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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 5, 2008 (June 1, 2008)
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in Charter)
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Missouri
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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1-11848
(Commission File Number)
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43-1627032
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
1370 TIMBERLAKE MANOR PARKWAY
CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI 63017
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (636) 736-7000
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction
A.2. below):
ý Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On June 1, 2008, Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA) and MetLife, Inc.
(MetLife) entered into a Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement (the Recapitalization and
Distribution Agreement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1, whereby MetLife will
divest substantially all of its approximately 52% interest in RGA in a tax-free series of
transactions, consisting of (i) a recapitalization of all currently outstanding shares of RGA
common stock (the Recapitalization), and (ii) a split-off, pursuant to which MetLife will offer
to acquire MetLife common stock from its stockholders in exchange for all of the shares of RGA
class B common stock then held by MetLife and its subsidiaries (the Split-Off). To the extent
MetLife or any of its subsidiaries holds any shares of RGA class B common stock following the
Split-Off, MetLife will dispose of such shares in (1) one or more private or
public debt exchanges, pursuant to which MetLife will acquire MetLife debt securities in exchange
for RGA class B common stock (each a Debt Exchange) and/or (2) one or more subsequent split-offs
pursuant to which MetLife will acquire MetLife common stock in exchange for RGA class B common
stock (each, a Subsequent Split-Off).
The
complete divestiture of the RGA class B common stock held by MetLife
and its
subsidiaries after the Recapitalization, whether accomplished by the Split-Off, any Debt Exchanges
and/or any Subsequent Split-Offs is referred to as the Divestiture. Following completion of the
Divestiture, MetLife and its subsidiaries will hold no shares of RGA class B common stock and will
hold 3,000,000 shares of RGA class A common stock. MetLife has agreed that the Divestiture will be
completed on or before the first anniversary of the completion of the Split-Off.
The RGA board of directors approved the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement and the
transactions it contemplates. Such approval was based, in part, upon the unanimous recommendation
of a special committee comprised solely of independent directors not affiliated with MetLife. The
special committee engaged its own financial and legal advisors as it considered the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement and the Divestiture.
RGA anticipates that the Recapitalization and the Split-Off will be completed in the third
quarter of 2008, but the completion of the Recapitalization and Split-Off are subject to certain
conditions described herein being met or waived. There can be no assurance that the
Recapitalization and the Split-Off or any of the other related transactions will occur on the terms
described herein, if at all.
Recapitalization
In order for the Divestiture to be tax-free to MetLife and its stockholders, current U.S.
federal income tax law generally requires, among other things, that MetLife distribute to its
stockholders capital stock of RGA having the right to elect at least 80% of the members of the RGA
board of directors. Accordingly, in the Recapitalization, RGA will make certain changes to its
equity capital structure so that MetLifes capital stock of RGA will have the right to elect at
least 80% of the members of the RGA board of directors. Specifically, in the Recapitalization, (1)
all outstanding shares of RGA common stock will be reclassified into RGA class A common stock and
(2) immediately after such reclassification, MetLife and its subsidiaries will exchange all of
their shares of RGA class A common stock (other than 3,000,000 shares
of RGA common stock that they acquired in the
fourth quarter of 2003 and that will be reclassified as RGA class A
common stock (the Recently Acquired Shares)) for an equivalent number of shares of RGA
class B common stock.
The class A common stock and class B common stock will vote together as a single class, except
with respect to certain limited matters required by Missouri law, and except that:
the holders of RGA class A common stock, voting together as a single class, will be
entitled to elect no more than 20% of the directors of RGA;
the holders of RGA class B common stock, voting together as a single class, will be
entitled to elect at least 80% of the directors of RGA; and
holders of 15% or more of the RGA class B common stock will have reduced voting power with
respect to directors if they do not also hold an equal or greater proportion of RGA class A
common stock.
Additionally, as part of the Recapitalization, the articles of incorporation of RGA will be
amended to adopt stock ownership limitations, which would generally limit RGA shareholders from
owning 5% or more (by value) of RGA stock for a period of 36 months and one day from the closing of
the Split-Off (it being understood that such limitation, among other things, (i) would not apply to
MetLife or its subsidiaries, (ii) would not apply to any participating banks that may participate
in any debt exchanges related to the Split-Off and (iii) would not prohibit a person from receiving
5% or more (by value) of RGA stock as a result of the divestiture). Any person permitted to acquire
or own 5% or more (by value) of RGA stock pursuant to the three exceptions described in the
immediately preceding sentence will not be permitted to acquire any additional RGA stock at any
time during the 36 month and one day restrictive period, unless and until such person owns less
than 5% (by value) of RGA stock, at which point such person may acquire RGA stock only to the
extent that, after such acquisition, such person owns less than 5% (by value) of RGA stock.
In addition, as previously reported in the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June
2, 2008, RGA has adopted a Section 382 shareholder rights plan, the ratification of which is
proposed in connection with the Recapitalization.
The Split-Off
Immediately
following the Recapitalization, MetLife and its subsidiaries will divest all or substantially all of
their shares of RGA class B common stock through the Split-Off. The Split-Off will be effected through an
exchange offer (the Offer) in which MetLife will offer to acquire outstanding shares of MetLife
common stock from MetLife stockholders to exchange, in a tax-free transaction, all of the shares of
RGA class B common stock held by MetLife and its subsidiaries. The Offer will be made by MetLife
only during customary trading periods, provided that at least 25 business days remain available
during such a period (subject to MetLifes market-related delay right and three discretionary delay
rights, and both parties ability to delay commencement or to suspend the Offer under certain
circumstances).
Commencement of the Offer is subject to certain conditions (the Commencement Conditions),
including: (1) satisfaction of the conditions to completion of the Recapitalization (the completion
of the Recapitalization and the Split-Off being cross-conditioned on the other); (2) no adverse
change, revocation or amendment to the IRS ruling, as supplemented, with respect to the
Divestiture; (3) the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 for the
Recapitalization and Split-Off, (4) the accuracy of representations and warranties,
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(5) performance in all material respects of all obligations under the Recapitalization and Distribution
Agreement, (6) no person qualifying or otherwise becoming an acquiring person under RGAs Section
382 Shareholders Rights Plan (discussed in Item 3.01 below); and (7) the absence of certain laws or
orders of governmental authorities prohibiting the Divestiture. In addition, it is a condition to
MetLifes obligation to complete the Offer that, if the Offer is
not completed by November 11,
2008, MetLife will have received a supplemental IRS private letter
ruling to the effect that it either may
exchange the Recently Acquired Shares for RGA class B common stock and distribute such shares in the
Divestiture or retain the Recently Acquired Shares as RGA class A common stock.
MetLife has the ability to delay commencement of the Offer under certain circumstances due to
market conditions or on three separate occasions in its discretion. Both parties have the ability
to delay commencement or to suspend the Offer due to disclosure considerations.
The exchange ratio for the Offer will be set by MetLife, provided that MetLife has agreed to
select an exchange ratio that it believes in good faith, after consultation with its financial
advisors, is reasonably likely to result in the minimum tender condition being satisfied. The
minimum tender condition established by MetLife is the number of shares of MetLife
common stock that, when tendered, would result in at least 90% of the RGA class B common stock held
by MetLife being distributed in the Split-Off.
The completion of the Recapitalization and the Split-Off are cross conditioned on each other,
so neither the Recapitalization nor the Split-Off will occur unless both occur. In addition, the
completion of the Recapitalization and the Split-Off are subject the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement, including (1) continued
satisfaction of the conditions to commencing the Offer; (2) approval of the Recapitalization and
certain related RGA governance proposals by the RGA shareholders (including by holders of a
majority of the RGA common stock present at the meeting not held by MetLife and its subsidiaries);
(3) the tender of a number of shares of Metlife common stock
satisfying the minimum tender condition (no set forth above); and (4) delivery of certain legal
opinions and tax opinions from counsel to the parties to the Agreement.
In addition, it is a condition to RGAs obligation to complete the Recapitalization that, if
the Offer is not completed by November 11, 2008, MetLife will
have received a supplemental IRS private letter
ruling to the effect that MetLife can continue to retain the Recently Acquired Shares as RGA class A common stock.
If MetLife receives a supplemental IRS private letter ruling
providing that it may exchange the Recently Acquired Shares and distribute such shares in the Divestiture (but not that it may retain the
Recently Acquired Shares), RGA can decide whether or not to waive the condition set forth in the
immediately preceding sentence.
Additional Divestiture Transactions
To the extent that MetLife holds any RGA class B common stock after the Split-Off, MetLife
will dispose of such RGA class B common stock in one or more public or private Debt Exchanges
and/or one or more Subsequent Split-Offs, thus completing the Divestiture on or prior to the first
anniversary of the completion of the Split-Off. The shares of RGA class B common stock distributed
by MetLife pursuant to the Split-Off, any Debt Exchanges and any Subsequent Split-offs will
constitute 100% of the RGA class B common stock that MetLife and its subsidiaries will receive in
connection with the Recapitalization.
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Covenants
Each of RGA and MetLife has agreed to various covenants under the Recapitalization and
Distribution Agreement. In particular, RGA has undertaken covenants in respect of its interim
operations, including with respect to amendments to its organizational documents, adoption of
certain plans of liquidation or dissolution, making certain changes to its line of business or
effecting certain issues, sales, grants, purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or disposals
of its own securities, or granting certain options over them. In addition, RGA has granted MetLife
certain registration rights with respect to the Recently Acquired Shares.
Further, RGA and MetLife have each agreed, subject to an exception, prior to approval of the
Recapitalization and transactions contemplated thereby by RGA shareholders, not to (i) solicit
proposals relating to certain alternative business combination transactions or (ii) subject to
certain exceptions, enter into discussions or negotiations concerning, or providing confidential
information in connection with, certain alternative business combination transactions. MetLife is
permitted to submit such an alternative proposal to acquire all of RGAs equity securities or
consolidated assets pursuant to which all RGA shareholders would be entitled to receive the same
consideration on a per share basis on the same terms and conditions.
MetLife has agreed to certain standstill limitations until completion of the Split-Off.
MetLife has also agreed to vote its shares of RGA stock in favor of the Recapitalization and
transactions contemplated thereby at the RGA shareholder meeting and, after completion of the
Split-Off, to vote in any election of directors, its shares of class A common stock or class B
common stock in proportion to the other holders of that class, and, in all other matters, in
proportion to the votes cast by the other holders, taken together as a whole.
The Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement provides for reciprocal indemnification and
contribution, as well as provisions for indemnification and contribution with respect to
disclosure-related matters. Except in certain specified circumstances, RGA has agreed to indemnify
MetLife for any taxes and tax-related losses (including losses resulting from certain claims by
MetLife stockholders that exchange shares of MetLife common stock in the Split-Off) that MetLife
incurs as a result of the Divestiture failing to qualify as tax-free under Section 355 of the
Internal Revenue Code (such taxes and tax-related losses, RGA Section 355 Taxes), if the taxes
and tax-related losses result solely from any breach of, or inaccuracy in, any representation,
covenant or obligation of RGA under the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement or the RGA tax
certificate to be delivered in connection with the tax opinion. MetLife is responsible for, and
will indemnify RGA for, any taxes or tax-related losses that result from the Divestiture failing to
qualify as tax-free under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code other than the RGA Section 355
Taxes.
Regardless of whether or not any of the transactions contemplated by the Recapitalization and
Distribution Agreement are completed, MetLife has agreed to reimburse RGA for its out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with or arising out of the transactions contemplated by the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement; provided that, in the event that the divestiture is
completed, MetLifes reimbursement obligation will be subject to any limit set forth in the IRS
ruling, as it may be amended by any supplemental IRS ruling. Additionally, MetLife has agreed to
reimburse RGA for certain increases in shareholder servicing costs over an agreed-upon threshold
for a period of four years following completion of the Split-Off.
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Termination
The Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement may be terminated prior to completion of the
Recapitalization and Split-Off by either party upon, among other things, their mutual written
consent, the failure of the RGA shareholders to approve the Recapitalization and Distribution
Agreement, the Recapitalization or the related RGA proposals or the failure of the Split-Off
conditions to be satisfied by December 31, 2009. MetLife may also terminate the Recapitalization
and Distribution Agreement to execute a binding written agreement with a specific third party
providing for certain transactions that the MetLife board of directors determines in good faith,
after consultation with MetLifes financial and outside legal advisors, are more favorable to
MetLife than the transactions contemplated by the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Recapitalization, Split-Off and the Recapitalization and
Distribution Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the complete text of the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement, which is
attached as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
The Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement has been included to provide investors and
shareholders with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual
information about RGA or MetLife. The Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement contains
representations and warranties that the parties to the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement
made to and solely for the benefit of each other. The assertions embodied in such representations
and warranties are qualified by information contained in confidential disclosure letters that the
parties exchanged in connection with signing the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement. These
disclosure letters contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the
representations and warranties set forth in the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
Moreover, the representations and warranties in the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement (1)
are subject to a contractual standard of materiality or material adverse effect contained in the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement which may differ from that generally applicable to
public disclosures to shareholders, (2) in certain cases, were used for the purpose of allocating
risk among the parties rather than establishing matters as facts, and (3) were only made as of the
date of the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement and are modified in important part by the
underlying disclosure letters. Accordingly, investors and shareholders should not rely on such
representations and warranties as characterizations of the actual state of facts or circumstances.
Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of such representations and warranties may
change after the date of the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement, which subsequent
information may or may not be fully reflected in RGAs or MetLifes public disclosures. The
representations and warranties in the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement and the
description of them in this document should be read in conjunction with the other information
contained in the reports, statements and filings that the parties publicly file with the SEC.
The disclosure in Item 3.03 regarding the Rights Agreement (defined in Item 3.03) is
incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with MetLifes proposed divestiture of its stake in RGA, RGA has filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-151390),
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which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus related to the Recapitalization
and a preliminary prospectus relating to the Split-Off. At the appropriate time, MetLife will file
with the SEC a statement on Schedule TO. Investors and holders of RGA and MetLife securities are
strongly encouraged to read the registration statement and any other relevant documents filed with
the SEC, including the final proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Recapitalization, the final
prospectus relating to the Split-Off and related Split-Off materials and the tender offer statement
on Schedule TO (when available), as well as any amendments and supplements to those documents,
because they will contain important information about RGA, MetLife, and the proposed transactions.
The final proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Recapitalization and related transactions will
be mailed to shareholders of RGA and the final prospectus relating to the Split-Off, related
split-off materials and the tender offer statement on Schedule TO will be mailed to stockholders of
MetLife. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration
statement, the final proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Recapitalization and the final
prospectus relating to the Split-Off and related Split-Off materials and the tender offer statement
on Schedule TO (when available) as well as other filed documents containing information about
MetLife and RGA, without charge, at the SECs web site (www.sec.gov). Free copies of RGAs filings
also may be obtained by directing a request to RGA, Investor Relations, by phone to (636) 736-7243,
in writing to Mr. John Hayden, Vice President-Investor Relations, Reinsurance Group of America,
Incorporated, 1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway, Chesterfield, Missouri, 63017, or by email to
investrelations@rgare.com. Free copies of MetLifes filings may be obtained by directing a
request to MetLife, Investor Relations, by phone to (212) 578-2211, in writing to MetLife, Inc., 1
MetLife Plaza, Long Island City, NY 11101, or by email to metir@metlife.com. Neither RGA,
MetLife nor any of their respective directors or executive officers or any dealer manager, if any,
that may be appointed with respect to the Split-Off makes any recommendation as to whether you
should participate in the Split-Off.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy
securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities
laws of such jurisdiction. Such an offer may be made solely by a prospectus meeting the
requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, neither
the proxy solicitation for the Recapitalization nor the Offer for the outstanding shares of MetLife
common stock pursuant to the Split-Off described in this communication has commenced. At the time
that the contemplated Split-Off is commenced, MetLife will file a statement on Schedule TO with the
SEC. The distribution of this communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or
regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform
themselves of and observe these restrictions.
Participants in the Solicitation
RGA, MetLife and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed, under SEC rules,
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from RGAs shareholders with respect to the
proposed transaction. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of RGA is included
in its definitive proxy statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on
April 9, 2008. Information regarding the directors and officers of MetLife is included in the
definitive proxy statement for MetLifes 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on
March 18, 2008. More detailed information regarding the identity of potential participants, and
their direct or indirect interests, by securities holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the
registration statement filed with the SEC on June 3, 2008, the proxy statement/prospectus relating
to the
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Recapitalization, the prospectus relating to the Split-Off and other materials to be filed with the
SEC in connection with the proposed transactions.
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
On June 1, 2008, the RGA Board of Directors of declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a Right) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
RGA (the Common Stock). The dividend distribution is payable on June 12, 2008 (the Record
Date) to the shareholders of record as of the close of business on that date. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from RGA one one-hundredth of a share of Series A-1 Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Preferred Stock), of RGA at a price
of $200 per one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (the Purchase Price), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Section 382 Rights
Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2008, as the same may be amended from time to time (the Rights
Agreement), between RGA and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent (the Rights Agent).
The Rights Plan is intended to act as a deterrent to any person (other than RGA, any
subsidiary of RGA or any employee benefit plan of RGA) from becoming or obtaining the right to
become, a 5% Shareholder (as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code)) without the approval of at least a majority of the members of our Board of
Directors then in office (any such person who becomes a 5% Shareholder, other than as described
below, an Acquiring Person). Notwithstanding the foregoing, shareholders who own 5.0% or more
(by value) of outstanding RGA (i) Common Stock, (ii) preferred stock (other than preferred stock
described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code), and (iii) any other interest that would be treated as
stock pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(f)(18), Corporation Securities), applying
certain constructive ownership and attribution rules, as of the close of business on June 2, 2008
will not be an Acquiring Person and therefore will not trigger the Rights Plan, so long as they do
not acquire any additional shares (other than acquisitions as a result of the exercise of options
or warrants granted by the RGA or certain internal distributions between MetLife and its
subsidiaries). In addition, persons who become a 5% Shareholder in connection with certain
transactions taken pursuant to the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 1,
2008 (the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement),
by and between RGA and MetLife Inc.
(together with its subsidiaries, MetLife), will not be an Acquiring Person and will not trigger
the Rights Plan, including persons who become 5% Shareholders as a result of the distribution of
RGA class B common stock in the Split-Off, or in any debt exchanges or additional split-offs (Additional
Divestiture Transactions), contemplated by the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement
(although the Rights Plan does not exempt any future acquisitions of Corporation Securities by such
persons (other than in subsequent Additional Divestiture Transactions or in acquisitions exempted
by RGA).
Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised. The RGA Board of
Directors may, in its sole discretion, exempt any person or group from being deemed an Acquiring
Person for purposes of the Rights Plan at any time prior to the time the rights are no longer
redeemable.
Until the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business on the tenth business day following
the date of public announcement or the date on which RGA first has notice or determines that a
person has become an Acquiring Person (as defined above) without the prior express written consent
of RGA executed on behalf of RGA by a duly authorized officer of RGA following
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express approval by action of at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
then in office (the Stock Acquisition Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business
day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors but not later than
the Stock Acquisition Date) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer to
acquire Corporation Securities, without the prior written consent of RGA, by a person (other than
RGA, any subsidiary of RGA or an employee benefit plan of RGA) which, upon consummation, would
result in such partys becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of the dates in clause (i) or (ii)
above being called the Distribution Date), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of
the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificates.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with RGAs Common Stock.
Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Common
Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even
without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights (which is attached as Exhibit C to the
Rights Agreement), will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights (Right Certificates) will be mailed to holders of record of
the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate
certificates alone will then evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire, if not
previously exercised, on the earlier of the date which is 36 months and one day from the Acceptance
Time for the Split-Off and the date that the RGA Board of Directors, in its sole discretion,
determines (the Final Expiration Date), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless
the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by RGA. The Rights will also expire in the event the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms prior to the
consummation of the Split-Off.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or
property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to
prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or securities
convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price
of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable
in Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock
split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock
or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock (other than the
Recapitalization) occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
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Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable and
will be junior to any other series of preferred stock RGA may issue (unless otherwise provided in
the terms of such stock). Each share of Preferred Stock will have a preferential dividend in an
amount equal to 100 times any dividend declared on each share of Common Stock. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will receive a preferred liquidation payment per
share of Preferred Stock of equal to the greater of $100 and 100 times the payment made per share
of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the
Common Stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of
Common Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive
100 times the amount and type of consideration received per share of Common Stock. The rights of
the Preferred Stock as to dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event of mergers and
consolidations, are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stocks dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the
value of the one one-hundredth interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of
each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.
If any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person without the prior written consent of the
Board of Directors (and such person is not an Exempted Person or a Grandfathered Person), each
Right, except those held by such Acquiring Person, would entitle each holder of a Right to acquire
such number of shares of RGAs Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for
which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by 50% of the then current per-share
market price of Company Common Stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment to the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative
adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of
Preferred Stock will be issued (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of RGA, be evidenced by
depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market
price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the tenth business day following the time an Acquiring Person becomes
such, the RGA Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$0.001 per Right (the Redemption Price). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at
such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion
may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Amounts paid upon any redemption of the Rights will be rounded down to the nearest penny.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the RGA Board of Directors without the consent of
the holders of the Rights, including, without limitation, in connection with the proposed
Recapitalization, except that from and after such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person no
such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a shareholder
of RGA, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
10
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A and is listed as an Exhibit hereto. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.01. Changes in Control of Registrant.
The information set forth in Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Reference is made to the description of the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement in
Item 1.01, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The Recapitalization and Distribution
Agreement requires that Parent shall cause Steven A. Kandarian, Georgette A. Piligian, and Joseph
A. Reali to resign from the Board of Directors of RGA effective as of, and subject to, the
consummation of the Split-Off.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
See Exhibit Index.
11
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated
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By: |
/s/ Jack B. Lay
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Jack B. Lay |
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Senior Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer |
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Date: June 5, 2008
12
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
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2.1
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Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2008, by and between
Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated and MetLife, Inc. (the
schedules have
been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K and will be furnished supplementally
to the SEC upon request) |
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3.3
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Form of Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation of RGA (constituting Exhibit A to the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement filed as Exhibit 2.1
hereto) |
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3.4
|
|
Form of Amended and Restated
Bylaws of RGA (constituting Exhibit B to the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement filed as Exhibit 2.1
hereto) |
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4.1
|
|
Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2008, entered into between Reinsurance
Group of America, Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, and Mellon Investor Services LLC, a
New Jersey limited liability company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed by Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated on June
2, 2007 and constituting Exhibit C to the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement filed as
Exhibit 2.1 hereto) |
exv2w1
Exhibit 2.1
RECAPITALIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
by and between
METLIFE, INC.
and
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
Dated as of June 1, 2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS
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A-2
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Section 1.1
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General
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A-2
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Section 1.2
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References; Interpretation
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A-10
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ARTICLE II
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THE RECAPITALIZATION
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A-11
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Section 2.1
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The Recapitalization
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A-11
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Section 2.2
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Closing Date
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A-11
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Section 2.3
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Exchange of Certificates
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A-11
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ARTICLE III
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THE SPLIT-OFF
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A-11
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Section 3.1
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The Split-Off
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A-11
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Section 3.2
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Delay Right
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A-15
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ARTICLE IV
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ADDITIONAL DIVESTITURE TRANSACTIONS
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A-15
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Section 4.1
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Generally
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A-15
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Section 4.2
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Debt Exchanges
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A-16
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Section 4.3
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Registration Rights with Participating Banks
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A-17
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Section 4.4
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Additional Split-Offs
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A-17
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ARTICLE V
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF RGA
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A-18
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Section 5.1
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Organization; Good Standing
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A-19
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Section 5.2
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Authorization
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A-19
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Section 5.3
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Non-Contravention
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A-20
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Section 5.4
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Governmental Approvals
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A-20
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Section 5.5
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Capital Stock
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A-20
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Section 5.6
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Litigation
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A-21
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Section 5.7
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Accuracy of Information
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A-22
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Section 5.8
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Brokers and Other Advisors
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A-22
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Section 5.9
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Property Title
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A-22
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Section 5.10
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Investment Company
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A-23
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Section 5.11
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Internal Control
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A-23
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Section 5.12
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Disclosure Controls and Procedures
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A-23
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Section 5.13
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Exhibits
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A-23
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Section 5.14
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No Material Change
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A-23
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Section 5.15
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RGA Insurance Subsidiaries
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A-23
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Section 5.16
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Independent Auditors
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A-24
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Section 5.17
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Tax
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A-24
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Section 5.18
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Approvals
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A-24
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A-i
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Page
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ARTICLE VI
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF METLIFE
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A-25
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Section 6.1
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Organization; Good Standing
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A-25
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Section 6.2
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Authorization
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A-25
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Section 6.3
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Non-Contravention
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A-25
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Section 6.4
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Governmental Approvals
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A-26
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Section 6.5
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Title
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A-26
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Section 6.6
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Litigation
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A-26
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Section 6.7
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Accuracy of Information
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A-26
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Section 6.8
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Brokers and Other Advisors
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A-27
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Section 6.9
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Property Title
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A-27
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Section 6.10
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Investment Company
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A-27
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Section 6.11
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Capitalization
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A-27
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Section 6.12
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Internal Control
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A-27
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Section 6.13
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Disclosure Controls and Procedures
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A-28
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Section 6.14
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Exhibits
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A-28
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Section 6.15
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No Material Change
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A-28
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Section 6.16
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MetLife Insurance Subsidiaries
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A-28
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Section 6.17
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Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries
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A-29
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Section 6.18
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Independent Auditors
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A-29
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Section 6.19
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Investor Representations
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A-29
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Section 6.20
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Tax
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A-29
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Section 6.21
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Approvals
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A-30
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ARTICLE VII
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ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
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A-30
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Section 7.1
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Interim Operations
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A-30
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Section 7.2
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Non-Solicitation
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A-32
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Section 7.3
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RGA Shareholders Meeting
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A-33
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Section 7.4
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Standstill
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A-34
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Section 7.5
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Efforts; Cooperation
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A-34
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Section 7.6
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Further Assurances
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A-35
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Section 7.7
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Access
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A-35
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Section 7.8
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Confidentiality
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A-36
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Section 7.9
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Public Announcements
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A-36
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Section 7.10
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Litigation Cooperation
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A-36
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Section 7.11
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Resignation of MetLife Designees to RGA Board
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A-36
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Section 7.12
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Voting of RGA Common Stock by MetLife
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A-36
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Section 7.13
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Tax Matters
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A-37
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Section 7.14
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Lock-Up
Period
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A-38
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Section 7.15
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MetLife Registration Rights
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A-39
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Section 7.16
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Payments in Respect of Excess Shareholders
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A-42
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Section 7.17
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Directors and Officers Insurance
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A-42
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Section 7.18
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Amendments Regarding Recently Acquired Stock
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A-42
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Section 7.19
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Notice Regarding Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan
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A-42
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Section 7.20
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General American Name
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A-42
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A-ii
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Page
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ARTICLE VIII
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SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
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A-43
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Section 8.1
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Survival
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A-43
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Section 8.2
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Indemnification by RGA
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A-44
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Section 8.3
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Indemnification by MetLife
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A-44
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Section 8.4
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Notice; Procedure for Third-Party Claims
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A-45
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Section 8.5
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Tax Contests
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A-46
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Section 8.6
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Contribution
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A-46
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Section 8.7
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Remedies Exclusive
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A-47
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Section 8.8
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Limitations on Indemnifiable Losses
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A-47
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Section 8.9
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Subrogation and Insurance
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A-47
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Section 8.10
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Excluded Representations
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A-48
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ARTICLE IX
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TERMINATION
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A-48
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Section 9.1
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Termination
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A-48
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Section 9.2
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Effect of Termination
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A-49
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ARTICLE X
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MISCELLANEOUS
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A-49
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Section 10.1
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Entire Agreement
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A-49
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Section 10.2
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Counterparts
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A-49
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Section 10.3
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Expenses
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A-50
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Section 10.4
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Notices
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A-50
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Section 10.5
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Waivers
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A-51
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Section 10.6
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Amendments
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A-51
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Section 10.7
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Assignment
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A-51
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Section 10.8
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Successors and Assigns
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A-51
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Section 10.9
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No Third-Party Beneficiaries
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A-51
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Section 10.10
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Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules
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A-52
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Section 10.11
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GOVERNING LAW
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A-51
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Section 10.12
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Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
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A-52
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Section 10.13
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Specific Performance
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A-52
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Section 10.14
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Severability
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A-53
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ANNEXES
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Annex A Conditions to the Commencement of the
Offer
|
Annex B Conditions to Completing the
Recapitalization
|
Annex C Conditions to Completing the Split-Off
|
|
EXHIBITS
|
Exhibit A Form of Amended and Restated RGA
Articles of Incorporation
|
Exhibit B Form of Amended and Restated RGA
Bylaws
|
Exhibit C Form of
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan
|
A-iii
RECAPITALIZATION
AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This RECAPITALIZATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this
Agreement), dated as of June 1, 2008, is
by and between MetLife, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(MetLife), and Reinsurance Group of America,
Incorporated, a Missouri corporation (RGA).
WHEREAS, as of the close of business on the date of this
Agreement, the authorized capital stock of RGA consists of
150,000,000 shares, of which 140,000,000 shares are
common stock, par value $0.01 per share (RGA Common
Stock), and 10,000,000 shares are preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share;
WHEREAS, as of close of business on the date of this Agreement,
there are outstanding 62,298,327 shares of RGA Common
Stock, of which an aggregate of 32,243,539 shares of RGA
Common Stock are held by MetLife and its Subsidiaries (as
defined herein);
WHEREAS, the parties desire to engage in a series of
transactions involving (a) a recapitalization of RGA Common
Stock (the Recapitalization), (b) a
split-off by MetLife of the Exchange Shares (as defined herein)
in exchange for common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
MetLife (MetLife Common Stock) (the
Split-Off), and (c) if applicable, the
Additional Divestiture Transactions (as defined herein), in each
case, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement;
WHEREAS, in the Recapitalization, (a) the current articles
of incorporation of RGA will be amended and restated in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Amended
and Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation), to, among
other things, reclassify each outstanding share of RGA Common
Stock as one share of RGA Class A Common Stock (as defined
herein); and (b) immediately thereafter, General American
Life Insurance Company, a Subsidiary of MetLife
(General American) will exchange each
outstanding share of RGA Class A Common Stock that it holds
(other than the shares of RGA Class A Common Stock received
in respect of the Recently Acquired Stock (as defined herein))
for one share of RGA Class B Common Stock (as defined
herein), so that, after the Recapitalization and immediately
prior to Spin-Off 1 (as defined herein), General American will
own 3,000,000 shares of RGA Class A Common Stock and
29,243,539 shares of RGA Class B Common Stock (such
shares of RGA Class B Common Stock, the Exchange
Shares);
WHEREAS, following Spin-Off 1 and Spin-Off 2 (as defined
herein), MetLife will hold all of the Exchange Shares
immediately prior to the Split-Off;
WHEREAS, in the Split-Off, MetLife shall make an offer (the
Offer) on the Commencement Date (as defined
herein) to acquire MetLife Common Stock in exchange for all of
the Exchange Shares;
WHEREAS, if any Exchange Shares are not distributed in the
Split-Off (the Excess Shares), then MetLife
shall distribute the Excess Shares to its securityholders
through one or more transactions (the Additional
Divestiture Transactions) consisting only of:
(a) possibly one or more public or private exchanges of
Debt Securities for Excess Shares (the Debt
Exchanges)
and/or
(b) possibly one or more additional split-off transactions
(the Additional Split-Offs), such that, after
completion of the Additional Divestiture Transactions, MetLife
shall no longer hold any of the Excess Shares (the
Divestiture);
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of RGA, upon the recommendation
of the RGA Special Committee (as defined herein), has determined
that it is in the best interests of RGA and the RGA Shareholders
(as defined herein) for RGA to engage in the Transactions (as
defined herein) and, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, has resolved to recommend that the RGA Shareholders
approve the Transactions (including the Recapitalization) and
adopt this Agreement and the Amended and Restated RGA Articles
of Incorporation;
WHEREAS, MetLife has received the IRS Ruling (as defined herein)
(i) to the effect that the Divestiture will be, to the
extent set forth therein, a tax-free distribution within the
meaning of Section 355 of the Code (as defined herein) and
(ii) regarding certain matters under Section 382 of
the Code and the Treasury Regulations (as defined herein)
promulgated thereunder; and
WHEREAS, each of MetLife and RGA has determined that it is
necessary and desirable to set forth the principal corporate
transactions required to effect the Transactions, and to set
forth other agreements that will govern certain other matters
following completion of the different stages of the Transactions.
A-1
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements,
provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the
parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 General. As
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
2003 Registration Rights Agreement shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 7.15(l).
Acceptance Time shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(f); provided that solely for
purposes of Section 4.2, Section 4.4 (and the
respective Annexes as interpreted in accordance therewith),
Section 5.7(f), Section 5.7(g), Section 6.7(f)
and Section 6.7(g), Acceptance Time shall mean the
time of acceptance for payment and exchange of the applicable
Excess Shares with respect to any Public Debt Exchange or an
Additional Split-Off, as applicable.
Action shall mean any action, suit,
arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before
any court, any governmental or other regulatory or
administrative agency, body or commission or any arbitration
tribunal.
Additional Divestiture Date shall mean the
first anniversary of the Acceptance Time of the Split-Off.
Additional Divestiture Transactions shall
have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Additional Split-Off Documents shall mean the
Form S-4
for an Additional Split-Off, including a prospectus to be used
for the Additional Split-Off and such other documents as the
parties mutually agree are necessary or appropriate to effect
such Additional Split-Off.
Additional Split-Offs shall have the meaning
set forth in the recitals.
Affiliate shall mean, when used with respect
to a specified Person, another Person that controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with the Person
specified; provided, however, that RGA and its
Subsidiaries shall not be considered to be
Affiliates of MetLife, and MetLife and its
Subsidiaries (other than RGA and its Subsidiaries) shall not be
considered to be Affiliates of RGA. As used herein,
control means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract
or otherwise.
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in
the preamble.
Alternative Meeting shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.2(c).
Alternative Proposal shall mean any inquiry,
proposal or offer from any Person (other than RGA, MetLife or
their respective Subsidiaries) relating to any
(a) acquisition of assets of RGA and its Subsidiaries equal
to 25% or more of RGAs consolidated assets or to which 25%
or more of RGAs revenues or earnings on a consolidated
basis are attributable, (b) acquisition of 25% or more of
the outstanding RGA Common Stock (other than any acquisition by
underwriters or initial purchasers in connection with the
issuance of RGA Common Equity-Based Securities permitted under
Section 7.14), (c) tender offer or exchange offer that
if consummated would result in any Person beneficially owning
25% or more of the outstanding RGA Common Stock or
(d) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business
combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or
similar transaction involving RGA; in each case, other than the
Transactions.
Amended and Restated RGA Articles of
Incorporation shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals.
Amended and Restated RGA Bylaws shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
Authorization shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5.9.
Broker-Dealer Subsidiary shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.17.
Business Day shall have the meaning given to
such term under
Rule 13e-4(a)(3)
under the Exchange Act.
A-2
Closing Date shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 2.2.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.
Commencement Date shall mean the date on
which the Offer shall be commenced within the meaning set forth
in
Rule 13e-4(a)(4)
under the Exchange Act; provided that solely for purposes
of Section 4.2, Section 4.4 and Section 7.1(b) (and
the respective Annexes as interpreted in accordance therewith),
Commencement Date shall mean the date on which the
tender offer with respect to an Additional Split-Off is
commenced within the meaning set forth in
Rule 13e-4(a)(4)
under the Exchange Act and the date on which the tender offer
with respect to a Public Debt Exchange is first published, sent
or given to MetLife securityholders, as applicable.
Comparison Date shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.2(a).
Contract shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.3(a).
Conversion shall mean a conversion of the RGA
Class B Common Stock into RGA Class A Common Stock
pursuant to the Amended and Restated RGA Articles of
Incorporation and applicable state law, or any other transaction
(including a recapitalization, merger or otherwise) resulting in
the unification of the RGA Class A Common Stock and the RGA
Class B Common Stock into a single class of common stock of
RGA or the conversion of the RGA Class B Common Stock into
RGA Class A Common Stock.
Covered Persons shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.17.
D&O Insurance shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.17.
Debt Exchanges shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals.
Debt Securities shall mean outstanding debt
instruments or securities issued by MetLife with an initial term
of at least 10 years, including the 6.125% senior
notes due December 2011, issued on November 27, 2001, the
5.375% senior notes due December 2012, issued on
December 10, 2002, and the 5.00% senior notes due
November 2013, issued on November 24, 2003.
Deloitte & Touche shall mean
Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Demand End Date shall mean the later of the
Additional Divestiture Date and the first anniversary of the
completion of the Debt Exchange; provided,
however, that, if the Debt Exchange has not been
completed on or before the Additional Divestiture Date, the
Demand End Date shall mean the first anniversary of the
Additional Divestiture Date; and provided,
further, that, if RGA shall exercise the RGA Registration
Blackout Right on one or more occasions, then the Demand End
Date shall be extended by a number of additional days equal to
the sum of all days during the applicable Registration Blackout
Periods.
