s3asr.htm
 
 
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2010
Registration No. 333-
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 FORM S-3
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.)
Lazard Ltd
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)
 
Scott D. Hoffman, Esq.
Lazard Ltd
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10020
(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
Fax: (212) 474-3700
 
 
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
 
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  o
 
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  x
 
      If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  o
 
      If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  o
 
      If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box:  x
 
 
 
      If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box:  o
 
      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):
Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
  
Amount to be Registered
  
Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share
  
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
  
Amount of
Registration Fee
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share(1)(2)
                
Debt Securities(1)(2)
                
Preference Shares(1)(2)
                
Warrants(1)(2)
                
Stock Purchase Contracts(1)(2)(3)
                
Stock Purchase Units(1)(2)(3)
                
________________
(1)
An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at unspecified prices. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. This registration statement also covers delayed delivery contracts that may be issued by the Registrant under which the party purchasing such contracts may be required to purchase debt securities, preference shares or Class A common stock. Such contracts may be issued together with the specific securities to which they relate. In addition, securities registered hereunder may be sold either separately or as units comprised of more than one type of security registered hereunder.
(2)
Including securities as may from time to time be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities registered hereunder. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units or represented by depositary shares.
(3)
Includes an indeterminable number of shares of Class A common stock or preference shares to be issuable by the Registrant upon settlement of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.
 
 
 
 
Prospectus
 
 
Class A Common Stock
 
Debt Securities
 
Preference Shares
 
Warrants
 
Stock Purchase Contracts
 
Stock Purchase Units
 
The securities covered by this prospectus may be sold from time to time by Lazard Ltd.  In addition, selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell from time to time securities in such amounts as set forth in such prospectus supplement.  We may, and any selling security holder may, offer the securities independently or together in any combination for sale directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers or agents to be designated at a future date.  Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by any selling security holders.
 
When we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the specific issue of securities, including the offering price of the securities.  You should carefully read this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the specific issue of securities, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you decide to invest in any of these securities.
 
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
 
Our Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LAZ."
 
 Investing in our securities involves risks.  See "Risk Factors" on page  4 of this prospectus.  You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
                 Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
 The date of this prospectus is March 16, 2010.
 
 
 
 
             No person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus.  You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations.  This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.  The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 

 
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to in this prospectus as the "SEC," using the "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we, or certain of our security holders, may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
 
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or a selling security holder may offer.  Each time we, or, under certain circumstances, our security holders, sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the means of distribution.  The prospectus supplement may include other special considerations applicable to such offering of securities.  The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus.  If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.  You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."
 
The prospectus supplement will describe: the terms of the securities offered, any initial public offering price, the price paid to us for the securities, the net proceeds to us, the manner of distribution and any underwriting compensation and the other specific material terms related to the offering of these securities.  For more detail on the terms of the securities, you should read the exhibits filed with or incorporated by reference in our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms:
 
 
●
"Lazard," "we," "our," "us" and the "Company" refer to Lazard Ltd, a Bermuda exempted company whose shares of common stock are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LAZ," and its subsidiaries, including Lazard Group.
 
 
●
"Lazard Group," refers to Lazard Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that is the holding company for the subsidiaries that conduct Lazard’s business (which includes all of the businesses, subsidiaries, assets and liabilities of Lazard Ltd and Lazard Group, which we refer to in this prospectus as "our business").
 
References to "securities" includes any security that we might sell under this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
 
We prepare our financial statements in U.S. dollars and  in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or "U.S. GAAP", including all of the financial statements incorporated by reference or included in this prospectus.  Our fiscal year ends on December 31.  In this prospectus, except where otherwise indicated, references to "$" or "dollars" are to the lawful currency of the United States.
 
The results of operations for the period prior to May 10, 2005, the date of our initial equity public offering, do not reflect what our results of operations would have been had we been a stand-alone, public company. In addition, the results of operations for the period prior to May 10, 2005 are not comparable to results of operations for subsequent periods.
 
The Lazard logo and the other trademarks, trade names and service marks of Lazard mentioned in this prospectus, including Lazard®, are the property of, and are used with the permission of, our subsidiaries.
 
