AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND BETWEEN
FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP,
INC.
HARLEYSVILLE NATIONAL
CORPORATION
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ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
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1
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1
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8
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8
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8
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2.3. Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws
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9
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2.4. Directors and Officers of Surviving
Corporation
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9
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2.5. Effects of the Merger
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9
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9
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2.7. Possible Alternative Structures
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9
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10
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ARTICLE III CONVERSION OF SHARES
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10
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3.1. Conversion of HNC Common Stock; Merger
Consideration
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10
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3.2. Procedures for Exchange of HNC Common
Stock
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11
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
HNC
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14
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14
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14
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15
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4.4. Authority; No Violation
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16
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16
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4.6. Financial Statements
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17
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18
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4.8. No Material Adverse Effect
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19
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4.9. Material Contracts; Leases;
Defaults
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19
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4.10. Ownership of Property; Insurance
Coverage
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21
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22
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4.12. Compliance With Applicable Law
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22
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4.13. Employee Benefit Plans
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23
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4.14. Brokers, Finders and Financial
Advisors
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26
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4.15. Environmental Matters
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26
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27
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4.17. Securities Documents
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28
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4.18. Related Party Transactions
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28
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29
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4.20. Antitakeover Provisions Inapplicable;
Required Vote
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29
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4.21. Registration Obligations
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29
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4.22. Risk Management Instruments
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29
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29
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30
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4.25. Intellectual Property
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30
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30
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4.27. HNC Information Supplied
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30
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
FNFG
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31
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31
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31
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(i)
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32
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5.4. Authority; No Violation
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32
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33
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5.6. Financial Statements
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33
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34
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5.8. No Material Adverse Effect
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35
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5.9. Ownership of Property; Insurance
Coverage
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35
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36
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5.11. Compliance With Applicable Law
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36
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5.12. Employee Benefit Plans
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37
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5.13. Environmental Matters
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38
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5.14. Securities Documents
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39
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5.15. Brokers, Finders and Financial
Advisors
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39
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39
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5.17. FNFG Information Supplied
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39
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5.18. PBCL Sections 2538 and
2553
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40
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ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF HNC
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40
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40
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44
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6.3. Access to Properties and Records
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45
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6.4. Financial and Other Statements
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46
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6.5. Maintenance of Insurance
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47
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6.6. Disclosure Supplements
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47
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6.7. Consents and Approvals of Third
Parties
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47
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6.8. Reasonable Best Efforts
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47
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6.9. Failure to Fulfill Conditions
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47
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47
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6.11. Reserves and Merger-Related
Costs
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50
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6.12. Board of Directors and Committee
Meetings
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51
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ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF FNFG
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51
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51
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51
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7.3. Financial and Other Statements
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52
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7.4. Disclosure Supplements
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52
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7.5. Consents and Approvals of Third
Parties
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52
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7.6. All Reasonable Efforts
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52
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7.7. Failure to Fulfill Conditions
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52
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52
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7.9. Directors and Officers Indemnification and
Insurance
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54
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55
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7.11. Stock and Cash Reserve
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55
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ARTICLE VIII REGULATORY AND OTHER
MATTERS
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55
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8.1. HNC Shareholder Meeting
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55
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8.2. Proxy Statement-Prospectus
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55
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8.3. Regulatory Approvals
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56
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(ii)
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ARTICLE IX CLOSING CONDITIONS
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57
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9.1. Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligations under this Agreement
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57
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9.2. Conditions to the Obligations of FNFG under
this Agreement
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58
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9.3. Conditions to the Obligations of HNC under
this Agreement
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59
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60
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60
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10.2. Deliveries at the Pre-Closing and the
Closing
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60
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ARTICLE XI TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER
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60
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60
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11.2. Effect of Termination
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63
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11.3. Amendment, Extension and Waiver
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64
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ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS
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64
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64
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12.2. Public Announcements
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64
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65
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65
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12.5. Parties in Interest
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66
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66
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67
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67
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67
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67
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12.11. Specific Performance;
Jurisdiction.