Demand Notice shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.15(a).
Demand Registration shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.15(a).
Deposited Shares shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.3.
Determination Date shall mean the earlier of
(a) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with
its terms or (b) the 90th day following the Acceptance
Time of the Split-Off.
Discretionary Delay shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.2(c).
Divestiture shall have the meaning set forth
in the recitals.
End Date shall mean the earlier of
(a) the first date following the Recapitalization on which
MetLife no longer holds any of the Exchange Shares or
(b) the Additional Divestiture Date.
Excess Shareholders shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.16.
Excess Shares shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals.
Exchange Act shall mean the
U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Ratio shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(a)(iii).
Exchange Shares shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals.
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Excluded Representations shall mean the
MetLife Excluded Representations together with the RGA Excluded
Representations.
Expiration Time shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(e).
Form 8-A
shall mean a RGA registration statement on Form
8-A,
including all amendments thereto, pursuant to which the RGA
Class A Common Stock or the RGA Class B Common Stock,
as applicable, shall be registered under the Exchange Act.
Form S-4
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b);
provided that for purposes of Articles V and VI,
Form
S-4
shall mean the applicable registration statement on
Form S-4
at the time that it becomes effective, as amended, updated,
modified, supplemented or superseded, including any information
deemed included therein pursuant to Rule 424 or
Rule 430C under the Securities Act.
Frustrating Transactions shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7.12(a).
GAAP shall mean U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles as in effect as of the date hereof.
General American shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals.
Governmental Authority shall mean any
federal, state, local, foreign or international court,
government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental
authority.
HSR Act shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.4.
Indemnified Party shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 8.4(a).
Indemnifying Party shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 8.4(a).
Investment Advisor Subsidiary shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.17.
Investment Company Act shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 5.10.
IRS shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
IRS Ruling shall mean the private letter
ruling issued by the IRS, dated March 14, 2008, pursuant to
the IRS Ruling Request.
IRS Ruling Request shall mean the request for
rulings submitted by MetLife and RGA to the IRS, dated
September 11, 2007, including the exhibits attached
thereto, and all other submissions, documents, materials or
other information, submitted to the IRS in connection with such
request for rulings.
Launch Delay shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3.2(a).
Law shall mean any federal, state, local or
foreign law (including common law), statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, judgment, code, order, injunction, decree,
arbitration award, agency requirement, license or permit of any
Governmental Authority.
Liens shall mean mortgages, pledges,
hypothecations, liens, charges, claims, security interests,
indentures, deeds of trust, charges, adverse claims, options,
equitable interests, restrictions, easements, title defects,
title retention agreements, voting trust agreements, or other
encumbrance of any kind, including any restriction on the right
to use, transfer, vote, receive income, sell or otherwise
dispose of stock, other than any Lien created pursuant to this
Agreement.
Lock-up Period shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.14(a).
Losses shall mean all losses, costs, charges,
expenses (including interest and penalties due and payable with
respect thereto and reasonable attorneys and other
professional fees and expenses in connection with any Action
whether involving a third-party claim or any claim solely
between the parties hereto), obligations, liabilities,
settlement payments, awards, judgments, fines, penalties,
damages, demands, claims, assessments or deficiencies, in any
such case, arising out of, attributable to or resulting from the
Transactions.
Market Disruption Event shall mean the
occurrence or existence of any of the following events or sets
of circumstances:
(a) trading in securities generally on the NYSE, the
American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other
national securities, futures or options exchange or in the
over-the-counter market, or
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trading in any of MetLife Common Stock, RGA Common Stock or any
Recapitalized Shares (or any options or futures contracts
related to such securities) on any exchange or in the
over-the-counter market, is suspended or the settlement of such
trading generally is materially disrupted or minimum prices are
established on any such exchange or such market by the SEC, by
such exchange or market, or by any other regulatory body or
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction;
(b) a material disruption or banking moratorium occurs or
has been declared in commercial banking or securities settlement
or clearance services in the United States;
(c) there is such a material adverse change in general
U.S. domestic or international economic, political or
financial conditions, including as a result of terrorist
activities, or the effect of international conditions on the
financial markets in the United States (in each case, as
compared to conditions on the date hereof), so as to make it
materially impracticable to proceed with the Offer (in the case
of the Offer) or the acquisition of Debt Securities by the
Participating Banks or the offer and sale of the RGA
Class B Common Stock in connection with any Debt Exchange
(in the case of a Private Debt Exchange); or
(d) an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which
the offering documents contemplated by this Agreement would
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 the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading and either
(i) the public disclosure of that event at such time would
have a material adverse effect on MetLifes business or
RGAs business or (ii) the disclosure relates to a
previously undisclosed proposed or pending material business
transaction, the public disclosure of which would impede
MetLifes or RGAs ability to consummate such
transaction.
MetLife shall have the meaning set forth in
the preamble.
MetLife Approvals shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.16.
MetLife Blackout Right shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1(a)(ii).
MetLife Common Stock shall have the meaning
set forth in the recitals.
MetLife Disclosure Documents means each of
the documents filed by MetLife with the SEC in connection with
the applicable Transactions, including pursuant to Rule 165
or Rule 425 of the Securities Act, and any other documents
filed by MetLife with the SEC and incorporated into the
Form S-4,
the S-4
Prospectuses, the Split-Off Documents and, if applicable, the
Public Debt Exchange Documents
and/or the
Additional Split-Off Documents.
MetLife Disclosure Schedule shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of Article VI.
MetLife Excluded Representations shall have
the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of Article VI.
MetLife Filings shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.21.
MetLife Holding Subsidiary shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.5.
MetLife Indemnified Documents means each
Form S-4,
S-4
Prospectus, Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Split-Off Document,
Split-Off Prospectus, Additional Split-Off Document, Public Debt
Exchange Document, MetLife Disclosure Document, and any
amendment or supplement thereto, including any document filed or
required to be filed by RGA in connection with the Transactions
pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities Act.
MetLife Indemnified Parties shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 8.2.
MetLife Insurance Subsidiary means each
Significant Subsidiary of MetLife that is required to be
organized or licensed as an insurance company in its
jurisdiction of incorporation.
MetLife Material Adverse Effect shall mean
any change, effect, event, occurrence or development that,
individually or in the aggregate, is resulting, has resulted, or
would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse
effect on the business, financial condition, equity reserves,
surplus or results of operations of MetLife and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the ability of MetLife to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate
the Recapitalization and the Split-Off by the Termination Date.
MetLife Required Consents shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.4.
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MetLife Stockholders shall mean holders of
MetLife Common Stock.
MetLife Superior Proposal shall mean a
bona fide written Alternative Proposal by the Person
described on Section 1.1(b) of the MetLife Disclosure
Schedule for 90% or more of the RGA Common Stock held by MetLife
and its Subsidiaries (including such an Alternative Proposal
that is part of an Alternative Proposal for 50% or more of the
outstanding RGA Common Stock) on terms that the Board of
Directors of MetLife determines in good faith, after
consultation with MetLifes financial and outside legal
advisors, is more favorable to MetLife than the Transactions.
MetLife Tax Certificates shall mean the
certificates of an officer of MetLife, dated as of the Closing
Date, provided to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in
connection with the Tax Opinion, substantially in the form
attached to the MetLife Disclosure Schedule.
MGBCL shall mean the General and Business
Corporation Law of the State of Missouri.
Minimum Condition shall mean a number of
shares of MetLife Common Stock that results in the distribution
of no less than 90% of the Exchange Shares in the Split-Off,
unless RGA shall consent to a lower Minimum Condition.
NYSE shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.
Offer shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals; provided that solely for purposes of
Section 4.2, Section 4.4 and Section 7.1(b) (and
the respective Annexes as interpreted in accordance therewith),
Offer shall mean the offer with respect to a Public
Debt Exchange or an Additional Split-Off, as applicable.
Participating Banks shall mean such
investment banks that engage in any Debt Exchange with MetLife.
Person shall mean any natural person,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business
trust, joint venture, association, company, other entity or
government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Piggyback Registration shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.15(d).
Private Debt Exchange shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 4.2(a).
Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b); provided that,
for purposes of Articles V and VI, Proxy
Statement/Prospectus shall mean the proxy
statement/prospectus contained in the applicable
Form S-4
at the time it is declared effective, as amended, updated,
modified, supplemented or superseded, including any information
deemed included therein pursuant to Rule 424 or
Rule 430C under the Securities Act.
Public Debt Exchange shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 4.2(a).
Public Debt Exchange Documents shall mean the
Form S-4
for a Public Debt Exchange, including a prospectus to be used
for the Public Debt Exchange and such other documents as the
parties mutually agree are necessary or appropriate to effect
such Public Debt Exchange.
Recapitalization shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals.
Recapitalized Shares shall mean the RGA
Class A Common Stock and the RGA Class B Common Stock.
Recently Acquired Stock shall mean the
3,000,000 shares of RGA Common Stock that were acquired by
MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries in the fourth quarter of
2003, and, after the Recapitalization, the 3,000,000 shares
of RGA Class A Common Stock into which such shares shall
have been reclassified.
Registrable Securities shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.15(a).
Registration Blackout Period shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7.15(c).
Registration Expenses shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.15(k).
Remaining RGA Stock shall mean, as of any
time, any Exchange Shares continued to be held by MetLife or any
of its Subsidiaries as of such time.
Representatives shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.2(a).
Required Consents shall mean both the RGA
Required Consents and the MetLife Required Consents.
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Restraint shall mean any Law, temporary
restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, judgment
or ruling enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by any
Governmental Authority.
RGA shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble.
RGA Adverse Recommendation Change shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b).
RGA Approvals shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5.15.
RGA Blackout Right shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(a)(ii).
RGA Board Recommendation shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b).
RGA Class A Common Stock shall mean the
Class A common stock of RGA, including any related
preferred stock purchase rights, having the relative powers,
preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and
restrictions attaching to such class of common stock as
specified in the Amended and Restated RGA Articles of
Incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time (it being
understood that if RGA Class A Common Stock, as a class,
shall be reclassified, exchanged or converted into another
security (including as a result of the Conversion, merger,
consolidation or otherwise), each reference to RGA Class A
Common Stock in this Agreement shall refer to such other
security into which the RGA Class A Common Stock was
reclassified, exchanged or converted.
RGA Class B Common Stock shall mean the
Class B common stock of RGA, including any related
preferred stock purchase rights, having the relative powers,
preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and
restrictions attaching to such class of common stock as
specified in the Amended and Restated RGA Articles of
Incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time (it being
understood that if RGA Class B Common Stock, as a class,
shall be reclassified, exchanged or converted into another
security (including as a result of the Conversion, merger,
consolidation or otherwise), each reference to RGA Class B
Common Stock in this Agreement shall refer to such other
security into which the RGA Class B Common Stock was
reclassified, exchanged or converted).
RGA Common Equity-Based Securities shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 7.14(a).
RGA Common Stock shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals and shall mean, after the
Recapitalization, the Recapitalized Shares.
RGA Disclosure Documents means each of the
documents filed by RGA with the SEC in connection with the
applicable Transactions, including pursuant to Rule 165 or
Rule 425 of the Securities Act, and any other documents
filed by RGA with the SEC and incorporated into the Form
S-4, the
S-4
Prospectuses, the Split-Off Documents and, if applicable, the
Public Debt Exchange Documents
and/or the
Additional Split-Off Documents.
RGA Disclosure Schedule shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of Article V.
RGA Excluded Representations shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of Article V.
RGA Filings shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.18.
RGA Indemnified Documents means each
Form S-4,
S-4
Prospectus, Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Split-Off Document,
Split-Off Prospectus, Additional Split-Off Document, Public Debt
Exchange Document, RGA Disclosure Document, and any amendment or
supplement thereto, including any document filed or required to
be filed by MetLife in connection with the Transactions pursuant
to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities Act.
RGA Indemnified Parties shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
RGA Insurance Subsidiary shall mean each
Significant Subsidiary of RGA that is required to be organized
or licensed as an insurance company in its jurisdiction of
incorporation.
RGA Material Adverse Effect shall mean any
change, effect, event, occurrence or development that,
individually or in the aggregate, is resulting, has resulted, or
would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse
effect on the business, financial condition, equity reserves,
surplus or results of operations of RGA and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or on the ability of RGA to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the
Recapitalization and the Split-Off by the Termination Date.
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RGA Registration Blackout Right shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 7.15(c).
RGA Reimbursable Expenses shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 10.3 (b).
RGA Required Consents shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 5.4.
RGA Section 355 Taxes shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 8.2(d).
RGA Shareholder Approval shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 5.2(c).
RGA Shareholders shall mean the holders of
RGA Common Stock.
RGA Shareholders Meeting shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
RGA Special Committee shall mean the special
committee of the Board of Directors of RGA established to
consider and approve this Agreement and the Transactions and
related matters, or any successor committee established by the
RGA Board of Directors and designated for such purpose.
RGA Tax Certificate shall mean the
certificate of an officer of RGA dated as of the Closing Date,
provided to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in
connection with the Tax Opinion, substantially in the form
attached to the RGA Disclosure Schedule.
S-4 Prospectuses shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(b); provided that for purposes
of Articles V and VI,
S-4
Prospectus shall mean the Split-Off Prospectus, together
with the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, in each case as defined in
this Article I.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5.12.
Schedule TO shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(c).
SEC shall mean the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Section 355-Related
Proceeding shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.5(a).
Section 355 Taxes shall mean
(i) Taxes imposed on MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries as
a result of the failure of (a) Spin-Off 1,
(b) Spin-Off 2 or (c) the Split-Off and any Additional
Divestiture Transaction, taken together, to qualify for Tax-Free
Status (together with reasonable costs and expenses related
thereto) and (ii) Losses resulting from any claim,
allegation, lawsuit, action or proceeding brought by MetLife
Stockholders that exchange shares of MetLife Common Stock for
shares of RGA Class B Common Stock pursuant to the
Split-Off or any Additional Split-Off that arises out of the
Split-Off and any Additional Divestiture Transaction failing to
qualify for Tax-Free Status.
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan
shall mean a shareholder rights plan of RGA substantially in the
form attached as Exhibit C, as it may be amended or
replaced to reflect the Recapitalized Shares.
Securities Act shall mean the
U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Registration Statement means a
registration statement of RGA on
Form S-3
or any other appropriate form under the Securities Act including
any prospectus included therein, amendments and supplements to
such registration statement, including post-effective
amendments, all exhibits, and all materials incorporated by
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
registration statement, for an offering to be made on a delayed
or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under
the Securities Act (or similar provisions then in effect) that
(a) covers all or any part of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and (b) sets
forth a plan of distribution as determined by MetLife in
accordance with Section 7.15(b).
Significant Subsidiary shall mean a
Subsidiary of a Person that is a significant
subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) of such Person.
Spin-Off 1 shall have the meaning set forth
in the IRS Ruling Request.
Spin-Off 2 shall have the meaning set forth
in the IRS Ruling Request.
Split-Off shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals.
Split-Off Conditions shall mean the
conditions set forth in Annex C.
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Split-Off Documents shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1(c).
Split-Off Prospectus shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1(b); provided that, for
purposes of Articles V and VI, Split-Off
Prospectus shall mean the split-off prospectus included in
the applicable
Form S-4
at the time it is declared effective, as amended, updated,
modified, supplemented or superseded, including any information
deemed included therein pursuant to Rule 424 or
Rule 430C under the Securities Act.
Subsidiary shall mean any corporation,
limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which
another entity (i) owns, directly or indirectly, ownership
interests sufficient to elect a majority of the Board of
Directors (or persons performing similar functions) or
(ii) is a general partner or an entity performing similar
functions; provided, however, that, unless the
context otherwise requires, RGA and its Subsidiaries shall not
be considered to be Subsidiaries of MetLife or any
of its Subsidiaries.
Supplemental IRS Ruling shall mean any
private letter ruling issued by the IRS pursuant to any
Supplemental IRS Ruling Request.
Supplemental IRS Ruling One shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7.13(d).
Supplemental IRS Ruling Request shall mean
any supplemental request for rulings, submitted to the IRS
following the issuance of the IRS Ruling, relating to the
Transactions.
Supplemental IRS Ruling Two shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7.13(d).
Tax or Taxes shall mean
taxes of any kind, levies or other like assessments, customs,
duties, imposts, charges or fees, including income, gross
receipts, ad valorem, value added, excise, real or personal
property, asset, sales, use, license, payroll, transaction,
capital, net worth and franchise taxes, withholding, employment,
social security, workers compensation, utility, severance,
production, unemployment compensation, occupation, premium,
windfall profits, transfer and gains taxes or other governmental
taxes imposed or payable to the United States, or any state,
county, local or foreign government or subdivision or agency
thereof, and in each instance such term shall include any
interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts
attributable to any such tax.
Tax-Free Status shall mean the qualification
of each of (a) Spin-Off 1, (b) Spin-Off 2, and
(c) the Split-Off and any Additional Divestiture
Transaction, taken together, as (x) a transaction in which
MetLife, MetLifes Subsidiaries, MetLife Stockholders and
MetLifes securityholders recognize no income or gain under
Section 355 of the Code (and similar provisions of state or
local law), (y) a transaction in which the stock
distributed thereby is qualified property for
purposes of Sections 355(d) and 355(e) (and similar
provisions of state or local law), and (z) a transaction to
which Sections 355(f) and 355(g) of the Code (and similar
provisions of state or local law) do not apply.
Tax Opinion shall mean the written opinion of
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, dated as of the
Closing Date, regarding certain U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the Split-Off, any Additional Divestiture
Transaction and the other Transactions, the form of which such
written opinion shall be delivered by MetLife to RGA no later
than ten (10) days following the date of this Agreement.
Termination Date shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 9.1(b)(i).
Testing Date shall mean (a) each of the
two Business Days immediately prior to the commencement of a
Window Period, and (b) each Business Day within a Window
Period that is at least 23 Business Days prior to the end of
such Window Period.
Third-Party Claim shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 8.4(b).
Threshold Amount shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.16.
Transactions shall mean the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the Recapitalization,
the Split-Off and, if applicable, any Additional Divestiture
Transaction.
Treasury Regulations means the income tax
regulations, including temporary and proposed regulations,
promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury, as
such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
VWAP of a security shall mean the volume
weighted average price of such security on the NYSE.
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Window Period shall mean the customary
trading windows established by MetLife following the
announcement of its earnings for each fiscal quarter;
provided that each Window Period shall be open for at
least 25 Business Days, and, subject to the MetLife Blackout
Right and the RGA Blackout Right, there shall be at least one
Window Period for each fiscal quarter of MetLife. The Window
Periods expected by MetLife as of the date hereof for the 2008
and 2009 calendar years are set forth in Section 1.1(c) of
the MetLife Disclosure Schedule.
Section 1.2 References;
Interpretation.
(a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an
Article, a Section, Annex, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference
shall be to an Article or a Section of, or an Annex, Exhibit or
RGA Disclosure Schedule or MetLife Disclosure Schedule to, this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words
include, includes or
including are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words without
limitation. The words hereof,
herein and hereunder and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the
defined meanings when used in any document made or delivered
pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The
definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the
singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the
masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such
terms. Any statute defined or referred to in this Agreement or
in any agreement or instrument that is referred to in this
Agreement means such statute as from time to time amended,
updated, modified, supplemented or superseded, including by
succession of comparable successor statutes and references to
all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.
References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and
assigns.
(b) The parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this
Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties,
and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or
disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any
provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
THE RECAPITALIZATION
Section 2.1 The
Recapitalization. Provided that this
Agreement shall not have been terminated in accordance with
Article IX, upon the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Annex B, RGA and MetLife
will effect the Recapitalization as follows: (a) RGA will
file the Amended and Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation with
the Office of the Secretary of State, State of Missouri;
(b) each share of RGA Common Stock will be reclassified as
one share of RGA Class A Common Stock pursuant to the
Amended and Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation;
(c) immediately thereafter, each share of RGA Class A
Common Stock held by MetLife and its Subsidiaries (other than
the shares of RGA Class A Common Stock received by MetLife
and its Subsidiaries in respect of the Recently Acquired Stock)
will be exchanged for one share of RGA Class B Common
Stock; and (d) the Board of Directors of RGA will adopt
amended and restated bylaws of RGA, in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B (the Amended
and Restated RGA Bylaws).
Section 2.2 Closing
Date. The Recapitalization shall occur on the
same day as, and immediately prior to, the Acceptance Time, and
the parties agree that they shall cause the Amended and Restated
RGA Articles of Incorporation to become effective under the
MGBCL as of such time. The date on which the Recapitalization
shall occur shall be the Closing Date.
Section 2.3 Exchange
of Certificates. On or prior to the Closing
Date, MetLife shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited,
with RGA the certificate or certificates representing the shares
of RGA Common Stock, other than shares of Recently Acquired
Stock, beneficially owned by MetLife as of the Closing Date (the
Deposited Shares). On the Closing Date, RGA
shall cancel such deposited certificate or certificates and
issue to MetLife a new certificate or certificates representing
the aggregate number of shares of RGA Class B Common Stock
beneficially owned by MetLife as of the Closing Date, which
shall be equal to the number of Deposited Shares.
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ARTICLE III
THE SPLIT-OFF
Section 3.1 The
Split-Off.
(a) The parties agree that the Split-Off shall be conducted
as follows:
(i) MetLife shall commence (within the meaning of Rule
13e-4(a)(4)
under the Exchange Act) the Offer, at such time as MetLife shall
determine; provided that:
(A) the Offer shall be commenced only after the conditions
set forth in Annex A shall have been satisfied or
waived;
(B) once the conditions set forth in Annex A
shall have been satisfied or waived, and subject to the MetLife
Blackout Right and the RGA Blackout Right under
Section 3.1(a)(ii) and the Launch Delay Right under
Section 3.2(a) and the Discretionary Delay Rights under
Section 3.2(c), the Offer shall be commenced no later than
the first Window Period for which there shall be at least 25
Business Days between (1) the first date on which both the
conditions in clause I.(a) and clause I.(b) of
Annex A shall have been satisfied or waived and
(2) the last date of such Window Period (it being
understood that MetLife shall have discretion to commence the
Offer at any time during such Window Period so long as the Offer
shall be completed during such Window Period); and
(C) the Offer shall be open for at least 5 Business Days
following the RGA Shareholders Meeting (it being understood
that, to the extent that there is sufficient time within the
Window Period during which the Offer is commenced to leave the
Offer open for more than 5 Business Days following the RGA
Shareholders Meeting, the parties will use commercially
reasonable efforts to do so, for up to a total of
10 Business Days following the RGA Shareholders Meeting);
provided that MetLife and RGA shall cooperate to schedule
the Offer and the RGA Shareholders Meeting to comply with
Section 7.3 and this Section 3.1(a)(i)(C).
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, MetLife shall not be
obligated to commence the Offer until such time as MetLife is
reasonably satisfied that the Required Consents can be obtained
prior to the completion of such Offer; provided that
MetLife shall comply with
Rule 14e-8
under the Exchange Act.
(ii) If MetLife shall determine that commencing or
completing the Offer during any Window Period will (A) have
a material detrimental effect, as reasonably determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of MetLife, on the completion of
a transaction then being negotiated or a plan then being
considered by the Board of Directors of MetLife, in each case
unrelated to the Transactions, that would, if completed, be
material to MetLife and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole at the
time the right to delay the Offer is exercised (whether or not a
final decision has been made to undertake such transaction or
plan), or (B) involve initial or continuing disclosure
obligations that are not in the best interests of the MetLife
Stockholders, as reasonably determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of MetLife, then upon advance written notice
by MetLife to RGA, MetLife may from time to time exercise a
right to delay the commencement of the Offer (the
MetLife Blackout Right) until the earliest
reasonably practicable date after MetLifes reasons for
delaying the commencement of the Offer are no longer applicable.
Further, if RGA shall determine that commencing or completing
the Offer during any Window Period will (1) have a material
detrimental effect, as reasonably determined in good faith by
the RGA Special Committee or the Board of Directors of RGA, on
the completion of a transaction then being negotiated or a plan
then being considered by the RGA Special Committee or the Board
of Directors of RGA, in each case, unrelated to the
Transactions, that would, if completed, be material to RGA and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole at the time the right to delay
the Offer is exercised (whether or not a final decision has been
made to undertake such transaction or plan), or (2) involve
initial or continuing disclosure obligations that are not in the
best interests of the RGA Shareholders, as reasonably determined
in good faith by the RGA Special Committee or the Board of
Directors of RGA, then upon the advance written notice by RGA to
MetLife from time to time to delay the commencement of the
Offer,
A-11
MetLife shall not commence the Offer (the RGA Blackout
Right) until the earliest reasonably practicable date
in a Window Period (unless the parties agree otherwise) after
RGAs reasons for delaying the commencement of the Offer
are no longer applicable.
(iii) In the Offer, MetLife shall offer all of the Exchange
Shares to the MetLife Stockholders in exchange for MetLife
Common Stock, at an exchange ratio determined by MetLife (the
Exchange Ratio); provided that MetLife
shall determine an Exchange Ratio that it believes in good
faith, after consultation with its financial advisors, is
reasonably likely to result in the Minimum Condition being
satisfied in the then-current Window Period. Without the prior
written consent of RGA, MetLife shall not impose conditions to
the completion of the Split-Off in addition to the Split-Off
Conditions and shall not waive the Minimum Condition;
provided that MetLife expressly reserves the right to
amend the Exchange Ratio from time to time and to decrease the
Minimum Condition so long as the number results in the
distribution of no less than 90% of the Exchange Shares in the
Split-Off, unless RGA shall consent to a lower Minimum
Condition; provided, further, that MetLife
believes in good faith, after consultation with its financial
advisors, that such amended Exchange Ratio is reasonably likely
to result in the Minimum Condition, as it may be decreased
pursuant to this Section 3.1(a)(iii), being satisfied.
(b) As promptly as practicable after the date of this
Agreement, MetLife and RGA shall jointly prepare, and RGA shall
file with the SEC, one or more registration statements on
Form S-4
(the
Form S-4)
to register under the Securities Act the offer and sale of the
RGA Class A Common Stock and the RGA Class B Common
Stock to be issued in the Recapitalization and the Exchange
Shares to be offered in the Split-Off. The
Form S-4
will include (i) a proxy statement/prospectus (the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus) to be used for
the RGA Shareholders Meeting to obtain the RGA Shareholder
Approval; and (ii) a prospectus to be used as a prospectus
sent to the MetLife Stockholders for the Split-Off (the
Split-Off Prospectus and together with the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the
S-4
Prospectuses); provided that RGA and MetLife
may mutually agree to file the
S-4
Prospectuses as part of one registration statement or as parts
of separate registration statements on
Form S-4.
Following the filing of the
Form S-4,
RGA shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the
Form S-4
to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
practicable, subject to any delay caused by any customary
securities blackout period of RGA. Following the effectiveness
of the
Form S-4,
RGA shall use its reasonable best efforts, after consultation
with MetLife and its advisors, to cause the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to the holders of RGA Common
Stock entitled to vote at the RGA Shareholders Meeting for the
purpose of obtaining the RGA Shareholder Approval.
(c) On the Commencement Date, MetLife shall file with the
SEC a tender offer statement on Schedule TO (the
Schedule TO) with respect to the Offer,
which Schedule TO shall include the Split-Off Prospectus, a
form of transmittal letter, a form of notice of guaranteed
delivery and other customary materials (together with any
supplements and amendments thereto, the Split-Off
Documents) and shall cause the Split-Off Documents to
be disseminated to the MetLife Stockholders. At all times, the
parties shall conduct and complete the Transactions in
accordance with the applicable securities Laws.
(d) The parties agree as follows:
(i) The parties shall take all steps necessary for the Form
S-4, the
S-4
Prospectuses, the Split-Off Documents and any filing under
Rule 425 or 165 under the Securities Act relating to the
Transactions to be timely filed with the SEC, to comply in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
as applicable, and not to contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, except that no covenant, agreement,
representation or warranty is made by any party with respect to
statements or omissions based on information supplied by, or on
behalf of, the other party for inclusion or incorporation by
reference therein. Each party agrees promptly to correct any
information provided by it for use in the
Form S-4,
the S-4
Prospectuses or the Split-Off Documents if and to the extent
that any such information shall have become false or misleading
in any material respect, and each party agrees to take all steps
necessary to cause the
Form S-4,
the S-4
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Prospectuses and the Split-Off Documents as so corrected to be
timely filed with the SEC and disseminated to the MetLife
Stockholders or RGA Shareholders, as the case may be, to the
extent required by applicable Law. Each party shall furnish
promptly to the other party all information concerning such
party that is required or reasonably requested by the other
party in connection with the obligations contained in this
Section 3.1, relating to the
Form S-4,
the S-4
Prospectuses and the Split-Off Documents.
(ii) Each party and its counsel shall be given a reasonable
opportunity to review and comment on the
Form S-4,
the S-4
Prospectuses, the Split-Off Documents and, to the extent
practicable, any filing under Rule 425 or 165 under the
Securities Act relating to the Transactions, in each case and
each time, sufficiently in advance of any such document being
filed with the SEC, and each party shall give reasonable and
good-faith consideration to any comments made by the other party
and its counsel. Each party shall provide the other party and
its counsel with (A) any comments or other communications,
whether written or oral, that such party or its counsel may
receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with respect
to the
Form S-4,
the S-4
Prospectuses or the Split-Off Documents promptly after receipt
of those comments or other communications and (B) a
reasonable opportunity to participate in the response of such
party to those comments and to provide comments on that response
(to which reasonable and good-faith consideration shall be
given), including by participating with such party or its
counsel in any discussions or meetings with the SEC.
(e) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Split-Off Documents, the Offer shall remain open until at least
midnight, New York City time, at the end of the
20th Business Day after the Commencement Date (the
Expiration Time), unless MetLife shall have
extended the period of time for which the Offer is open pursuant
to, and in accordance with, the proviso to this sentence or as
may be required by applicable Law, in which event the term
Expiration Time shall mean the latest time and date
as the Offer, as so extended, may expire; provided,
however, that MetLife may, without the consent of RGA and
so long as the Offer shall be accepted and completed during a
Window Period unless the parties agree otherwise,
(i) extend the Offer for one or more periods of not more
than 10 Business Days per extension if, at the scheduled
Expiration Time, any of the Split-Off Conditions shall not have
been satisfied or waived (or, in the case of clause (d) and
clause (i) to Annex C, such conditions are not
ready and able to be satisfied at or prior to the Expiration
Time), (ii) extend the Offer for any period required by any
rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its
staff applicable to the Offer, (iii) to the extent required
by Law, extend the Offer by up to three Business Days if the
limit determined by MetLife on the number of RGA Class B
Common Stock that can be received for each share of MetLife
Common Stock in the Offer is reached, or (iv) extend the
Offer if a Market Disruption Event occurs during any day on
which the price of MetLife Common Stock or RGA Common Stock
shall be used to determine the exchange ratio for the Offer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, MetLife may extend the Offer
without the consent of RGA for up to an aggregate of
10 Business Days for any reason, subject to applicable
securities Laws, only so long as the Offer shall be accepted and
completed during the Window Period in which the Offer is
commenced, and the parties agree that the Expiration Time shall
be scheduled in a manner so that the Transactions comply with
applicable Laws. In the event that applicable securities Laws
require extension of the Offer such that the Offer cannot be
accepted and completed during the Window Period in which the
Offer is commenced, and RGA or MetLife shall reasonably
determine that keeping the Offer open until the next Window
Period would create an undue disclosure burden on either RGA or
MetLife, then, at the request of RGA or MetLife, MetLife shall
terminate the Offer and re-commence the Offer as soon as
practicable in compliance with Law and subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 3.1(a)(i).
(f) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, including the satisfaction or waiver of the Split-Off
Conditions, MetLife shall, as soon as practicable after the
Expiration Time and during a Window Period (but in no event more
than one Business Day following the Expiration Time), accept for
payment and exchange Exchange Shares in an amount based on the
Exchange Ratio for all shares of MetLife Common Stock that have
been validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer
(the time of acceptance for payment and exchange, the
Acceptance Time).
A-13
(g) MetLife shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from
the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to the Split-Off
and any Additional Divestiture Transaction any such amounts as
are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the
making of such payment under the Code, or under any provision of
state, local or foreign Tax Law.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
no fractional shares of RGA Class B Common Stock will be
exchanged in the Split-Off. Any tendering MetLife Stockholder
who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share of
RGA Class B Common Stock in the Split-Off shall instead
receive a cash payment from MetLife or its agent representing
such holders proportionate interest in the net proceeds
from the sale on the NYSE for the account of the tendering
MetLife Stockholders of the aggregate fractional shares of RGA
Class B Common Stock that the tendering MetLife
Stockholders otherwise would have received. Any such sale shall
be made as promptly as practicable after the Acceptance Time in
compliance with applicable Law by an agent designated by
MetLife. In no event will interest be paid on the cash to be
received in lieu of any fraction of a share of RGA Class B
Common Stock.
Section 3.2 Delay
Right.
(a) Following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions
set forth in Annex A, MetLife has a right to delay
commencement of the Offer (a Launch Delay) if
the VWAP of RGA Common Stock for the 10-trading-day period
ending on the second trading day prior to the proposed
Commencement Date is less than 75% of the closing price of RGA
Common Stock on the NYSE on the date prior to the announcement
of the entry into this Agreement (the Comparison
Date).
(b) MetLife may continue any Launch Delay until the second
Business Day following the first Testing Date on which the VWAP
of RGA Common Stock for the
10-trading-day
period ending on such Testing Date is 75% or more than the
closing price of RGA Common Stock on the NYSE on the Comparison
Date (it being understood that, once the Launch Delay shall
expire, MetLife shall commence the Offer (subject to the RGA
Blackout Right, the MetLife Blackout Right and the Discretionary
Delay) on any Business Day that is 21 or more Business Days
prior to the end of the first Window Period for which at least
21 Business Days remain), and, subject to compliance with
applicable Laws, shall complete the Offer during such Window
Period.
(c) In addition to MetLifes right to delay
commencement of the Offer pursuant to a Launch Delay, MetLife
shall have the right to delay to the extent permitted by Law,
with respect to not more than three Window Periods, commencement
of the Offer for any reason beyond the date on which it would
otherwise be required to commence an Offer pursuant to
Section 3.1(a)(i) (each such delay with respect to a Window
Period, a Discretionary Delay). If MetLife
shall exercise a Discretionary Delay, MetLife shall commence the
Offer (subject to the RGA Blackout Right, the MetLife Blackout
Right, a Launch Delay and any remaining Discretionary Delay) on
any Business Day that is 21 or more Business Days prior to the
end of the first Window Period for which at least
21 Business Days remain), and, subject to compliance with
applicable Laws, shall complete the Offer during such Window
Period.
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL DIVESTITURE TRANSACTIONS
Section 4.1 Generally.
(a) If there are any Excess Shares following the completion
of the Split-Off, MetLife shall engage in one or more Additional
Divestiture Transactions, which MetLife shall complete no later
than the Additional Divestiture Date (notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement), such that, after completion of the
Additional Divestiture Transactions, MetLife shall no longer
hold any of the Excess Shares. MetLife agrees that it shall use
reasonable best efforts to commence the Additional Divestiture
Transactions immediately following the Split-Off to the extent
practicable and, in the case of a Debt Exchange, subject to any
time that any Participating Banks may need to acquire Debt
Securities and hold such Debt Securities before any Private Debt
Exchange; provided that the foregoing shall not require
MetLife to effect any Additional Divestiture Transaction on a
day during which there is a Market Disruption Event.
A-14
(b) The parties agree that the sum of (i) the shares
of RGA Class B Common Stock distributed by MetLife to
MetLife Stockholders pursuant to the Split-Off, and
(ii) the shares of RGA Class B Common Stock
distributed by MetLife pursuant to the Additional Divestiture
Transactions, shall equal the total number of Exchange Shares
(it being understood that in no event shall MetLife sell,
transfer, assign, pledge (unless the pledge does not require the
transfer of Exchange Shares, including upon default of the
underlying pledged obligation, and does not involve the transfer
of voting power over the pledged shares) or otherwise dispose of
any Exchange Shares to the MetLife Stockholders (including as a
stock dividend) or to any third party, except pursuant to the
Split-Off and the Additional Divestiture Transactions).
Section 4.2 Debt
Exchanges.
(a) If MetLife decides to engage in any Debt Exchange,
MetLife shall acquire Debt Securities in exchange for some or
all of any Excess Shares prior to the Additional Divestiture
Date. Any Debt Exchange may be effected as either: (1) a
private exchange (a Private Debt Exchange)
with one or more Participating Banks, pursuant to which such
Participating Banks shall exchange Debt Securities with MetLife
for Excess Shares in a transaction that is not required to be
registered under the Securities Act; or (2) a public
exchange (a Public Debt Exchange) that is
registered under the Securities Act, pursuant to which the
offerees of such Public Debt Exchange shall exchange Debt
Securities with MetLife for Excess Shares.