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein.  Please refer to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents.  Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under "Where You Can Find More Information."
 
 
 
 
  You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.  We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information.  The distribution of this prospectus and sale of these securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law.  Persons in possession of this prospectus are required to inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions.  We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.  You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus only.  Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
 
 
 
 
LAZARD LTD
 
    We are one of the world's preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms and have long specialized in crafting solutions to the complex financial and strategic challenges of our clients. We serve a diverse set of clients around the world, including corporations, partnerships, institutions, governments and high-net worth individuals. The first Lazard partnership was established in 1848. Over time we have extended our activities beyond our roots in New York, Paris and London. We currently operate from 40 cities in key business and financial centers across 25 countries throughout Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. We focus primarily on two business segments - Financial Advisory and Asset Management. We believe that the mix of our activities across business segments, geographic regions, industries and investment strategies helps to diversify and stabilize our revenue stream.
 
Lazard Ltd was incorporated in Bermuda on October 25, 2004.  Lazard Group was formed in Delaware on March 2, 2000 under the name Lazard LLC and was renamed Lazard Group LLC on May 10, 2005.  Our principal executive offices are located in the U.S. at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10020, with a general telephone number of (212) 632-6000, in France at 121 Boulevard Haussmann, 75382 Paris Cedex 08, with a general telephone number of 33-1-44-13-01-11 and in the U.K. at 50 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LL, with a general telephone number of 44-207-187-2000.  Lazard Ltd's registered office in Bermuda is located at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, with a general telephone number of (441) 295-1422.  We maintain a public website at  http://www.lazard.com.  The information contained in or connected to our website is not a part of this prospectus, and you should not rely on such information in making your decision whether to purchase securities.
 
 
 
 
RISK FACTORS
 
Investing in our securities involves risks. Potential investors are urged to read and consider the risk factors and other disclosures relating to an investment in securities issued by Lazard Ltd described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider those risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. If any of the events or developments described actually occurred, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also affect our business operations. To the extent a particular offering implicates additional risks, we will include a discussion of those risks in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
 
 
 
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the information incorporated herein and therein by reference include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the "Exchange Act."  We have made statements in the prospectus and in the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus under the captions "Lazard Ltd," "Risk Factors," "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and in other sections of this prospectus, and in the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus that are forward-looking statements.
 
In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology.  These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business.  These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events.  There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  In particular, you should consider the numerous risks and uncertainties outlined in "Risk Factors," including the following:
 
 
●
a continued decline or further deterioration in general economic conditions or the global financial markets,
 
 
●
losses caused by financial or other problems experienced by third parties,
 
 
●
losses due to unidentified or unanticipated risks,
 
 
●
a lack of liquidity, i.e., ready access to funds, for use in our businesses, and
 
 
●
competitive pressure on our businesses and on our ability to retain our employees.
 
These risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive.  Other sections of this prospectus may include additional factors which could adversely impact our business and financial performance.  Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment.  New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
 
Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements.  Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements.  You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.  We are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations and we do not intend to do so.
 
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the:
 
 
●
business' possible or assumed future results of operations and operating cash flows,
 
 
●
business' strategies and investment policies,
 
 
●
business' financing plans and the availability of short-term borrowing,
 
 
●
business' competitive position,
 
 
●
future acquisitions, including the consideration to be paid and the timing of consummation,
 
 
 
 
 
●
potential growth opportunities available to our businesses,
 
 
●
recruitment and retention of our managing directors and employees,
 
 
●
target levels of compensation expense,
 
 
●
business' potential operating performance, achievements, productivity improvements, efficiency and cost reduction efforts,
 
 
●
likelihood of success and impact of litigation,
 
 
●
expected tax rate,
 
 
●
changes in interest and tax rates,
 
 
●
expectations with respect to the economy, securities markets, the market for mergers, acquisitions, strategic advisory and restructuring activity, the market for asset management activity and other industry trends,
 
 
●
effects of competition on our businesses, and
 
 
●
impact of future legislation and regulation on our businesses.
 
