Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

LAZARD LTD

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Bermuda		98-0437848
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Clarendon House

2 Church Street

Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda

(441) 295-1422

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

 

Scott D. Hoffman, Esq.

Lazard Ltd

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, New York 10112

(212) 632-6000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Erik R. Tavzel, Esq.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Worldwide Plaza

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, New York 10019

(212) 474-1000

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer:		☒		Accelerated filer		☐
Non-accelerated filer		☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		☐
				Emerging growth company		☐

If registrant is an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered		Amount to be Registered(1)		Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(2)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2)		Amount of Registration Fee(3)
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share		30,000,000		$43.07		$1,292,100,000		$149,754.39

(1)

In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also includes (i) such additional shares of common stock as may be required pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) and (ii) an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Plan.

(2)	Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) and 457(c) under the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee, based on the average of the high and low prices of the securities being registered hereby on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, April 28, 2017.

(3)

Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, a filing fee is only being paid with respect to the registration of additional securities under the Plan. Registration Statements on Form S-8 have been filed previously on November 4, 2008 (File No. 333-154977) and February 10, 2014 (File No. 333-193845) for the existing securities under the Plan.

 

 

 

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This Registration Statement is filed pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8. The contents of the Registration Statements on Form S-8 previously filed on November 4, 2008 (File No. 333-154977) and February 10, 2014 (File No. 333-193845) are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Lazard Ltd, a Bermuda exempted company (the “Company”) to register an additional 30,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which may be awarded under the Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan.

Part II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

5.1		Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited.
23.1		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2		Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement).
99.1		Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex B to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-32492) filed on March 24, 2008).
99.2		Lazard Ltd 2016 French Sub-plan (incorporated by reference to Annex B to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-32492) filed on March 10, 2016).

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Lazard Ltd certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on May 2, 2017.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Scott D. Hoffman and Matthieu Bucaille, and each of them (with full power to act alone), his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, of and supplements to this registration statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto any such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, to all intents and purposes and as fully as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of their respective substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Kenneth M. Jacobs		Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director		May 2, 2017
Kenneth M. Jacobs		(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Matthieu Bucaille		Chief Financial Officer		May 2, 2017
Matthieu Bucaille		(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Dominick Ragone		Chief Accounting Officer		May 2, 2017
Dominick Ragone
/s/ Andrew M. Alper		Director		May 2, 2017
Andrew M. Alper
/s/ Ashish Bhutani		Director		May 2, 2017
Ashish Bhutani
/s/ Richard N. Haass		Director		May 2, 2017
Richard N. Haass
/s/ Steven J. Heyer		Director		May 2, 2017
Steven J. Heyer
/s/ Michelle Jarrard		Director		May 2, 2017
Michelle Jarrard

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/s/ Sylvia Jay		Director		May 2, 2017
Sylvia Jay
/s/ Philip A. Laskawy		Director		May 2, 2017
Philip A. Laskawy
/s/ Jane L. Mendillo		Director		May 2, 2017
Jane L. Mendillo
/s/ Richard D. Parsons		Director		May 2, 2017
Richard D. Parsons

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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the undersigned as the duly authorized representative of Lazard Ltd in the United States on May 2, 2017.

 

/s/ Scott D. Hoffman

Scott D. Hoffman

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

5.1		Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited.
23.1		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2		Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement).
99.1		Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex B to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-32492) filed on March 24, 2008).
99.2		Lazard Ltd 2016 French Sub-plan (incorporated by reference to Annex B to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-32492) filed on March 10, 2016).

Exhibit 5.1

2 May 2017

Matter No.:329413

Doc Ref: 12420555

+441 298-7861

robert.alexander@conyersdill.com

Lazard Ltd

Clarendon House

2 Church Street

Hamilton HM 11

Bermuda

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Re: Lazard Ltd (the “Company”)

We have acted as special Bermuda legal counsel to the Company in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on 2 May 2017 (the “Registration Statement”, which term does not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto) relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) of 30,000,000 Class A common shares, par value US$0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”), issuable pursuant to the Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended by the Lazard Ltd 2016 French Sub-plan (the “Plan”, which term does not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto).

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined copies of the Registration Statement and the Plan. We have also reviewed the memorandum of association and the bye-laws of the Company, each certified by the Assistant Secretary of the Company on 2 May 2017 and minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of the Company held on 26 February 2008, minutes of a meeting of the members of the Company held on 6 May 2008, minutes of the board of directors of the Company held on 24 February 2016, and minutes of a meeting of the members of the Company held on 19 April 2016, each certified by the Secretary on 2 May 2017 (together, the “Resolutions”) and such other documents and made such enquires as to questions of law as we have deemed necessary in order to render the opinion set forth below.

We have assumed (a) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures and the conformity to the originals of all copies (whether or not certified) of all documents examined by us and the authenticity and completeness of the originals from which such copies were taken, (b) that where a document has been examined by us in draft form, it will be or has been executed and/or filed in the form of that draft, and where a number of drafts of a document have been examined by us all changes thereto have been marked or otherwise drawn to our attention, (c) the accuracy and completeness of all factual representations made in the Registration Statement, the Plan and other documents reviewed by us, (d) that the Resolutions were passed at one or more duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings, or by unanimous written resolutions, remain in full force and effect and have not been rescinded or amended, (e) that there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction, other than Bermuda, which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein, (f) the validity and binding effect under the laws of the State of New York of the Plan in accordance with its terms, (g) that there is no provision of any award agreement which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein, (h) that, upon the issue of any Common Shares, the Company will receive consideration for the full issue price thereof which shall be equal to at least the par value thereof, (i) that on the date of issuance of any of the Common Shares the Company will have sufficient authorised but unissued common shares, (j) that the Company’s shares will be listed on an appointed stock exchange, as defined in the Companies Act 1981, as amended, and the consent to the issue and free transfer of the Common Shares given by the Bermuda Monetary Authority dated 20 January 2005 will not have been revoked or amended at the time of issuance of any Common Shares.

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We have made no investigation of, and express no opinion in relation to, the laws of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda. This opinion is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bermuda and is limited to, and is given on the basis of, the current law and practice in Bermuda. This opinion is issued solely for the purposes of the filing of the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Common Shares by the Company pursuant to the Plan and is not to be relied upon in respect of any other matter.

On the basis of, and subject to, the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.

The Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Bermuda in good standing (meaning solely that it has not failed to make any filing with any Bermuda government authority or to pay any Bermuda government fees or tax which would make it liable to be struck off the Register of Companies and thereby cease to exist under the laws of Bermuda).

 

2.

When issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (which term means when used herein that no further sums are required to be paid by the holders thereof in connection with the issue of such shares).

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited

Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 24, 2017, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Lazard Ltd, and the effectiveness of Lazard Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Lazard Ltd for the year ended December 31, 2016.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

New York, New York

May 2, 2017