(b) MetLife shall (i) consummate any Debt Exchange
(whether a Private Debt Exchange or a Public Debt Exchange) in
accordance with the IRS Ruling, any Supplemental IRS Ruling, the
IRS Ruling Request, any Supplemental IRS Ruling Request, the Tax
Opinion and with applicable securities Laws, (ii) consult
in advance with RGA regarding the terms, structure and legal
documents relating to any such Debt Exchange, in order for RGA
to be reasonably satisfied that such terms, structure and legal
documentation are consistent with the IRS Ruling, any
Supplemental IRS Ruling, the IRS Ruling Request, any
Supplemental IRS Ruling Request, the Tax Opinion and applicable
securities Laws, and (iii) obtain RGAs prior consent
to any documentation relating to any such Debt Exchange to which
RGA is a party or pursuant to which RGA has any potential
liability or obligation (other than any de minimis
liability or obligation), which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed. Prior to the completion of any
Private Debt Exchange, MetLife shall deliver to RGA (at
MetLifes expense) a reasoned opinion of outside counsel,
as to which the outside counsel and opinion shall be reasonably
satisfactory to RGA, that the Private Debt Exchange is exempt
from registration under the Securities Act. If a Public Debt
Exchange is undertaken, the provisions of Sections 3.1(b),
3.1(c), 3.1(d), 3.1(e), 3.1(f), 3.1(g) and 3.1(h) shall extend
to the Public Debt Exchange as if the Public Debt Exchange were
the Split-Off, with such appropriate modifications in the
particular context.
(c) The only conditions to commencing a Public Debt
Exchange shall be the conditions set forth in
Annex A; provided that (i) each
reference to the
Form S-4
in Annex A shall refer to the
Form S-4
for the Public Debt Exchange; (ii) each reference to the
Split-Off shall refer to the Public Debt Exchange;
(iii) each condition relating to the Recapitalization
(other than those in clause I.(a) of
Annex A) shall be omitted, and the first
paragraph of Sections I., II. and III. of
Annex A shall refer to Article IV of this
Agreement instead of Article III of this Agreement;
(iv) each reference to the representations and warranties
of any party or the obligations, agreements or covenants of such
party shall be references to the representations and warranties,
or the obligations, agreements or covenants, as the case may be,
insofar as they relate to the Public Debt Exchange; and
(v) any breach of a representation or warranty or
obligation, agreement or covenant of a party shall not result in
a failure of any condition to commencing a Public Debt Exchange
unless such breach is curable under applicable Law (including by
delaying commencement and amending or supplementing the
Form S-4,
Public Debt Exchange Documents,
and/or any
related MetLife Disclosure Documents or RGA Disclosure
Documents) and the breaching party fails to cure such breach (it
being understood that, if such breach relates to disclosure
required under applicable securities Laws, such breach shall be
cured in a manner that is reasonably satisfactory to the
non-breaching party); provided that each party agrees to
cooperate in good faith in connection with any such efforts to
cure such breach; and provided, further, that
commencement of such Public Debt Exchange, notwithstanding such
breach, shall not act as a waiver or otherwise affect the
non-breaching partys rights or remedies under this
Agreement.
A-15
(d) The only conditions to completing a Public Debt
Exchange shall be the conditions set forth in
Annex C (with the Minimum Condition for the Public
Debt Exchange determined by MetLife) and the conditions set
forth in clause I.(d), I.(e), I.(f), I.(g) and I.(i),
Section II and Section III. of Annex B;
provided that (i) each reference to the
Form S-4
in Annex B and Annex C shall refer to
the
Form S-4
for the Public Debt Exchange; (ii) each reference to the
Split-Off in Annex B and Annex C shall
refer to the Public Debt Exchange; (iii) each condition in
Annex B and Annex C relating to the
Recapitalization shall be omitted; (iv) each reference in
Annex B and Annex C to the
representations and warranties of any party or the obligations,
agreements or covenants of such party shall be references to the
representations and warranties, or the obligations, agreements
or covenants, as the case may be, insofar as they relate to the
Public Debt Exchange; (v) the legal opinions referred to in
Annex B and Annex C shall be
appropriately modified for the Public Debt Exchange;
(vi) it shall be an additional condition to RGAs
obligation to complete the Public Debt Exchange that MetLife
shall have furnished to RGA a certificate dated and effective as
of the Acceptance Time signed on its behalf by its Chief
Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer to the effect that
the representations and warranties of MetLife set forth in this
Agreement, insofar as they relate to the Public Debt Exchange,
including the MetLife Excluded Representations, shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement and at the Acceptance Time as though made as of the
Acceptance Time (except to the extent that such representations
and warranties expressly relate to a specified date, in which
case as of such specified date) and that MetLife shall have
performed in all material respects its obligations, agreements
or covenants required to be performed by it under this
Agreement; (vii) any breach of a representation or warranty
or obligation, agreement or covenant of a party shall not result
in a failure of any condition to completing a Public Debt
Exchange unless such breach is curable under applicable Law
(including by delaying completion, amending the Offer, and
amending or supplementing the
Form S-4,
any Public Debt Exchange Documents,
and/or any
MetLife Disclosure Documents or RGA Disclosure Documents, and
resoliciting offerees) and the breaching party fails to cure
such breach (it being understood that, if such breach relates to
disclosure required under applicable securities Laws, such
breach shall be cured in a manner that is reasonably
satisfactory to the non-breaching party); provided that
each party agrees to cooperate in good faith in connection with
any such efforts to cure such breach; and provided,
further, that completion of a Public Debt Exchange,
notwithstanding such breach, shall not act as a waiver or
otherwise affect the non-breaching partys rights or
remedies under this Agreement.
Section 4.3 Registration
Rights Agreement with Participating Banks. If
MetLife decides to engage in a Private Debt Exchange with one or
more Participating Banks, RGA agrees that it will enter into a
registration rights agreement with the Participating Banks at
the time of such Private Debt Exchange on terms and conditions
reasonably satisfactory to RGA.
Section 4.4 Additional
Split-Offs.
(a) MetLife may, in addition to or in lieu of any Debt
Exchange, conduct one or more Additional Split-Offs with respect
to some or all of the Excess Shares; provided that any
such Additional Split-Off is completed prior to the Additional
Divestiture Date.
(b) MetLife shall (i) consummate any Additional
Split-Offs in accordance with the IRS Ruling, any Supplemental
IRS Ruling, the IRS Ruling Request, any Supplemental IRS Ruling
Request, the Tax Opinion and with applicable securities Laws,
(ii) consult in advance with RGA regarding the terms,
structure and legal documents relating to the Additional
Split-Offs, in order for RGA to be reasonably satisfied that
such terms, structure and legal documentation are consistent
with the IRS Ruling, any Supplemental IRS Ruling, the IRS Ruling
Request, any Supplemental IRS Ruling Request, the Tax Opinion
and applicable securities Laws, and (iii) obtain RGAs
prior consent to any documentation relating to any such
Additional Split-Offs to which RGA is a party or pursuant to
which RGA has any potential liability or obligation (other than
any de minimis liability or obligation), which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If an Additional
Split-Off is undertaken, the provisions of Sections 3.1(b),
3.1(c), 3.1(d), 3.1(e), 3.1(f), 3.1(g) and 3.1(h) shall extend
to any Additional Split-Off as if the Additional Split-Off were
the Split-Off, with such appropriate modifications in the
particular context.
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(c) The only conditions to commencing an Additional
Split-Off shall be the conditions set forth in
Annex A; provided that (i) each
reference to the
Form S-4
in Annex A shall refer to the
Form S-4
for the Additional Split-Off; (ii) each reference to the
Split-Off shall refer to the Additional Split-Off;
(iii) each condition relating to the Recapitalization shall
be omitted, and the first paragraph of Section I., II.
and III. of Annex A shall refer to Article IV
of this Agreement instead of Article III of this Agreement;
(iv) each reference to the representations and warranties
of any party or the obligations, agreements or covenants of such
party shall be references to the representations and warranties,
or the obligations, agreements or covenants, as the case may be,
insofar as they relate to the Additional Split-Off; and
(v) any breach of a representation or warranty or
obligation, agreement or covenant of a party shall not result in
a failure of any condition to commencing an Additional Split-Off
unless such breach is curable under applicable Law (including by
delaying commencement of the Offer and amending or supplementing
the
Form S-4,
any Additional Split-Off Documents,
and/or any
related MetLife Disclosure Documents or RGA Disclosure
Documents) and the breaching party fails to cure such breach (it
being understood that, if such breach relates to disclosure
required under applicable securities Laws, such breach shall be
cured in a manner that is reasonably satisfactory to the
non-breaching party); provided that each party agrees to
cooperate in good faith in connection with any such efforts to
cure such breach; and provided, further, that
commencement of such Additional Split-Off, notwithstanding such
breach, shall not act as a waiver or otherwise affect the
non-breaching partys rights or remedies under this
Agreement.
(d) The only conditions to completing an Additional
Split-Off shall be the conditions set forth in
Annex C (with the Minimum Condition for the
Additional Split-Off determined by MetLife) and the conditions
set forth in clause I.(d), I.(e), I.(f), I.(g) and I.(i),
and Section II and Section III of Annex B;
provided that (i) each reference to the
Form S-4
in Annex B and Annex C shall refer to
the
Form S-4
for the Additional Split-Off; (ii) each reference in
Annex B and Annex C to the Split-Off
shall refer to the Additional Split-Off; (iii) each
condition in Annex B and Annex C
relating to the Recapitalization shall be omitted;
(iv) each reference in Annex B and
Annex C to the representations and warranties of any
party or the obligations, agreements or covenants of such party
shall be references to the representations and warranties, or
the obligations, agreements or covenants, as the case may be,
insofar as they relate to the Additional Split-Off; (v) the
legal opinions referred to in Annex B and
Annex C shall be appropriately modified for the
Additional Split-Off; (vi) it shall be an additional
condition to RGAs obligation to complete the Additional
Split-Off that MetLife shall have furnished to RGA a certificate
dated and effective as of the Acceptance Time signed on its
behalf by its Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer
to the effect that the representations and warranties of MetLife
set forth in this Agreement, including the MetLife Excluded
Representations, insofar as they relate to the Additional
Split-Off, shall be true and correct in all material respects as
of the date of this Agreement and at the Acceptance Time as
though made as of the Acceptance Time (except to the extent that
such representations and warranties expressly relate to a
specified date, in which case as of such specified date); and
that MetLife shall have performed in all material respects its
obligations, agreements or covenants required to be performed by
it under this Agreement; (vii) any breach of a
representation or warranty or obligation, agreement or covenant
of a party shall not result in a failure of any condition to
completing an Additional Split-Off unless such breach is curable
under applicable Law (including by delaying completion of the
Offer and amending or supplementing the
Form S-4,
any Additional Split-Off Documents,
and/or any
MetLife Disclosure Documents or RGA Disclosure Documents and
resoliciting offerees) and the breaching party fails to cure
such breach (it being understood that, if such breach relates to
disclosure required under applicable securities Laws, such
breach shall be cured in a manner that is reasonably
satisfactory to the non-breaching party); provided that each
party agrees to cooperate in good faith in connection with any
such efforts to cure such breach; and provided, further, that
completion of an Additional Split-Off, notwithstanding such
breach, shall not act as a waiver or otherwise affect the
non-breaching partys rights or remedies under this
Agreement.
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF RGA
Except as disclosed in the disclosure schedule delivered by RGA
to MetLife (the RGA Disclosure Schedule)
simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, RGA hereby
represents and warrants to MetLife, on the date of this
Agreement and on each of the Closing Date and the date of the
Acceptance Time of any Public Debt Exchange and any Additional
Split-Off, as follows (provided that the representations
set forth in Sections 5.3(b), 5.5(b), 5.5(c), 5.6, 5.7 and
5.9 through 5.18 (the RGA Excluded
Representations) are being made solely for purposes of
the Transactions related to the Split-Off and any Additional
Divestiture Transaction and not for purposes of the Transactions
related to the Recapitalization):
Section 5.1 Organization;
Good Standing. Each of RGA and its
Significant Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the Laws of the state of its
incorporation, formation or organization, as the case may be,
and has all requisite corporate or company power and corporate
or company authority necessary to own, lease and operate all of
its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted, except for such failures to be duly
organized, validly existing or in good standing or to have
corporate power or corporate authority that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a RGA
Material Adverse Effect. Each of RGA and its Significant
Subsidiaries is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is
in good standing (or equivalent status) in each jurisdiction in
which the nature of the business conducted by it or the
character or location of the properties and assets owned or
leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good
standing (or equivalent status) would not reasonably be expected
to, individually or in the aggregate, have a RGA Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 5.2 Authorization.
(a) RGA has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the
RGA Shareholder Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder
and to consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery and
performance by RGA of this Agreement, and the consummation by it
of the Transactions, have been duly authorized and approved by
all necessary corporate action on the part of RGA (including by
its Board of Directors), and except for the RGA Shareholder
Approval, no other corporate action or proceedings on the part
of RGA is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by RGA of this Agreement and the consummation by it
of the Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by RGA and, assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the other parties hereto,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of RGA,
enforceable against RGA in accordance with its terms, except
(i) as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer or similar laws now or hereinafter in effect relating
to or affecting creditors rights generally and by general
principles of equity, and (ii) except with respect to the
rights of indemnification and contribution hereunder, where
enforcement hereof may be limited by federal or state securities
Laws or the policies underlying such Laws.
(b) The Board of Directors of RGA, at a meeting duly called
and held, has (i) approved this Agreement and the
Transactions, and deemed this Agreement and the Transactions
advisable, fair to and in the best interests of RGA Shareholders
(other than MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries);
(ii) approved this Agreement and the Transactions with
respect to the acquisition of Class B Common Stock by
MetLife in all respects for purposes of Section 351.459 of
the MGBCL; and (iii) resolved to recommend that RGA
Shareholders vote to approve and adopt this Agreement and the
Transactions, including the Recapitalization and the Amended and
Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation (the RGA Board
Recommendation).
(c) The affirmative votes (in person or by proxy) of both
(i) the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
RGA Common Stock, and (ii) the holders of a majority of the
shares of RGA Common Stock not held by MetLife or any of its
Subsidiaries, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote
at the RGA Shareholders Meeting, or any adjournment or
postponement of the RGA Shareholders Meeting, in favor of the
approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Recapitalization
and Amended
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and Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation are the only votes or
approvals of the holders of any class or series of capital stock
of RGA or any of its Subsidiaries which are necessary to adopt
this Agreement and approve the Transactions (together with
approval by holders of RGA Common Stock of RGAs
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan, the RGA
Shareholder Approval).
(d) Prior to the execution of this Agreement, and assuming
receipt of the RGA Shareholder Approval, the Board of Directors
of RGA has taken all action necessary to exempt under, or make
not subject to, the provisions of any State of Missouri takeover
law or other State of Missouri law that purports to limit or
restrict transactions with interested or affiliated shareholders
(including Section 351.459 of the MGBCL) or any provision
of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of RGA that would
require any corporate approval other than that otherwise
required by the MGBCL, the execution of this Agreement and the
Transactions, in each case as to MetLife.
Section 5.3 Non-Contravention.
(a) Except as disclosed in Section 5.3 of the RGA
Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by RGA nor the consummation by RGA of the
Transactions, nor compliance by RGA with any of the provisions
of this Agreement, will (i) conflict with or result in any
violation or breach of or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under any articles of incorporation,
certificate of incorporation, bylaws or similar organizational
documents of RGA or any of its Significant Subsidiaries,
(ii) violate any Law, judgment, writ or injunction of any
Governmental Authority applicable to RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries, or (iii) conflict with or result in any
violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under or give rise to a right of, or
result in, termination, modification, cancellation, recapture or
acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a benefit, or
result in the creation of any Lien in or upon or with respect
to, any of the properties or other assets of RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries, under any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any loan or credit agreement, debenture, note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, contract or other agreement
(each, a Contract) to which RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, except in the case of clauses (ii)
and (iii), for such violations, defaults or conflicts as would
not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate,
have a RGA Material Adverse Effect. Other than as would not
reasonably be expected to result in a RGA Material Adverse
Effect, none of the Transactions will (x) constitute a
change of control of RGA or any of its Subsidiaries
or otherwise result in the increase or acceleration of any
benefits, including to employees of RGA, under any Contract to
which RGA or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which RGA
or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or (y) result in any
adjustment of the number of shares subject to, or the terms of,
including exercise price, any outstanding employee stock options
of RGA; provided, however, the Transactions may
result in an adjustment to type or class of shares subject to
any such options of RGA.
(b) Except as would not be required to be disclosed in the
RGA Disclosure Documents (and, to the extent any such disclosure
is required in the RGA Disclosure Documents, except as shall be
disclosed therein, including any disclosure incorporated by
reference into such documents), and except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a RGA Material Adverse Effect, neither RGA nor any of its
Significant Subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its
respective articles of incorporation, certificate of
incorporation, bylaws or similar organizational documents,
(ii) is in default in the performance of any Contract to
which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of
its properties is subject or (iii) is in violation of any
Law applicable to RGA, any of its Subsidiaries or their assets
or properties.
Section 5.4 Governmental
Approvals. Except for filings required under,
and compliance with other applicable requirements of,
(a) the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (b) state
securities or blue sky laws, (c) the rules and
regulations of the NYSE, (d) the filing of the Amended and
Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of
State of the State of Missouri, (e) the insurance filings
set forth in Section 5.4 of the RGA Disclosure Schedule
(the RGA Required Consents) and
(f) filings (if any) required under, and compliance with
other applicable requirements of, the
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act),
no material consents or approvals of, or material filings,
declarations or registrations with, any Governmental Authority
are necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement
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by RGA or the consummation by RGA of the Transactions. As of the
date of this Agreement, RGA has no knowledge or reason to
believe that it will not be able to obtain the RGA Required
Consents.
Section 5.5 Capital
Stock.
(a) All outstanding shares of the capital stock of RGA have
been, and immediately after the Recapitalization, the Acceptance
Time and any Additional Divestiture Transaction, all of the
Recapitalized Shares shall be, duly authorized and validly
issued and are and will be fully paid, nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights, and are and will have been issued in
compliance in all material respects with applicable Law, and in
each case shall conform in all material respects to the
description thereof set forth in each of the
S-4
Prospectuses, the Split-Off Documents and, if applicable, the
Public Debt Exchange Documents and the Additional Split-Off
Documents. RGA does not have outstanding any common or preferred
stock other than the RGA Common Stock. Immediately after the
Recapitalization and prior to the completion of the Divestiture,
there shall be (i) no shares of RGA Class B Common
Stock outstanding other than the Exchange Shares, (ii) no
outstanding preemptive or other rights, warrants or options to
acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for,
any shares of RGA Class B Common Stock, and (iii) no
other equity interests in RGA or any of its Subsidiaries having
the right to participate with the holders of the RGA
Class B Common Stock in electing at least 80% of the
directors of RGA.
(b) RGA will have at its latest balance sheet date in the
RGA Disclosure Documents, an authorized and outstanding
capitalization as shall be disclosed in all material respects in
the RGA Disclosure Documents and, except with respect to
warrants to purchase RGA Common Stock issued by RGA as part of
the Trust Preferred Income Equity Redeemable Securities of
RGA and RGA Capital Trust I or otherwise as expressly set
forth in the RGA Disclosure Documents or the RGA Tax
Certificate, or otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.1
or 7.2, since the date set forth in the applicable
S-4
Prospectuses, (a) there will be no outstanding preemptive
or other rights, warrants or options to acquire, or instruments
convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital
stock or other equity interest in RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement,
understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the
issuance of any capital stock of RGA or any such Subsidiary, any
such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights,
warrants or options (except as may be contemplated by the terms
of the 6.75% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2065 of RGA) and
(b) there will have been no material change in the
authorized or outstanding capitalization of RGA, except with
respect to, in the case of each of clause (a) and
(b) above, (i) changes occurring in the ordinary
course of business, (ii) changes in outstanding RGA Common
Stock and options, rights, shares, units or other awards to
acquire RGA Common Stock resulting from transactions relating to
RGAs employee, director or consultant benefit, dividend
reinvestment or stock purchase plans (as the same may be amended
at the RGA annual meeting of the shareholders), and
(iii) changes associated with the Recapitalization.
(c) Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock, voting
securities or other equity interests of each Significant
Subsidiary of RGA is, and immediately after the
Recapitalization, the Acceptance Time and any Additional
Divestiture Transaction, all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests of
each Significant Subsidiary of RGA will be, duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any
preemptive rights, and are and will have been issued in
compliance in all material respects with applicable Law; and all
such securities are and will be owned by RGA or another wholly
owned Subsidiary of RGA and are owned free and clear of all
Liens. Except as set forth in Section 5.5(c) of the RGA
Disclosure Schedule, there are no (i) outstanding options
or other rights of any kind which obligate RGA or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries to issue or deliver any shares of
capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests of
any such Significant Subsidiary or any securities or obligations
convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for any
shares of capital stock, voting securities or other equity
interest of a Significant Subsidiary of RGA,
(ii) outstanding obligations of RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable into
or exercisable for any shares of capital stock, voting
securities or other equity interests of a Significant Subsidiary
of RGA; or (iii) other options, calls, warrants or other
rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character
relating to the issued
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or unissued capital stock of any Significant Subsidiary of RGA
to which RGA or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.
Section 5.6 Litigation. There
are no Actions pending, or to the knowledge of RGA, threatened,
to which RGA or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be a party or
to which the business or property of RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries is or may be subject, and there is no statute,
rule, regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or
issued by any Governmental Authority or that has been proposed
by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over RGA or
its Subsidiaries, (a) that seeks to, and neither RGA nor
any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any judgments, decrees or
orders that, enjoin, prohibit, rescind or restrain any of the
Transactions or otherwise prevent RGA from complying in all
material respects with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement or (b) except as shall be disclosed in the RGA
Disclosure Documents, that would, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a RGA Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 5.7 Accuracy
of Information. (a) As of the date that
such document is filed with the SEC (as amended, updated,
modified, supplemented or superseded), (b) in the case of
the
Form S-4,
as of the date that the
Form S-4
is declared effective by the SEC, (c) as of the date on
which such document (or portion thereof) is mailed to the RGA
Shareholders
and/or
MetLife Stockholders or otherwise first published, (d) in
the case of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, together with any
information filed pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of
the Securities Act with respect to the applicable Transaction,
during the pendency of the Recapitalization and at the RGA
Shareholders Meeting, (e) in the case of the Split-Off
Documents, together with any information filed pursuant to
Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities Act with
respect to the applicable Split-Off, during the pendency of the
Split-Off and the Acceptance Time, (f) in the case of the
Public Debt Exchange Documents, together with any information
filed pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities
Act with respect to the applicable Public Debt Exchange, during
the pendency of the Public Debt Exchange and the Acceptance Time
for such Public Debt Exchange, and (g) in the case of the
Additional Split-Off Documents, together with any information
filed pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities
Act with respect to the applicable Additional Split-Off, during
the pendency of the Additional Split-Offs and the Acceptance
Times for such Additional Split-Offs: (i) each of the RGA
Disclosure Documents will conform in all material respects to
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as
applicable; and (ii) none of the information supplied by
RGA for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any RGA
Disclosure Documents shall contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading; provided that RGA makes no
representation or warranty as to information contained in or
omitted from any RGA Disclosure Documents based on information
provided by MetLife for inclusion or incorporation by reference
therein.
Section 5.8 Brokers
and Other Advisors. Except for Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, the fees and expenses of
which will be paid by RGA except to the extent set forth in
Section 10.3, no broker, investment banker, financial
advisor or other Person is entitled to any brokers,
finders, financial advisors or other similar fee or
commission, or the reimbursement of expenses, in connection with
any of the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on
behalf of RGA or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.9 Property
Title. Except as would not be required to be
disclosed in the RGA Disclosure Documents (and, to the extent
any such disclosure is required in such documents, except as
shall be disclosed in such documents, including any disclosure
incorporated by reference into such documents), and except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a RGA Material Adverse Effect: (a) each of
RGA and its Subsidiaries has (i) good and, in the case of
real property, valid title to all of the properties and assets
owned by it, free and clear of all Liens, (ii) peaceful and
undisturbed possession under all leases to which it is party as
lessee, (iii) all material licenses, certificates, permits,
authorizations, approvals, franchises and other rights from, and
has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state
and local governmental authorities (including from the insurance
regulatory agencies of the various jurisdictions where it
conducts business) and all courts and other governmental
tribunals (each, an Authorization) necessary
to engage in the business currently conducted by it,
(iv) fulfilled and performed all obligations necessary to
maintain each Authorization and (v) no knowledge of any
threatened action, suit or proceeding or investigation that
would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation,
termination or suspension of any Authorization held by RGA or
its Subsidiaries; (b) all such Authorizations are valid and
in
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full force and effect and RGA and its Subsidiaries are in
compliance in all material respects with the terms and
conditions of all such Authorizations and with the rules and
regulations of the regulatory authorities having jurisdiction
with respect thereto; (c) no insurance regulatory agency or
body has issued any order or decree impairing, restricting or
prohibiting the payment of dividends by any Subsidiary of RGA to
the MetLife of such Subsidiary; and (d) all leases to which
RGA or any of its Subsidiaries is a party are valid and binding
and no default by RGA or any of its Subsidiaries has occurred
and is continuing thereunder, and, to RGAs knowledge, no
material defaults by the landlord are existing under any such
lease.
Section 5.10 Investment
Company. Neither RGA nor any of its
Significant Subsidiaries is, or after consummation of the
Divestiture will be, an investment company as
defined, and subject to regulation, under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
SEC thereunder (collectively, the Investment Company
Act), or analogous foreign laws and regulations.
Section 5.11 Internal
Control. Except as shall be disclosed in the
RGA Disclosure Documents, (a) RGA maintains a system of
internal control over financial reporting (as such term is
defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and has been designed by RGAs principal
executive officer and principal financial officer, or under
their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
GAAP; and (b) RGAs internal control over financial
reporting is effective, and RGA is not aware of any material
weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.
Section 5.12 Disclosure
Controls and Procedures. Except as shall be
disclosed in the RGA Disclosure Documents, (a) RGA has
established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as
such terms are defined in
Rule 13a-15(e)
of the Exchange Act) in accordance with the rules and
regulations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act) and the Exchange Act;
(b) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to
provide reasonable assurance that material information relating
to RGA and its subsidiaries is made known to RGAs Chief
Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by others
within those entities; and (c) such disclosure controls and
procedures are effective to provide such reasonable assurance.
Section 5.13 Exhibits. There
are no contracts, agreements or other documents to which RGA or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party that are required to be
described in the RGA Disclosure Documents or filed as exhibits
thereto by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case
may be, which have not been described in the RGA Disclosure
Documents or filed as exhibits thereto.
Section 5.14 No
Material Change. Except as would not be
required to be disclosed in the RGA Disclosure Documents (and,
to the extent any such disclosure is required in such documents,
except as shall be disclosed in such documents, including any
disclosure incorporated by reference into such documents), and
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a RGA Material Adverse Effect,
since the date of the latest audited financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the RGA Disclosure
Documents: (a) neither RGA nor any of its Subsidiaries has
sustained any material loss or interference with its business
from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree; (b) there has not
been any material adverse change in the capital stock,
short-term debt or long-term debt of RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development
involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting
the general affairs, management, consolidated financial
position, shareholders equity, results of operations or
business or prospects of RGA and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole; (c) neither RGA nor any of its Subsidiaries has
incurred any liabilities or obligations outside the ordinary
course of business, direct or contingent, which are material to
RGA and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, nor entered into any
material transaction not in the ordinary course of business; and
(d) there have not been dividends or distributions of any
kind declared, paid or made by RGA on any class of its capital
stock, except for regularly scheduled dividends, or, in each
case, to the extent permitted by Section 7.1.
Section 5.15 RGA
Insurance Subsidiaries. Except as would not
be required to be disclosed in the RGA Disclosure Documents
(and, to the extent any such disclosure is required in such
documents, except as shall be disclosed in such documents,
including any disclosure incorporated by reference into such
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documents), and except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a RGA Material Adverse
Effect: (a) each RGA Insurance Subsidiary is licensed as an
insurance company in its respective jurisdiction of
incorporation and is duly licensed or authorized as an insurer
in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be so
licensed or authorized to conduct its business; (b) each
RGA Insurance Subsidiary has all other approvals, orders,
consents, authorizations, licenses, certificates, permits,
registrations and qualifications (collectively, the RGA
Approvals) of and from all insurance regulatory
authorities to conduct its business; (c) there is no
pending or, to the knowledge of RGA, threatened action, suit,
proceeding or investigation that could reasonably be expected to
lead to any revocation, termination or suspension of any such
RGA Approval; (d) to the knowledge of RGA, no insurance
regulatory agency or body has issued any order or decree
impairing, restricting or prohibiting the payment of dividends
by any RGA Insurance Subsidiary to the MetLife of such RGA
Insurance Subsidiary; and (e) each RGA Insurance Subsidiary
is in compliance with and conducts its businesses in conformity
with all applicable insurance laws and regulations of its
respective jurisdiction of incorporation and the insurance laws
and regulations of other jurisdictions which are applicable
to it.
Section 5.16 Independent
Auditors. Deloitte & Touche, who
shall certify the audited financial statements of RGA included
or incorporated by reference in the RGA Disclosure Documents and
shall have audited RGAs internal control over financial
reporting and managements assessment thereof, is an
independent registered public accounting firm as required by the
Securities Act. The consolidated historical statements of RGA
included or incorporated by reference in the RGA Disclosure
Documents, together with the related schedules and notes, will
fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial condition and results of operations of RGA and its
Subsidiaries at the respective dates and for the respective
periods indicated, in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout such periods, except as stated therein. Other
financial and statistical information and data of RGA to be
included or incorporated by reference in the RGA Disclosure
Documents, historical and pro forma, are, in all material
respects, accurately presented and prepared on a basis
consistent with such financial statements, except as may
otherwise be indicated therein, and the books and records of RGA
and its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.17 Tax.
(a) All material Tax returns required to be filed by RGA or
any of its Subsidiaries, in all jurisdictions, have been so
filed. All material Taxes due or claimed to be due from RGA or
any of its Subsidiaries or that are due and payable have been
paid, other than those Taxes being contested in good faith and
for which adequate reserves have been provided or those
currently payable without penalty or interest. RGA does not know
of any material proposed additional Tax assessments against it
or any of its Subsidiaries, other than those additional Tax
assessments that will be contested in good faith and for which
adequate reserves have been provided.
(b) (i) RGA has examined the IRS Ruling Request and
any Supplemental IRS Ruling Request (to the extent applicable),
and the facts, statements and representations made therein,
solely to the extent relating to RGA and its Affiliates, are
true, correct and complete in all material respects and
(ii) RGA has no knowledge of any facts that would render
such facts, statements and representations no longer true,
correct and complete in all material respects; provided,
however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, no representation or warranty is being made
by RGA as to whether MetLife and its Subsidiaries will satisfy
the control requirements set forth in
Sections 355(a)(1)(A) and 355(a)(1)(D)(ii) of the Code in
connection with the Transactions.
(c) As of the date of this Agreement, RGA has no knowledge
or reason to believe that it will not be able to deliver the RGA
Tax Certificate.
Section 5.18 Approvals. RGA
and each Significant Subsidiary of RGA has all necessary RGA
Approvals of and from, and has made all filings, registrations
and declarations (collectively, the RGA
Filings) with, all insurance regulatory authorities
and Governmental Authorities, all self-regulatory organizations
and all courts and other tribunals, which are necessary to own,
lease, license and use its properties and assets and to conduct
its business in the manner as shall be described in the RGA
Disclosure Documents, except where the failure to have such RGA
Approvals or to make such RGA Filings would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a RGA Material Adverse Effect;
to the knowledge of RGA, RGA and
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each Significant Subsidiary of RGA is in compliance with all
applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, bylaws and similar
requirements, including in connection with registrations or
memberships in self-regulatory organizations, and all such RGA
Approvals and RGA Filings are in full force and effect and
neither RGA nor any Significant Subsidiary of RGA has received
any notice of any event, inquiry, investigation or proceeding
that would reasonably be expected to result in the suspension,
revocation or limitation of any such RGA Approval or otherwise
impose any limitation on the conduct of the business of RGA or
any Significant Subsidiary of RGA, except as shall be described
in the RGA Disclosure Documents, or except for any such
non-compliance, suspension, revocation or limitation which would
not have, individually or in the aggregate, a RGA Material
Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF METLIFE
Except as disclosed in the disclosure schedule delivered by
MetLife to RGA (the MetLife Disclosure
Schedule) simultaneously with the execution of this
Agreement, MetLife hereby represents and warrants to RGA, on the
date of this Agreement and on each of the Closing Date and the
date of the Acceptance Time of any Public Debt Exchange and any
Additional Split-Off, as follows (provided that the
representations set forth in Sections 6.3(b), 6.6, 6.7, 6.9
through 6.18, 6.20 and 6.21 (the MetLife Excluded
Representations) are being made solely for purposes of
the Transactions related to the Split-Off and any Additional
Divestiture Transaction and not for purposes of the Transactions
related to the Recapitalization):
Section 6.1 Organization;
Good Standing. Each of MetLife and its
Significant Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the Laws of the state of its
incorporation, formation or organization, as the case may be,
and has all requisite corporate or company power and corporate
or company authority necessary to own, lease and operate all of
its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted, except for such failures to be duly
organized, validly existing or in good standing or to have
corporate power or corporate authority that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
MetLife Material Adverse Effect. Each of MetLife and its
Significant Subsidiaries is duly licensed or qualified to do
business and is in good standing (or equivalent status) in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it
or the character or location of the properties and assets owned
or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good
standing (or equivalent status) would not reasonably be expected
to, individually or in the aggregate, have a MetLife Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 6.2 Authorization.
(a) MetLife has all necessary corporate power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The
execution, delivery and performance by MetLife of this
Agreement, and the consummation by it of the Transactions, have
been duly authorized and approved by all necessary corporate
action on the part of MetLife (including by its Board of
Directors), and no other corporate action or proceedings on the
part of MetLife is necessary to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance by MetLife of this Agreement and the
consummation by it of the Transactions. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by MetLife and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of MetLife, enforceable against MetLife in accordance
with its terms, except (i) as such enforcement may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership,
moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws now or
hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors
rights generally and by general principles of equity, and
(ii) except with respect to the rights of indemnification
and contribution hereunder, where enforcement hereof may be
limited by federal or state securities Laws or the policies
underlying such Laws.
(b) The Board of Directors of MetLife, at a meeting duly
called and held, has unanimously approved this Agreement and the
Transactions.
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Section 6.3 Non-Contravention.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
MetLife nor the consummation by MetLife of the Transactions, nor
compliance by MetLife with any of the provisions of this
Agreement, will (i) conflict with or result in any
violation or breach of or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under any articles of incorporation,
certificate of incorporation, bylaws or similar organizational
documents of MetLife or any of its Significant Subsidiaries,
(ii) violate any Law, judgment, writ or injunction of any
Governmental Authority applicable to MetLife or any of its
Subsidiaries or (iii) conflict with or result in any
violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under or give rise to a right of, or
result in, termination, modification, cancellation, recapture or
acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a benefit, or
result in the creation of any Lien in or upon or with respect
to, any of the properties or other assets of MetLife or any of
its Subsidiaries, under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any Contract to which MetLife or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, except in the case of clauses (ii)
and (iii), for such violations, defaults or conflicts as would
not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate,
have a MetLife Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as would not be required to be disclosed in the
MetLife Disclosure Documents (and, to the extent any such
disclosure is required in the MetLife Disclosure Documents,
except as shall be disclosed therein, including any disclosure
incorporated by reference into such documents), and except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a MetLife Material Adverse Effect, neither
MetLife nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries: (i) is in
violation of its respective articles of incorporation,
certificate of incorporation, bylaws or similar organizational
documents, (ii) is in default in the performance of any
Contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to
which any of its properties is subject or (iii) is in
violation of any Law applicable to MetLife, any of its
Subsidiaries or their assets or properties.
Section 6.4 Governmental
Approvals. Except for filings required under,
and compliance with other applicable requirements of,
(a) the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (b) state
securities or blue sky laws, (c) the rules and
regulations of the NYSE, (d) the insurance filings set
forth in Section 6.4 of the MetLife Disclosure Schedule
(the MetLife Required Consents) and
(e) filings (if any) required under, and compliance with
other applicable requirements of, the HSR Act, no material
consents or approvals of, or material filings, declarations or
registrations with, any Governmental Authority are necessary for
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by MetLife or the
consummation by MetLife of the Transactions. As of the date of
this Agreement, MetLife has no knowledge or reason to believe
that it will not be able to obtain the MetLife Required Consents.