Lazard is committed to providing timely and accurate information to the investing public, consistent with our legal and regulatory obligations.  To that end, we use websites to convey information about our businesses, including the anticipated release of quarterly financial results, quarterly financial, statistical and business-related information, and the posting of updates of assets under management, or which we refer to in this prospectus as "AUM," in various mutual funds, hedge funds and other investment products managed by Lazard Asset Management LLC, or which we refer to in this prospectus as "LAM," and its subsidiaries.  Monthly updates of these funds are posted to the LAM website ( http://www.lazardnet.com ) by the third business day following the end of each month. Investors can link to Lazard Ltd, Lazard Group and their operating company websites through  http://www.lazard.com. The information contained in or connected to our website is not a part of this prospectus, and you should not rely on such information in making your decision whether to purchase securities.
 
 
 
 
SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS
 
            We may register securities covered by this prospectus for re-offers and resales by any selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement.  Because we are a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, we may add secondary sales of securities by any selling security holders by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC.  We may register these securities to permit selling security holders to resell their securities when they deem appropriate.  A selling security holder may resell all, a portion or none of their securities at any time and from time to time.  We may register those securities for sale through an underwriter or other plan of distribution as set forth in a prospectus supplement.  See "Plan of Distribution."  Selling security holders may also sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of their securities in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  We may pay all expenses incurred with respect to the registration of the securities owned by the selling security holders, other than underwriting fees, discounts or commissions, which will be borne by the selling security holders.  We will provide you with a prospectus supplement naming the selling security holders, the amount of securities to be registered and sold and other terms of the securities being sold by a selling security holder.
 
 
 
 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the deficiency of our earnings to cover fixed charges for the periods indicated.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31, 2009
    
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
    
Year Ended
December 31, 2007
    
Year Ended
December 31, 2006
    
Year Ended
December 31, 2005
  
                               
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a)
     -- (b)     1.16 x     3.69 x     3.74 x     4.62 x
 
 
(a)
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges: earnings for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 represent income from continuing operations before income taxes, and, for the period prior to May 10, 2005, the date of Lazard Ltd's equity public offering, before distributions for services rendered by managing directors and employee members of LAM, and before fixed charges, and fixed charges represent the interest expense from continuing operations and the portion of rental expense from continuing operations which represents an appropriate interest factor.
 
(b)
Lazard's earnings were insufficient to cover its fixed charges by $182 million for the year ended December 31, 2009.
        
 

 
USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities for general corporate purposes, which may include additions to working capital, repayment of indebtedness, the financing of possible acquisitions and investments, stock repurchases or for such other purposes as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.  Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from any sales of our securities by any selling security holder to be named in a prospectus supplement.
 
 
 
 
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK WE OR SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS MAY OFFER
 
For a description of the common stock we or selling security holders may offer, see "Description of Capital Stock," in Lazard Ltd’s final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities Act on May 6, 2005 with respect to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-121407).  See "Where You Can Find More Information."
 
 
 
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
 
The following description of the terms of the debt securities we may issue sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate.  The particular terms of debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions may apply to those debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable debt securities.  The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth in this description are inapplicable to such debt securities.  This description does not purport to be complete.
 
General
 
We may enter into indenture agreements with respect to any debt securities we may offer.  We may enter into separate indentures, with different trustees, for our debt securities.  We use the term "indentures" to refer to any such indentures we may enter into, and we use the term "trustees" to refer to the trustees under such indentures.  The material terms of any indenture governing a series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus or prospectus supplement.  The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
 
If specified in the prospectus supplement or other offering material, certain of our subsidiaries may guarantee such debt securities or we may guarantee debt securities issued by our subsidiaries as described in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to the applicable debt securities.
 
