Registration Rights Agreement By and Between Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

EX-10.35 5 y83076exv10w35.htm EX-10.35 exv10w35
EXHIBIT 10.35
EXECUTION VERSION
Registration Rights Agreement
By and Between
Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
and
Wachovia Bank, National Association
Dated
July 23, 2009

 


 

ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
     THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 23, 2009, by and between ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (“Holder”).
     This Agreement is made pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof by and among the Company and Holder (the “Credit Agreement”).
     The Company and Holder hereby agree as follows:
     1. Definitions
     Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Credit Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
     “Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e) hereof.
     “Capital Stock” means the Company’s Common Stock and any other class of securities which the Company’s Common Stock is converted or reclassified into or any other securities created by the Company in the future.
     “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
     “Effectiveness Date” means the 90th calendar day following the Closing Date with respect to the 2009 Warrant, the first anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to the 2010 Warrant, the second anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to the 2011 Warrant, and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(b), the 45th calendar day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided, however, in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that one of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates required above.
     “Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
     “Filing Date” means the 45th calendar day following the Closing Date with respect to the 2009 Warrant, 45 days prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to the 2010 Warrant, 45 days prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to the 2011 Warrant, and with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(b), the 10th day following the

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date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder.
     “Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
     “Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
     “Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
     “Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
     “Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution process, investigation, administrative hearing, appeal, or any other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, including a proceeding initiated by an Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 5 hereof to enforce such Indemnified Party’s rights hereunder.
     “Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
     “Registrable Securities” means (i) any Capital Stock issued or issuable to Holder pursuant to any Warrant (ii) any Capital Stock issued or issuable with respect to the Capital Stock referred to in clause (i) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization and (iii) all other shares of Capital Stock held by (or issued, pursuant to clause (ii) above, to) Holder.
     “Registration Statement” means the registration statements required to be filed hereunder and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 3(b), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
     “Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such rule.
     “Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or

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regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such rule.
     “Stock Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or any other nationally recognized stock exchange.
     “Suspension Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.
     “Trading Day” means, a day on which the Company’s Common Stock is traded on the applicable Stock Exchange.
     “Violation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
     “Warrants” means any of: (i) the common stock purchase warrant, of even date herewith and fully exercisable as of the date hereof, issued by the Company to Holder, initially to acquire 500,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “2009 Warrant”); (ii) the common stock purchase warrant, of even date herewith and fully exercisable as of the first anniversary of the Closing Date, issued by the Company to Holder, initially to acquire 250,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “2010 Warrant”) and (iii) the common stock purchase warrant, of even date herewith and fully exercisable as of the second anniversary of the Closing Date, issued by the Company to Holder, initially to acquire 250,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “2011 Warrant”).
     2. Shelf Registration
     (a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a “Shelf” Registration Statement covering the resale of the Registrable Securities outstanding on such Filing Date for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (unless the Company is not then eligible to register the Registrable Securities for resale on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless otherwise directed by Holders and except to the extent the Company determines that modifications thereto are required under applicable law) substantially the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two years after the date that such Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent and the affected Holders (the “Effectiveness Period”).
     (b) The Company shall not be required to effect a registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and shall have the right to defer the filing of any Registration Statement if

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the Company shall furnish to Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such registration statement to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after the applicable Filing Date; provided that such right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than once in any twelve (12) month period.
     (c) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Sections 2(a) that the Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of their Registrable Securities.
     3. Registration Procedures
     In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:
     (a) Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (excluding any document that would be incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference), (i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably and in good faith object, provided, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than 5 Trading Days after Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents. In the event of any such objection, the Filing Date and the Effectiveness Date shall be extended on a day by day basis until such objection has been resolved.
     (b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements as may be necessary in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within 15 Trading Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible provide Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the

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Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time, upon written notice to the Holders and for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days thereafter (the “Suspension Period”), the Company may delay the filing or effectiveness of any Registration Statement or suspend the use or effectiveness of any Registration Statement (and the Holders hereby agree not to offer or sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement during the Suspension Period) if the Company reasonably believes that there is or may be in existence material nonpublic information or events involving the Company, the failure of which to be disclosed in the prospectus included in the registration statement could result in a Violation. In the event that the Company shall exercise its right to delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration hereunder, the applicable time period during which the Registration Statement is to remain effective shall be extended by a period of time equal to the duration of the Suspension Period. The Company may extend the Suspension Period for an additional consecutive sixty (60) days with the consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered under the applicable registration statement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No more than one (1) such Suspension Period shall occur in any twelve (12) month period.
     (c) Notify Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five Trading Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of Holders); and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any