Section 6.5 Title. As
of the date of this Agreement, General American Life Insurance
Company, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of MetLife, has good
and valid title to the Deposited Shares, and immediately prior
to the Recapitalization, MetLife shall have good and valid title
to the Exchange Shares, free and clear of any Liens. As of the
date of this Agreement, all of such Deposited Shares are held by
General American Life Insurance Company (MetLife
Holding Subsidiary).
Section 6.6 Litigation. There
are no Actions pending, or to the knowledge of MetLife,
threatened to which MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries is or may
be a party or to which the business or property of MetLife or
any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject, and there is no
statute, rule, regulation or order that has been enacted,
adopted or issued by any Governmental Authority or that has been
proposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
MetLife or its Subsidiaries, (a) that seeks to, and neither
MetLife nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any judgments,
decrees or orders that, enjoin, prohibit, rescind or restrain
any of the Transactions or otherwise prevent MetLife from
complying in all material respects with the terms and provisions
of this Agreement or (b) except as shall be disclosed in
the MetLife Disclosure Documents, that would, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a MetLife
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.7 Accuracy
of Information. (a) As of the date that
such document is filed with the SEC (as amended, updated,
modified, supplemented or superseded), (b) in the case of
the
Form S-4,
as of the date that the
Form S-4
is declared effective by the SEC, (c) as of the date on
which such document (or portion thereof) is mailed to the RGA
Shareholders
and/or
MetLife Stockholders or otherwise first published, (d) in
the case of
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the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, together with any information
filed pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the
Securities Act with respect to the applicable Transaction,
during the pendency of the Recapitalization and at the RGA
Shareholders Meeting, (e) in the case of the Split-Off
Documents, together with any information filed pursuant to
Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities Act with
respect to the applicable Split-Off, during the pendency of the
Split-Off and the Acceptance Time, (f) in the case of the
Public Debt Exchange Documents, together with any information
filed pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities
Act with respect to the applicable Public Debt Exchange, during
the pendency of the Public Debt Exchange and the Acceptance Time
for such Public Debt Exchange, and (g) in the case of the
Additional Split-Off Documents, together with any information
filed pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the Securities
Act with respect to the applicable Additional Split-Off, during
the pendency of the Additional Split-Offs and the Acceptance
Times for such Additional Split-Offs: (i) each of the
MetLife Disclosure Documents, will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, as applicable; and (ii) none of the
information supplied by MetLife for inclusion or incorporation
by reference in any MetLife Disclosure Documents shall contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
provided that MetLife makes no representation or warranty
as to information contained in or omitted from any MetLife
Disclosure Documents based on information provided by RGA for
inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.
Section 6.8 Brokers
and Other Advisors. Except for Goldman,
Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.,
the fees and expenses of which will be paid by MetLife, no
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is
entitled to any brokers, finders, financial
advisors or other similar fee or commission, or the
reimbursement of expenses, in connection with any of the
Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of
MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 6.9 Property
Title. Except as would not be required to be
disclosed in the MetLife Disclosure Documents (and, to the
extent any such disclosure is required in such documents, except
as shall be disclosed in such documents, including any
disclosure incorporated by reference into such documents), and
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a MetLife Material Adverse
Effect: (a) each of MetLife and its Subsidiaries has
(i) good and, in the case of real property, valid title to
all of the properties and assets owned by it, free and clear of
all Liens, (ii) peaceful and undisturbed possession under
all leases to which it is party as lessee, (iii) all
Authorizations necessary to engage in the business currently
conducted by it, (iv) fulfilled and performed all
obligations necessary to maintain each Authorization and
(v) no knowledge of any threatened action, suit or
proceeding or investigation that would reasonably be expected to
result in the revocation, termination or suspension of any
Authorization held by MetLife or its Subsidiaries; (b) all
such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and
MetLife and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material
respects with the terms and conditions of all such
Authorizations and with the rules and regulations of the
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction with respect thereto;
(c) no insurance regulatory agency or body has issued any
order or decree impairing, restricting or prohibiting the
payment of dividends by any Subsidiary of MetLife to the MetLife
of such Subsidiary; and (d) all leases to which MetLife or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party are valid and binding and no
default by MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries has occurred and
is continuing thereunder, and, to MetLifes knowledge, no
material defaults by the landlord are existing under any such
lease.
Section 6.10 Investment
Company. Neither MetLife nor any of its
Significant Subsidiaries is, or after consummation of the
Divestiture will be, an investment company as
defined, and subject to regulation, under the Investment Company
Act, or analogous foreign laws and regulations.
Section 6.11 Capitalization. The
authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of MetLife
conforms in all material respects to the description thereof set
forth in each of the MetLife Disclosure Documents and has been
validly authorized and issued, is fully paid and nonassessable
and was not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive
or similar rights. The description of the authorized and
outstanding capitalization of MetLife contained in the balance
sheet of MetLife set forth in the
S-4
Prospectuses is accurate in all material respects as of the date
of such balance sheet.
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Section 6.12 Internal
Control. Except as shall be disclosed in the
MetLife Disclosure Documents, (a) MetLife maintains a
system of internal control over financial reporting (as such
term is defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and has been designed by MetLifes principal
executive officer and principal financial officer, or under
their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
GAAP; and (b) MetLifes internal control over
financial reporting is effective and MetLife is not aware of any
material weaknesses in its internal control over financial
reporting.
Section 6.13 Disclosure
Controls and Procedures. Except as shall be
disclosed in the MetLife Disclosure Documents, (a) MetLife
has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures
(as such terms are defined in
Rule 13a-15(e)
of the Exchange Act) in accordance with the rules and
regulations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Exchange Act;
(b) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to
provide reasonable assurance that material information relating
to MetLife and its subsidiaries is made known to MetLifes
Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by
others within those entities; and (c) such disclosure
controls and procedures are effective to provide such reasonable
assurance.
Section 6.14 Exhibits. There
are no contracts, agreements or other documents to which MetLife
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party that are required to be
described in the MetLife Disclosure Documents or filed as
exhibits thereto by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as
the case may be, which have not been described in the MetLife
Disclosure Documents or filed as exhibits thereto.
Section 6.15 No
Material Change. Except as would not be
required to be disclosed in the MetLife Disclosure Documents
(and, to the extent any such disclosure is required in such
documents, except as shall be disclosed in such documents,
including any disclosure incorporated by reference into such
documents), and except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a MetLife Material
Adverse Effect, since the date of the latest audited financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the MetLife
Disclosure Documents: (a) neither MetLife nor any of its
Subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference
with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity,
whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute
or court or governmental action, order or decree; (b) there
has not been any material adverse change in the capital stock,
short-term debt or long-term debt of MetLife or any of its
Subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development
involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting
the general affairs, management, consolidated financial
position, shareholders equity, results of operations or
business or prospects of MetLife and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole; (c) neither MetLife nor any of its Subsidiaries
has incurred any liabilities or obligations outside the ordinary
course of business, direct or contingent, which are material to
MetLife and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, nor entered into
any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business;
and (d) there have not been dividends or distributions of
any kind declared, paid or made by MetLife on any class of its
capital stock, except for regularly scheduled dividends.
Section 6.16 MetLife
Insurance Subsidiaries. Except as would not
be required to be disclosed in the MetLife Disclosure Documents
(and, to the extent any such disclosure is required in such
documents, except as shall be disclosed in such documents,
including any disclosure incorporated by reference into such
documents), and except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a MetLife Material
Adverse Effect: (a) each MetLife Insurance Subsidiary is
licensed as an insurance company in its respective jurisdiction
of incorporation and is duly licensed or authorized as an
insurer in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be so
licensed or authorized to conduct its business; (b) each
MetLife Insurance Subsidiary has all other approvals, orders,
consents, authorizations, licenses, certificates, permits,
registrations and qualifications (collectively, the
MetLife Approvals) of and from all insurance
regulatory authorities to conduct its business; (c) there
is no pending or, to the knowledge of MetLife, threatened
action, suit, proceeding or investigation that could reasonably
be expected to lead to any revocation, termination or suspension
of any such MetLife Approval; (d) to the knowledge of
MetLife, no insurance regulatory agency or body has issued any
order or decree impairing, restricting or prohibiting the
payment of dividends by any MetLife Insurance Subsidiary to the
MetLife of such MetLife Insurance Subsidiary; and (e) each
MetLife Insurance Subsidiary is in compliance with and conducts
its businesses in conformity with all applicable
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insurance laws and regulations of its respective jurisdiction of
incorporation and the insurance laws and regulations of other
jurisdictions which are applicable to it.
Section 6.17 Broker-Dealer
Subsidiaries. Except as would not be required
to be disclosed in the MetLife Disclosure Documents (and, to the
extent any such disclosure is required in such documents, except
as shall be disclosed in such documents, including any
disclosure incorporated by reference into such documents), and
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a MetLife Material Adverse
Effect: (a) each Significant Subsidiary of MetLife which is
engaged in the business of acting as a broker-dealer or an
investment advisor (respectively, a Broker-Dealer
Subsidiary and an Investment Advisor
Subsidiary) is duly licensed or registered as a
broker-dealer or investment advisor, as the case may be, in each
jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed or
registered to conduct its business; (b) each Broker-Dealer
Subsidiary and each Investment Advisor Subsidiary has all other
necessary MetLife Approvals of and from all applicable
regulatory authorities, including any self-regulatory
organization, to conduct its businesses; (c) none of the
Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries or Investment Advisor Subsidiaries
has received any notification from any applicable regulatory
authority to the effect that any additional MetLife Approvals
from such regulatory authority are needed to be obtained by such
subsidiary in any case where it could be reasonably expected
that (i) any of the Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries or
Investment Advisor Subsidiaries would in fact be required either
to obtain any such additional MetLife Approvals or cease or
otherwise limit engaging in certain business and (ii) the
failure to have such MetLife Approvals or limiting such business
would have a MetLife Material Adverse Effect; and (d) each
Broker-Dealer Subsidiary and each Investment Advisor Subsidiary
is in compliance with the requirements of the broker-dealer and
investment advisor laws and regulations of each jurisdiction
which are applicable to such subsidiary, and has filed all
notices, reports, documents or other information required to be
filed thereunder.
Section 6.18 Independent
Auditors. Deloitte & Touche, who
shall certify the audited financial statements of MetLife
included or incorporated by reference in the MetLife Disclosure
Documents and shall have audited MetLifes internal control
over financial reporting and managements assessment
thereof, is an independent registered public accounting firm as
required by the Securities Act. The consolidated historical
statements of MetLife included or incorporated by reference in
the MetLife Disclosure Documents, together with the related
schedules and notes, will fairly present, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial condition and results of
operations of MetLife and its Subsidiaries (which shall include
for these purposes, RGA and its Subsidiaries) at the respective
dates and for the respective periods indicated, in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied throughout such periods, except
as stated therein. Other financial and statistical information
and data of MetLife to be included or incorporated by reference
in the MetLife Disclosure Documents, historical and pro forma,
are, in all material respects, accurately presented and prepared
on a basis consistent with such financial statements, except as
may otherwise be indicated therein, and the books and records of
MetLife and its Subsidiaries (which shall include for these
purposes, RGA and its Subsidiaries).
Section 6.19 Investor
Representations. Taking into account its
personnel and resources, MetLife and MetLife Holding Subsidiary
are knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making, and
are qualified to make, decisions with respect to investments in
shares presenting an investment decision like that involved in
the Recapitalization, including investments in securities issued
by RGA. MetLife and MetLife Holding Subsidiary are
qualified institutional buyers, as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act. MetLife also
acknowledges that, to the extent required by Law, the
certificates for the Exchange Shares and the Recently Acquired
Shares may contain legends regarding resale restrictions under
the Securities Act.
Section 6.20 Tax.
(a) All material Tax returns required to be filed by
MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries, in all jurisdictions, have
been so filed. All material Taxes due or claimed to be due from
MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries or that are due and payable
have been paid, other than those Taxes being contested in good
faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided or
those currently payable without penalty or interest. MetLife
does not know of any material proposed additional Tax
assessments against it or any of its Subsidiaries, other than
those additional Tax assessments that will be contested in good
faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided.
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(b) (i) MetLife has examined the IRS Ruling Request
and any Supplemental IRS Ruling Request (to the extent
applicable), and the facts, statements and representations made
therein, solely to the extent relating to MetLife and its
Affiliates, are true, correct and complete in all material
respects and (ii) MetLife has no knowledge of any facts
that would render such facts, statements and representations no
longer true, correct and complete in all material respects.
(c) As of the date of this Agreement, MetLife has no
knowledge or reason to believe that it will not be able to
deliver the MetLife Tax Certificates, and has been advised by
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz that it expects to be
able to issue the Tax Opinion.
Section 6.21 Approvals. MetLife
and each Significant Subsidiary of MetLife has all necessary
MetLife Approvals of and from, and has made all filings,
registrations and declarations (collectively, the
MetLife Filings) with, all insurance
regulatory authorities and Governmental Authorities, all
self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other
tribunals, which are necessary to own, lease, license and use
its properties and assets and to conduct its business in the
manner as shall be described in the MetLife Disclosure
Documents, except where the failure to have such MetLife
Approvals or to make such MetLife Filings would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a MetLife Material Adverse
Effect; to the knowledge of MetLife, MetLife and each
Significant Subsidiary of MetLife is in compliance with all
applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, bylaws and similar
requirements, including in connection with registrations or
memberships in self-regulatory organizations, and all such
MetLife Approvals and MetLife Filings are in full force and
effect and neither MetLife nor any Significant Subsidiary of
MetLife has received any notice of any event, inquiry,
investigation or proceeding that would reasonably be expected to
result in the suspension, revocation or limitation of any such
MetLife Approval or otherwise impose any limitation on the
conduct of the business of MetLife or any Significant Subsidiary
of MetLife, except as shall be described in the MetLife
Disclosure Documents, or except for any such non-compliance,
suspension, revocation or limitation which would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a MetLife Material Adverse
Effect.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
Section 7.1 Interim
Operations.
(a) From the date of this Agreement through the earlier of
the End Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance
with its terms (provided that the restriction set forth in
clause (v) of this Section 7.1(a) shall terminate on
the Determination Date), except as otherwise contemplated by
this Agreement, required by Law or disclosed in Section 7.1
of the RGA Disclosure Schedule, without MetLifes written
consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed if the action would not reasonably be expected to delay
or impair the Transactions or the parties ability to
comply with their obligations under this Agreement), RGA shall
not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to:
(i) (A) except in connection with any shareholder
rights plan (other than a Section 382 Shareholder
Rights Plan) so long as the consideration or adoption of any
such other shareholder rights plan would not require the filing
of a Current Report on
Form 8-K
or disclosure on the
Form S-4
prior to the Determination Date to report consideration or
adoption of such shareholder rights plan or (B) except in
connection with a Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan,
amend or propose to amend its articles of incorporation or
by-laws or equivalent organizational documents (other than the
Amended and Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation and the
Amended and Restated RGA Bylaws, in each case in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement) in a manner that would adversely
affect the rights of RGA Shareholders in any material respect or
that would reasonably be expected to delay or impair the
Transactions or the parties ability to comply with their
obligations under this Agreement;
(ii) adopt a plan or agreement of complete or partial
liquidation or dissolution, except that this clause (ii) of
Section 7.1(a) shall not apply with regard to Subsidiaries
of RGA that are not Significant Subsidiaries;
(iii) change the principal business of RGA and its
Subsidiaries from the life reinsurance business to a different
line of business;
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(iv) enter into any line of business that is not reasonably
related or complementary to the life reinsurance business;
(v) acquire, or enter into an agreement to acquire, any
businesses, assets, product lines, business units, business
operations, stock or other properties, including by way of
merger or consolidation, where the total consideration paid, or
to be paid, by RGA in such acquisition is in excess of
$500 million; or
(vi) authorize any of, or commit to do or enter into any
binding Contract with respect to any of, the foregoing actions
in clauses (i) through (v) of this Section 7.1(a).
(b) From the date of this Agreement through the earlier of
the End Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance
with its terms, except as otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement, required by Law or disclosed in Section 7.1 of
the RGA Disclosure Schedule, without MetLifes written
consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed if the action would not reasonably be expected to delay
or impair the Transactions or the parties ability to
comply with their obligations under this Agreement), RGA shall
not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, do any of the
following during the period in which the Offer is open, nor
prior to the commencement of the Offer to the extent that such
action (including the completion of an announced transaction)
would require the filing of a Current Report on
Form 8-K
to report previously undisclosed information during the period
in which the Offer is open (provided that these
restrictions shall not apply to the completion of a transaction
disclosed prior to the Commencement Date so long as such
completion occurs after the Acceptance Time):
(i) except in connection with a
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan, or, to the extent
permitted by clause (i) of Section 7.1(a), any other
shareholder rights plan, issue, sell or grant any shares of its
capital stock, any other voting securities, or any other
securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable or
exercisable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for any
shares of its capital stock, or any rights, warrants or options
to purchase any shares of its capital stock, or any securities
or rights convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or
evidencing the right to subscribe for, any shares of its capital
stock; provided that RGA may (subject to RGAs
indemnification obligations under Section 8.2(d)):
(A) issue or grant any options, rights, shares units or
other awards, and issue shares of RGA Common Stock upon
exercise, conversion or settlement of any options, rights,
shares, units or other awards in the ordinary course of business
or consistent with past practice pursuant to employee, director
or consultant stock or benefit plans or to agreements with
employees, directors or consultants or as an inducement to
employment; (B) issue shares pursuant to, or amend solely
in order to modify the warrants so that the warrants are
convertible into RGA Class A Common Stock following the
Recapitalization, the Warrant Agreement between RGA and The Bank
of New York Trust Company, N.A., as successor warrant agent
to The Bank of New York, dated as of December 18, 2001;
(C) issue shares pursuant to, or amend in order to make
such modifications as are consistent with those made to the
warrant agreement described in preceding clause (B), the Unit
Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2001, among RGA, RGA
Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the
Trust), acting as agent for the holders of
the units from time to time, and The Bank of New York
Trust Company, N.A., as successor unit agent to The Bank of
New York, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as
successor property trustee for the Trust to The Bank of New York
and The Bank of New York (Delaware), as the Delaware trustee;
and (D) enter into, or cause its subsidiaries to enter
into, one or more transactions to finance regulatory or
operational requirements, including regulatory reserve
collateral requirements, under Regulation XXX;
(ii) except in connection with a
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan or to the extent
permitted by clause (i) of Section 7.1(a), any other
shareholder rights plan, (A) redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire any of its outstanding shares of capital stock, or any
other securities thereof or any rights, warrants or options to
acquire any such shares or securities, except in connection with
the exercise of any options, rights, shares, units or other
awards pursuant to employee, director or consultant stock or
benefit plans or to agreements with employees, directors or
consultants or as an inducement to employment, (B) declare,
set aside for payment or pay any dividend on, or make any other
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distribution (whether in cash, stock or other form) in respect
of, any shares of its capital stock (other than ordinary course
quarterly cash dividends to RGAs shareholders (including
any increases in such quarterly dividends) or dividends by any
Subsidiary of RGA to RGA or any other Subsidiary of RGA),
(C) adjust, split, combine, subdivide or reclassify any
shares of its capital stock, or (D) enter into any
Contract, understanding or arrangement with respect to the sale,
voting, registration or repurchase of RGA Common Stock or the
capital stock of any Subsidiary of RGA, other than employee,
director or consultant stock or benefit plans or agreements or
as an inducement to employment;
(iii) acquire or enter into an agreement to acquire any
businesses, assets, product lines, business units, business
operations, stock or other properties, including by way of
merger or consolidation, other than acquisitions that are not
material to RGA and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iv) enter into or discontinue any line of business
material to RGA and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or
(v) authorize any of, or commit to do or enter into any
binding Contract with respect to any of, the foregoing actions
in clauses (i) through (iv) of this
Section 7.1(b).
Section 7.2 Non-Solicitation.
(a) Except as set forth on Section 7.2 of the MetLife
Disclosure Schedule, on or prior to the earlier of the Closing
Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its
terms, neither MetLife nor RGA shall, nor shall MetLife or RGA
authorize, permit or direct any of their respective
Subsidiaries, any of its or their respective directors, officers
or employees or any investment banker, financial advisor,
attorney, accountant or other advisor, agent or representative
(collectively, Representatives) to, directly
or indirectly through another Person, except as otherwise
provided below, (i) solicit, initiate, or knowingly
encourage any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to an Alternative
Proposal or (ii) other than informing persons of the
provisions contained in this Section 7.2, participate in
any discussions or negotiations regarding any Alternative
Proposal, or furnish any information concerning MetLife, RGA and
their respective Subsidiaries to any Person in connection with
any Alternative Proposal. Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 7.2 to the contrary, at any time prior to the
receipt of the RGA Shareholder Approval, in response to an
unsolicited bona fide written Alternative Proposal (in
the case of RGA) or an unsolicited bona fide written
offer for all of the equity securities or consolidated assets of
RGA pursuant to which the shareholders of RGA (other than
MetLife and its Subsidiaries) would receive the same
consideration on a per share basis and on the same terms and
conditions as MetLife and its Subsidiaries would receive their
consideration (in the case of MetLife and its Subsidiaries), in
each case, made after the date of this Agreement, MetLife or RGA
may, after the Board of Directors of MetLife (in the case of
MetLife and its Subsidiaries) or the RGA Special Committee (in
the case of RGA) determines in good faith, after consultation
with outside counsel, that the failure to take such action would
be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law
to such companys respective shareholders or stockholders,
as the case may be, (A) furnish information regarding
MetLife, RGA and their respective Subsidiaries to the Person
making such proposal (and its Representatives); and
(B) participate in discussions or negotiations with the
Person making such proposal (and its Representatives) regarding
such proposal (it being understood that, for purposes of this
sentence, consideration shall include any amount paid by the
Person making any Alternative Proposal to MetLife or its
Subsidiaries in a transaction that is conditioned upon such
Alternative Transaction to the extent that such amount exceeds
the fair market value received by such Person from MetLife and
its Subsidiaries in such transaction).
(b) Except as expressly permitted by this
Section 7.2(b), neither the RGA Special Committee nor the
Board of Directors of RGA shall (i) withdraw or modify, in
a manner adverse to MetLife, the RGA Board Recommendation or
(ii) publicly recommend to the RGA Shareholders an
Alternative Proposal (any action described in clauses (i)
or (ii) being referred to as a RGA Adverse
Recommendation Change) (it being understood and agreed
that any stop, look and listen communication by the
Board of Directors of RGA to the RGA Shareholders pursuant to
Rule 14d-9(f)
of the Exchange Act or any similar communication to the RGA
Shareholders shall not constitute a RGA Adverse Recommendation
Change).
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of RGA or
the RGA Special Committee may make a RGA Adverse Recommendation
Change, upon a good-faith determination by the Board of
Directors of RGA or the RGA Special Committee (after receiving
the advice of their respective outside counsel) that the failure
to take such action would be inconsistent with the fiduciary
duties of the Board of Directors of RGA or of the RGA Special
Committee, as the case may be, under applicable Law and, in such
event, may explain its rationale for such RGA Adverse
Recommendation Change in communications with the RGA
Shareholders and in filings with or other submissions to
Governmental Authorities. If the Board of Directors of RGA or
the RGA Special Committee makes a RGA Adverse Recommendation
Change, MetLife shall be relieved of its obligations under
Section 7.2(a) from and after the time of the RGA Adverse
Recommendation Change.
(c) At a meeting of the RGA Shareholders called with not
less than 60 days notice (the Alternative
Meeting), in accordance with the articles of
incorporation and bylaws of RGA and held prior to the RGA
Shareholders Meeting, MetLife may submit to the RGA Shareholders
for approval any bona fide written Alternative Proposal
for all of the equity securities or consolidated assets of RGA
pursuant to which all RGA shareholders would be entitled to
receive the same consideration on a per share basis and on the
same terms and conditions (it being understood that, for
purposes of this sentence, consideration shall include any
amount paid by the Person making any Alternative Proposal to
MetLife or its Subsidiaries in a transaction that is conditioned
upon such Alternative Transaction to the extent that such amount
exceeds the fair market value received by such Person from
MetLife and its Subsidiaries in such transaction)). If MetLife
shall submit any bona fide written Alternative Proposal
which MetLife represents in writing it is prepared to accept
pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the Board of Directors of
RGA or the RGA Special Committee shall call a special meeting of
RGA Shareholders to consider any such Alternative Proposal on a
date reasonably requested by MetLife in accordance with the
articles of incorporation and bylaws of RGA, which date shall
fall before the RGA Shareholders Meeting; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors of RGA or the RGA
Special Committee shall have a right to set an alternative date
for the Alternative Meeting that is reasonably after the date
requested by MetLife if the Board of Directors of RGA or the RGA
Special Committee determines in good faith, after consultation
with outside counsel, that the failure to change to such
alternative date (taking into account the date of the RGA
Shareholders Meeting) would be inconsistent with its fiduciary
duties under applicable Law; and provided,
further, that, in all events, the Alternative Meeting
shall be called and held prior to the RGA Shareholders Meeting.
If MetLife shall submit any such Alternative Proposal pursuant
to this Section 7.2(c): (i) MetLife shall cooperate
and promptly provide or, to the extent MetLife or its
Representatives do not possess or have access, request from the
prospective acquirer, such information as the RGA Special
Committee may reasonably request regarding the Alternative
Proposal and such acquirer; and (ii) RGA, at its sole
option and upon written notice to MetLife, may elect that all of
(and not less than all of) MetLife, RGA and their respective
Subsidiaries and Representatives shall be relieved of their
respective obligations under Section 7.2(a) and
Section 7.2(b) from and after the time of RGAs
notice. Neither the Board of Directors of RGA nor the RGA
Special Committee shall have any duty or obligation to take
action to facilitate or permit an Alternative Proposal,
including under the Missouri Business Combination Statute
(Mo.Rev.Stat. § 351.459) or otherwise under Missouri
law or to provide access to any information regarding RGA to the
Person making any Alternative Proposal, except to call a special
meeting of RGA Shareholders as provided herein.
Section 7.3 RGA
Shareholders Meeting. RGA shall, in
accordance with applicable Law and its articles of incorporation
and bylaws, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a
meeting of the RGA Shareholders (the RGA Shareholders
Meeting), on a date selected by RGA, in its
discretion, that is at least 5 Business Days prior to the
expiration of the Offer (provided that RGA and MetLife
shall cooperate to schedule the RGA Shareholders Meeting and the
Offer to comply with Section 3.1(a)(i)(C) and this
Section 7.3), for the purpose of obtaining the RGA
Shareholder Approval, and, subject to Section 7.2(b), shall
take all lawful action to solicit the RGA Shareholder Approval.
Except as expressly permitted by Section 7.2(b), the RGA
Special Committee and the Board of Directors of RGA shall make
the RGA Board Recommendation for purposes of the RGA
Shareholders Meeting (including in the
S-4
Prospectuses), and shall not make any RGA Adverse Recommendation
Change. In the event of any RGA Adverse Recommendation Change,
RGA shall
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nevertheless submit this Agreement, the Recapitalization, the
Amended and Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation and the other
Transactions to the RGA Shareholders for approval and adoption
at the RGA Shareholders Meeting unless this Agreement shall have
been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the RGA
Shareholders Meeting.
Section 7.4 Standstill. Except
as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, during
the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and
continuing to the earlier of the Acceptance Time or the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms,
MetLife agrees that neither it nor its Subsidiaries shall, and
that it shall not authorize, permit or direct any of its
Subsidiaries to, without the prior approval of the RGA Special
Committee, directly or indirectly, (a) effect or seek,
offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or
cause or participate in or in any way knowingly assist any other
person to effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or
otherwise) to initiate, effect or participate in or support,
(i) any acquisition of any securities (or beneficial
ownership thereof) or material assets of RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) any tender or exchange offer or merger
or other business combination involving RGA or any of its
Affiliates, (iii) any recapitalization, restructuring,
liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with
respect to RGA or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iv) make,
or in any way participate in, any solicitation of
proxies (as such terms are defined or used in
Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) with respect to the
voting of any shares of RGA Common Stock, (b) form, join or
in any way participate in any group (other than with
respect to MetLifes Affiliates) with respect to any of the
shares of RGA Common Stock, (c) otherwise act, either alone
or in concert with others, to seek control of RGA, including by
submitting any written consent or proposal in furtherance of the
foregoing or calling a special meeting of RGA Shareholders,
(d) publicly disclose any intention, proposal, plan or
arrangement with respect to any of the foregoing, or
(e) take any action, or request any amendment or waiver
hereof, that would reasonably be expected to require RGA to make
a public announcement with respect to the matters set forth in
(a) or (c) above.
Section 7.5 Efforts;
Cooperation.
(a) Each of the parties agrees to use its reasonable best
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to
consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the
Transactions and to cooperate with the other in connection with
the foregoing, including using its reasonable best efforts
(i) to make promptly any filings that may be required under
applicable Law or by any Governmental Authority, and to supply
promptly any additional information or documentary material that
may be requested by a Governmental Authority, if any,
(ii) to obtain all other consents, approvals and
authorizations that are required to be obtained under any
federal, state, local or foreign Law or regulation (including
any approval from relevant insurance regulatory authorities in
Missouri and New York), (iii) to lift or rescind any
injunction or restraining order or other order adversely
affecting the ability of the parties to this Agreement to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(iv) to effect as promptly as practicable all necessary
registrations, filings and responses to requests for additional
information or documentary material from a Governmental
Authority, if any, and (v) to fulfill all conditions to
this Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing, each of the
parties shall take all such action as may be reasonably
necessary or appropriate under the securities or blue
sky laws of the United States (and any comparable laws
under any
non-U.S. jurisdiction
as the parties may mutually agree) in connection with the
Transactions (provided that RGA shall not be required to file
any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a
foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any
jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject
itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject or to
qualify in any
non-U.S. jurisdictions
without its prior consent), and RGA shall prepare and file, and
shall use all reasonable efforts to have approved prior to the
Recapitalization, an application for the listing on the NYSE of
the Recapitalized Shares, subject to official notice of
issuance, and shall prepare and file a
Form 8-A
to register the RGA Class A Common Stock and the RGA
Class B Common Stock under the Exchange Act. MetLife shall
be responsible for, and shall promptly reimburse RGA for, or
upon request pay for, any filing fees required under any
blue sky laws of a U.S. or foreign jurisdiction
in connection with the Split-Off, any Public Debt Exchange, any
Private Debt Exchange or any Additional Split-Offs.
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(b) Further, and without limiting the generality of the
rest of this Section 7.5, each of the parties shall
promptly (i) furnish to the other such necessary
information and reasonable assistance as the other party may
request in connection with the foregoing (including providing
financial information to the relevant insurance regulatory
authorities in Missouri and New York), (ii) inform the
other of any communication from any Governmental Authority
regarding any of the Transactions or related filings or
approvals, and (iii) provide counsel for the other party
with copies of all filings made by such party, and all
correspondence between such party (and its advisors) with any
Governmental Authority and any other information supplied by
such party and such partys Subsidiaries to a Governmental
Authority or received from such a Governmental Authority in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
provided, however, that materials may be redacted
(x) to remove references concerning any valuation,
(y) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements
and (z) as may be necessary to address any reasonable
concerns relating to classified, privileged or confidential
information. Each party shall, subject to applicable Law, permit
counsel for the other party to review in advance, and consider
in good faith the views of the other party in connection with,
any proposed written communication to any Governmental Authority
in connection with seeking approval, or review, of the
Transactions. MetLife and RGA agree not to participate, or to
permit their Subsidiaries or Representatives to participate, in
any substantive meeting or discussion, either in person or by
telephone, with any Governmental Authority in connection with
the Transactions unless it consults with the other party in
advance and, to the extent not prohibited by such Governmental
Authority, gives the other party the opportunity to attend and
participate.
(c) In the event that any Action is instituted (or
threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Authority or
private party challenging any of the Transactions, each of the
parties shall cooperate with each other and use its respective
commercially reasonable efforts to contest and resist any such
Action and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any
decree, judgment, injunction or other order, whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits,
prevents or restricts consummation of the Transactions.
(d) RGA shall, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause its officers, employees and advisors to, provide to
MetLife all cooperation and reasonable assistance requested by
MetLife in connection with the road show and marketing efforts
of the Split-Off, including by making officers and employees of
RGA reasonably available, participating in customary meetings,
presentations, road shows and sessions with rating agencies and
assisting MetLife with the preparation of materials for such
meetings, presentations, road shows and sessions (unless RGA
demonstrates to MetLifes reasonable satisfaction that such
participation will materially interfere with the management of
RGAs business). MetLife shall, promptly upon request by
RGA, reimburse RGA for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses
incurred by RGA and its officers, employees and advisors in
connection with the cooperation set forth in this
Section 7.5(d).
Section 7.6 Further
Assurances. Each of the parties agrees that,
from time to time, whether before, at or after the Acceptance
Time or the End Date, each of them will execute and deliver such
further instruments of conveyance and transfer and take such
other action as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and
intents of this Agreement.
Section 7.7 Access. Except
for in circumstances in which indemnification or contribution is
sought pursuant to Section 7.15(l) or Article VIII,
until the earlier of the End Date or the termination of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms, each party shall afford
to the other party and its Representatives, upon reasonable
notice, reasonable access, subject to appropriate restrictions
to comply with contractual arrangements or as may be necessary
to address any reasonable concerns relating to classified,
privileged or confidential information and consistent with
applicable Law and in accordance with the procedures established
by such party, to the books, records, properties and personnel
of such party and its Subsidiaries during normal business hours
insofar as such access is reasonably required by such party and
relates to such other partys performance of its
obligations under this Agreement or such other partys
financial, tax or other reporting obligations.
Section 7.8 Confidentiality. Each
of the parties shall keep, and shall cause its Representatives
to keep, confidential all information concerning the other party
in its possession, its custody or under its control
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(except to the extent that (a) such information is then in
the public domain through no fault of such party, (b) such
information has been lawfully acquired from other sources by
such party or (c) this Agreement or any other agreement
entered into pursuant hereto or thereto permits the use or
disclosure of such information) and each party shall not, and
shall cause its Representatives not to (without the prior
written consent of the other party), otherwise release or
disclose such information to any other Person, except such
partys Representatives, unless compelled to disclose such
information by judicial or administrative process or unless such
disclosure is required by law and such party has used all
commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other
affected party or parties prior to such disclosure, and in such
case shall exercise all commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain reliable assurance that such information will be accorded
confidential treatment.
Section 7.9 Public
Announcements. The initial press release with
respect to the execution of this Agreement shall be a joint
press release to be reasonably agreed upon by MetLife and RGA.
No public release, announcement or other public disclosure
(including pursuant to Rule 165 or Rule 425 of the
Securities Act, to the extent practicable) concerning the
Transactions shall be issued by either party without the prior
written consent of the other party (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), except as such release or
announcement may be required by law or the rules or regulations
of any U.S. securities exchange, in which case the party
required to make the release or announcement shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to allow the other party
reasonable time to comment on each release or announcement in
advance of such issuance and shall consider and address in good
faith the views and comments made by such other party regarding
any such release, announcement or other public disclosure.
Section 7.10 Litigation
Cooperation. Each of the parties shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the other
party, upon written request and at the expense of the other
party, its officers, directors, employees and agents as
witnesses to the extent such Persons may reasonably be required
in connection with any Action arising out of the Transactions;
provided that such Action does not involve a claim by
either party against the other party.
Section 7.11 Resignation
of MetLife Designees to RGA Board. MetLife
shall cause Steven A. Kandarian, Georgette A, Piligian and
Joseph A. Reali to resign as directors of RGA, effective as of
the Acceptance Time.
Section 7.12 Voting
of RGA Common Stock by MetLife.
(a) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of
the Acceptance Time or the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms, MetLife agrees that it and its
applicable Subsidiaries shall be present, in person or by proxy,
at each and every shareholders meeting of RGA (other than any
Alternative Meeting), and otherwise to cause all shares of RGA
Common Stock held by MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries to be
counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum at any
such meeting (other than any Alternative Meeting), including the
RGA Shareholders Meeting, and to vote or consent, or cause to be
voted or consented, all shares of RGA Common Stock owned
directly or indirectly by MetLife or its Subsidiaries
(i) in favor of the Recapitalization and the Amended and
Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation on terms and subject to
conditions set forth in this Agreement and in favor of any other
proposal set forth in Section 7.12 of the RGA Disclosure
Schedule or otherwise to implement the Transactions, which is
presented at the RGA Shareholders Meeting or any such other
meeting and (ii) against any proposal that, by its terms,
would prevent RGA or MetLife from complying with its obligations
under this Agreement or any other proposal, action or
transaction involving or affecting RGA or any of its
Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to prevent,
impede or delay the consummation of the Transactions
(collectively, Frustrating Transactions);
provided that (A) RGA shall send written notice to
MetLife of any proposal that RGA considers to be a Frustrating
Transaction at least 10 Business Days prior to the vote on any
such Frustrating Transaction; and (B) MetLifes
obligations under this Section 7.12(a) shall terminate upon
a RGA Adverse Recommendation Change.