Additional Information
 
We will describe in any applicable prospectus supplement the following terms relating to a series of debt securities:
 
 
●
the title,
 
 
●
any limit on the amount that may be issued,
 
 
●
whether or not we will issue the series of notes in global form, the terms and who the depository will be,
 
 
●
the maturity date,
 
 
●
the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates,
 
 
●
whether or not the notes will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt,
 
 
●
the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt,
 
 
●
the place where payments will be payable,
 
 
●
our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period,
 
 
●
the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of notes pursuant to any optional redemption provisions,
 
 
●
the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of notes,
 
 
●
whether the indenture will restrict our ability to pay dividends, or will require us to maintain any asset ratios or reserves,
 
 
●
whether we will be restricted from incurring any additional indebtedness,
 
 
 
 
●
a discussion on any material or special United States Federal income tax considerations applicable to the notes,
 
 
●
if applicable, a discussion of any material Bermuda tax considerations,
 
 
●
the denominations in which we will issue the series of notes, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and
 
 
●
any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities.
 
  The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities offered thereby.
 
Conversion or Exchange of Debt Securities
 
  Such prospectus or prospectus supplement will also describe, if applicable, the terms on which the debt securities may be converted or exchanged into our common stock, preference shares or other securities or property. These terms will include whether the conversion or exchange is mandatory, is at our option or is at the option of the holder. The prospectus supplement will describe how the number of shares of common stock, preference shares or other securities or property to be received would be calculated.
 
 
 
 
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERENCE SHARES WE MAY OFFER
 
The following description of the terms of the preference shares we may issue sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any series of preference shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate.  The particular terms of the preference shares offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions may apply to those series of preference shares will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable preference shares.  The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth in this description are inapplicable to such series of preference shares.  This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable Bermuda law and the provisions of our bye-laws relating to our preference shares.
 
We may issue preference shares.  Preference shares may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to or separate from the securities.
 
Pursuant to Bermuda law and our bye-laws, our board of directors by resolution may establish one or more class or series of preference shares having such number of shares, designations, dividend rates, relative voting rights, conversion or exchange rights, redemption rights, liquidation rights and other relative participation, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions as may be fixed by the board of directors without any shareholder approval.  Such rights, preferences, powers and limitations as may be established could also have the effect of discouraging an attempt to obtain control of Lazard Ltd.  We currently have 15,000,000 authorized preference shares, par value $0.01 per share.
 
The board of directors, in approving the issuance of a class or series of preference shares and the applicable prospectus supplement, will set forth with respect to such class or series, the following:
 
 
●
the number of shares in the class or series,
 
 
●
the designations of the class or series,
 
 
●
the dividend rates on the shares of that class or series (including, whether dividends are cumulative, and if so, from which date(s)) and the relative rights of priority, if any, of the payment of dividends on shares of that class or series,
 
 
●
whether that class or series has voting rights (in addition to voting rights provided by law), and if so, the terms of such voting rights,
 
 
●
the conversion or exchange rights of the class or series, if any (including conversion into common stock), including the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange (including provision for adjustment of the conversion or exchange rate as the board of directors determines),
 
 
●
whether the class or series will have a sinking fund for the redemption or repurchase of shares of that class or series, and if so, the terms and amounts of such sinking fund,
 
 
●
the right of the shares of that class or series to the benefit of conditions and restrictions upon the creation of indebtedness of Lazard Ltd or any of its subsidiaries, upon the issue of any additional shares (including additional shares of such class or series or any other class or series) and upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by Lazard Ltd or any of its subsidiaries of any issued shares of Lazard Ltd,
 
 
●
the liquidation rights and other relative participation, and
 
 
●
any optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of that class or series.
 
The terms of each class or series of preference shares will be described in any prospectus supplement related to such class or series of preference shares and will contain a discussion of any material Bermuda or material United States Federal income tax considerations applicable to the preference shares.
 
 
 
 
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS WE MAY OFFER
 
The following description of the terms of warrants we may issue sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate.  The particular terms of warrants offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions may apply to those warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable warrants.  The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth in this description are inapplicable to such warrants.  This description does not purport to be complete.
 
General
 
We may issue warrants, including warrants to purchase shares of our common stock and preference shares.  Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from the securities.  Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent.
 
