternative Agent sell Shares on the same day; provided, however, that the foregoing limitation shall only apply with respect to an Agency Transaction.

3. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, JPMS, on and as of (i) the date hereof, (ii) each date on which the Company accepts a Transaction Notice (the “ Time of Acceptance ”) or executes and delivers a Terms Agreement, (iii) each Time of Sale (as defined below), (iv) each Settlement Date and (v) each Bring-Down Delivery Date (as defined in Section 6(b)) (each such date listed in (i) through (v), a “ Representation Date ”), as follows:

 

 

(a)

There is no order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company; the Registration Statement complied when it initially became effective, complies as of the date hereof and, as then amended or supplemented, as of each other Representation Date will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act; the conditions to the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby have been satisfied; the Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)); the Prospectus complied or will comply, at the time it was or will be filed with the Commission, and will comply, as then amended or supplemented, as of each Representation Date (other than the date hereof), in all material respects, with the requirements of the Act; the Registration Statement did not, as of the time of its initial effectiveness, and does not or will not, as then amended or supplemented, as of each Representation Date, 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 not misleading; as of each Representation Date (other than the date hereof), the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, together with all of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statement or omission in the

 

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Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information concerning any Agent and furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (it being understood that such information consists solely of the information specified in Section 9(b)). As used herein, “ Time of Sale ” means (i) with respect to each offering of Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the time of JPMS’s initial entry into contracts with investors for the sale of such Shares and (ii) with respect to each offering of Shares pursuant to any relevant Terms Agreement, the time of sale of such Shares.

 

 

(b)

Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any of the Shares by means of any “ prospectus ” (within the meaning of the Act) or used any “ prospectus ” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Basic Prospectus. The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of each Agent, until the termination of this Agreement, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an “ issuer free writing prospectus ” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) or that would otherwise constitute a “ free writing prospectus ” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) other than any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus made pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement. Any such free writing prospectus relating to the Shares consented to by the Agents is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus ”. The Company represents that it has complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. The conditions set forth in one or more of subclauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of Rule 433(b)(1) under the Act are satisfied, and the registration statement relating to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby, as initially filed with the Commission, includes a prospectus that, other than by reason of Rule 433 or Rule 431 under the Act, satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Act; the Company is not disqualified, by reason of Rule 164(f) or (g) under the Act, from using, in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, “ free writing prospectuses ” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Act; the Company is not an “ ineligible issuer ” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated by the Registration Statement.

 

 

(c)

The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted

 

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Free Writing Prospectus, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any 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.

 

 

(d)

The financial statements and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and the supporting schedules to such financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement are, in all material respects, fairly presented.

 

 

(e)

Except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the business, properties or assets described or referred to in the Registration Statement, or the results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) any transaction that is material to the Company or its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, planned or entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, or (iv) any material change in the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries, or (v) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company (other than the Company’s regular quarterly cash dividends and repurchases of securities made in accordance with the Company’s employee benefit plans); and neither the Company nor its subsidiaries has any material contingent obligation that is not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except for such losses that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, “ Material Adverse Effect ” means a

 

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material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial position, results of operations or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

 

(f)

The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with all corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“ BHCA ”).

 

 

(g)

Each of the Company’s “ significant subsidiaries ” (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) (each a “ Significant Subsidiary ”) has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with all corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each such Significant Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party, except (i) with respect to the preferred stock or units issued by the Bank’s real estate investment trusts and (ii) as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

 

(h)

The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except with respect to the Bank’s real estate investment trusts and as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interests in the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, nor any contracts, commitments, agreements, understandings or arrangements of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; and the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

 

(i)

The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder or under any Terms Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein or in any Terms Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the

 

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description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; and the shareholders of the Company do not have any preemptive or similar rights with respect to the Shares.

 

 

(j)

The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any Terms Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken (or, in the case of any Terms Agreement, such action will have been duly and validly authorized), subject, in the case of the issuance and sale of the Shares, to the execution and delivery of a Transaction Notice.

 

 

(k)

This Agreement has been, and any Terms Agreement will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

 

(l)

This Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

 

(m)

With respect to the stock options (the “ Stock Options ”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “ Company Stock Plans ”) and except as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “ incentive stock option ” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “ Grant Date ”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the Exchange and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws.

 

 

(n)

Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents, (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained

 

12


 

in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(o)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares, the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof or of any Terms Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by any Terms Agreement will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or bylaws of the Company or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and compliance by the Company with the terms hereof or of any Terms Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by any Terms Agreement, except as have been made or obtained and except as may be required by and made with or obtained from state securities laws or regulations.

 

 

(p)

Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or any Terms Agreement.

 

 

(q)

There are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

13


 

(r)

KPMG LLP, which has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and as required by the Act.

 

 

(s)

The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(t)

The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the net proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, will not be an “ investment company ” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “ Investment Company Act ”).

 

 

(u)

No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, except for those as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(v)

The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, “ intellectual property rights ”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(w)

(i) The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries (A) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (B) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (C) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic

 

14


 

substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, and (ii) except as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such failure to comply, or failure to receive required permits, licenses or approvals, or cost or liability, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(x)

The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries possess adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(y)

Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), for which the Company or any member of its “ Controlled Group ” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”)) would have any liability (each, a “ Plan ”) has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “ accumulated funding deficiency ” as defined in Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “ reportable event ” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, except for any reportable event as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (vi) neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “ multiemployer plan ”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

15


 

(z)

The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “ disclosure controls and procedures ” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act.

 

 

(aa)

The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “ internal control over financial reporting ” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the prepara


 
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