(b) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of
the Acceptance Time or the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms, MetLife shall, and shall cause its
applicable Subsidiaries to, upon the request of RGA, grant an
irrevocable proxy, which shall be deemed coupled with an
interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy to
RGA or its designees, to vote any Exchange Shares and Recently
Acquired Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions set
forth in Section 7.12(a);
A-35
provided that MetLifes obligations under this
Section 7.12(b) shall terminate upon a RGA Adverse
Recommendation Change.
(c) From and after the Acceptance Time, MetLife shall, and
shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, grant an irrevocable
proxy, which shall be deemed coupled with an interest sufficient
in law to support an irrevocable proxy to RGA or its designees
to vote any shares of Recently Acquired Stock and any Remaining
RGA Stock held by MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries over which
MetLife or any of its Subsidiaries has voting control
(i) in any election of the members of the RGA Board of
Directors, in proportion to the votes cast by the other holders
of RGA Class A Common Stock (in the case of the Recently
Acquired Stock) and in proportion to the votes cast by the other
holders of RGA Class B Common Stock (in the case of the
Remaining RGA Stock); and (ii) in all other matters, in
proportion to the votes cast by the other holders of RGA
Class A Common Stock and RGA Class B Common Stock,
taken together as a whole; provided that (A) in the
case of the Recently Acquired Stock, such proxy shall
automatically be revoked as to a particular share upon any sale
or transfer of such share from MetLife or any of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates to a Person other than MetLife or any
of its Subsidiaries; (B) in the case of the Remaining RGA
Stock, such proxy shall automatically be revoked as to a
particular share upon any sale or transfer of such share
pursuant to any Additional Divestiture Transaction; and
(C) nothing in this Section 7.12(c) shall limit or
prohibit any such sale or transfer, free and clear of any Lien
or any other encumbrance.
(d) MetLife agrees to, and shall cause its applicable
Subsidiaries to, perform such further acts and execute such
further instruments as may be reasonably necessary to vest in
RGA the power to carry out and give effect to the provisions of
this Section 7.12.
Section 7.13 Tax
Matters.
(a) Each of the parties shall use reasonable best efforts
to obtain any Supplemental IRS Ruling relating to the
Transactions that the parties agree is necessary or advisable to
obtain (whether prior to, during, or following the Transactions)
as promptly as practicable after such an agreement is reached;
provided, however, that no party shall refuse the
request of the other party to so obtain a Supplemental IRS
Ruling unless such first party reasonably believes that
attempting to obtain or obtaining such Supplemental IRS Ruling
could adversely affect such first party or the Transactions. In
connection with the foregoing, each of the parties shall
(i) promptly furnish to the other such necessary
information and reasonable assistance as the other party may
request in connection with the foregoing, (ii) promptly
inform the other of any communication from the IRS regarding the
IRS Ruling or any Supplemental IRS Ruling, (iii) jointly
make any filings with, or submissions of information to, the IRS
regarding the IRS Ruling or any Supplemental IRS Ruling,
(iv) promptly provide counsel for the other party with
copies of all joint filings and information submissions made
with the IRS by such party and all correspondence and
information received by such party from the IRS in connection
with the IRS Ruling or any Supplemental IRS Ruling or the
Transactions, and (v) cooperate in their effort to obtain
any Supplemental IRS Ruling. Each party shall, subject to
applicable Law, permit counsel for the other party to review in
advance, and consider in good faith the views of the other party
in connection with, any proposed communication to the IRS in
connection with the IRS Ruling or any Supplemental IRS Ruling
and the Transactions. The parties agree not to participate, or
to permit their counsel or Subsidiaries to participate, in any
substantive meeting or discussion, either in person or by
telephone, with the IRS in connection with the IRS Ruling, any
Supplemental IRS Ruling or the Transactions unless such party
consults with the other party in advance and gives the other
party and its counsel the opportunity to attend and participate.
(b) Each of the parties shall use reasonable best efforts
to obtain the Tax Opinion. In connection with the foregoing,
each of the parties shall (i) furnish its respective Tax
Certificate to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz on a
timely basis and (ii) otherwise cooperate in connection
with obtaining the Tax Opinion; provided, that the
parties shall be obligated to furnish their respective Tax
Certificates on the Closing Date and on the closing date of any
Additional Divestiture Transaction, if any.
(c) From and after the date of this Agreement, each of the
parties agrees that it shall (i) effect the
Recapitalization, the Split-Off, any Additional Divestiture
Transaction and the other Transactions in a manner that is
consistent with the IRS Ruling, any Supplemental IRS Ruling, the
IRS Ruling Request,
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any Supplemental IRS Ruling Request and the Tax Opinion,
(ii) comply with, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to
comply with, the IRS Ruling, any Supplemental IRS Ruling and the
Tax Opinion, and not take, or fail to take, and prevent any of
its Subsidiaries from taking, or failing to take, any action,
which action or failure to act would be likely to, or does
invalidate, directly or indirectly, any of the conclusions
contained in the IRS Ruling, any Supplemental IRS Ruling or the
Tax Opinion whether or not such action or failure to act is
otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement and
(iii) not take or fail to take, and prevent any of its
Subsidiaries from taking, or failing to take, any action, which
action or failure to act is inconsistent with any
representation, statement or covenant made in the IRS Ruling
Request, any Supplemental IRS Ruling Request, its respective Tax
Certificate, or otherwise in connection with the IRS Ruling, any
Supplemental IRS Ruling or the Tax Opinion.
(d) MetLife and RGA hereby agree, in accordance with
Section 7.13(a) hereof, to seek to obtain one or more
Supplemental IRS Rulings substantially to the effect that the
IRS Ruling shall remain in full force and effect without any
adverse consequence to MetLife or RGA notwithstanding
(i) the consummation of the Recapitalization and the
Split-Off on or after November 13, 2008
(Supplemental IRS Ruling One) and
(ii) MetLifes reimbursement and payment of all RGA
Reimbursable Expenses, subject to any limit that RGA determines
is reasonably necessary to obtain such Supplemental IRS Ruling
(Supplemental IRS Ruling Two). MetLife and
RGA also agree that MetLife may seek to obtain any Supplemental
IRS Ruling relating to Section 355(e) of the Code. MetLife
and RGA shall comply in all material respects with the rules and
provisions set forth in Section 7.13(a) in connection with
obtaining the foregoing Supplemental IRS Rulings.
Section 7.14 Lock-Up
Period.
(a) RGA agrees that, during the period commencing on the
date of this Agreement and ending on the earlier of the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or
the 60th day following the End Date (such period, the
Lock-Up Period), without the prior written
consent of MetLife, RGA shall not engage in any capital raising
activity (which shall not include securities issued to effect a
business combination transaction, pursuant to employee, director
or consultant stock or benefit plans or to agreements with
employees, directors or consultants or as an inducement to
employment) that involves (x) any direct or indirect offer,
pledge, announcement of an intention to sell, sale, contract of
sale, sale of any option or a contract to purchase, purchase of
any option or contract to sell, grant of any option, right or
warrant to purchase or other transfer or disposition of any
common equity securities, equity-linked securities (including
convertible securities) or equity-forward sale agreements,
relating to the capital stock of RGA (any such equity securities
or agreements, RGA Common Equity-Based
Securities), or (y) any swap or other agreement
that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of any RGA Common Equity-Based
Securities, whether any such transaction described in
clause (x) or (y) above is to be settled by delivery
of any of such RGA Common Equity-Based Securities, in cash or
otherwise; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit
RGA from, subject to RGAs indemnification obligations
under Section 8.2(d): (A) issuing RGA Common
Equity-Based Securities in connection with the transactions set
forth on Section 7.14 of the RGA Disclosure Schedule
following the 90th day after the Acceptance Time;
(B) adopting or taking action pursuant to the
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan or, after the
Determination Date, any other shareholder rights plan; or
(C) issuing RGA Common Equity-Based Securities if and to
the extent that RGA reasonably determines in good faith that
such issuance, at such time, is necessary to prevent a downgrade
from any nationally recognized rating agency (or restore a
rating) so long as, prior to such determination:
(i) RGA shall have discussed with such rating agency prior
to commencement of the Offer the time frame and potential
necessity for such an issuance;
(ii) RGA shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to
persuade such rating agency to maintain or restore its ratings
without the need for such an issuance; and
(iii) RGA shall have used commercially reasonable efforts
to raise capital through the issuance of securities, other than
the RGA Common Equity-Based Securities, if RGA reasonably
believes that the issuance of such securities could maintain or
restore its ratings, unless the Board of Directors of
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RGA believes in good faith, after consultation with its
financial advisors, that it would be in the best interests of
RGA to issue Common Equity-Based Securities instead of such
securities.
(b) Except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this
Agreement, and except as set forth on Section 7.14 of the
MetLife Disclosure Schedule, MetLife agrees that, during the
Lock-Up
Period, without the prior written consent of RGA, MetLife shall
not, and shall not authorize, permit or direct its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, announce the
intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell,
grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise
transfer or dispose of any Recently Acquired Stock or securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such
Recently Acquired Stock, including in any transaction that
involves any common equity securities, equity-linked securities
(including convertible securities) or equity forward sale
agreements, relating to the Recently Acquired Stock, or
(ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers,
in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of
ownership of any of the Recently Acquired Stock, whether any
such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above
is to be settled by delivery of any Recently Acquired Stock, in
cash or otherwise. Following the expiration of the
Lock-Up
Period, except as provided for in Section 7.15, MetLife
shall, and shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, sell,
exchange or otherwise dispose of the Recently Acquired Stock
(either in the market, to a third party in a sale that would not
violate the Amended and Restated RGA Articles of Incorporation,
or to RGA), which sale shall occur within 60 months of the
Closing Date.
Section 7.15 MetLife
Registration Rights.
(a) Request for Shelf Registration. At
the Acceptance Time, the 2003 Registration Rights Agreement
shall terminate and shall be void and of no force and effect
(notwithstanding the terms that are incorporated herein).
MetLife may make one written request to RGA (a Demand
Notice) that RGA register, after the expiration of the
Lock-up
Period, the offer and sale prior to the Demand End Date, of all
or any part of the Recently Acquired Stock held by MetLife or
any of its Subsidiaries (the Registrable
Securities) under the Securities Act (a
Demand Registration). Upon receipt of the
Demand Notice, RGA shall: (i) prepare and file with the SEC
on or prior to the date that is 30 days after the date of
the Demand Notice a Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
Statement to become effective and (iii) use its reasonable
best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement
continuously effective until the earlier of (A) the date
that is three years following the effective date of such Shelf
Registration Statement, (B) the date when all Registrable
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold and (C) the date on which the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement are eligible to be
sold or transferred under Rule 144 under the Securities Act
without being subject to any holding period or volume
limitations thereunder (provided that MetLife has
received an opinion of counsel to RGA who is reasonably
acceptable to MetLife covering the matters referred to in this
clause (C) and such opinion is reasonably satisfactory to
MetLife), and MetLife and its Affiliates (other than officers
and directors of MetLife and those of its Affiliates) do not
beneficially own in excess of 10% of the RGA Common Stock.
(b) Selection of Plan of Distribution;
Underwriters. The offering of such Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement shall be
in the form of either (i) an underwritten offering or
(ii) through the use of brokers or in privately negotiated
transactions, in either case as selected by MetLife within no
more than five Business Days following the date of the Demand
Notice. In the event that MetLife elects that the offering be an
underwritten offering, MetLife shall also select one or more
nationally recognized firms of investment bankers that is or are
reasonably acceptable to RGA, to act as the lead managing
underwriter or underwriters in connection with such offering and
shall select any additional investment bankers or managers to be
used in connection with such offering. RGA and MetLife shall
enter into a customary underwriting agreement with such
underwriter(s) (and MetLife may at its option require that the
representations, warranties and covenants of RGA to or for the
benefit of the underwriter(s) also be made for the benefit of
MetLife).
(c) Permitted Delay in Filing and Suspensions of
Sales. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if RGA
determines in good faith that such registration, or further
sales under an effective Shelf Registration
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Statement, will (i) have a material detrimental effect, as
reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
RGA, on a plan currently being considered by the Board of
Directors of RGA that would, if completed, be material to RGA
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole at the time the right to
delay or withhold efforts or suspend sales is exercised (whether
or not a final decision has been made to undertake such
transaction or plan), or (ii) involve initial or continuing
disclosure obligations that are not in the best interests of
RGAs shareholders, as reasonably determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors of RGA, then upon advance written
notice by RGA to MetLife, RGA may from time to time exercise its
right (the RGA Registration Blackout Right)
to (A) delay the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement
and may withhold efforts to cause the Shelf Registration
Statement to become effective until the earliest reasonably
practicable date after RGAs reasons for delaying or
withholding efforts or suspending sales are no longer
applicable, or (B) request MetLife to, and MetLife shall,
suspend any further sales under the Shelf Registration Statement
(or under a registration statement of RGA that includes
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 7.15(d)), until
the earliest reasonably practicable date after RGAs
reasons for delaying or withholding efforts or suspending sales
are no longer applicable (the duration of any period of delay or
suspension, the Registration Blackout
Period). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary that
may be contained in this Agreement, if RGA exercises the RGA
Registration Blackout Right, RGA shall use its reasonable best
efforts to have the Shelf Registration Statement or such other
registration statement filed or declared effective, or amended
(or otherwise bringing the Shelf Registration Statement or such
other registration statement current with appropriate Exchange
Act filings), as the case may be, at the earliest reasonably
practicable date after the end of the Registration Blackout
Period.
(d) Right to Piggyback. If, during the
36 months immediately following the End Date, RGA proposes
to register (including on behalf of a selling shareholder) any
shares of RGA Class A Common Stock under the Securities Act
(except for the registration of shares of RGA Class A
Common Stock to be offered pursuant to an employee, director or
consultant stock or benefit plan on
Form S-8
or pursuant to a registration made on
Form S-4,
or any successor forms or any form that does not include
substantially the same information, other than information
relating to selling shareholders or their plan of distribution
that would be required to be included in a registration
statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities), and the
registration form to be used may be used for the registration of
the Recently Acquired Stock (a Piggyback
Registration), it will so notify MetLife in writing no
later than the earlier to occur of (i) the 10th day
following RGAs receipt of notice of exercise of other
demand registration rights or (ii) 30 days prior to
the anticipated date of filing of such registration statement.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.15(e), RGA will
include in the Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities
with respect to which RGA has received a written request for
inclusion from MetLife within 10 Business Days after
MetLifes receipt of RGAs notice. MetLife may
withdraw all or any part of the Registrable Securities from a
Piggyback Registration at any time before five Business Days
prior to the effective date of the Piggyback Registration. RGA,
MetLife and any person who hereafter become entitled to register
its securities in a registration initiated by RGA shall sell
their securities on the same terms and conditions.
(e) Priority on Piggyback
Registrations. If the managing underwriter
advises RGA in writing (a copy of which shall be provided to
MetLife) that a limitation on the total number of securities to
be included in the Piggyback Registration is advisable in order
to avoid a likely material and adverse effect on the success of
the offering, RGA will so advise MetLife and will include the
securities in the registration in the following order of
priority: (i) first, all securities RGA or the holder for
whom RGA is effecting the registration, as applicable, proposes
to sell; and (ii) second, any other securities requested to
be included in the registration (including the Registrable
Securities), allocated among the holders of such securities in
proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of
securities which each holder requested to be included in the
Piggyback Registration.
(f) Underwriters for Piggyback
Registration. If any Piggyback Registration is an
underwritten offering, RGA and MetLife shall enter into a
customary underwriting agreement with the underwriter(s)
administering the offering. MetLife may not participate in any
Piggyback Registration without (i) agreeing to sell
securities on the basis provided in the underwriting
arrangements approved by RGA
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and (ii) promptly completing, executing and delivering all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents required by the underwriting
arrangements.
(g) Restrictions on Public Sales. RGA
agrees that it shall not make any public sale or other
distribution of its common stock, or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for its common stock,
including a sale under Regulation D under the Securities
Act or under any other exemption of the Securities Act (except
pursuant to registrations on
Forms S-8
or S-4 or
any successor form), during the two days prior to and the
180 days after the effective date of any underwritten
offering pursuant to any Piggyback Registration unless the
managing underwriter(s) agrees otherwise.
(h) MetLife Information. In the event of
any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration, RGA may
request from time to time that MetLife furnish to RGA
information regarding MetLife and its Affiliates and associates
and the distribution of the securities subject to the
registration, and MetLife shall promptly furnish all such
information reasonably requested by RGA.
(i) Notice by MetLife. Whenever MetLife
has requested that any Registrable Securities be registered
pursuant to this Agreement, MetLife shall notify RGA, at any
time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any
event which to MetLifes knowledge relates to matters
concerning MetLife or its Affiliates or associates, as a result
of which the prospectus included in the Piggyback Registration
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(j) Market Standoff
Agreement. MetLife, if reasonably requested in
writing by the managing underwriter(s) of an underwritten public
offering by RGA of RGAs common stock, or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for its common
stock, agrees not to, and to cause its Subsidiaries not to,
sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the
purchase of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any Registrable Securities (other than (i) any
transaction on behalf of any separate or managed account or any
transaction by MetLife or any Subsidiary of MetLife acting as
broker-dealer, investment advisor, trustee or other fiduciary in
the ordinary course of its business, (ii) to a Subsidiary
or Affiliate of MetLife, or (iii) registrable securities
included in such public offering) without the prior written
consent of such managing underwriter(s) during a period of up to
two days prior to and 180 days following the effective date
of such underwritten offering of RGAs securities, but only
to the extent that Registrable Securities have not been
requested to be included in such underwritten registration
following RGAs compliance with this Section 7.15.
Such agreement shall be in writing in form reasonably
satisfactory to such managing underwriter(s) and may be included
in the underwriting agreement. RGA may impose stop-transfer
instructions with respect to the securities subject to the
foregoing restriction until the end of the required stand-off
period and shall lift such stop-transfer restrictions
immediately upon the end of such period.
(k) Registration Expenses. All
Registration Expenses incident to RGAs performance of or
compliance with this Section 7.15 shall be paid by RGA. The
term Registration Expenses shall include
(i) all registration filing fees, professional fees and
other expenses of RGAs compliance with federal and state
securities laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the underwriter(s) in connection with state
securities law qualifications and registrations);
(ii) printing expenses; (iii) messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses; (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel
for RGA; (v) fees and disbursements of all independent
certified public accountants (including the expenses relating to
any audit or cold comfort letters required by or
incident to the performance of the obligations contemplated by
this Section 7.15); (vi) fees and expenses of the
underwriter(s) (excluding discounts and commissions) customarily
borne by the issuer in transactions of that kind;
(vii) fees and expenses of any special experts retained by
RGA at the reasonable request of the managing underwriter(s) in
connection with the registration and as shall be customary in
transactions of that kind; and (viii) applicable stock
exchange and FINRA registration and filing fees; provided
that Registration Expenses shall not include the following
expenses, all of which shall be borne by MetLife or, with
respect to fees and disbursements of counsel to the
underwriters, the underwriters, (A) MetLifes internal
expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers
and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
(B) any fees or
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disbursements of any counsel for MetLife, or, except as provided
in clause (i) of the beginning of this sentence, any
counsel for the underwriters, (C) any fees and expenses in
connection with a road show or marketing efforts in connection
with a Piggyback Registration under which neither RGA nor any
third party is selling shares or in connection with a Demand
Registration, and (D) the underwriting discounts or
commissions or transfer taxes applicable to the Registrable
Securities, all of which shall be paid by MetLife, or, if
applicable, reimbursed by MetLife to RGA.
(l) Other Obligations. The terms and
conditions of Sections 5.1 (as qualified by this
Section 7.15), Article VII and Section 9.12 of
the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 24,
2003, by and among RGA, MetLife and certain Subsidiaries of
MetLife (the 2003 Registration Rights
Agreement) are incorporated herein by reference as if
restated in full and shall apply with respect to any Demand
Registration or Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement (it being understood that
Article VII of such Registration Rights Agreement shall
apply instead of the provisions of Section 8.2 through
Section 8.5 of this Agreement with respect to any Demand
Registration or Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement).
(m) Non-Transferable. The registration
rights set forth in this Section 7.15 may not be
transferred or assigned by MetLife except to any Subsidiary of
MetLife holding Registrable Securities.
(n) Removal of Restrictive Legend. RGA
agrees that, upon the written request of MetLife, any Securities
Act restrictive legend pertaining to certificates representing
shares of Recently Acquired Stock may be removed after MetLife
completes the Divestiture and does not otherwise constitute an
affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act),
and satisfaction of the provisions of Rule 144(b)(1) of the
Securities Act (including paragraphs (c)(1) and (d) of
Rule 144), subject to any customary requirements of
RGAs transfer agent.
Section 7.16 Payments
in Respect of Excess Shareholders. From the
Acceptance Time until the fourth anniversary thereof, MetLife
shall pay to RGA (as reimbursement for RGAs expenses) an
amount equal to the product of (a) $12.50, multiplied by
(b) the Excess Shareholders as of the record date for
each mailing of materials in connection with any meeting of RGA
Shareholders. Such amount will be payable as of the date of the
applicable meeting, or any postponement or adjournment thereof,
whether or not on, prior to or after said fourth anniversary.
For purposes of the foregoing, Excess
Shareholders as of any year shall mean (x) the
number of shareholders of RGA common stock (including beneficial
or record holders) to whom RGA is required under the proxy rules
of the U.S. federal securities laws to mail or cause to be
mailed the annual meeting materials for such year minus
(y) the Threshold Amount; provided that in no
event shall the Excess Shareholders be less than zero. The
Threshold Amount shall mean (a) 80,000,
plus (b) if RGA issues RGA common stock (including
any issuance of RGA common stock pursuant to a merger or
acquisition but excluding any issuance pursuant to the
Recapitalization) after the date of this Agreement, the number
of persons who acquire beneficial or record ownership of RGA
common stock in connection with such offering, which number the
parties shall mutually agree on for purposes of determining the
Threshold Amount. If the parties are unable to agree on such
number after cooperating in good-faith for at least 45 days
(including by requesting any underwriter of the offering to
provide information that may be useful in determining such
number), then the parties agree that such number shall be
resolved in accordance with Section 10.12.
Section 7.17 Directors
and Officers Insurance. For a period of
six years following the Acceptance Time, MetLife shall provide
coverage under a policy of officers and directors
liability insurance for the benefit of the RGA Indemnified
Parties, and all other individual insureds of RGA and its
Subsidiaries, who are covered by the current liability insurance
policy provided by MetLife on the date hereof covering the
current and former officers and directors of RGA and its
Subsidiaries (the Covered Persons), with
respect to claims against such Covered Persons arising from
facts or events occurring on or prior to the Acceptance Time
(including for acts or omissions occurring in connection with
the approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby) (D&O
Insurance), which insurance shall contain terms and
conditions (including as to type of coverage, amount of
coverage, and the amount of deductibility borne by RGA and any
Covered Person) no less advantageous to the Covered Persons as
the directors and officers liability insurance
coverage provided by MetLife to the officers and directors of
MetLife (as such policy may be in effect from time to time);
provided that MetLife shall promptly notify RGA in the
event the
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terms and conditions become materially less favorable than those
contained in the current policy. Nothing in this Agreement shall
require MetLife to provide D&O Insurance to the Covered
Persons on terms or conditions that are more advantageous to the
Covered Persons than the terms and conditions provided to the
officers and directors of MetLife, as such terms and conditions
may be in effect from time to time. Each of the parties agrees
to reasonably cooperate with each other with respect to
complying with this Section 7.17 and to use its reasonable
best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to
do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable with respect to any claims by any Covered Persons that
are or may be covered by the D&O Insurance, including
MetLife instructing its insurance broker upon request by RGA to
provide information to RGA concerning the remaining limits of
liability under the D&O Insurance.
Section 7.18 Amendments
Regarding Recently Acquired Stock. In the
event that (a) the consummation of the Recapitalization and
the Split-Off has not occurred on or prior to November 11,
2008, (b) RGA has agreed to irrevocably waive the condition
in clause III.(f) of Annex B and (c) the
Supplemental IRS Ruling One has been obtained but provides that
the Recently Acquired Stock shall be exchanged for RGA
Class B Common Stock and such shares of RGA Class B
Common Stock shall be part of the Exchange Shares, then the
parties agree to amend this Agreement, the Annexes, the
Schedules and Exhibits as appropriate on or prior to such date
so that in the Recapitalization, each share of Recently Acquired
Stock shall be exchanged for one share of RGA Class B
Common Stock instead of one share of RGA Class A Common
Stock and such shares of RGA Class B Common Stock shall be
part of the Exchange Shares.
Section 7.19 Notice
Regarding Section 382 Shareholder Rights
Plan. In the event that any director or
executive officer of RGA has actual knowledge that a Person or
group qualifies as or otherwise becomes an Acquiring Person, as
defined under the Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan,
on or prior to the End Date, RGA shall promptly notify MetLife
of such fact or event. The parties acknowledge and agree no
party is making any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement with respect to (a) the occurrence of a
Distribution Date (as defined in the
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan), (b) the
separation or exercise of the Rights (as defined in the
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan), (c) the
issuance of any shares of capital stock of RGA pursuant to the
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan, (d) any
action or inaction by RGA or its Board of Directors pursuant to
the Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan or
(d) any other operation of the Section 382 Shareholder
Rights Plan, in each cases (a), (b), (c) and (d), solely to
the extent that any of the foregoing occurs prior to the
Acceptance Time.
Section 7.20 General
American Name. RGA will endeavor to change
the name of its Subsidiary, General American Argentina Seguros
de Vida, S.A., prior to the Acceptance Time so that it no longer
includes the name General American after the
Acceptance Time; provided that, in removing such name,
RGA has no obligation to incur time, effort or expense believed,
in its judgment, to be unjustified.
ARTICLE VIII
SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Survival. Except
as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, all covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements of the parties
contained in this Agreement, or in any certificate, document or
other instrument delivered in connection with this Agreement,
shall survive the consummation of the Transactions.
Section 8.2 Indemnification
by RGA. RGA shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless MetLife and its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, each of their
respective directors, officers, employees and agents, and each
of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the
foregoing (collectively, the MetLife Indemnified
Parties) from and against:
(a) any and all Losses to the extent arising out of,
attributable to or resulting from any breach or inaccuracy of
any representation or warranty of RGA contained in this
Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this
Agreement;
(b) any and all Losses to the extent arising out of,
attributable to or resulting from any breach of any covenant or
agreement to be performed by RGA contained in this Agreement or
in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement;
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(c) any and all Losses to the extent arising out of,
attributable to or resulting from any statements or omissions in
any RGA Indemnified Document, based on information furnished by
or on behalf of RGA, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates, or any
of their Representatives for inclusion in such RGA Indemnified
Document, or relating to RGA, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates
for inclusion in such RGA Indemnified Document; and
(d) any Section 355 Taxes (other than de minimis
Section 355 Taxes) which result solely from any breach
of, or inaccuracy in, any representation, covenant or obligation
of RGA under this Agreement or in the RGA Tax Certificate (any
such Section 355 Taxes, RGA Section 355
Taxes); provided that RGA Section 355
Taxes shall not include, and RGA shall not be so liable or
responsible for, (i) any Section 355 Taxes resulting
solely from a Conversion that occurs after the earlier of the
completion of the Divestiture and 24 months following the
Closing Date; provided, further, that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, RGA Section 355 Taxes shall
include, and RGA shall be liable and responsible for, any
Section 355 Taxes resulting from a Conversion (including a
Conversion taken alone or in combination with any other breach
of, or inaccuracy in, any representation, covenant or obligation
of RGA under this Agreement or in the RGA Tax Certificate) if
and only if prior to such Conversion, (A) the IRS has
revoked the IRS Ruling or otherwise modified it such that, as a
result of such revocation or modification, a Conversion would
reasonably be expected to result in MetLife incurring
Section 355 Taxes (excluding any de minimis
Section 355 Taxes) or (B) there is (I) an
amendment to the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder or (II) an issuance by the IRS of a revenue
ruling, notice or announcement such that, as a result of such
amendment or issuance, a Conversion would reasonably be expected
to result in MetLife incurring Section 355 Taxes (excluding
any de minimis Section 355 Taxes) (it being
understood that, if any of the events described in
subclauses (A) or (B) above occurs, MetLife will use
its reasonable best efforts to defend, uphold and preserve the
validity of the IRS Ruling in its entirety and the qualification
of the Split-Off, the Additional Divestiture Transactions and
the other Transactions, as applicable, under Section 355 of
the Code), (ii) any Section 355 Taxes resulting from
the application of Section 355(e) of the Code other than
such Section 355 Taxes resulting, in whole or in part, from
(A) the issuance or issuances by RGA of RGA Common Stock
(excluding issuances pursuant to shareholder-approved equity
compensation plans as compensation for services
and/or
pursuant to the exercise of compensatory stock options) and
(B) the repurchase or redemption by RGA of RGA Common Stock
that, in the case of (A) and (B) in the aggregate,
during the period beginning two years before the Closing Date
and ending on the second anniversary of the End Date, exceed the
RGA Threshold (as defined and set forth in
Section 8.2(d)(ii) of the RGA Disclosure Schedule), and
(iii) in all other cases, any Section 355 Taxes
resulting from any action or omission expressly provided for by
the IRS Ruling or any Supplemental IRS Ruling. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this
Section 8.2(d) is the sole and exclusive remedy of the
MetLife Indemnified Parties for any Taxes, or Tax related
Losses, under this Agreement.
Section 8.3 Indemnification
by MetLife. MetLife shall indemnify, defend
and hold harmless RGA and its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, each of
their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, and
each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of
the foregoing (collectively, the RGA Indemnified
Parties) from and against:
(a) any and all Losses to the extent arising out of,
attributable to or resulting from any breach or inaccuracy of
any representation or warranty of MetLife contained in this
Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this
Agreement;
(b) any and all Losses to the extent arising out of,
attributable to or resulting from any breach of any covenant or
agreement to be performed by MetLife contained in this Agreement
or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement;
(c) any and all Losses to the extent arising out of,
attributable to or resulting from any statements or omissions in
any MetLife Indemnified Document, based on information furnished
by or on behalf of MetLife, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates,
or any of their Representatives for inclusion in any such
MetLife Indemnified Document, or relating to MetLife, its
Subsidiaries or its Affiliates for inclusion in the MetLife
Indemnified Document;
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(d) any and all Section 355 Taxes other than RGA
Section 355 Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement this Section 8.3(d) is the sole and
exclusive remedy of the RGA Indemnified Parties for any Taxes,
or Tax related Losses, under this Agreement.
Section 8.4 Notice;
Procedure for Third-Party Claims.
(a) Any Person entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement (an Indemnified Party) may seek
indemnification for any Loss or potential Loss by giving written
notice to the applicable party or parties from whom
indemnification is sought (the Indemnifying
Party), specifying (i) the representation,
warranty, covenant or other agreement that is alleged to have
been inaccurate, to have been breached or to have given rise to
indemnification, (ii) the basis for such allegation and
(iii) if known, the aggregate amount of the Losses for
which a claim is being made under this Article VIII or, to
the extent that such Losses are not known or have not been
incurred at the time such claim is made, an estimate, prepared
in good faith, of the aggregate potential amount of such Losses.
Written notice to such Indemnifying Party of the existence of a
claim shall be given by the Indemnified Party as soon as
practicable after the Indemnified Party first receives notice of
the potential claim; provided that any failure to provide
such prompt notice of the existence of a claim to the applicable
Indemnifying Party shall not affect the Indemnified Partys
right to seek indemnification pursuant to this Article VIII
except and only to the extent that such failure results in a
lack of actual notice to the Indemnifying Party and such
Indemnifying Party has been materially prejudiced as a result of
such delay.
(b) In the case of any claim asserted by a Person that is
not a party to this Agreement against an Indemnified Party (a
Third-Party Claim), the Indemnified Party
shall permit the Indemnifying Party (at the expense of such
Indemnifying Party) to assume the defense of such Third-Party
Claim and any litigation or proceeding resulting therefrom;
provided that (i) counsel for the Indemnifying Party
who shall conduct the defense of such claim or litigation shall
be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and
(ii) the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense
at such Indemnified Partys expense. Except with the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party, no Indemnifying Party,
in the defense of any Third-Party Claim, shall consent to entry
of any judgment or enter into any settlement. In the event that
the Indemnified Party shall in good faith determine that the
conduct of the defense of any Third-Party Claim subject to
indemnification hereunder or any proposed settlement of any such
claim by the Indemnifying Party might be expected to impair the
ability of MetLife, RGA or their respective Affiliates to
conduct their businesses or impair their respective reputations
or business, or that the Indemnified Party may have available to
it one or more defenses or counterclaims that are inconsistent
with one or more of those that may be available to the
Indemnifying Party in respect of such claim or any litigation
relating thereto, the Indemnified Party shall have the right at
all times to take over and assume control over the defense,
settlement, negotiations or litigation relating to any such
claim at the sole cost of the Indemnifying Party;
provided that, if the Indemnified Party does so take over
and assume control, the Indemnified Party shall not settle such
claim or litigation without the written consent of the
Indemnifying Party, such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld. In the event that the Indemnifying Party does not
accept the defense of any matter as above provided, the
Indemnified Party shall have the right to defend against any
such claim or demand, and shall be entitled to settle or agree
to pay in full such claim or demand. In any event, MetLife and
RGA shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Third-Party
Claim subject to this Article VIII, and the records of each
shall be made reasonably available to the other with respect to
such defense, subject to reasonable restrictions for classified,
privileged or confidential information and consistent with
applicable Law and in accordance with the procedures established
by such party.
(c) The provisions of this Section 8.4 shall not apply
to Taxes, which shall be governed by Section 8.5.
Section 8.5 Tax
Contests.
(a) MetLife and RGA shall promptly notify one another in
writing within ten Business Days of receiving any written notice
from a taxing authority (including the IRS) with respect to any
pending or threatened audit or inquiry or any administrative or
judicial appeal or other proceeding regarding Section 355
Taxes (a
Section 355-Related
Proceeding). Such notice shall include a true, correct
and complete copy of any written communication, and an accurate
and complete written summary of any oral communication, received
from the taxing authority. The failure of a party to timely
provide such notification in accordance with the immediately
preceding sentence shall not relieve the other party of its
obligations under Sections 8.2(d) or 8.3(d), as the
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case may be, or to pay Section 355 Taxes, except to the
extent that such failure materially prejudices the ability of
such other party to contest such liability for Section 355
Taxes or increases the amount of the other partys
obligations under Sections 8.2(d) or 8.3(d), as the case
may be, for Section 355 Taxes.
(b) MetLife shall, in its sole discretion, control and
direct the conduct of any
Section 355-Related
Proceeding; provided, however, that, in the event
that any
Section 355-Related
Proceeding could potentially result in RGA Section 355
Taxes, (i) MetLife shall consult with RGA reasonably in
advance of taking any significant action in connection with any
such proceeding, (ii) MetLife shall consult with RGA and
offer RGA a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting
any written materials prepared or furnished in connection with
such proceeding, (iii) RGA shall be entitled to receive on
a timely basis copies of any written materials relating to such
proceeding sent to or received from the relevant taxing
authority, have its representatives attend all discussions,
meetings and teleconferences and otherwise participate in the
Section 355-Related
Proceeding on a reasonable basis, (iv) MetLife shall defend
such proceeding diligently and in good faith as if it were the
only party in interest in connection with such proceeding,
(v) MetLife shall not settle, compromise or abandon any
such proceeding that could potentially result in RGA
Section 355 Taxes without obtaining the prior written
consent of RGA, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided,
further, that MetLife shall not settle, compromise or
abandon any such proceeding with a taxing authority in exchange
for, or in connection with, a settlement on an issue or issues
unrelated to Section 355 Taxes that would reasonably be
expected to result in RGA Section 355 Taxes and
(vi) if RGA acknowledges in writing its agreement that it
will be liable and indemnify MetLife for such RGA
Section 355 Taxes and provides evidence (reasonably
satisfactory to MetLife) demonstrating its ability to pay such
RGA Section 355 Taxes, MetLife shall afford RGA the
opportunity to control the contest of such
Section 355-Related
Proceeding, at its own expense, in such manner as RGA shall
reasonably direct, and RGA shall provide MetLife the opportunity
to review and comment upon any materials produced by RGA
pursuant to such contest prior to their submission and shall
permit MetLife to participate in any meetings or proceedings in
connection therewith.
Section 8.6 Contribution. If
the indemnification provided for in this Article VIII shall
for any reason be unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless
any MetLife Indemnified Party, any RGA Indemnified Party or any
Indemnified Party under Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4 in respect
of any Losses, or any Action in respect thereof, referred to
therein, other than to the extent that such indemnification is
unavailable or insufficient due to a failure to provide prompt
notice in accordance with Section 8.4(a), then each
Indemnifying Party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses or Action in
respect thereof, in such proportion as shall be appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of RGA, on the one hand, and MetLife,
on the other hand, with respect to the misrepresentation or
breach or statements or omissions or alleged misrepresentation
or alleged breach or alleged statements or alleged omissions
that resulted in such Losses, or Action in respect thereof, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the
misrepresentation or breach or statement or omission relates to
information supplied by RGA or MetLife, the intent of the
parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
RGA and MetLife agree that it would not be just and equitable if
the amount of contributions pursuant to this Section 8.6
were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other
method of allocation, which does not take into account the
equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or
payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Losses
referred to above in this Section 8.6 shall be deemed to
include, for purposes of this Section 8.6 any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in
connection with investigating or defending any such Action or
claim. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The foregoing shall not
apply to indemnification with respect to Taxes which shall be
governed solely by Section 8.2(d) and Section 8.3(d).