Debt Warrants
 
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of debt warrants offered thereby, the warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the certificates representing the debt warrants, including the following:
 
 
●
the title of the debt warrants,
 
 
●
the aggregate number of debt warrants,
 
 
●
the price or prices at which the debt warrants will be issued,
 
 
●
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the price of the debt warrants may be payable,
 
 
●
the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the debt warrants,
 
 
●
the designation and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued, and the number of the debt warrants issued with each debt security,
 
 
●
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which any principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants will be payable,
 
 
●
the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable,
 
 
●
the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant, and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise,
 
 
●
the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire,
 
 
●
the maximum or minimum number of the debt warrants that may be exercised at any time,
 
 
●
if applicable, a discussion of any material Bermuda tax considerations,
 
 
●
if applicable, a discussion of any material United States Federal income tax considerations, and
 
 
●
any other terms of the debt warrants and terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exercise of the debt warrants.
 
 
 
Certificates representing debt warrants will be exchangeable for new certificates representing debt warrants of different denominations, and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.  Before the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities issuable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payment of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities issuable upon exercise.
 
Other Warrants
 
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any other warrants that we may issue:
 
 
●
the title of the warrants,
 
 
●
the securities (which may include preference shares or common stock) for which the warrants are exercisable,
 
 
●
the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued,
 
 
●
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the price of the warrants may be payable,
 
 
●
if applicable, the designation and terms of the preference shares or common stock with which the warrants are issued, and the number of the warrants issued with each share of preference shares or common stock,
 
 
●
if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related preference shares or common stock will be separately transferable,
 
 
●
if applicable, a discussion of any material Bermuda tax considerations,
 
 
●
if applicable, a discussion of any material United States Federal income tax considerations, and
 
 
●
any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.
 
Exercise of Warrants
 
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash or other consideration the number of debt securities, preference shares or shares of our common stock at the exercise price as will in each case be described in, or can be determined from, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offered warrants.  Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date described in the applicable prospectus supplement.  After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
 
Warrants may be exercised as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.  Upon receipt of payment and the certificate representing the warrant properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other offices indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities issuable upon exercise.  If less than all of the warrants represented by the certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
 
 
 
 
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE
UNITS WE MAY OFFER
 
The following description of the terms of stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units we may issue sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units to which any prospectus supplement may relate.  The particular terms of stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions may apply to those stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.  The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth in this description are inapplicable to such stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.  This description does not purport to be complete.
 
We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from or sell to us, and obligating us to sell to or purchase from the holders, a specified number of shares of our common stock or preference shares at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as "stock purchase contracts."  The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts, and may be subject to adjustment under anti-dilution formulas.  The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, any other securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the securities under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as "stock purchase units."  The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the stock purchase contracts in a specified manner.  The stock purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase contracts or the stock purchase units, as the case may be, or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis.
 
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units offered thereby and will contain a discussion of any material Bermuda or material United States Federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units.
 
 
 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
We may sell our securities, and any selling security holder may offer and sell securities covered by this prospectus, in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:
 
 
●
through agents;
 
 
●
to or through underwriters;
 
 
●
through brokers or dealers;
 
 
●
through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
 
 
●
directly by us or any selling security holders to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; or
 
 
●
through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
 
We will describe in a prospectus supplement the particular terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:
 
 
●
the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
 
 
●
the purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds we will receive from the sale;
 
 
●
any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
 
 
●
any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
 
 
●
any securities exchanges on which the securities of the series may be listed; and
 
 
●
any other information we think is material.
 
In addition, we and any selling security holder may sell any securities covered by this prospectus in private transactions or under Rule 144 of the Securities Act rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
 
We may sell offered securities directly or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent in the offer or sale of the securities for which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to that agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless indicated in the prospectus supplement, the agents will have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment.
 
In connection with the sale of securities covered by this prospectus, broker-dealers may receive commissions or other compensation from us in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals or both. Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may be in excess of customary commissions or in amounts to be negotiated. In connection with any underwritten offering, underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Any underwriters, broker-dealers agents or other persons acting on our behalf that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of the securities by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by any of those underwriters, broker-dealers agents or other persons may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
 
 
 
In connection with the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus or otherwise, we or any selling security holder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of our securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with us or any selling security holder. We or any selling security holder may also sell securities short and deliver the securities offered by this prospectus to close out our short positions. We or any selling security holder may also enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions that require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction. We or any selling security holder may also from time to time pledge our securities pursuant to the margin provisions of our customer agreements with our brokers. Upon our default, the broker may offer and sell such pledged securities from time to time pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction.
 