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untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interests of the Company to allow continued availability or the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
     (d) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, an electronic copy of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto. Filing on the Commission’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to satisfy such delivery requirement. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
     (e) Use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the resale of such Registrable Securities as required under applicable securities or Blue Sky laws of each State within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
     (f) Cooperate with Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the applicable Warrant, of all restrictive legends, and in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
     (g) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated in Section 3(c)(ii)-(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment including a post-effective amendment; to a Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies Holders in accordance with clauses (ii) through (v) of Section 3(c) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, or the Company otherwise notifies Holders of its election to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 3(c), then Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable, except that in the case of suspension of the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 3(c), the Company shall not be required to take such action until such time as it shall determine

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that the continued availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus is no longer not in the best interests of the Company.
     (h) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
     (i) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
     (j) Require each Holder to furnish to the Company a statement as to the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if requested by the Commission, the controlling Person thereof.
     4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the Stock Exchange, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by Holders )); (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses requested by Holders; (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses; (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and (v) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for (i) all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder and (ii) reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel to Holders in connection with this Agreement. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to the extent provided for in the Credit Documents or other agreements between the parties, any legal fees or other costs of Holders.
     5. Indemnification
     (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of the Company’s Common Stock), investment advisors and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable

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law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (a “Violation”), except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(vi), such Holder used an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company had notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus was outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 7(e). The Company shall notify Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
     (b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or based upon: (i) such Holder’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or relating to any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent but only to the extent, such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(vi), such Holder used an

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outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus was outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 8(e). In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
     (c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
     An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the expense of one such counsel for each Holder shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
     Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section 5(c)) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to

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undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
     (d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys’ or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section were available to such party in accordance with its terms.
     The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
     The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 5 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may otherwise have to the Indemnified Parties.
     6. Reporting.
     (a) Reports Under The Exchange Act. With a view to making available to Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit Holders to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration (“Rule 144”), the Company shall use reasonable efforts to:
     (i) make and keep current public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

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     (ii) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and
     (iii) furnish to each Holder, so long as such Holder owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (A) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the applicable reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (B) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and copies of such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit Holders to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
     (b) Rule 144A Information. If applicable, the Company shall, upon request of any Holder, make available to such Holder the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) (or any successor rule), under the Securities Act, if any.
     7. Miscellaneous.
     (a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and all of Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions, hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of certain Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
     (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 7(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.
     (c) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
     (d) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(c)(ii), (iii) or (vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration

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Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(g), or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
     (e) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered; provided, that, the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 7(e) that are then eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(b) promulgated under the Securities Act.
     (f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the applicable Warrant.
     (g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of Holders of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign its respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the applicable Warrant.
     (h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
     (i) Governing Law; Venue. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof or of any other jurisdiction. ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST THE PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR

13


 

FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OF THE PARTIES ACCEPTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY FINAL JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT FROM WHICH NO APPEAL HAS BEEN TAKEN OR IS AVAILABLE. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDINGS IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE EFFECTED BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL), POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS OR AT SUCH OTHER ADDRESS OF WHICH THE PARTIES SHALL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED PURSUANT THERETO, SUCH SERVICE BEING HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE PARTIES TO BE EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH JURISDICTION. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF HOLDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PARTIES IN THE COURT OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If any party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.
     (j) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
     (k) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

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     (l) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
[Signature pages follow.]

15


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
         
  COMPANY:  
 
  ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ John Natalone    
    Name:   John Natalone   
    Title:   Executive Vice President   

S-1


 

         
         
  HOLDER:  
 
  WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ Olga V. Kelly    
    Name:   Olga V. Kelly   
    Title:   Director   

S-2


 

         
Annex A
Plan of Distribution
     The selling shareholders and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The selling shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:
    ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
 
    block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
 
    purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
 
    an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
 
    privately negotiated transactions;
 
    settlement of short sales;
 
    the sales pursuant to an agreement of the selling shareholders with broker-dealers, of a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
 
    a combination of any such methods of sale; and
 
    any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
     The selling shareholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus. Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling shareholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
     The selling shareholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus.

Annex A-1


 

     The selling shareholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledges, donees, assignees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
     The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The selling shareholders have informed the Company that none of them have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common stock.
     The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Annex A-2


 

Schedules
Schedule 7(b) – None.
Schedule 7(c) – None.