Section 8.7 Remedies
Not Exclusive.
(a) Except for the indemnification obligations set forth in
Section 8.2(d) and Section 8.3(d), the remedies
provided in this Article VIII shall be cumulative and shall
not preclude assertion by any Indemnified Party of
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any and all other rights or the seeking of any and all other
remedies against the Indemnifying Party; provided that no
Person may recover more than once for a Loss it has incurred.
(b) Without limiting the rights under Section 10.13
and Section 8.5, the parties agree that the indemnification
obligations set forth in Section 8.2(d) and
Section 8.3(d) shall be the sole and exclusive remedies of
the parties for any Taxes or Tax-related Losses under this
Agreement.
Section 8.8 Limitations
on Indemnifiable Losses. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement or at law or in
equity, no Indemnified Party will, in any event, be entitled to
indemnification or contribution from an Indemnifying Party for
Losses or Taxes arising out of, attributable to or resulting
from, any incidental, indirect, consequential, special,
exemplary or punitive damages (including damages for loss of
business profits, loss of data, loss of use or business
interruption) however caused, under any theory of liability,
including in contract or in tort, arising in any way under this
Agreement (other than in the case of fraud, bad faith or willful
misconduct or in the case of any such Losses payable to third
parties, including any Governmental Authority or shareholder).
Section 8.9 Subrogation
and Insurance.
(a) In the event of payment by an Indemnifying Party to any
indemnitee in connection with any Third-Party Claim, such
Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the
place of such indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in
respect of which such indemnitee may have any right or claim
relating to such Third-Party Claim. Such indemnitee shall
cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner,
and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in
prosecuting any subrogated right or claim.
(b) Each Indemnified Party shall use reasonable best
efforts to recover all losses, costs, damages and expenses from
the insurers of such Indemnified Party under applicable
insurance policies so as to reduce the amount of Losses
hereunder; provided that actual recovery of any insurance
shall not be a condition to the applicable Indemnifying
Partys obligation to make indemnification payments to such
Indemnified Party in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, Losses shall be
calculated after giving effect to any amounts recovered under
insurance policies with respect to such Losses, net of any costs
to recover such amounts. If the Indemnified Party or any of its
Affiliates receives any amounts under applicable insurance
policies for such Losses after an indemnification payment by the
Indemnifying Party has been made for such Losses, then the
Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying
Party for such indemnification payment in an amount equal to the
amount so received or realized by the Indemnified Party or its
Affiliates with respect to any such indemnification payment.
Section 8.10 Excluded
Representations. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, neither MetLife nor RGA (nor any
respective MetLife Indemnified Parties or RGA Indemnified
Parties) shall have any Action, claim or right against the other
in respect of any Losses to the extent arising out of,
attributable to or resulting from any breach or inaccuracy of an
Excluded Representation, except to the extent that such Losses
arise from any Third-Party Claim by a Person (other than the
parties to this Agreement) in connection with the offer or sale
of any RGA Class A Common Stock or RGA Class B Common
Stock in the Recapitalization, the Split-Off or any Additional
Divestiture Transaction, including to the extent resulting from
the actual or alleged inadequate disclosure in the RGA
Disclosure Documents or the MetLife Disclosure Documents.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
Section 9.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Split-Off may be abandoned
at any time prior to the Acceptance Time:
(a) by mutual written consent of MetLife and RGA;
(b) by either MetLife or RGA:
(i) if the Recapitalization and the Split-Off shall not
have been consummated on or prior to December 31, 2009 (the
Termination Date); provided,
however, that (A) the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(i) shall not be
available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation
under this Agreement has been a significant cause of, or
resulted in, the Recapitalization
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or Split-Off not being consummated on or prior to the
Termination Date; (B) if, following receipt of the Required
Consents and the advice by the SEC that it has no further
comments on the
Form S-4
(such that the
Form S-4
would become effective upon request to the SEC), there shall not
be at least four complete Window Periods until the Termination
Date, then the Termination Date shall be extended automatically
until the end of the fourth complete Window Period following
receipt of the Required Consents and the advice by the SEC that
it has no further comments on the
Form S-4
(such that the
Form S-4
would become effective upon request to the SEC); and (C) if
all of the conditions set forth in Annex A shall
have been satisfied or waived (or with respect to
clauses II.(c) or III.(c) of Annex A, are ready
and able to be satisfied), and MetLife or RGA shall have
exercised the MetLife Blackout Right or the RGA Blackout Right,
respectively, in such a manner as to prevent the Offer from
being commenced and completed within any Window Period after
such satisfaction or waiver, then the Termination Date shall
automatically be extended so that it includes one additional
complete Window Period after the previously scheduled
Termination Date;
(ii) if a Restraint prohibiting the Recapitalization or the
Split-Off shall have become final and nonappealable;
(iii) if the RGA Shareholder Approval shall not have been
obtained upon the completion of the RGA Shareholders Meeting
(including any adjournment thereof);
(iv) if the Offer shall have expired or been terminated in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement without MetLife
having accepted for purchase any shares of MetLife Common Stock
pursuant to the Offer, other than due to a breach of this
Agreement by the terminating party; or
(v) if any Person or group qualifies as or otherwise
becomes an Acquiring Person, as defined under the
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan.
(c) by MetLife, if RGA has breached or failed to perform
any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other
obligations set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure
to perform (i) would result in the failure of the
conditions set forth in clauses II.(a) or II.(b) of
Annex B or would result in any events set forth in
clause (g) or (h) of Annex C to occur and
(ii) is not cured, or cannot be cured, by RGA within 30
calendar days following receipt of written notice of such breach
or failure to perform from MetLife (or if the Termination Date
is less than 30 calendar days from notice by MetLife, is not
cured, or cannot be cured, by RGA by the Termination Date);
(d) by RGA, if MetLife has breached or failed to perform
any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other
obligations set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure
to perform (i) would result in the failure of the
conditions set forth in clauses III.(a) or III.(b) of
Annex B or would result in any of the MetLife
Excluded Representations from being true and correct in all
material respects and (ii) is not cured, or cannot be
cured, by MetLife within 30 calendar days following receipt of
written notice of such breach or failure to perform from RGA (or
if the Termination Date is less than 30 calendar days from
notice by RGA, is not cured, or cannot be cured, by MetLife by
the Termination Date);
(e) by MetLife, immediately prior to MetLifes
execution of a binding written agreement providing for a
transaction that constitutes a MetLife Superior Proposal;
provided that MetLife shall have provided RGA with at
least three Business Days prior written notice of such
termination and a complete copy of such agreement; or
(f) immediately after the expiration of the Offer, unless
waived by RGA, if MetLife shall not have, prior to the
Acceptance Time, furnished RGA with a certificate dated and
effective as of the Acceptance Time signed on its behalf by its
Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer to the effect
that the MetLife Excluded Representations shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement and at the Acceptance Time as though made as of the
Acceptance Time (except to the extent that such representations
and warranties expressly relate to a specified date, in which
case as of such specified date).
Section 9.2 Effect
of Termination. In the event of the
termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1,
written notice of such termination shall be given to the other
party or parties, specifying the provision of this Agreement
pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement
shall forthwith become null and void (other than any and all
obligations of MetLife to pay or reimburse RGA pursuant to the
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last sentence of Section 7.5(a) or pursuant to
Section 7.5(d) (relating to the period prior to the date of
termination of this Agreement), Section 7.8,
Section 7.10, Section 7.15(k) and Articles VIII,
IX and X, all of which shall survive termination of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms), and there shall be no
liability or other obligation on the part of MetLife or RGA or
their respective Subsidiaries, or its or their respective
Affiliates, stockholders or shareholders, controlling persons or
Representatives, except nothing shall relieve MetLife or RGA
from (a) their respective liabilities or other obligations
set forth in Section 7.8, Section 7.10,
Section 7.15(k) and Articles VIII, IX and X,
(b) liability for any willful and material breach by such
party of its covenants under this Agreement to be performed
prior to the Acceptance Time or (c) MetLifes
obligation to pay or reimburse RGA pursuant to the last sentence
of Section 7.5(a) or pursuant to Section 7.5(d).
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, including the
Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules hereto, shall constitute the
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement (it being
understood that the RGA Tax Certificate is also being delivered
for the benefit of MetLife for purposes of Section 8.2(d)).
Section 10.2 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile
transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different
parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed
and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy, telefax
or electronic transmission shall be considered original executed
counterparts for purposes of this Section 10.2; provided
that receipt of copies of such counterparts is confirmed.
Section 10.3 Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this
Agreement and subject to any reimbursement obligation in
Section 10.3(b), whether the Transactions are consummated
or not, all legal and other costs and expenses to the extent
incurred in connection with, arising out of, or relating to this
Agreement, including the Recapitalization and the Divestiture,
shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses;
provided that:
(i) the fees and expenses of printing and mailing
associated with the Recapitalization shall be borne by RGA;
(ii) the fees and expenses of printing and mailing
associated with the Offer, the Split-Off and any Additional
Divestiture Transaction shall be borne by MetLife;
(iii) the filing and other fees paid to the SEC in
connection with the
Form S-4
shall be borne equally by the parties; and
(iv) each party shall pay its own fees and expenses
associated with the HSR Act.
(b) Regardless of whether or not any of the Transactions
are completed, MetLife shall promptly reimburse and pay to RGA
all out-of-pocket and reasonably documented fees and expenses of
RGA, the RGA Board of Directors and the RGA Special Committee,
to the extent incurred in connection with, arising out of, or
relating to the Transactions, including the fees and expenses
incurred in negotiating and preparing this Agreement and the
other documents relating to the Transactions, including fees and
expenses of legal and financial advisors to RGA and the RGA
Board of Directors and the RGA Special Committee (the
RGA Reimbursable Expenses), from time to time
upon request; provided, that, if and only if the
Transactions are completed, the amount of RGA Reimbursable
Expenses shall equal the maximum amounts permitted to be
reimbursed under the IRS Ruling (as modified or amended by any
Supplemental IRS Ruling, including Supplemental IRS Ruling Two).
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Section 10.4 Notices. All
notices, requests and other communications to any party
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if
delivered personally, facsimiled (which is confirmed) or sent by
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties
at the following addresses:
To MetLife:
MetLife, Inc.
1 MetLife Plaza
27-01 Queens
Plaza North
Long Island City, New York 11101
Attention: James L. Lipscomb, Esq. and Richard S.
Collins, Esq.
Facsimile:
(212) 252-7288
and
(212) 251-1538
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Adam O. Emmerich, Esq.
Facsimile:
(212) 403-2000
To RGA:
Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated
1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Attention: James E. Sherman, Esq.
Facsimile:
(636) 736-7886
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Bryan Cave LLP
One Metropolitan Square
211 North Broadway
Suite 3600
St. Louis, Missouri 63102
Attention: R. Randall Wang, Esq.
Facsimile:
(314) 552-8149
and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
4 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Matthew A. Rosen, Esq. and Dean S.
Shulman, Esq.
Facsimile:
(212) 735-2000
or such other address or facsimile number as such party may
hereafter specify by like notice to the other parties hereto.
All such notices, requests and other communications shall be
deemed received on the date of receipt by the recipient if
received prior to 5 P.M., local time, in the place of
receipt and such day is a Business Day in the place of receipt.
Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be
deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding
Business Day in the place of receipt.
Section 10.5 Waivers. No
failure or delay by MetLife or RGA in exercising any right
hereunder shall operate as a waiver of rights, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of such rights preclude any other or
further exercise of such rights or the exercise of any other
right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to
any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in
an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.
Section 10.6 Amendments. This
Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all
respects, whether before or after receipt of the RGA Shareholder
Approval, by written agreement of the parties;
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provided, however, that following the receipt of
the RGA Shareholder Approval, there shall be no amendment or
change to the provisions of this Agreement which by Law would
require further approval by the RGA Shareholders without such
approval. No amendment to or modification of any provision of
this Agreement shall be binding upon any party unless in writing
and signed by all parties.
Section 10.7 Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations
hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by any of the
parties without the prior written consent of the other party.
Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be
binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by,
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. Any purported assignment not permitted under this
Section 10.7 shall be null and void.
Section 10.8 Successors
and Assigns. The terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and
permitted assigns.
Section 10.9 No
Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is
for the sole benefit of the parties and their successors and
permitted assigns, and nothing herein express or implied shall
give or shall be construed to confer any legal or equitable
rights or remedies to any person other than the parties to this
Agreement and such successors and permitted assigns;
provided that the parties to this Agreement expressly
intend Article VIII relating to Indemnified Parties, and
Section 7.15(l) (as to Article VII of the 2003
Registration Rights Agreement) and Section 7.17 to confer a
benefit upon and be enforceable by Indemnified Parties, those
persons indemnified pursuant to Article VII of the 2003
Registration Rights Agreement, and Covered Persons, as
applicable, as third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement.
Section 10.10 Annexes,
Exhibits and Schedules . The Annexes,
Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed with and as an
integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the
same had been set forth verbatim herein.
Section 10.11 GOVERNING
LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE,
REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER
APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS; PROVIDED THAT
THE FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF THE RGA SPECIAL COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS OF RGA, AND THE VALIDITY OF ANY CORPORATE ACTION ON
THE PART OF RGA, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED RGA ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED RGA BYLAWS AND THE RECAPITALIZATION, AND
OTHER MATTERS GOVERNED BY THE MGBCL SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.
Section 10.12 Consent
to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) All actions and proceedings arising out of or relating
to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in the Chancery
Court of the State of Delaware or, in the event that such court
does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such action or
proceeding, any federal court sitting in the State of Delaware,
and the parties to this Agreement irrevocably submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and, in the case of
appeals, appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such
action or proceeding and irrevocably waive the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or
proceeding. The consents to jurisdiction set forth in this
paragraph shall not constitute general consents to service of
process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for
any purpose except as provided in this paragraph and shall not
be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the parties
hereto. Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to
service being made through the notice procedures set forth in
Section 10.4 and agrees that service of any process,
summons, notice or document by registered mail (return receipt
requested and first-class postage prepaid) to the respective
addresses of the parties set forth in Section 10.4 shall be
effective service of process for any suit or proceeding in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that a final
judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive
and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law.
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(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.
Section 10.13 Specific
Performance.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.13(b),
the parties agree that irreparable and unquantifiable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, the parties agree
that, if for any reason MetLife or RGA shall have failed to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the breaching
party shall not object to the granting of specific performance
of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or other equitable
relief on the basis that there exists an adequate remedy at law,
and the party seeking to enforce this Agreement against such
nonperforming party under this Agreement shall be entitled to
specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief,
and the parties further agree to waive any requirement for the
securing or posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining
of any such injunctive or other equitable relief, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law
or in equity. If, notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a
court shall require that the non-breaching party prove that such
non-breaching party is entitled to specific performance,
injunctive or other equitable relief for a breach or
non-performance of this Agreement by the other party, the
parties agree that a partys entitlement to such specific
performance, injunctive or other equitable relief shall be
governed by the preponderance of the evidence standard (and not
the clear and convincing evidence or any other higher standard)
for the burden of persuasion with respect to a partys
entitlement to such relief.
(b) Section 10.13(a) shall not apply with respect to
the Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan, with MetLife
agreeing that neither specific performance nor any other
equitable remedies shall be available to MetLife with respect to
the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the separation or
exercise of the Rights, the issuance of any shares of capital
stock of RGA pursuant such plan, any action or inaction by RGA
or its Board of Directors pursuant to such plan, or any other
operation of such plan (in each case, as such terms are defined
in such plan); provided that nothing in this
Section 10.13(b) shall limit, reduce or otherwise modify
MetLifes right to seek indemnification for any breach of
RGAs representations and warranties under
Section 5.5(a) as a result of the foregoing, including any
indemnification under Section 8.2(d).
Section 10.14 Severability. In
the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby; provided,
however, that the consummation of the Recapitalization is
conditioned upon and is not severable from the Split-Off, and
the consummation of the Split-Off is conditioned upon and is not
severable from the Recapitalization. The parties shall endeavor
in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic
effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
[Remainder of page left intentionally blank]
A-51
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
METLIFE, INC.
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By:
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/s/ William
J. Wheeler
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Name: William J. Wheeler
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Title:
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Executive Vice President and
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Chief Financial Officer
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
Name: Jack B. Lay
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Title:
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Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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[Signature Page to Distribution Agreement]
A-52
ANNEX A
CONDITIONS
TO COMMENCEMENT OF THE OFFER
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I.
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Conditions
Waivable Only by Both Parties
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Agreement, MetLife
shall not commence the Offer pursuant to Article III of the
Agreement unless each of the following conditions shall be
satisfied (or waived by both MetLife and RGA):
(a) IRS Ruling. There shall be no change
in, revocation of, or amendment to the IRS Ruling, any
Supplemental IRS Ruling or applicable Law that could reasonably
be expected to cause MetLife or its Subsidiaries to incur any
Section 355 Taxes (other than any de minimis
Section 355 Taxes) or other Section 355 Tax-related
liability as a result of the Recapitalization, the Split-Off,
any Additional Divestiture Transaction or the Conversion, and
there shall be no other change in, revocation of, or amendment
to the IRS Ruling, any Supplemental IRS Ruling or applicable Law
that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect MetLife.
There shall be no change in, revocation of, or amendment to the
IRS Ruling, any Supplemental IRS Ruling or the applicable Law
that could reasonably be expected to impose a limitation on the
ability of RGA or any of its Subsidiaries to utilize its, or
their, net operating losses (other than any de minimis
net operating loss) as a result of the Recapitalization, the
Split-Off or any Additional Divestiture Transaction, and there
shall be no other change in, revocation of, or amendment to such
ruling or the applicable law that could reasonably be expected
to adversely affect RGA or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Form S-4. The
Form S-4
relating to the Split-Off shall have been declared effective, or
the SEC staff shall have advised that it has no further comments
on the
Form S-4
relating to the Split-Off such that such
Form S-4
shall become effective upon request to the SEC, and such
Form S-4
shall not have become subject to a stop order or proceeding
seeking a stop order;
(c) No Illegality or Injunctions. There
shall not be any temporary, preliminary or permanent Restraints
in effect preventing or prohibiting the Split-Off or the
Recapitalization; and
(d) Governmental Action. There shall not
be instituted or pending any material Action by any Governmental
Authority seeking to restrain or prohibit the Split-Off or the
Recapitalization
(e) Acquiring Person under
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan. No
Person or group shall have qualified as or otherwise become an
Acquiring Person, as defined under the
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan.
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II.
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Conditions
Waivable by MetLife
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Agreement, MetLife
shall not commence the Offer pursuant to Article III of the
Agreement unless each of the following conditions shall be
satisfied (or waived by MetLife):
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) The representations and
warranties of RGA set forth in Section 5.5(a) of the
Agreement shall be true and correct (except for any de
minimis inaccuracy); and (ii) the other representations
and warranties of RGA set forth in the Agreement shall be true
and correct in all material respects, in each of cases
(i) and (ii), as of the date of the Agreement and as of the
Commencement Date as though made on the Commencement Date
(except to the extent that such representations and warranties
expressly relate to a specified date, in which case as of such
specified date);
(b) Covenants. RGA shall have performed
in all material respects its obligations, agreements or
covenants required to be performed by it on or prior to the
Commencement Date under the Agreement;
(c) Officers Certificate. RGA shall
have furnished MetLife with a certificate dated as of the
Commencement Date signed on its behalf by its Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer to the effect that the
conditions set forth in clauses II.(a) and II.(b) of this
Annex A shall have been satisfied.
A-53
III.
Conditions Waivable by RGA
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Agreement, MetLife
shall not commence the Offer pursuant to Article III of the
Agreement unless each of the following conditions shall be
satisfied (or waived by RGA):
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) The representations and
warranties of MetLife set forth in the Agreement shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of the date of the
Agreement and as of the Commencement Date as though made on the
Commencement Date (except to the extent that such
representations and warranties expressly relate to a specified
date, in which case as of such specified date);
(b) Covenants. MetLife shall have
performed in all material respects its obligations, agreements
or covenants required to be performed by it on or prior to the
Commencement Date under the Agreement;
(c) Officers Certificate. MetLife
shall have furnished RGA with a certificate dated as of the
Commencement Date signed on its behalf by its Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer to the effect that the
conditions set forth in clauses III.(a) and III.(b) of this
Annex A shall have been satisfied; and
(d) Retention of Recently Acquired
Stock. In case the Offer would not expire on or
prior to November 10, 2008 (with the Acceptance Time no
more than one Business Day thereafter), MetLife
and/or RGA
shall have received Supplemental IRS Ruling One substantially to
the effect that each share of Recently Acquired Stock shall be
reclassified into one share of RGA Class A Common Stock in
the Recapitalization and that such shares of RGA Class A
Common Stock shall not be part of the Exchange Shares.
The capitalized terms used in this Annex A shall
have the meanings set forth in the Agreement to which it is
annexed, except that the term Agreement shall be
deemed to refer to the agreement to which this
Annex A is annexed.
A-54
ANNEX B
CONDITIONS
TO COMPLETING THE RECAPITALIZATION
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I.
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Conditions
Waivable Only by Both Parties
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The respective obligations of MetLife and RGA to effect the
Recapitalization under the Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction or, to the extent permitted under applicable Law,
waiver by both MetLife and RGA of the following conditions:
(a) RGA Shareholder Approval. The RGA
Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained;
(b) Successful Split-Off. All of the
Split-Off Conditions, other than the condition set forth in
clause (d) of Annex C, shall have been
satisfied or waived, and MetLife shall have irrevocably agreed
with RGA that it will accept the shares of MetLife Common Stock
tendered and not withdrawn in the Offer effective immediately
following the completion of the Recapitalization;
(c) Minimum Condition. The Minimum
Condition shall have been satisfied;
(d) No Illegality or Injunctions. There
shall not be any temporary, preliminary or permanent Restraints
in effect preventing or prohibiting the Recapitalization or the
Split-Off;
(e) Governmental Action. There shall not
be instituted or pending any material Action by any Governmental
Authority seeking to restrain or prohibit the Recapitalization
or the Split-Off;
(f) IRS Ruling. The condition set forth
in clause I.(a) of Annex A shall continue to
have been satisfied;
(g) Form S-4. The
Form S-4
relating to both the Recapitalization and the Split-Off shall
have been declared effective by the SEC, and such
Form S-4
shall not have become subject to a stop order or proceeding
seeking a stop order;
(h) NYSE Listing. Both the shares of RGA
Class A Common Stock to be issued in the Recapitalization
and RGA Class B Common Stock to be distributed in the
Split-Off shall have been authorized for listing on the NYSE,
subject to official notice of issuance, and the
Form 8-A(s)
shall have been filed with the SEC and become effective; and
(i) Consents and Approvals. The Required
Consents shall have been obtained.
(j) Acquiring Person under
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan. No
Person or group shall have qualified as or otherwise become an
Acquiring Person, as defined under the
Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan.
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II.
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Conditions
Waivable by MetLife
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The obligations of MetLife to effect the Recapitalization under
the Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent
permitted under applicable Law, waiver by MetLife of the
following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) The representations and
warranties of RGA set forth in Section 5.5(a) of the
Agreement shall be true and correct (except for any de
minimis inaccuracy); and (ii) the other representations
and warranties of RGA set forth in the Agreement (other than the
RGA Excluded Representations) shall be true and correct in all
material respects, in each of cases (i) and (ii), as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made
on the Closing Date (except to the extent that such
representations and warranties expressly relate to a specified
date, in which case as of such specified date);
(b) Covenants. RGA shall have performed
in all material respects its obligations, agreements and
covenants required to be performed by it prior to the Closing
Date under the Agreement;
(c) Officers Certificate. RGA shall
have furnished MetLife with a certificate dated as of the
Closing Date signed on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer
or Chief Financial Officer to the effect that the conditions set
forth in clauses II.(a) and II.(b) of this
Annex B shall have been satisfied;
(d) Comfort Letter. Deloitte &
Touche shall have furnished to MetLife its letters, addressed to
the Board of Directors of MetLife, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to MetLife, containing
A-55
statements and information of the type customarily included in
accountants initial and bring-down comfort
letters to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information of RGA contained
and incorporated by reference in the Form
S-4;
(e) Legal Opinion. MetLife shall have
received legal opinions from internal and outside counsel to
RGA, substantially in the forms attached to the RGA Disclosure
Schedule; and
(f) Supplemental IRS Ruling. If the
Agreement shall have been amended pursuant to Section 7.18
of the Agreement, then MetLife
and/or RGA
shall have received a Supplemental IRS Ruling substantially to
the effect that the Recently Acquired Stock shall be exchanged
for RGA Class B Common Stock and such shares of RGA Class B
Common Stock shall be part of the Exchange Shares.
III.
Conditions Waivable by RGA
The obligations of RGA to effect the Recapitalization under the
Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent
permitted under applicable Law, waiver by RGA of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of MetLife set forth in the
Agreement (other than the MetLife Excluded Representations)
shall be true and correct in all material respects, as of the
date of the Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made
on the Closing Date (except to the extent that such
representations and warranties expressly relate to a specified
date, in which case as of such specified date);
(b) Covenants. MetLife shall have
performed in all material respects its obligations, agreements
and covenants required to be performed by it prior to the
Closing Date under the Agreement;
(c) Officers Certificate. MetLife
shall have furnished RGA with a certificate dated as of the
Closing Date signed on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer
or Chief Financial Officer to the effect that the conditions set
forth in clauses III.(a) and III.(b) of this Annex B
shall have been satisfied;
(d) Comfort Letter. Deloitte &
Touche shall have furnished to RGA its letters, addressed to the
Board of Directors of RGA, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to RGA, containing statements and information of
the type customarily included in accountants initial and
bring-down comfort letters to underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information of MetLife contained and incorporated by reference
in the
Form S-4;
(e) Legal Opinion. RGA shall have
received legal opinions from internal and outside counsel to
MetLife, substantially in the forms attached to the MetLife
Disclosure Schedule;
(f) Retention of Recently Acquired
Stock. In case the Offer would not expire on or
prior to November 10, 2008 (with the Acceptance Time no
more than one Business Day thereafter), MetLife
and/or RGA
shall have received Supplemental IRS Ruling One substantially to
the effect that each share of Recently Acquired Stock shall be
reclassified into one share of RGA Class A Common Stock in
the Recapitalization and that such shares of RGA Class A
Common Stock shall not be part of the Exchange Shares; and
(g) Resignation of MetLife Designees to RGA
Board. RGA shall have received the resignation of
Steven A. Kandarian, Georgette A. Piligian and Joseph A. Reali
as directors of RGA, effective as of the Acceptance Time.
The capitalized terms used in this Annex B shall
have the meanings set forth in the Agreement to which it is
annexed, except that the term Agreement shall be
deemed to refer to the agreement to which this
Annex B is annexed.
A-56
ANNEX C
CONDITIONS
TO COMPLETING THE SPLIT-OFF
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Agreement, MetLife
shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including
Rule 14e-1(c)
under the Exchange Act, pay for any tendered shares of MetLife
Common Stock, if (i) there shall not be validly tendered
and not properly withdrawn prior to the Expiration Time shares
of MetLife Common Stock at least equal to the Minimum Condition;
(ii) any waiting period (and any extension thereof)
applicable to the Split-Off or the Recapitalization under the
HSR Act shall not have been terminated or expired prior to the
Expiration Time; or (iii) at any time on or after the date
of this Agreement and prior to the Acceptance Time, any of the
following events shall occur and continue to exist:
(a) No Illegality or Injunctions. There
shall be any temporary, preliminary or permanent Restraints in
effect preventing or prohibiting the Recapitalization, the
Split-Off or, if there shall be any Excess Shares, any
Additional Divestiture Transaction;
(b) Governmental Action. There shall be
instituted or pending any material Action by any Governmental
Authority seeking to restrain or prohibit the Recapitalization,
the Split-Off or, if there shall be any Excess Shares, any
Additional Divestiture Transaction;
(c) IRS Ruling and Tax
Opinion. (i) The condition set forth in
clause I.(a) of Annex A shall not continue to
have been satisfied and (ii) counsel to MetLife shall not
have issued the Tax Opinion in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to MetLife (which opinion RGA shall have had the
opportunity to review, but not approve);
(d) Recapitalization. The
Recapitalization shall not have occurred;
(e) Form S-4. The
Form S-4
relating to the Split-Off shall not have been declared effective
by the SEC or such
Form S-4
shall have become subject to a stop order or proceeding seeking
a stop order;
(f) NYSE Listing. The shares of RGA
Class B Common Stock to be distributed in the Split-Off
shall not have been authorized for listing on the NYSE, subject
to official notice of issuance;
(g) Representations and
Warranties. (i) The representations and
warranties of RGA set forth in the Agreement shall not be true
and correct in all material respects, as of the date of the
Agreement and as of the Acceptance Time as though made at the
Acceptance Time (except to the extent that such representations
and warranties expressly relate to a specified date, in which
case as of such specified date);
(h) Covenants. RGA shall have failed to
perform in any material respect any obligation, agreement or
covenant required to be performed by it under the Agreement;
(i) Officers Certificate. RGA shall
not have furnished MetLife with a certificate dated as of the
Acceptance Time signed on its behalf by its Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer to the effect that the
conditions set forth in items (g) and (h) of this
Annex C shall not have occurred and continue to
exist; or
(j) Consents and Approvals. The Required
Consents shall not have been obtained.
The foregoing conditions are for the benefit of MetLife, may be
asserted by MetLife regardless of the circumstances giving rise
to any such conditions and may be waived by MetLife in whole or
in part at any time and from time to time, in each case, subject
to the terms of the Agreement. The failure by MetLife at any
time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed
a waiver of any such right, and each such right shall be deemed
an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from time
to time.
The capitalized terms used in this Annex C shall
have the meanings set forth in the Agreement to which it is
annexed, except that the term Agreement shall be
deemed to refer to the agreement to which this
Annex C is annexed.
A-57
exv3w3
Exhibit 3.3
AMENDED
AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
ARTICLE ONE
NAME
The name of the corporation (hereinafter referred to as the
Corporation) is: Reinsurance Group of America,
Incorporated.
ARTICLE TWO
REGISTERED
OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the Corporations registered office in this
state is 120 South Central Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63105.
The name of its registered agent at such address is CT
Corporation System.
ARTICLE THREE
CAPITAL STOCK
A. Class and Number of Shares. The
aggregate number, class and par value, if any, of shares which
the Corporation shall have authority to issue is
150,000,000 shares, consisting of 140,000,000 shares
of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common
Stock), of which 107,700,000 shares shall be
designated Class A Common Stock (Class A Common
Stock) and 32,300,000 shares shall be designated
Class B Common Stock (Class B Common Stock
and collectively with the Class A Common Stock, the
New Common Stock), and 10,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (Preferred
Stock) ($1,500,000.00 aggregate total). Immediately upon
the effectiveness of these Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation (the Effective Time), and without any
further action on the part of the Corporation or its
shareholders, each share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time (the Old Common Stock) shall be automatically
reclassified and changed into one fully paid and nonassessable
share of Class A Common Stock.
Each certificate formerly representing a share or shares of Old
Common Stock shall automatically represent from and after the
Effective Time, without any further action on the part of the
Corporation or any holder thereof, a number of shares of
Class A Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Old
Common Stock represented by such certificate immediately prior
to the Effective Time; provided however, that if the Bylaws of
the Corporation provide for the issuance of uncertificated
shares, and any shares of Class A Common Stock (or any
stock into which such Class A Common Stock may be converted
or exchanged) are issued in uncertificated form in accordance
with the Bylaws of the Corporation, then, without any further
action on the part of any holder thereof, the Corporation shall
cause to be sent to such holder a statement of such holdings,
which statement shall include any legends that would be set
forth on certificates, if such holders shares were
represented thereby.
For clarification purposes, upon the effectiveness of a
Conversion (as defined below), the aggregate number, class and
par value, if any, of shares which the Corporation shall have
authority to issue will be 150,000,000 shares, consisting
of 140,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share (Common Stock), and 10,000,000 shares of
stock, par value $0.01 per share (Preferred Stock)
($1,500,000.00 aggregate total).
B. Issuance of Preferred Stock, Rights and
Preferences Thereof. The Preferred Stock may
be issued from time to time in one or more series, with such
voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional
or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or
resolutions providing for the issuance of such stock adopted
from time to time by the Board of Directors. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, in the resolution or
resolutions providing for the issuance of such shares of each
particular series of
B-1
Preferred Stock, subject to the requirements of the laws of the
State of Missouri, the Board of Directors is also expressly
authorized:
(i) To fix the distinctive serial designation of the shares
of the series;
(ii) To fix the consideration for which the shares of the
series are to be issued;
(iii) To fix the rate or amount per annum, if any, at which
the holders of the shares of the series shall be entitled to
receive dividends, the dates on which and the conditions under
which dividends shall be payable, whether dividends shall be
cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or
dates from which dividends shall be cumulative;
(iv) To fix the price or prices at which, the times during
which, and the other terms, if any, upon which the shares of the
series may be redeemed;
(v) To fix the rights, if any, which the holders of shares
of the series have in the event of dissolution or upon
distribution of the assets of the Corporation;
(vi) From time to time to include additional shares of
Preferred Stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue in
the series;
(vii) To determine whether or not the shares of the series
shall be made convertible into or exchangeable for other
securities of the Corporation, including shares of the Common
Stock of the Corporation or shares of any other series of the
Preferred Stock of the Corporation, now or hereafter authorized,
or any new class of Preferred Stock of the Corporation hereafter
authorized, the price or prices or the rate or rates at which
conversion or exchange may be made, and the terms and conditions
upon which the conversion or exchange rate shall be exercised;
(viii) To determine if a sinking fund shall be provided for
the purchase or redemption of shares of the series and, if so,
to fix the terms and the amount or amounts of the sinking
fund; and
(ix) To fix the other preferences and rights, privileges
and restrictions applicable to the series as may be permitted
law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not issue
any shares of Preferred Stock with powers, preferences or rights
that adversely affect, limit or qualify the powers, preferences
and rights of any class of New Common Stock unless such shares
of Preferred Stock adversely affect, limit or qualify, in the
same manner and on the same per share basis, the powers,
preferences and rights of the other class of New Common Stock.
C. Rights of the New Common
Stock. The powers, preferences and rights of
the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock,
and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof,
shall be identical in all respects, except as otherwise required
by law or expressly provided in this Article Three, as
follows:
(i) Cash Dividends. Subject to the
rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred
Stock, and except as otherwise provided for herein, cash
dividends may be declared and paid to the holders of New Common
Stock in cash as may be declared thereon by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation from time to time out of funds or
other assets of the Corporation legally available therefor. If
and when cash dividends on the New Common Stock are declared
payable from time to time by the Board of Directors, the holders
of New Common Stock shall be entitled to share equally, on a per
share basis, in all such dividends.
(ii) Dividends or Distributions of New Common
Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders
of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, and except as
otherwise provided for herein, the holders of New Common Stock
shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other
distributions in New Common Stock of the Corporation as may be
declared thereon by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
from time to time out of assets of the Corporation legally
available therefor. In the case of dividends or other
distributions payable in, or reclassifications involving, New
Common Stock, including distributions pursuant to stock splits
or subdivisions of New Common Stock, only shares of Class A
Common Stock shall be paid or distributed with respect to shares
of Class A Common Stock and only shares of Class B
Common Stock shall be paid or distributed with respect to shares
of Class B Common Stock. The number
B-2
of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock so paid or distributed shall be equal in number on a per
share basis.
(iii) Property Dividends. Subject
to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of
Preferred Stock, and except as otherwise provided for herein,
dividends may be declared and paid to the holders of New Common
Stock in stock of any corporation (other than New Common Stock
of the Corporation) or property of the Corporation (a
property dividend) as may be declared thereon by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation from time to time out of
funds or other assets of the Corporation legally available
therefor. If at any time a property dividend is to be paid in
rights to purchase shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation (a rights dividend), then: (I) if
the rights dividend is of rights that entitle the holder thereof
to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock (or shares of
capital stock of the Corporation having voting rights equivalent
to those of the Class A Common Stock (Equivalent
Class A Shares)) or Class B Common Stock (or
shares of capital stock of the Corporation having voting rights
equivalent to those of the Class B Common Stock
(Equivalent Class B Shares)) (whether initially
or upon any adjustment thereunder), then only rights to acquire
Class A Common Stock or Equivalent Class A Shares may
be paid to holders of Class A Common Stock and only rights
to acquire Class B Common Stock or Equivalent Class B
Shares may be paid to holders of Class B Common Stock; and
(II) if the rights dividend is of rights that entitle the
holder thereof to purchase shares of capital stock of the
Corporation other than Class A Common Stock (or Equivalent
Class A Shares) or Class B Common Stock (or Equivalent
Class B Shares) (whether initially or upon any adjustment
thereunder), then the Board of Directors of the Corporation may
pay such dividend of rights to the holders of Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in such manner as the
Board of Directors may determine. Subject to the foregoing, if
and when any property dividend on the New Common Stock is
declared payable from time to time by the Board of Directors,
the holders thereof shall be entitled to share equally, on a per
share basis, in all such dividends and other distributions.