At any time a particular offer of the securities covered by this prospectus is made, a revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of securities covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Such prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information with respect to the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities sold under this prospectus may only be sold through registered or licensed broker-dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
 
In connection with an underwritten offering, we and any selling security holder would execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement, such underwriting agreement would provide that the obligations of the underwriter or underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent, and that the underwriter or underwriters with respect to a sale of the covered securities will be obligated to purchase all of the covered securities, if any such securities are purchased. We or any selling security holder may grant to the underwriter or underwriters an option to purchase additional securities at the public offering price, less any underwriting discount, as may be set forth in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement. If we or any selling security holder grants any such option, the terms of that option will be set forth in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers may be entitled, pursuant to relevant agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us or any selling security holder against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in this prospectus, any supplement or amendment hereto, or in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers may be required to make.
 
 
 
 
LEGAL MATTERS
 
The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Conyers Dill & Pearman, Hamilton, Bermuda, with respect to securities governed by Bermuda law, and by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, New York, with respect to securities governed by New York law, as applicable, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the securities are being distributed in an underwritten offering, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the related prospectus supplement.
 
EXPERTS
 
           The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document the company files at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, U.S.A. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Lazard Ltd’s SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at  http://www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, U.S.A.
 
We maintain a website at http://www.lazard.com. The information contained in or connected to our website is not a part of this prospectus, and you should not rely on such information in making your decision whether to purchase securities.
 
We are "incorporating by reference" into this prospectus specific documents that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents that are considered part of this prospectus. Information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, and any future documents that we file with the SEC (excluding any portions of such documents that are "furnished" but not "filed" for purposes of the Exchange Act) under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the termination of the offerings of all of the securities covered by this prospectus has been completed. This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the SEC.
 
We are "incorporating by reference" into this prospectus the following documents filed with the SEC (excluding any portions of such documents that have been "furnished" but not "filed" for purposes of the Exchange Act):
 
 
●
Lazard Ltd's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, filed on March 1, 2010 (File No. 001-32492);
 
 
●
Lazard Ltd's Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on March 12, 2010 ("Proxy Statement") (File No. 001-32492); and
 
 
●
Description of the Class A common stock and risk factors related to the offering contained in the final prospectus for Lazard Ltd filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities Act on May 6, 2005 with respect to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-121407).
 
 
19
 
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request and without charge, a copy of the documents referred to above that we have incorporated in this prospectus by reference.  You can request copies of such documents if you call or write us at the following address or telephone number: Investor Relations, Lazard Ltd, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10020, (212) 632-6000, or you may visit our website at http://www.lazard.com for copies of any of such documents.
 
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference herein or therein, contains summaries of certain agreements that we have filed as exhibits to various SEC filings, as well as certain agreements that we will enter into in connection with the offering of securities covered by any particular accompanying prospectus supplement.  The descriptions of these agreements contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference herein or therein do not purport to be complete and are subject to, or qualified in their entirety by reference to, the definitive agreements.  Copies of the definitive agreements will be made available without charge to you by making a written or oral request to us.
 
You should rely only upon the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement.  We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information.  You should not assume that the information in this document is accurate as of any date other than that on the front cover of this prospectus.
 
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or in any accompanying prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified and superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
 
 
20
 
PART II
 
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
 
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by Lazard Ltd (the "Registrant") in connection with the sale or distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement. All of the amounts shown are estimates.
 
 
   
Amount
  
       
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee
   $   *
Legal fees and expenses
     100,000  
Accounting fees and expenses
     15,000  
Miscellaneous (including any applicable listing fees, printing and engraving expenses, Trustee and Transfer Agent’s fees and expenses)
     85,000  
Total
   $ 200,000  
 
*
Under Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), applicable SEC registration fees have been deferred and will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under this registration statement, and are therefore not estimable at this time.
 
Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers
 
The bye-laws of Lazard Ltd provide for indemnification of Lazard Ltd’s officers and directors against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense incurred or suffered by such party as an officer or director of Lazard; provided that such indemnification shall not extend to any matter which would render it void pursuant to the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda (the "Companies Act").
 
The Companies Act provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors and officers in respect of any loss arising or liability attaching to them as a result of any negligence, default or breach of trust of which they may be guilty in relation to the company in question.  However, the Companies Act also provides that any provision, whether contained in the company’s bye-laws or in a contract or arrangement between the company and the director or officer, indemnifying a director or officer against any liability which would attach to him or her in respect of his fraud or dishonesty will be void.
 
Subject to limitations imposed by Bermuda law, we may enter into agreements that provide indemnification to the directors, officers and all other persons requested or authorized by the board of directors to take actions on behalf of Lazard Ltd for all losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred by the indemnified person arising out of such person’s service in such capacity.
 
The directors and officers of the Registrant are covered by directors' and officers' insurance policies maintained by Lazard.
 
Item 16.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
1.1
Form of Equity Securities Underwriting Agreement.*
1.2
Form of Debt Securities Underwriting Agreement.*
1.3
Form of Common Stock Underwriting Agreement.*
 
 
 
 
2.1
Master Separation Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, by and among the Lazard Ltd, Lazard Group LLC, LAZ-MD Holdings LLC and LFCM Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Lazard Ltd's Quarterly Report (File No. 001-32492) on Form 10-Q filed on June 16, 2005).
2.2
Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 6, 2006, to the Master Separation Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, by and among Lazard Ltd, Lazard Group LLC and LAZ-MD Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Lazard Ltd's Quarterly Report (File No. 001-32492) on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2006).
2.3
Second Amendment dated as of May 7, 2008, to the Master Separation Agreement dated as of May 10, 2005, as amended, by and among Lazard Ltd, Lazard Group LLC and LAZ-MD Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Lazard Ltd's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32492) filed on May 8, 2008).
2.4
Class B-1 and Class C Members Transaction Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Lazard Ltd's Registration Statement (File No. 333-121407) on Form S-1 filed on December 17, 2004).
4.1
Form of Specimen Certificate for Class A common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lazard Ltd's Registration Statement (File No. 333-121407) on Form S-1/A filed on April 11, 2005).
4.2
Indenture, dated as of May 10, 2005, by and between Lazard Group LLC and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lazard Group LLC's Registration Statement (File No. 333-126751) on Form S-4 filed on July 21, 2005).
4.3
Amended and Restated Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2008, by and among Lazard Group LLC and The Bank of New York, as trustee (and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 333-126751) filed on May 16, 2008).
4.4
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 21, 2007, between Lazard Group LLC and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32492) filed on June 22, 2007).
4.5
Form of Senior Note.*
4.6
Form of Warrant Agreement.*
4.7
Form of Warrant Certificate.*
4.8
Form of Stock Purchase Unit Agreement.*
4.9
Form of Stock Purchase Unit Certificate.*
4.10
Form of Stock Purchase Contract Agreement.*
4.11
Form of Stock Purchase Unit Certificate.*
5.1
Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman.
5.2
Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.*
12.1
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1 to Lazard Ltd's Annual Report (File No. 001-32492) on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2010).
 
 
II-2
 
 
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2
Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3
Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.*
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement).
25.1
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the Debt Securities.*
 
*
To be filed, if necessary, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Lazard Ltd in connection with a specific offering, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 17.  Undertakings
 
             (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
 (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
 (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
 
 (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
 
 (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
provided, however, that clauses (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that is part of the registration statement;
 
 (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
 
 (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
 
 (4)  That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
 
 (i)  Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
 
 
II-3
 
 
 (ii)  Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B under the Securities Act relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) under the Securities Act for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus.  As provided in Rule 430B under the Securities Act, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date;
 
 (5)  That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
 
 (i)  Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;
 
 (ii)  Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
 
 (iii)  The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
 
 (iv)  Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
 
 (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
 (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
 
II-4
 
 (d)  For an offering in which the securities to be registered are to be offered to existing security holders pursuant to warrants or rights and any securities not taken by security holders are to be reoffered to the public, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof.  If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
 
             (e)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the Trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
 
 
II-5
 
 
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-3 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 March 16, 2010.
 