(iv) Stock Subdivisions, Splits and
Combinations. The Corporation shall not
subdivide, split, reclassify or combine stock of either class of
New Common Stock without at the same time making a proportionate
subdivision, split, reclassification or combination of the other
class.
(v) Voting. Voting power shall be
divided between the classes of New Common Stock as follows:
(a) With respect to the election of directors, holders of
Class A Common Stock and Equivalent Class A Shares
together with the holders of any other class or series of stock
which by its terms is entitled to vote with the Class A
Common Stock in the election of directors (the Class A
Common Stock and Equivalent Class A Shares, together with
such other shares, the Voting A Shares), voting
separately as a class, shall be entitled to elect that number of
directors which constitutes 20% of the authorized number of
members of the Board of Directors (or, if such 20% is not a
whole number, then the nearest lower whole number of directors
that is closest to 20% of such membership) (the
Class A Directors); provided that, if there
shall be a Conversion (as defined in Section C.(viii) of
Article Three), then, subject to the rights of the holders
of any then outstanding shares of any other class or series of
stock, and except as otherwise provided for herein, the
Class A Directors shall constitute 100% of the authorized
members of the Board of Directors. Each share of Class A
Common Stock shall have one vote in the election of the
Class A Directors. Holders of Class B Common Stock and
Equivalent Class B Shares, together with the holders of
shares of any other class or series of stock which, by its
terms, is entitled to vote with the Class B Common Stock in
the election of directors (the Class B Common Stock and
Equivalent Class B Shares, together with such other shares,
the Voting B Shares), voting separately as a class,
shall be entitled to elect the remaining directors (the
Class B Directors). Each share of Class B
Common Stock shall have one vote in the election of such
directors. The initial Class A Directors shall be
designated by a majority of the directors of the Corporation as
of the effectiveness of these Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, and the holders of the Voting A Shares, voting
separately as a class, shall be entitled to vote for the
election of such Class A Directors at the respective annual
meeting(s) of shareholders in which the classes of such
Class A Directors are presented to such holders for
election. The initial Class B Directors shall be designated
by a majority of the directors of the Corporation as of the
effectiveness of these Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, and the
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holders of the Voting B Shares, voting separately as a class,
shall be entitled to vote for the election of such Class B
Directors at the respective annual meeting(s) of shareholders in
which the classes of such Class B Directors are presented
to such holders for election. For purposes of this
Section C.(v)(a) of Article Three, references to the
authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall not
include any directors whom the holders of any shares of any
series or class of Preferred Stock have the right to elect
voting separately as one or more series or class(es). All newly
created directorships resulting from an increase in the
authorized number of directors shall be allocated between
Class A Directors and Class B Directors such that at
all times the number of Class B Directors shall be 80% of
the authorized number of members of the Board of Directors (or
if such 80% is not a whole number, then the nearest higher whole
number) and the remaining directorships shall be Class A
Directors.
(b) Subject to the last sentence of this
Section C.(v)(b) of Article Three, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in Section C.(v)(a) of
this Article Three, for so long as any person or entity or
group of persons or entities acting in concert beneficially owns
15% (the Threshold Amount) or more of the
outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, then in any
election of directors or other exercise of voting rights with
respect to the election or removal of directors, such person,
entity or group shall only be entitled to vote (or otherwise
exercise voting rights with respect to) a number of shares of
Class B Common Stock that constitutes a percentage of the
total number of shares of Class B Common Stock then
outstanding which is equal to the greater of (i) the
Threshold Amount or (ii) such person, entity or
groups Entitled Voting Percentage (such number of shares,
the Voting Cap), and the Corporation shall disregard
any such votes purported to be cast in excess of the Voting Cap.
For all purposes hereof, a person, entity or groups
Entitled Voting Percentage at any time shall mean
the lesser of (x) the percentage at such time of the then
outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially
owned by such person, entity or group at such time or
(y) the percentage at such time of the then outstanding
Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by such person,
entity or group. For purposes of this Section C.(v)(b) of
Article Three, a beneficial owner of New Common
Stock includes any person or entity or group of persons or
entities who, directly or indirectly, including through any
contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise,
written or oral, formal or informal, control the voting power
(which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting) of
such New Common Stock within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3(a)(1)
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the Exchange Act). To the extent that the voting
power of any share of Class B Common Stock cannot be
exercised pursuant to this Section C.(v)(b) of
Article Three, such share of Class B Common Stock
shall not be included in the determination of the voting power
of the Corporation for such purposes under these Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation or the General and Business
Corporation Law of Missouri, but shall be deemed to be present
and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of
a quorum. This Section C.(v)(b) of Article Three shall
not apply to (x) any solicitation of any revocable proxy
from any stockholder of the Corporation by or on behalf of the
Corporation or by any officer or director of the Corporation
acting on behalf of the Corporation or (y) any solicitation
of any revocable proxy from any stockholder of the Corporation
by any other stockholder that is conducted pursuant to, and in
accordance with, Regulation 14A promulgated pursuant to the
Exchange Act, and is not then reportable on Schedule 13D
under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report).
(c) Except as otherwise specified herein, the holders of
Class A Common Stock and holders of Class B Common
Stock (I) shall in all matters not otherwise specified in
this Section C.(v) of Article Three vote together, and
not separately, as a single class (including, without
limitation, with respect to increases or decreases in the
authorized number of shares of any class of New Common Stock),
with each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock having one vote, and (II) shall be entitled to
vote as separate classes only when required by law to do so
under mandatory statutory provisions that may not be varied,
modified, superseded or otherwise overridden in these Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation.
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(d) Except as set forth in this Section C.(v) of this
Article Three, the holders of Class A Common Stock
shall have exclusive voting power (except for any voting powers
of any Preferred Stock) on all matters at any time when no
Class B Common Stock is issued and outstanding, and the
holders of Class B Common Stock shall have exclusive voting
power (except for any voting powers of any Preferred Stock) on
all matters at any time when no Class A Common Stock is
issued and outstanding.
(vi) Merger, Consolidation or
Reorganization. The Corporation shall not
enter into any reorganization, or into any merger, share
exchange, consolidation or combination of the Corporation with
one or more other entities (whether or not the Corporation is
the surviving entity), unless each holder of an outstanding
share of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
with respect to such share the same kind and amount of
consideration (including shares of stock and other securities
and property (including cash)), if any, receivable upon such
reorganization, merger, share exchange, consolidation or other
combination by a holder of an outstanding share of Class B
Common Stock, and each holder of an outstanding share of
Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive with
respect to such share the same kind and amount of consideration
(including shares of stock and other securities and property
(including cash)), if any, receivable upon such reorganization,
merger, share exchange, consolidation or other combination by a
holder of an outstanding share of Class A Common Stock, in
each case without distinction between classes of New Common
Stock; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may permit
the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and the
holders of shares of Class B Common Stock to receive
different kinds of shares of stock in such reorganization,
merger, share, exchange, consolidation or combination if the
Board of Directors determines in good faith that the only
difference in such shares is the inclusion of voting rights that
maintain the different voting rights of the holders of
Class A Common Stock and holders of Class B Common
Stock with respect to the election of the applicable percentage
of the authorized number of members of the Board of Directors as
described in Section C.(v)(a) of this Article Three.
(vii) Dissolution. In the event of
any dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up
of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or
involuntary, after payment in full of the amounts required to be
paid to the holders of Preferred Stock, the remaining assets and
funds of the Corporation shall be distributed pro rata to the
holders of the Class A Common Stock and the holders of
Class B Common Stock on an equal per share basis, without
distinction between classes. For purposes of this
Section C.(vii) of this Article Three, the voluntary
sale, lease, or exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions (for
cash, property, shares or other securities or other obligations
of the Corporation or the surviving or new corporation or
entity), of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation or a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with
one or more other constituent corporations or entities (whether
or not the Corporation is the entity surviving such
consolidation or merger) shall not be deemed to be a
dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up,
whether voluntary or involuntary.
(viii) Conversion Upon the Occurrence of Certain
Events.
(a) Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be
converted into one share of Class A Common Stock
(Conversion) if and only if the Corporations
Board of Directors determines to submit to the shareholders of
the Corporation, at a duly called meeting of shareholders, a
proposal to effect such conversion, and such proposal receives
the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock entitled to vote and
present in person or by proxy at the meeting, each voting
separately as a class; provided that, at such meeting of
shareholders, every holder of New Common Stock shall be entitled
to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of New Common
Stock standing in his or her name on the transfer books of the
Corporation; and provided further, that such conversion shall be
effective on the effective date set forth in such proposal.
(b) In the event of a Conversion, certificates that
formerly represented outstanding shares of Class B Common
Stock shall thereafter be deemed to represent an equal number of
shares of
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Class A Common Stock, and all authorized shares of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall
consist of only Common Stock.
(c) The Corporation will provide notice of any Conversion
to holders of record of New Common Stock as soon as practicable
following such Conversion; provided, however, that the
Corporation may satisfy such notice requirement by providing
such notice prior to such Conversion. Such notice shall be
provided by mailing notice of such Conversion, first class
postage prepaid, to each holder of record of the New Common
Stock, at such holders address as it appears on the
transfer books of the Corporation; provided, however, that
neither the failure to give such notice nor any defect therein
shall affect the validity of the Conversion. Each notice shall
state, as appropriate, the following:
(I) the effective date of the Conversion;
(II) that all outstanding shares of Class B Common
Stock are converted into Class A Common Stock;
(III) the place or places at which certificates for such
shares of Class B Common Stock are to be surrendered for
certificates for an equivalent number of shares of Class A
Common Stock; and
(IV) that no dividends will be declared on the shares of
Class B Common Stock after such Conversion.
(d) Immediately upon such Conversion, the rights of the
holders of shares of Class B Common Stock as such shall
cease and such holders shall be treated for all purposes as
having become the record owners of the shares of Class A
Common Stock issued upon such Conversion; provided, however,
that such persons shall be entitled to receive when paid any
dividends declared on the Class B Common Stock as of a
record date preceding the time of such Conversion and unpaid as
of the time of such Conversion, subject to
Section C.(viii)(e) of this Article Three.
(e) Upon any Conversion, any dividend in the form of
Class B Common Stock for which the record date or payment
date which may have been declared on the shares of Class B
Common Stock shall be deemed to have been declared, and shall be
payable, with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock
into or for which such shares of Class B Common Stock shall
have been so converted, and any such dividend which shall have
been declared on such shares payable in shares of Class B
Stock shall be deemed to have been declared, and shall be
payable, in shares of Class A Common Stock.
(f) [Reserved]
(g) The Corporation shall not be required to pay any
documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in
respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Class A
Common Stock on the Conversion, and no such issue or delivery
shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue
has paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or has
established, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, that such
tax has been paid.
(h) The Board of Directors shall have the power to
authorize the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire from
time to time shares of any series or class of stock herein or
hereafter authorized from such persons, firms, associations or
corporations, in such manner and on such terms and for such
consideration as the Board of Directors shall from time to time,
in its discretion, determine, whether or not less consideration
could be paid upon the purchase of the same number of shares of
another series or class, and as otherwise permitted by law.
(i) The Board of Directors shall have the power to
authorize the Corporation to issue and sell all or any part of
any series or class of stock herein or hereafter authorized,
from time to time, and at such time or times, in such amounts
and manner to such persons, firms, associations or corporations,
and for such consideration, whether in cash, property or
otherwise, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in
its discretion, determine, whether or not greater consideration
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could be received upon the issue or sale of the same number of
shares of another series or class, and as otherwise permitted by
law.
D. Interpretation. For purposes of
these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, for so
long as shares of the Class B Common Stock are outstanding,
all references in Article Six and Article Nine to
Common Stock shall be interpreted as references to
New Common Stock, and at such time as a deemed restatement of
these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation shall have
occurred pursuant to Section E of this Article Three,
as references to Common Stock.
E. Deemed Restatement of Articles of Incorporation
following a Conversion.
(i) Following the effectiveness of any Conversion, each of
Sections C, D and F and this paragraph (i) of this
Section E of this Article Three shall be deemed to be
deleted in its entirety from this Article Three (except for
subclauses C.(viii)(d) and (e) hereof to the extent that
any dividends on the Class B Common Stock shall have been
declared but not paid) automatically and without further action
by the shareholders or the Corporation, with appropriate
renumbering of the remaining sections hereof, and all references
to Class B Common Stock in these Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation shall be references to the New Common
Stock, which thereafter shall be designated and referred to as
the Common Stock of the Corporation and the
provisions of clause C.(v) of this Article Three shall
have no further force or effect. Unless prohibited by the
Missouri General and Business Corporation Law, the Corporation
may restate these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
in their entirety to give effect to this provision, and any such
restatement need not include this clause (i) of
Paragraph E and may renumber
and/or
appropriately relocate paragraph E.(ii) within this
Article Three.
(ii) Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred
Stock, following the effectiveness of any Conversion, the
holders of the Common Stock, voting as a class, shall be
entitled to elect all members of the Board of Directors.
F. Amendment to this
Article Three. Except as otherwise
provided by law, and subject to any rights of the holders of
Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
a majority of the then outstanding shares of Class A Common
Stock and the Class B Common Stock, voting together as a
single class, shall be required to amend, alter, change or
repeal the provisions of this Article Three; provided,
however, that with respect to any proposed amendment which would
amend, alter, change or repeal the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Class A Common Stock or Class B
Common Stock so as to affect them adversely, the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding
shares of the class affected by the proposed amendment, voting
separately as a class, shall be obtained in addition to the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting
together as a single class as provided above.
ARTICLE FOUR
ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS REGARDING
CERTAIN
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
A. Preemptive Rights. All
preemptive rights of shareholders are hereby denied, so that no
stock or other security of the Corporation shall carry with it
and no holder or owner of any share or shares of stock or other
security or securities of the Corporation shall have any
preferential or preemptive right to acquire additional shares of
stock or any other security of the Corporation.
B. Cumulative Voting. All
cumulative voting rights are hereby denied, so that none of the
Common Stock, the Preferred Stock or any other security of the
Corporation shall carry with it and no holder or owner of any
Common Stock, Preferred Stock or any other security shall have
any right to cumulative voting in the election of directors or
for any other purpose.
B-7
ARTICLE FIVE
INCORPORATOR
The name and
place of residence of the incorporator is:
Donna J. Holsten
6140 Wanda
St. Louis, Missouri 63116
ARTICLE SIX
DIRECTORS
A. Number and Classes of
Directors. The number of directors to
constitute the Board of Directors of the Corporation is ten.
Thereafter, the number of directors shall be fixed by, or in the
manner provided in, the Bylaws of the Corporation. The Board of
Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal
in number as possible, with the mode of such classification to
be provided for in the Bylaws of the Corporation. Directors
other than certain Directors elected to the initial Board of
Directors shall be elected to hold office for a term of three
years, with the term of office of one class expiring each year.
As used in these Articles of Incorporation, the term
entire Board of Directors means the total number of
Directors fixed by, or in accordance with, these Articles of
Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation.
B. Removal of Directors. Subject
to the rights, if any, of the holders of any class of capital
stock of the Corporation (other than the Common Stock) then
outstanding, (1) any Director, or the entire Board of
Directors, may be removed from office at any time prior to the
expiration of his term of office only for cause and only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of record of outstanding shares
representing at least 85% of all of the then outstanding shares
of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote
generally in the election of Directors, voting together as a
single class at a special meeting of shareholders called
expressly for that purpose (such vote being in addition to any
required class or other vote); and (2) any Director may be
removed from office by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
entire Board of Directors at any time prior to the expiration of
his term of office, as provided by law, in the event that the
Director fails to meet any qualifications stated in the Bylaws
for election as a Director or in the event that the Director is
in breach of any agreement between the Director and the
Corporation relating to the Directors service as a
Director or employee of the Corporation.
C. Nominations. Subject to the
rights, if any, of holders of any class of capital stock of the
Corporation (other than the Common Stock) then outstanding,
nominations for the election of Directors may be made by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors
or by any shareholder of record entitled to vote generally in
the election of Directors. Any shareholder who otherwise desires
to nominate one or more persons for election as a Director at
any meeting of shareholders held at any time may do so only if
the shareholder has delivered timely notice of the
shareholders intent to make such nomination or
nominations, either by personal delivery or by United States
mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation not
less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the
meeting; provided, however, that if less than 70 days
notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is
given or made to shareholders, such notice by the shareholder to
be timely must be received not later than the close of business
on the 10th day following the day on which the notice of
the date of meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made,
whichever occurs first. A shareholders notice to the
Secretary shall set forth: (1) the name and address of
record of the shareholder who intends to make the nomination;
(2) a representation that the shareholder is a holder of
record of shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy
at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in
the notice; (3) the class and number of shares of the
capital stock that are beneficially owned by the shareholder on
the date of such notice; (4) the name, age, business and
residential address, and principal occupation or employment of
each proposed nominee; (5) the class and number of shares
of capital stock that are beneficially owned by such nominee on
the date of such notice; (6) a description of all
arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each
nominee and the name of any other person or persons pursuant to
which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the
shareholder; (7) any other information regarding each
proposed nominee that would be required to be included in a
proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the
Securities and Exchange
B-8
Commission; and (8) the written consent of each proposed
nominee to being named as a nominee in the proxy statement and
to serve as a Director of the Corporation if so elected. The
Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish any
other information it may reasonably require to determine the
eligibility of the proposed nominee to serve as a Director of
the Corporation. The presiding officer of the meeting may, if
the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in
accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should make
that determination, he shall so declare at the meeting and the
defective nomination shall be disregarded.
D. Vacancies. Subject to the
rights, if any, of the holders of any class of capital stock of
the Corporation (other than the Common Stock) then outstanding,
any vacancies in the Board of Directors which occur for any
reason prior to the expiration of the term of office of the
class in which the vacancy occurs, including vacancies which
occur by reason of an increase in the number of Directors, shall
be filled only by the Board of Directors, acting by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then
in office (although less than a quorum).
ARTICLE SEVEN
DURATION
The duration
of the Corporation is perpetual.
ARTICLE EIGHT
PURPOSES
The Corporation is formed for the following purposes:
1. To purchase, take, receive, subscribe or otherwise
acquire, own, hold, use, employ, sell, mortgage, loan, pledge,
or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise deal in and with the
shares or other interests in, or obligations of, other domestic
and foreign corporations, associations, partnerships or
individuals;
2. To be a general or limited partner in any general or
limited partnership;
3. To take such actions and transact such other business as
are incidental to and connected with the purposes set forth
above; and
4. To do anything permitted of corporations pursuant to the
provisions of The General and Business Corporation Law of
Missouri, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE NINE
SHAREHOLDERS
MEETINGS
A. Special Meetings. A special
meeting of the shareholders may be called only by the Board of
Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors or by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President. Only such
business shall be conducted, and only such proposals shall be
acted upon, as are specified in the call of any special meeting
of shareholders.
B. Annual Meetings. At any annual
meeting of shareholders only such business shall be conducted,
and only such proposals shall be acted upon, as shall have been
properly brought before the meeting by the Board of Directors or
by a shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. For
a proposal to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a
shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice,
either by personal delivery or by United States mail, postage
prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation not less than
60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the annual
meeting; provided, however, that if less than 70 days
notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual
meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice by the
shareholder to be timely must be received not later than the
close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of
(1) the day on which notice of the date of the annual
meeting was mailed or (2) the day on which public
disclosure was made. A shareholders notice to the
Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder
proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (a) a brief
description of the proposal desired to be brought before the
annual meeting and the reasons for conducting this business at
the annual meeting; (b) the
B-9
name and address of record of the shareholder proposing the
business and any other shareholders known by such shareholder to
be supporting the proposal; (c) the class and number of
shares of the capital stock which are beneficially owned by the
shareholder on the date of the shareholder notice and by any
other shareholders known by such shareholder to be supporting
the proposal on the date of the shareholder notice; and
(d) any material interest of the shareholder in the
proposal.
The Board of Directors may reject any shareholder proposal
submitted for consideration at the annual meeting which is not
made in accordance with the terms of this Article Nine or
which is not a proper subject for shareholder action in
accordance with provisions of applicable law. Alternatively, if
the Board of Directors fails to consider the validity of any
shareholder proposal, the presiding officer of the annual
meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the
annual meeting that the shareholder proposal was not made in
accordance with the terms of this Article Nine and, if he
should make that determination, he shall so declare at the
meeting and the business or proposal shall not be acted upon.
This provision shall not prevent the consideration and approval
or disapproval at the annual meeting of reports of officers,
directors and committees of the Board of Directors, but, in
connection with such reports, no new business shall be acted
upon at the meeting unless stated, filed and received as herein
provided.
C. Action by Written Consent. Any
action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders of
the Corporation may, if otherwise allowed by law, be taken
without a meeting of shareholders only if consents in writing,
setting forth the action so taken, are signed by all of the
shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter
thereof.
ARTICLE TEN
AMENDMENT OF
BYLAWS
The Bylaws of the Corporation may be amended, altered, changed
or repealed, and a provision or provisions inconsistent with the
provisions of the Bylaws as they exist from time to time may be
adopted, only by the majority of the entire Board of Directors.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
AMENDMENT OF
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in these Articles of
Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law,
and all rights and powers conferred herein on the shareholders,
directors and officers of the Corporation are subject to this
reserved power; provided, that (in addition to any required
class or other vote) the affirmative vote of the holders of
record of outstanding shares representing at least 85% of all of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then
entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter,
change or repeal, or adopt any provision or provisions
inconsistent with, Articles Four, Six, Nine, Ten, Twelve,
or this Article Eleven of these Articles of Incorporation.
ARTICLE TWELVE
INDEMNIFICATION
AND RELATED MATTERS
A. Actions Involving Directors and
Officers. The Corporation shall indemnify
each person (other than a party plaintiff suing on his own
behalf or in the right of the Corporation) who at any time is
serving or has served as a director or officer of the
Corporation against any claim, liability or expense incurred as
a result of this service, or as a result of any other service on
behalf of the Corporation, or service at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, employee, member or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, trade or
industry association or other enterprise (whether incorporated
or unincorporated, for-profit or not-for-profit), to the maximum
extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person who
was or is a party (other than a party plaintiff suing on his own
behalf or in the right of the Corporation), or is threatened to
be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (including, but not limited to, an action by or in
the right of the Corporation) by reason of such
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service against expenses (including, without limitation,
attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action, suit or proceeding.
B. Actions Involving Employees or Agents.
1. The Corporation may, if it deems appropriate and as may
be permitted by this Article, indemnify any person (other than a
party plaintiff suing on his own behalf or in right of the
Corporation) who at any time is serving or has served as an
employee or agent of the Corporation against any claim,
liability or expense incurred as a result of such service or as
a result of any other service on behalf of the Corporation, or
service at the request of the Corporation as a director,
officer, employee, member or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, trade or industry association
or other enterprise (whether incorporated or unincorporated,
for-profit or not-for-profit), to the maximum extent permitted
by law or to such lesser extent as the Corporation, in its
discretion, may deem appropriate. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Corporation may indemnify any
such person who was or is a party (other than a party plaintiff
suing on his own behalf or in the right of the Corporation), or
is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (including, but not limited to,
an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of
such service against expenses (including, without limitation,
attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with the action, suit or proceeding.
2. To the extent that an employee or agent of the
Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
Section B (1) of this Article, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit
or preceding.
C. Determination of Right to Indemnification in
Certain Circumstances. Any indemnification
required under Section A of this Article or authorized by
the Corporation in a specific case pursuant to Section B of
this Article (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the
Corporation unless a determination is made reasonably and
promptly that indemnification of the director, officer, employee
or agent is not proper under the circumstances because he has
not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in or
established pursuant to this Article. Such determination shall
be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of
a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such
action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not
obtainable, or even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested
directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by majority vote of the shareholders;
provided that no such determination shall preclude an action
brought in an appropriate court to challenge such determination.
D. Advance Payment of
Expenses. Expenses incurred by a person who
is or was a director or officer of the Corporation in defending
a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by
the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of an
action, suit or proceeding, and expenses incurred by a person
who is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation in
defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be
paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of
such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, in either case upon receipt
of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer,
employee or agent to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the
Corporation as authorized in or pursuant to this Article.
E. Not Exclusive Right. The
indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification may be entitled, whether under the Bylaws of the
Corporation or any statute, agreement, vote of shareholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in an
official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office.
F. Indemnification Agreements
Authorized. Without limiting the other
provisions of this Article, the Corporation is authorized from
time to time, without further action by the shareholders of the
Corporation, to enter into agreements with any director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation providing such
rights of indemnification as the Corporation may deem
appropriate, up to the maximum extent permitted by law. Any
agreement entered into by the Corporation with a director may be
authorized by the other directors, and such authorization shall
not be invalid on the basis that similar agreements may have
been or may thereafter be entered into with other directors.
B-11
G. Standard of Conduct. Except as
may otherwise be permitted by law, no person shall be
indemnified pursuant to this Article (including without
limitation pursuant to any agreement entered into pursuant to
Section F of this Article) from or on account of such
persons conduct which is finally adjudged to have been
knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful
misconduct. The Corporation may (but need not) adopt a more
restrictive standard of conduct with respect to the
indemnification of any employee or agent of the Corporation.
H. Insurance. The Corporation may
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or who is or was otherwise serving on behalf or at
the request of the Corporation against any claim, liability or
expense asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not
the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this Article.
I. Certain Definitions. For the
purposes of this Article:
1. Any director or officer of the Corporation who shall
serve as a director, officer or employee of any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise of which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, is
or was the owner of 20% or more of either the outstanding equity
interests or the outstanding voting stock (or comparable
interests), shall be deemed to be so serving at the request of
the Corporation, unless the Board of Directors of the
Corporation shall determine otherwise. In all other instances
where any person shall serve as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise of which the Corporation is or was a
shareholder or creditor, or in which it is or was otherwise
interested, if it is not otherwise established that such person
is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent at
the request of the Corporation, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation may determine whether such service is or was at the
request of the Corporation, and it shall not be necessary to
show any actual or prior request for such service.
2. References to a corporation include all constituent
corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as
the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a constituent
corporation or is or was serving at the request of a constituent
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise shall stand in the same position under the provisions
of this Article with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would if he had served the resulting or
surviving corporation in the same capacity.
3. The term other enterprise shall include,
without limitation, employee benefit plans and voting or taking
action with respect to stock or other assets therein; the term
serving at the request of the corporation shall
include, without limitation, any service as a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or
involves services by, a director, officer, employee or agent
with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall
be deemed to have satisfied any standard of care required by or
pursuant to this Article in connection with such plan; the term
fines shall include, without limitation, any excise
taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit
plan and shall also include any damages (including treble
damages) and any other civil penalties.
J. Survival. Any indemnification
rights provided pursuant to this Article shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or
agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person. Notwithstanding any other
provision in these Articles of Incorporation, any
indemnification rights arising under or granted pursuant to this
Article shall survive amendment or repeal of this Article with
respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to the
effective time of such amendment or repeal and persons to whom
such indemnification rights are given shall be entitled to rely
upon such indemnification rights with respect to such acts or
omissions as a binding contract with the Corporation.
K. Liability of the Directors. It
is the intention of the Corporation to limit the liability of
the directors of the Corporation, in their capacity as such,
whether to the Corporation, its shareholders or otherwise, to
the fullest extent permitted by law. Consequently, should The
General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri
B-12
or any other applicable law be amended or adopted hereafter so
as to permit the elimination or limitation of such liability,
the liability of the directors of the Corporation shall be so
eliminated or limited without the need for amendment of these
Articles or further action on the part of the shareholders of
the Corporation.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
EXCULPATION
The liability of the Corporations directors to the
Corporation or any of its shareholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director shall be eliminated to
the fullest extent permitted under the Missouri General and
Business Corporation Law. Any repeal or modification of this
Article Thirteen by the shareholders of the Corporation
shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director
of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or
modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior
to such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
FIVE
PERCENT OWNERSHIP
A. In order to preserve the Tax Benefits to which the
Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof is
entitled pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor statute (the Code) and the
Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, the Corporation
Securities shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(i) Certain Definitions. For
purposes of this Article Fourteen, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated (and any references to any
portions of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T shall
include any successor provisions):
(a) 5% Transaction means any Transfer or
purported Transfer of Corporation Securities described in
Section A.(ii) of this Article Fourteen, which
Transfer is prohibited
and/or void
under the provisions of such Section A.(ii) of this
Article Fourteen.
(b) Additional Split-Off has the meaning set
forth in the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
(c) Agent means any agent designated by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to
Section B.(ii) of this Article Fourteen.
(d) Corporation Securities means
(I) shares of New Common Stock, (II) shares of
Preferred Stock (other than preferred stock described in
Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code), (III) warrants,
rights, or options (including options within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(h)(4)(v)) to purchase
stock (other than preferred stock described in
Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code) of the Corporation, and
(IV) any other interest that would be treated as
stock of the Corporation pursuant to Treasury
Regulation § 1.382-2T(f)(18).
(e) Debt Exchange has the meaning set forth in
the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
(f) Excess Securities has the meaning set forth
in subsection B.(i) of this Article Fourteen.
(g) End Date has the meaning set forth in the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
(h) Five-Percent Shareholder means a
Person or group of Persons that is a 5-percent
shareholder of the Corporation pursuant to Treasury
Regulation § 1.382-2T(g).
(i) MetLife means MetLife, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
(j) Percentage Stock Ownership means the
percentage stock ownership interest as determined in accordance
with Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(g), (h),
(j) and (k).
(k) Permitted Transfer means a Transfer of
Corporation Securities (A) after the Restriction Release
Date, (B) pursuant to any (1) merger, consolidation or
similar transaction approved in advance by the Board of
Directors or (2) tender or exchange offer made pursuant to
the applicable
B-13
rules and regulations of the Exchange Act, for any or all
outstanding New Common Stock in which a majority of each class
of the outstanding New Common Stock has been validly tendered
and not withdrawn and in which offer the offeror or an affiliate
thereof has committed to consummate a merger with the
Corporation in which all of the New Common Stock not so acquired
in such offer is (subject to any applicable dissenters
rights) converted into the same type and amount of consideration
paid for New Common Stock accepted in such tender or exchange
offer, (C) pursuant to the exercise of any option or
warrant outstanding on the effective date of these Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation to purchase Corporation
Securities from the Corporation, (D) pursuant to the
Split-Off or any Additional Split-Off or any Public Debt
Exchange, (E) any issuance of Corporation Securities by the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (F) pursuant to
any Private Debt Exchange, the Transfer from MetLife of
Class B Common Stock to its immediate transferees, but not
to the transferees of such immediate transferees.
(l) Person shall mean any individual, firm,
corporation, partnership, trust association, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, or other entity, or any
group of Persons making a coordinated acquisition of
shares or otherwise treated as an entity within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation § 1.382-3(a)(1), or otherwise and
shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such
entity.
(m) Private Debt Exchange has the meaning set
forth in the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
(n) Prohibited Distribution has the meaning set
forth in subsection B.(ii) of this Article Fourteen.
(o) Public Debt Exchange has the meaning set
forth in the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
(p) Purported Transferee has the meaning set
forth in subsection B.(i) of this Article Fourteen.
(q) Prohibited Transfer means any 5%
Transaction (other than a Permitted Transfer).
(r) Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement
means the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement, dated as
of June [ ], 2008, by and between the
Corporation and MetLife, as it may be amended from time to time.
(s) Restriction Release Date means the earlier
of (x) [date that is 36 months and one day from the
effective date of Articles Amendment], or (y) such
other date as the Board of Directors may determine in good faith
that this Article Fourteen is no longer in the best
interests of the Corporation and its shareholders.
(t) Section 382 means Section 382 of
the Code, or any comparable successor provision.
(u) Split-Off has the meaning set forth in the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement.
(v) Tax Benefit means the net operating loss
carryovers, capital loss carryovers, general business credit
carryovers, alternative minimum tax credit carryovers and
foreign tax credit carryovers, as well as any loss or deduction
attributable to a net unrealized built-in loss
within the meaning of Section 382, of the Corporation or
any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof.
(w) Transfer means any direct or indirect sale,
transfer, assignment, exchange, issuance, grant, redemption,
repurchase, conveyance, pledge or other disposition, whether
voluntary or involuntary, and whether by operation of law or
otherwise, by any Person other than the Corporation. A Transfer
also shall include the creation or grant of an option, warrant
or right (including an option within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.382-4(d)(9))
by any Person other than the Corporation, but only if such
option, warrant or right would be deemed exercised pursuant to
Treasury
Regulation Section 1.382-4(d)(2)(i).
(ii) Transfer Restrictions. Any
attempted Transfer of Corporation Securities prior to the
Restriction Release Date, or any attempted Transfer of
Corporation Securities pursuant to an agreement entered into
prior to the Restriction Release Date, that is not a Permitted
Transfer shall be prohibited and void ab
B-14
initio insofar as it purports to transfer ownership or
rights in respect of such Corporation Securities to the
Purported Transferee to the extent that, as a result of such
Transfer (or any series of Transfers of which such Transfer is a
part), either (1) any Person or group of Persons shall
become a Five-Percent Shareholder other than by reason of
Treasury
Regulation Section 1.382-2T(j)(3)(i),
or (2) the Percentage Stock Ownership interest in the
Corporation of any Five-Percent Shareholder shall be
increased.
(iii) The restrictions set forth in Section A.(ii) of
this Article Fourteen shall not apply to an attempted
Transfer that is a 5% Transaction if the transferor or the
transferee obtains the prior written approval of the Board of
Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. In considering
whether to approve any such transfer, the Board of Directors may
take into account both the proposed Transfer and potential
future Transfers. The Board of Directors may exercise the
authority granted by this Section A(iii) of this
Article Fourteen through duly authorized officers or agents
of the Corporation.
(iv) Each certificate representing shares of Corporation
Securities issued prior to the Restriction Release Date shall
contain the legend set forth below, evidencing the restrictions
set forth in this Section A of this Article Fourteen
and Sections B and C of this Article Fourteen:
The transfer of securities represented by this certificate
is (and other securities of the Corporation may be) subject to
restriction pursuant to Article Fourteen of the
Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation. The Corporation will furnish a copy of its
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation setting forth the
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other special rights of each class of stock or
series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences
and/or
rights to the holder of record of this Certificate without
charge upon written request addressed to the Corporation at its
principal place of business.
With respect to any shares of Corporation Securities that are
not evidenced by a certificate, but are uncertificated
securities, the foregoing legend shall be set forth in the
initial statement of holdings.
B. Treatment of Excess Securities.
(i) No employee or agent of the Corporation shall record
any Prohibited Transfer, and the purported transferee of such a
Prohibited Transfer (the Purported Transferee) shall
not be recognized as a shareholder of the Corporation for any
purpose whatsoever in respect of the Corporation Securities
which are the subject of the Prohibited Transfer (the
Excess Securities). Until the Excess Securities are
acquired by another Person in a Transfer that is not a
Prohibited Transfer, such Purported Transferee shall not be
entitled with respect to such Excess Securities to any rights of
shareholders of the Corporation, including, without limitation,
the right to vote such Excess Securities or to receive dividends
or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in respect
thereof, if any; provided, however, that the Transferor of such
Excess Securities shall not be required to disgorge, and shall
be permitted to retain for its own account, any proceeds of such
Transfer, and shall have no further rights, responsibilities,
obligations or liabilities with respect to such Excess
Securities, if such Transfer was a Prohibited Transfer. Once the
Excess Securities have been acquired in a Transfer that is not a
Prohibited Transfer, the Corporation Securities shall cease to
be Excess Securities. For this purpose, any transfer of Excess
Securities not in accordance with the provisions of this
Section B of this Article Fourteen shall also be a
Prohibited Transfer.
(ii) If the Corporation determines that a Transfer of
Corporation Securities constitutes a Prohibited Transfer then,
upon written demand by the Corporation, the Purported Transferee
shall transfer or cause to be transferred any certificate or
other evidence of ownership of the Excess Securities within the
Purported Transferees possession or control, together with
any dividends or other distributions that were received by the
Purported Transferee from the Corporation with respect to the
Excess Securities (Prohibited Distributions), to the
Agent designated by the Board of Directors. The Agent shall
thereupon sell to a buyer or buyers, which may include the
Corporation, the Excess Securities transferred to it in one or
more arms length transactions (over the New York Stock
Exchange or other national securities exchange, if possible, or
otherwise privately); provided, however, that the Agent shall
effect such sale or sales in an orderly fashion and shall not be
required to effect any such sale within any
B-15
specific timeframe if, in the Agents discretion, such sale
or sales would disrupt the market for the Corporation Securities
or otherwise would adversely affect the value of the Corporation
Securities. If the Purported Transferee has resold the Excess
Securities before receiving the Corporations demand to
surrender Excess Securities to the Agent, the Purported
Transferee shall be deemed to have sold the Excess Securities
for the Agent, and shall be required to transfer to the Agent
any Prohibited Distributions and proceeds of such sale, except
to the extent that the Corporation grants written permission to
the Purported Transferee to retain a portion of such sales
proceeds not exceeding the amount that the Purported Transferee
would have received from the Agent pursuant to
Section B.(iii) of this Article Fourteen if the Agent
rather than the Purported Transferee had resold the Excess
Securities. Disposition of Excess Securities by the Agent
pursuant to this Section B.(ii) of this
Article Fourteen shall be deemed to occur simultaneously
with the Prohibited Transfer to which the Excess Securities
relate.
(iii) The Agent shall apply any proceeds of a sale by it of
Excess Securities and, if the Purported Transferee has
previously resold the Excess Securities, any amounts received by
it from a Purported Transferee, as follows: (x) first, such
amounts shall be paid to the Agent to the extent necessary to
cover its costs and expenses incurred in connection with its
duties hereunder; (y) second, any remaining amounts shall
be paid to the Purported Transferee, up to the amount paid by
the Purported Transferee for the Excess Securities (or the fair
market value of the Excess Securities (1) calculated on the
basis of the closing market price for the Corporation Securities
on the New York Stock Exchange, or such other national
securities exchange on which the Corporation Securities are then
listed or admitted to trading, on the day before the Prohibited
Transfer, (2) if the Corporation Securities are not listed
or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange but
are traded in the over-the-counter market, calculated based upon
the difference between the highest bid and lowest asked prices,
as such prices are reported by NASDAQ or any successor system on
the day before the Prohibited Transfer or, if none, on the last
preceding day for which such quotations exist, or (3) if
the Corporation Securities are neither listed nor admitted to
trading on any stock exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter
market, then as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors, at the time of the Prohibited Transfer to the
Purported Transferee), which amount (or fair market value) shall
be determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion; and
(z) third, any remaining amounts, subject to the
limitations imposed by the following proviso, shall be paid to
one or more organizations qualifying under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or any comparable successor
provision) (Section 501(c)(3)) selected by the
Board of Directors; provided, however, that if the Excess
Securities (including any Excess Securities arising from a
previous Prohibited Transfer not sold by the Agent in a prior
sale or sales), represent a 5% or greater Percentage Stock
Ownership in any class of Corporation Securities, then any such
remaining amounts to the extent attributable to the disposition
of the portion of such Excess Securities exceeding a 5%
Percentage Stock Ownership interest in such class shall be paid
to two or more organizations qualifying under
Section 501(c)(3) selected by the Board of Directors. The
recourse of any Purported Transferee in respect of any
Prohibited Transfer shall be limited to the amount payable to
the Purported Transferee pursuant to clause (y) of the
preceding sentence. In no event shall the proceeds of any sale
of Excess Securities pursuant to this Section B of this
Article Fourteen inure to the benefit of the Corporation.
(iv) If the Purported Transferee fails to surrender the
Excess Securities or the proceeds of a sale thereof to the Agent
within 30 days from the date on which the Corporation makes
a written demand pursuant to Section B.(ii) of this
Article Fourteen, then the Corporation shall use its best
efforts to enforce the provisions hereof, including the
institution of legal proceedings to compel such surrender.
(v) The Corporation shall make the written demand described
in Section B.(ii) of this Article Fourteen within
30 days of the date on which the Board of Directors
determines that the attempted Transfer would result in Excess
Securities; provided, however, that if the Corporation makes
such demand at a later date, the provisions of Sections A
and B of this Article Fourteen shall apply nonetheless.
(vi) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Agent shall not act or be treated as acting as an agent for or
on behalf of the Purported Transferee or for or on behalf of the
Corporation and shall have no right to bind any of them, in
contract or otherwise, but shall act only to carry out the
ministerial functions assigned to it in this Section B of
this Article Fourteen.
B-16
C. Board Authority. The Board of
Directors shall have the power to determine all matters
necessary for assessing compliance with Sections A and B of
this Article Fourteen, including, without limitation,
(i) the identification of any
Five-Percent Shareholder, (ii) whether a Transfer is a
5% Transaction, a Prohibited Transfer or a Permitted Transfer,
(iii) the Percentage Stock Ownership in the Corporation of
any Five-Percent Shareholder, (iv) whether an
instrument constitutes Corporation Securities, (v) the
amount (or fair market value) due to a Purported Transferee
pursuant to Section B.(iii) of this Article Fourteen,
and (vi) any other matters which the Board of Directors
determines to be relevant; and the good-faith determination of
the Board of Directors on such matters shall be conclusive and
binding for all the purposes of Sections A and B of this
Article Fourteen. Nothing contained herein shall limit the
authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action,
in its discretion, to the extent permitted by law as it deems
necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation, any direct or
indirect subsidiary thereof and the interests of the holders of
the Corporations securities in preserving the Tax Benefit.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event
of a change in law or Treasury Regulations making one or more of
the following actions necessary or desirable, the Board of
Directors may (i) accelerate the Restriction Release Date,
(ii) modify the specific application of the Transfer
restrictions set forth in Section A.(ii) of this
Article Fourteen, or (iii) modify the definitions of
any terms set forth in this Article Fourteen; provided that
(1) the Board of Directors shall determine in writing that
such acceleration, extension, change or modification is
reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve the Tax Benefit
under the Code and the regulations thereunder or that the
continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably
necessary for the preservation of the Tax Benefit; and
(2) no such modification shall limit or restrict the scope
of clauses (D) or (F) of the definition of
Permitted Transfer in Section A(i)(k) of this
Article Fourteen prior to the End Date (as defined in the
Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement).
D. Miscellaneous. Any provision in
this Article Fourteen which is judicially determined to be
prohibited, invalid or otherwise unenforceable (whether on its
face or as applied to a particular shareholder, transferee or
Transfer) under the laws of the State of Missouri shall be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition, invalidity or
unenforceability without prohibiting, invalidating or rendering
unenforceable the remaining provisions of this
Article Fourteen and of these Amended and Restated Articles
of Incorporation, which shall be thereafter interpreted as if
the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable part were not contained
herein, and, to the maximum extent possible, in a manner
consistent with preserving the Corporations use of the Tax
Benefits without any Section 382 limitation.
exv3w4
Exhibit 3.4
REINSURANCE
GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
AMENDED
AND RESTATED BYLAWS
EFFECTIVE AS
OF ,
2008
ARTICLE I.
OFFICES
The Corporation may have such corporate offices either in or
outside of Missouri, as the Board of Directors may from time to
time appoint, or as the business of the Corporation may require.
The principal office may be designated by the Board
of Directors but the location of the Corporation in Missouri
shall for all purposes be deemed to be in the city or county in
which the registered office is maintained. The
registered office shall be determined from time to time by the
Board of Directors and its identity put on file with the
appropriate office of the State of Missouri.
ARTICLE II.
SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual
Meeting. The annual meeting of the
shareholders shall be held on the fourth Wednesday in May in
each year, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then
on the next day not a legal holiday. The day fixed for the
annual meeting may be changed in any year, by resolution of the
Board of Directors, to another day, not a legal holiday, that
the Board of Directors deems appropriate, but this power is
subject to applicable limitations of law. At this meeting
members of the Board of Directors shall be elected to succeed
those whose terms are then expiring and such other business
shall be transacted as may properly be brought before the
meeting.
Section 2. Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the
shareholders, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the
Articles of Incorporation, may only be called by the Chairman of
the Board of Directors or by the President or by a majority of
the entire number of the Board of Directors. The person or
persons requesting a special meeting of the shareholders shall
deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation a written request
stating the purpose of the proposed meeting. Upon such request,
subject to any requirements or limitations imposed by the
Corporations Articles of Incorporation, by these Bylaws,
or by law, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to call a
special meeting of the shareholders, to be held at such time as
is specified in the request.
Section 3. Place
and Hour of Meeting. Every meeting of the
shareholders, whether an annual or special meeting, shall be
held at 2:00 p.m. central standard time at the principal
office of the Corporation or at such other place or time as is
specified by proper notice from the Board of Directors and shall
continue until declared adjourned by a vote of the shareholders
present or by the presiding officer.
Section 4. Notice
of Meeting. Written or printed notice of each
meeting of shareholders stating the place, day and hour of the
meeting, and in case of a special meeting, the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not
less than 10 nor more than 70 days before the date of the
meeting either personally, by mail, by facsimile or by
electronic transmission, by or at the direction of the
President, or the Secretary, to each shareholder of record
entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall
be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States
mail, addressed to the shareholder at his address as it appears
on the stock transfer books of the Corporation, with postage
thereon prepaid. If given by facsimile or by electronic
transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when
transmitted. Attendance of a shareholder at any meeting shall
constitute waiver of notice of that meeting except when a
shareholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened.
C-1
An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of
the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the
notice has been given, whether by a form of electronic
transmission or otherwise, shall, in the absence of fraud, be
prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
For purposes of these Bylaws, written notice shall include, but
not be limited to, notice by electronic
transmission, which shall mean any process of
communication not directly involving the physical transfer of
paper that is suitable for the retention, retrieval and
reproduction of information by the recipient.
Section 5. Quorum;
Adjournment; Postponement. Except as
otherwise required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or
these Bylaws, a majority of the outstanding shares of the
Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy,
shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders. The
shareholders present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
may continue to transact business until adjournment,
notwithstanding the withdrawal of such number of shareholders as
to reduce the remaining shareholders to less than a quorum.
Whether or not a quorum is present, the presiding officer of the
meeting or shareholders holding at least a majority of the
outstanding shares represented at a meeting shall have the
power, except as otherwise provided by statute, successively to
adjourn the meeting to such time and place as they may
determine, to a specified date not longer than ninety days after
such adjournment without further notice, if the time and place
of the adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which
the adjournment is taken. At such adjourned meeting at which a
quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as
originally set forth. If the adjournment is for more than ninety
days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for
the adjourned meeting, a notice of the place, date and time of
the adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of
record entitled to vote at the meeting.
A shareholders meeting may be postponed by resolution of
the Board of Directors to a specified date up to a date ninety
days after such postponement or to another place, provided
notice of the place, date and time of the postponed meeting,
which may be made by public notice, is given to each shareholder
of record entitled to vote at the meeting prior to the date
previously scheduled for the meeting.
For purposes of these Bylaws, adjournment means a
delay in the date, which may also be combined with a change in
the place, of a meeting after the meeting has been convened;
postponement means a delay in the date, which may be
combined with a change in the place, of the meeting before it
has been convened, but after the time and place thereof have
been set forth in a notice delivered or given to shareholders;
and public notice shall be deemed to have been given if a public
announcement is made by press release reported by a national
news service or in a publicly available document filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Section 6. List
of Shareholders Entitled to Vote. At least
ten days before each meeting of the shareholders, a complete
list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting shall
be prepared and arranged in alphabetical order with the address
of each shareholder and the number of shares held by each, which
list, for a period of ten days prior to such meeting, shall be
kept on file at the registered office of the Corporation and
shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time
during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced
and kept open at the time and place of the meeting, and shall be
subject to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole
time of the meeting. The original share ledger or transfer book,
or a duplicate thereof kept in the State of Missouri, shall be
prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to
examine such list or share ledger or transfer book or to vote at
any meeting of the shareholders. Failure to comply with the
above requirements in respect of lists of shareholders shall not
affect the validity of any action taken at such meeting.
Section 7. Proxies. At
all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote in person
or by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his
duly authorized attorney in fact. Such proxy shall be filed with
the Secretary of the Corporation before or at the time of the
meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from the
date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Without limiting the manner in
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which a shareholder may authorize a person to act for the
shareholder as proxy, the following shall constitute a valid
means by which a shareholder may grant such authority:
(1) A shareholder or the shareholders duly authorized
attorney-in-fact may execute a writing authorizing another
person to act for the shareholder as proxy. Execution may be
accomplished by the shareholder or duly authorized
attorney-in-fact signing such writing or causing the
shareholders signature to be affixed to such writing by
any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, facsimile
signature.
(2) A shareholder may authorize another person to act for
the shareholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the
transmission of a telegram, cablegram, facsimile or other means
of electronic transmission, or by telephone, to the person who
will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm,
proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized
by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive
such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram,
facsimile or other means of electronic transmission, or
telephonic transmission, shall either set forth or be submitted
with information from which it can be determined that the
telegram, cablegram, facsimile or other electronic transmission,
or telephonic transmission, was authorized by the shareholder.
If it is determined that such telegrams, cablegrams, facsimiles
or other electronic transmissions, or telephonic transmissions,
are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such
other persons making such determination shall specify the
information upon which they relied.
Section 8. Voting
of Shares. Subject to the rights of any
holders of the Class B Common Stock and the preferred stock
as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation, as amended from time to time, each outstanding
share entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote upon each
matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders.
Provided a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares represented at a meeting and entitled to vote
shall be the act of the shareholders unless the vote of a
greater number of shares is required by the Corporations
Articles of Incorporation, by these Bylaws, or by law.
Section 9. Voting
of Shares by Certain Holders. Shares standing
in the name of another corporation may be voted by such officer,
agent, or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may prescribe,
or, in the absence of such provision, as the board of directors
of such corporation may determine.
Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian, or
conservator may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy,
without a transfer of such shares into his name. Shares standing
in the name of a trustee may be voted by him, either in person
or by proxy, but no trustee shall be entitled to vote shares
held by him without a transfer of such shares into his name.
Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such
receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a receiver
may be voted by such receiver without the transfer thereof into
his name if authority so to do be contained in an appropriate
order of the court by which such receiver was appointed.
A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote
such shares until the shares have been transferred into the name
of the pledgee, and thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to
vote the shares so transferred.
Shares of its own stock held by the Corporation, and unissued
shares, shall not be voted at any meeting or counted in
determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given
time for purposes of any meeting. Shares owned by a subsidiary
of the Corporation shall likewise not be voted or counted in
determining the number of shares outstanding.
Section 10. Informal
Action by Shareholders. Unless otherwise
prescribed by the Corporations Articles of Incorporation,
any action which is required or allowed to be taken at a meeting
of the shareholders, may be taken without a meeting only if
consents or approvals in writing, setting forth the action so
taken, shall be signed by all of the shareholders entitled to
vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
Section 11. Advance
Notice of Nominations and Shareholder Proposals.
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(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with
the procedures set forth in Section C of Article Six
of the Articles of Incorporation shall be eligible to serve as
Directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting
of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section B of
Article Nine of the Articles of Incorporation. The Board of
Directors may reject any nomination or shareholder proposal
submitted for consideration at any meeting of shareholders which
is not made in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation or which is not a proper subject for shareholder
action in accordance with provisions of applicable law.
Alternatively, if the Board of Directors fails to consider the
validity of any nomination or shareholder proposal, the
presiding officer of the meeting shall have the power and duty
to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be
brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the
requirements set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and is a
proper subject for shareholder action in accordance with
provisions of applicable law and, if any proposed nomination or
business is not in compliance with the Articles of Incorporation
or not a proper subject for shareholder action, to declare that
such defective nomination or proposal be disregarded. The
presiding officer of the meeting shall have sole, absolute and
complete authority and discretion to decide questions of
compliance with the foregoing procedures, and his or her ruling
thereon shall be final and conclusive. This provision shall not
prevent the consideration and approval or disapproval at the
meeting of reports of officers, Directors and committees of the
Board of Directors, but, in connection with such reports, no new
business shall be acted upon at the meeting unless stated,
submitted and received as herein provided.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section C of
Article Six or Section B of Article Nine of the
Articles of Incorporation or the foregoing provisions of this
Section 11 of Article II, if the shareholder (or a
qualified representative of the shareholder) does not appear at
the applicable meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to
present such nomination or propose such business, such
nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall
not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of
such vote may have been received by the Corporation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section C of
Article Six or Section B of Article Nine of the
Articles of Incorporation or the foregoing provisions of this
Section 11 of Article II, a shareholder shall also
comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with
respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11 of
Article II. Nothing in Section C of Article Six
or Section B of Article Nine of the Articles of
Incorporation or this Section 11 of Article II shall
be deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request
inclusion of proposals in, or the Corporations right to
omit proposals from, the Corporations proxy statement
pursuant to
Rule 14a-8
under the Exchange Act or any successor provision. The
provisions of Section C of Article Six or
Section B of Article Nine of the Articles of
Incorporation shall also govern what constitutes timely notice
for purposes of
Rule 14a-4(c)
under the Exchange Act or any successor provision.
Section 12 Organization.
(a) Meetings of shareholders shall be presided over by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or in his or her
absence by the Chief Executive Officer, if any, or in his or her
absence by a chairman of the meeting, which chairman must be an
Officer or Director of the Corporation and must be designated as
chairman of the meeting by the Board of Directors. The
Secretary, or in his or her absence an Assistant Secretary, or
in his or her absence a person whom the person presiding over
the meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting
and keep a record of the proceedings thereof.
(b) The Board shall be entitled to make such rules or
regulations for the conduct of meetings of shareholders as it
shall deem appropriate. Subject to such rules and regulations of
the Board, if any, the person presiding over the meeting shall
have the right and authority to convene and adjourn the meeting,
to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do
all such acts as, in the judgment of the person presiding over
the meeting, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the
proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation,
establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting,
rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and
the safety of those present, limitations on participation in
such meeting to shareholders of record of the Corporation and
their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other
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persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall permit,
restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for
the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to
questions or comments by participants and regulation of the
voting or balloting, as applicable, including, without
limitation, matters which are to be voted on by ballot, if any.
The presiding officer of the meeting shall have sole, absolute
and complete authority and discretion to decide questions of
compliance with the foregoing procedures, and his or her ruling
thereon shall be final and conclusive. The person presiding over
the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that
may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the
facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a
matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting
and if the person presiding over the meeting should so determine
and declare, any such matter or business shall not be transacted
or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board
or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of
shareholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with
rules of parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE III.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General
Powers. The business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
Section 2. Number
and Tenure. The number of Directors of the
Corporation shall consist of such number of Directors as the
Board of Directors may from time to time determine; provided,
however, that in no event shall the number of Directors be less
than three; provided further, that except as otherwise specified
in the Corporations Articles of Incorporation, the number
of Directors may be amended by affirmative vote of a majority of
the Board of Directors from time to time. The Board of Directors
shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number
as possible. In the event of any increase in the number of
Directors, any additional Directors shall be added to such
classes as may be necessary so that all classes shall be as
nearly equal in number as possible. In the event of any decrease
in the number of Directors, all classes of Directors shall be
decreased as nearly equally as may be possible. No reduction in
the number of Directors shall affect the term of office of any
incumbent Director. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of
Directors shall determine the class or classes to which any
additional Directors shall be added and the class or classes
which shall be decreased in the event of any decrease in the
number of Directors. At each annual meeting, Directors shall be
elected to hold office for a term of three years, and at each
annual meeting of shareholders, the successors to the class of
Directors whose terms shall then expire shall be elected for a
term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting after that
election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Director shall
hold office until his successor shall have been elected and
qualified or, in the case of a Director elected by the Board to
increase the number of Directors as provided in Section 13
below, until the next annual meeting of the shareholders.
Section 3. Qualifications. No
person shall be qualified to be elected and to hold office as a
Director if such person is determined by a majority of the
entire Board of Directors to have acted in a manner contrary to
the best interests of the Corporation, including, but not
limited to, the violation of federal or state law, maintenance
of interests not properly authorized and in conflict with the
interests of the Corporation or breach of any agreement between
that Director and the Corporation relating to his or her
services as a Director, employee, or agent of the Corporation. A
Director need not be a resident of the State of Missouri or a
shareholder.
Section 4. Directors
Emeritus and Advisory Directors. The Board of
Directors may from time to time create one or more positions of
Director Emeritus and Advisory Director, and may fill such
position or positions for such terms as the Board of Directors
deems proper. Each Director Emeritus and Advisory Director
shall, upon the invitation of the Board of Directors, have the
privilege of attending meetings of the Board of Directors but
shall do so solely as an observer. Notice of meetings of the
Board of Directors to a Director Emeritus or Advisory Director
shall not be required under any applicable law, the Articles of
Incorporation, or these Bylaws. Each Director Emeritus and
Advisory Director shall be entitled to receive such compensation
as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. No
Director Emeritus or Advisory Director shall be entitled to vote
on any business coming before the Board of Directors, nor shall
he or she be
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counted as members of the Board of Directors for the purpose of
determining the number of Directors necessary to constitute a
quorum, for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is
present, or for any other purpose whatsoever. In the case of a
Director Emeritus or Advisory Director, the occurrence of any
event which in the case of a Director would create a vacancy on
the Board of Directors, shall be deemed to create a vacancy in
such position; but the Board of Directors may declare the
position terminated until such time as the Board of Directors
shall again deem it proper to create and to fill the position.
Section 5. Regular
Meetings. The Board of Directors may provide,
by resolution naming the time and place, for the holding of
regular meetings, within or without the State of Missouri,
without other notice than such resolution. Any business may be
transacted at a regular meeting.
Section 6. Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of
the Board, the President, or any two Directors. Any such special
meeting shall be held at the place set out in the resolution for
regular meetings or at the registered office of the corporation
in Missouri if no such regular meeting place has been set or at
such other place, within or without the State of Missouri, as
may be specified in the notice of such special meeting.
Section 7. Conduct
of Meetings. Directors may participate in any
meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee of the
Board of Directors, by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment whereby all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting
in this manner shall constitute presence in person at the
meeting.
Section 8. Notice. Notice
of any special meeting shall be given at least twenty-four hours
previously thereto by written, oral, facsimile or electronic
means. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered
five days after such notice is deposited in the United States
mail, so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. If personally
delivered or given orally, such notice shall be deemed delivered
when so delivered or communicated. If given by facsimile or by
electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be
delivered when transmitted to the last known number or address
furnished by the Director. Any Director may waive notice of any
meeting as to himself. The attendance of a Director at a meeting
shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except
where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the
notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 9. Quorum. A
majority of the number of Directors in office shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the
Board of Directors, but if less than such majority is present at
a meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the
meeting from time to time. If the meeting is adjourned for more
than twenty-four (24) hours, notice of the time and place
of the adjourned meeting shall be given to the directors who
were not present at the time of the adjournment.
Section 10. Manner
of Acting. The act of the majority of the
Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the act of a
greater number is required by the Corporations Articles of
Incorporation, by these Bylaws, or by law.
Section 11. Action
Without a Meeting. Any action that may be
taken by the Board of Directors at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting, provided that all of the Directors sign
consents setting forth the action so taken. The written consents
shall be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board of
Directors and shall have the same force and effect as a
unanimous vote at a meeting of Directors. This provision applies
to committees of the Board of Directors as well, which can act
with the unanimous consent of all committee members.
Section 12. Resignation. Any
Director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving
written notice of such resignation to the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, or the
Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take
effect at the time specified therein or, if no time be
specified, upon receipt thereof by the Board of Directors or one
of the above-named Officers; and, unless specified therein, the
acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective.
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Section 13. Vacancies. Any
vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors though
less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. A Director elected
to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his
predecessor in office. Any directorship to be filled by reason
of an increase in the number of Directors may be filled by
election by the Board of Directors and shall be added to such
class of Directors as may be necessary so that all classes of
Directors shall be as nearly equal in number as possible.
Section 14. Compensation. Each
Director may receive such compensation and be reimbursed for
expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of
Directors or a Committee thereof as shall be determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors. Nothing herein shall
preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 15. Presumption
of Assent. A Director of the Corporation who
is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which
action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to
have assented to the action taken unless his or her dissent
shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he or
she shall file his or her written dissent to such action with
the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the
adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered
mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the
adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not
apply to a Director who voted in favor of such action.
Section 16. Indemnification
of Directors and Officers. The Corporation
shall have such powers of indemnification as are provided in its
Articles of Incorporation and not inconsistent with the laws of
Missouri.
Section 17. Executive
Committee and Other Committees. The Board of
Directors may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority
of the whole board, designate an executive committee, such
committee to consist of three or more directors of the
Corporation, which committee, to the extent provided in said
resolution or resolutions, shall have and may exercise all of
the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the
Corporation; but the designation of such committee and the
delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the
Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility
imposed upon the Board or a Director by the General and Business
Corporation law of Missouri.
The Board of Directors may also, by resolution or resolutions
passed by a majority of the whole board, designate other
committees, with such persons, powers, and duties as it deems
desirable and as are not inconsistent with law.
Section 18. Meetings
and Reports of Committees. A committee shall
meet from time to time on call of the chairman of the committee
or of any two or more members of the committee. Notice of each
such meeting, stating the place, date and hour thereof, shall be
mailed at least five (5) days before the meeting, or shall
be served personally on each member of the committee, or
delivered orally or by facsimile or electronic transmission to
his address on the books of the Corporation, at least
twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. No such notice
need state the business proposed to be transacted at the
meeting. No notice of a meeting of the committee need be given
to any member who signs a waiver of notice, whether before or
after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without
protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of
notice to such director. No notice need be given of an adjourned
meeting of the committee unless the meeting is adjourned for
more than twenty-four (24) hours, in which case notice of
the time and place of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
the members of the committee who were not present at the time of
adjournment. Meetings of the committee may be held at such place
or places, either within or outside of the State of Missouri, as
the committee shall determine, or as may be specified or fixed
in the respective notices or waivers thereof. Vacancies in the
membership of each committee shall be filled by the Board of
Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of
Directors. A majority of the committee constitutes a quorum for
the transaction of business. Every act or decision done or made
by a majority of the members of the committee present at a
meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded
as the act of the committee. A committee may fix its own rules
of procedure. It shall keep a record of its proceedings and
shall report these proceedings to the Board of Directors at or
prior to the regular meeting of the Board to be held next after
a committee meets.
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ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number
and Election. The officers of the Corporation
shall be a Chairman of the Board, a President, and a Secretary,
each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. In
addition, the Board of Directors shall elect and appoint the
senior officers of the Corporation including Executive Vice
Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, and such other officers as
the Board of Directors may deem appropriate. The President may
elect and appoint other officers of the Corporation including
Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, assistant officers, and other
junior officers. The Board of Directors shall ratify the
election and appointment of officers by the President at the
first regular meeting of the Board of Directors in each fiscal
year. The same person may hold any two or more offices, except
those of President and Vice President or President and
Secretary. No officer need be a shareholder.
Section 2. Term
of Office. Each officer shall hold office
until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the next
succeeding election of the Board of Directors and until his or
her successor shall have been duly elected and shall have
qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall
have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any
officer may be removed with or without cause by the Board of
Directors whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors,
the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby.
The President may remove any officer that the President is
authorized to appoint and elect in accordance with
Section 1 whenever, in the judgment of the President, the
best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby.
Election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create
contract rights and the Board or President need specify no cause
for removal in any such removal. Any such removal shall be
without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person
so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. A
vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification, or otherwise may be filled by the Board of
Directors. The President may fill a vacancy in any office for
which the President is authorized to appoint and elect an
officer in accordance with Section 1 of this Article.
Section 5. Chairman
of the Board. The Chairman shall preside at
all meetings of the shareholders and Directors at which he is
present and shall perform any other duties prescribed by the
Board of Directors or these Bylaws. He shall have full authority
in respect to the signing and execution of instruments of the
Corporation.
Section 6. President. The
President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation and, subject to the control of the Board of
Directors, shall in general supervise and control all of the
business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she shall, if not
also Chairman of the Board, preside in the absence of the
Chairman of the Board at meetings of the shareholders and of the
Board of Directors. He or she may sign, with the Secretary or
any other proper officer of the Corporation thereunto authorized
by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of the
Corporation, and he or she may execute all other instruments
which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed,
except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by the Bylaws
to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be
required by law to be otherwise signed or executed; and in
general shall perform all duties incident to the office of
President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 7. The
Vice President. In the absence of the
President or in the event of his or her death, inability, or
refusal to act, the Vice-President (or in the event there be
more than one Vice-President, the Vice-Presidents in the order
designated at the time of their election, or in the absence of
any designation, then in the order of their election) shall
perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions
upon the President. In addition, any Vice-President shall
perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
to him or her by the President or by the Board of Directors.
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Section 8. The
Secretary. The Secretary shall: (a) keep
the minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders and of the
Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that
purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in
accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws or as required by
law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the
seal of the Corporation and see that the seal of the Corporation
is affixed to all documents the execution of which on behalf of
the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized and required;
(d) keep a register of the address of each shareholder as
furnished by such shareholder; (e) sign with the President
certificates for shares of the Corporation, the issuance of
which shall have been authorized by resolution of the Board of
Directors; (f) have general charge of the stock transfer
books of the Corporation; and (g) in general perform all
duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties
as form time to time may be assigned to him or her by the
President or by the Board of Directors, or as prescribed in
these Bylaws.
Section 9. The
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall: (a) have
charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and
securities of the Corporation; (b) receive and give
receipts for moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any
source whatsoever, and deposit all such moneys in the name of
the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other
depositaries as the Board of Directors may select; and
(c) in general perform all of the duties incident to the
office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time
may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of
Directors. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer
shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in
such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of
Directors shall determine.
Section 10. Salaries. The
salaries of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the
Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from
receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he is also a
Director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE V.
CERTIFICATES
FOR SHARES THEIR TRANSFER
Section 1. Stock
Certificates. The shares of the Corporation
shall be represented by certificates, provided, however, that
the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or
all of any classes or series of the Corporations stock
shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not
apply to shares represented by a certificate until such
certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding
the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors,
every holder of stock represented by certificates, and upon
request, every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be
entitled to have a certificate, in any form approved by the
Board of Directors, certifying the number and class of shares
owned by the shareholder in the Corporation, signed by the
Chairman, the President, or a Vice President and by the
Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or Assistant
Treasurer of the Corporation and sealed with the seal of the
Corporation, which may be facsimile, engraved or printed. If the
certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the
Corporation or its employee, or by a registrar other than the
Corporation or its employee, any other signature on the
certificate may be a facsimile signature, or may be engraved or
printed. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who
has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on the
certificate shall have ceased to be an officer, transfer agent,
or registrar before the certificate is issued, the certificate
may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same
effect as if such person were an officer, transfer agent, or
registrar at the date of issue.
Section 2. Transfer
of Stock. The shares of stock of the
Corporation shall be transferable only upon its books by the
holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys
or legal representatives. Upon transfer of certificated shares,
the old certificates shall be surrendered to the Corporation by
the delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and
transfer books and ledgers, or to such other persons as the
Board of Directors may designate, by whom they shall be
cancelled and new certificates shall thereupon be issued. In the
case of uncertificated shares, transfer shall be made only upon
receipt of transfer documentation reasonably acceptable to the
Corporation. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the
statutes of the State of Missouri, the Corporation shall be
entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of
stock as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes and,
accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any legal,
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equitable, or other claim to or interest in such share or shares
on the part of any other person whether or not it or they shall
have express or other notice thereof. The Board of Directors
shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and
regulations as it shall deem expedient concerning the issue,
transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation.
Section 3. Closing
of Transfer Books and Fixing of Record
Date. The Board of Directors shall have the
power to close the transfer books of the Corporation for a
period not exceeding 70 days prior to the date of any
meeting of shareholders, or the date for payment of any
dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date
when any change or conversion or exchange of shares shall go
into effect. In lieu of so closing the transfer books, the Board
of Directors may fix in advance a record date for the
determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of and to
vote at any meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof,
or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or any allotment
of rights, or entitled to exercise the rights in respect of any
change, conversion, or exchange of shares, up to 70 days
prior to the date of any meeting of shareholders, or the date
for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment
of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange
of shares shall go into effect. In such case only the
shareholders who are shareholders of record on the date of
closing the share transfer books, or on the record date so
fixed, shall be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at
such meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof, or to
receive payment of such dividend, or to receive payment of such
dividend, or to receive such allotment of rights, or to exercise
such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of
any shares on the books of the Corporation after the date of
closing of the transfer books or the record date fixed as
aforesaid. If the Board of Directors does not close the transfer
books or set a record date for the determination of the
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote any meeting of
shareholders, only the shareholders who are shareholders of
record at the close of business on the 20th day preceding
the date of the meeting shall be entitled to notice of and to
vote at the meeting and upon any adjournment or postponement of
the meeting, except that if prior to the meeting written waivers
of notice of the meeting are signed and delivered to the
Corporation by all of the shareholders of record at the time the
meeting is convened, only the shareholders who are shareholders
of record at the time the meeting is convened, shall be entitled
to vote at the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of
the meeting.
Section 4. Lost,
Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated
Certificates. The holder of any shares of
stock of the Corporation shall immediately notify the
Corporation and its transfer agents and registrars, if any, of
any loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of the certificates
representing the same. The Corporation may issue a new
certificate or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate
theretofore issued by it which is alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed and the Board of Directors may require the
owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the
owners legal representative to give the Corporation a bond
in a sum and in a form approved by the Board of Directors, and
with a surety or sureties which the Board of Directors finds
satisfactory, to indemnify the Corporation and its transfer
agents and registrars, if any, against any claim or liability
that may be asserted against or incurred by it or any transfer
agent or registrar on account of the alleged loss, theft or
destruction of any certificate or the issuance of a new
certificate or uncertificated shares. The Board of Directors
may, however, in its discretion, refuse to issue any such new
certificate or uncertificated shares except pursuant to legal
proceedings under the laws of the State of Missouri in such case
made and provided. A new certificate or uncertificated shares
may be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment
of the Board of Directors, it is proper so to do. The Board of
Directors may delegate to any Officer or Officers of the
Corporation any of the powers and authorities contained in this
section.
Section 5. Transfer
Agents and Registrars. The Board of Directors
may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer clerks and
one or more registrars which may be banks, trust companies, or
other financial institutions located within or without the State
of Missouri; may define the authority of such transfer agents
and registrars of transfers; may require all stock certificates
to bear the signature of a transfer agent or a registrar of
transfers, or both; may impose such rules, regulations or
procedures regarding uncertificated shares as it deems
appropriate; and may change or remove any such transfer agent or
registrar of transfers.
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ARTICLE VI.
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day
of January and end on the thirty-first day of December in each
year.
ARTICLE VII.
DIVIDENDS
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, declare and the
Corporation may pay dividends on its outstanding shares in the
manner, and upon the terms and conditions provided by law and
its Articles of Incorporation.
ARTICLE VIII.
CORPORATE
SEAL
The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall
be circular in form and shall have inscribed thereon the name of
the Corporation and the state of incorporation and the words,
Corporate Seal. The seal shall be in the charge of
the Secretary.
ARTICLE IX.
WAIVER OF
NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given to any shareholder
or director of the Corporation under the provisions of these
Bylaws or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation
or under the provisions of the General and Business Corporation
law of Missouri, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the
person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or
after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the
giving of such notice.
ARTICLE X.
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws
may be adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors at
any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors,
provided that no Bylaw may be adopted or amended so as to be
inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation, or the Constitution or laws of the State of
Missouri.
ARTICLE XI.
CONSTRUCTION;
DEFINITIONS.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions,
rules of construction and definitions in the Articles and the
General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri shall govern
the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the
generality of this provision, the singular number includes the
plural, the plural number includes the singular, the term
person includes both a corporation and a natural
person, and the masculine gender includes the feminine gender
and vice versa. Any article, section, subsection, subdivision,
sentence, clause or phrase of these Bylaws which shall be
contrary to or inconsistent with any applicable provisions of
law, shall not apply so long as said provisions of law shall
remain in effect, but shall result shall not affect the validity
or applicability of any other portions of these Bylaws, it being
hereby declared that these Bylaws would have been adopted and
each article, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause
or
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phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more
articles, sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences,
clauses or phrases is or are illegal.
ARTICLE XII.
CONTROL
SHARE ACQUISITIONS
Section 351.407 of the General and Business Corporation Law
of Missouri, as amended from time to time (relating to control
share acquisitions), shall not apply to control share
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
* * * * *
AMENDMENTS:
Article XII added effective as of August 13, 1999 by
resolution of the Special Committee that was appointed by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation at a special meeting of
the Board of Directors on August 10, 1999.
Article IV, Sections 1,2,3, and 4 amended in their
entirety by unanimous vote at a regular meeting of the Board of
Directors held July 26, 2000.
Amended and Restated Bylaws adopted by unanimous vote at a
regular meeting of the Board of Directors held January 28,
2004, subject to shareholder approval of certain amendments to
the Articles (Amended and Restated Bylaws became effective
May 26, 2004 following Annual Meeting of Shareholders and
failure of proposal 5).
Article II, Section 8 and Article III,
Section 5 amended effective as
of
by resolution of the Special Committee at a special meeting on
June 1, 2008, which was appointed by the Board of Directors
of the Corporation at a special meeting of the Board of
Directors held October 17, 2006.
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