     
LAZARD LTD
  
     
By:
     /s/ Kenneth M. Jacobs
   
Kenneth M. Jacobs
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
Power of Attorney
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Scott D. Hoffman and William J. White, 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 Securities and Exchange 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 date indicated.
 
 
Signature
  
Capacity
  
Date
         
  /s/ Kenneth M. Jacobs  
Chairman, Chief Executive
 
March 16, 2010
Kenneth M. Jacobs
  
Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
    
         
/s/ Michael J. Castellano  
Chief Financial Officer
  
March 16, 2010
Michael J. Castellano
  
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
    
         
/s/ Ashish Bhutani  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Ashish Bhutani
        
         
/s/ Ronald J. Doerfler  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Ronald J. Doerfler
        
         
/s/ Steven J. Heyer  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Steven J. Heyer
        
         
/s/ Sylvia Jay  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Sylvia Jay
        
         
/s/ Ellis Jones  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Ellis Jones
        
 
II-6
 
 
         
/s/ Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
        
         
/s/ Philip A. Laskawy  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Philip A. Laskawy
        
         
/s/ Laurent Mignon    
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Laurent Mignon
        
         
 /s/ Gary W. Parr  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Gary W. Parr
        
         
/s/ Hal S. Scott  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Hal S. Scott
        
         
/s/ Michael J. Turner  
Director
  
March 16, 2010
Michael J. Turner
        
 
 
II-7
 
 
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 March 16, 2010.
 
By:
  
/s/ Scott D. Hoffman
   
Scott D. Hoffman
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
1.1
Form of Equity Securities Underwriting Agreement.*
1.2
Form of Debt Securities Underwriting Agreement.*
1.3
Form of Common Stock Underwriting Agreement.*
2.1
Master Separation Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, by and among the Lazard Ltd, Lazard Group LLC, LAZ-MD Holdings LLC and LFCM Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Lazard Ltd's Quarterly Report (File No. 001-32492) on Form 10-Q filed on June 16, 2005).
2.2
Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 6, 2006, to the Master Separation Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2005, by and among Lazard Ltd, Lazard Group LLC and LAZ-MD Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Lazard Ltd's Quarterly Report (File No. 001-32492) on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2006).
2.3
Second Amendment dated as of May 7, 2008, to the Master Separation Agreement dated as of May 10, 2005, as amended, by and among Lazard Ltd, Lazard Group LLC and LAZ-MD Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Lazard Ltd's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32492) filed on May 8, 2008).
2.4
Class B-1 and Class C Members Transaction Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Lazard Ltd's Registration Statement (File No. 333-121407) on Form S-1 filed on December 17, 2004).
4.1
Form of Specimen Certificate for Class A common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lazard Ltd's Registration Statement (File No. 333-121407) on Form S-1/A filed on April 11, 2005).
4.2
Indenture, dated as of May 10, 2005, by and between Lazard Group LLC and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Lazard Group LLC's Registration Statement (File No. 333-126751) on Form S-4 filed on July 21, 2005).
4.3
Amended and Restated Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2008, by and among Lazard Group LLC and The Bank of New York, as trustee (and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 333-126751) filed on May 16, 2008).
4.4
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 21, 2007, between Lazard Group LLC and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32492) filed on June 22, 2007).
4.5
Form of Senior Note.*
4.6
Form of Warrant Agreement.*
4.7
Form of Warrant Certificate.*
4.8
Form of Stock Purchase Unit Agreement.*
4.9
Form of Stock Purchase Unit Certificate.*
4.10
Form of Stock Purchase Contract Agreement.*
4.11
Form of Stock Purchase Unit Certificate.*
 
 
 
 
5.1
Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman.
5.2
Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.*
12.1
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1 to Lazard Ltd's Annual Report (File No. 001-32492) on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2010).
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2
Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3
Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.*
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement).
25.1
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the Debt Securities.*
 
*
To be filed, if necessary, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Lazard Ltd in connection with a specific offering, and incorporated herein by reference.