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67
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Exhibit A Form of HNC Voting
Agreement
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Exhibit B Form of Bank Merger
Agreement
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Exhibit C Exchange Ratio
Adjustment Schedule
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(iii)
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this
“Agreement”) is dated as of July 26, 2009, by and
between First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“FNFG”), and Harleysville National Corporation, a
Pennsylvania corporation (“HNC”).
WHEREAS , the Board of Directors of each of FNFG and HNC
(i) has determined that this Agreement and the business
combination and related transactions contemplated hereby are in the
best interests of their respective companies and shareholders and
(ii) has determined that this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby are consistent with and in furtherance of their
respective business strategies, and (iii) has adopted a
resolution approving this Agreement and declaring its advisability;
and
WHEREAS , in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, HNC will merge with and into FNFG (the
“Merger”), and immediately thereafter Harleysville
National Bank, a national bank and wholly owned subsidiary of HNC
(“HNB”), will be merged with and into First Niagara
Bank, a federally chartered stock savings bank and wholly owned
subsidiary of FNFG (“First Niagara Bank”);
and
WHEREAS , as a condition to the willingness of FNFG to
enter into this Agreement, each of the directors of HNC has entered
into a Voting Agreement, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto, dated as of the date hereof, with FNFG (the
“HNC Voting Agreements”), pursuant to which each such
director has agreed, among other things, to vote all shares of
common stock of HNC owned by such person in favor of the approval
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the HNC Voting
Agreements; and
WHEREAS , the parties intend the Merger to qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that
this Agreement be and is hereby adopted as a “plan of
reorganization” within the meaning of Sections 354 and
361 of the Code; and
WHEREAS , the parties desire to make certain
representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the
business transactions described in this Agreement and to prescribe
certain conditions thereto.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and of
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1. Certain Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms
have the following meanings (unless the context otherwise requires,
references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections
of this Agreement).
1
“Affiliate” means any Person who
directly, or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
includes any executive officer or director of such Person and any
Affiliate of such executive officer or director.
“Agreement” means this agreement,
and any amendment hereto.
“Applications” means the
applications for regulatory approval that are required by the
transactions contemplated hereby.
“Bank Merger” shall mean the merger
of HNB with and into First Niagara Bank, with First Niagara Bank as
the surviving institution, which merger shall occur immediately
following the Merger.
“Bank Regulator” shall mean any
Federal or state banking regulator, including but not limited to
the OTS, OCC, the FRB, the FDIC and the Department, which regulates
First Niagara Bank or HNB, or any of their respective holding
companies or subsidiaries, as the case may be.
“BHCA” shall mean the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended.
“Certificate” shall mean
certificates evidencing shares of HNC Common Stock.
“Closing” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.2.
“Closing Date” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“COBRA” shall mean the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.
“Code” shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Confidentiality Agreement” shall
mean the confidentiality agreement referred to in Section 12.1 of
this Agreement.
“Department” shall mean the Banking
Department of the State of New York, and where appropriate shall
include the Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and
the Banking Board of the State of New York.
“DGCL” shall mean the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
“Effective Time” shall mean the date
and time specified pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof as the
effective time of the Merger.
“Environmental Laws” means any
applicable Federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval,
consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or agreement with any
governmental entity relating to (1) the protection,
preservation or restoration of the environment (including, without
limitation, air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking
water supply, surface soil, subsurface soil,
2
plant and
animal life or any other natural resource), and/or (2) the
use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation,
processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of
Materials of Environmental Concern. The term Environmental Laws
includes without limitation (a) the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended,
42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq; the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §6901, et seq; the Clean
Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §7401, et seq; the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. §1251, et
seq; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C.
§2601, et seq; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to
Know Act, 42 U.S.C. §11001, et seq; the Safe Drinking Water
Act, 42 U.S.C. §300f, et seq; and all comparable state and
local laws, and (b) any common law (including without
limitation common law that may impose strict liability) that may
impose liability or obligations for injuries or damages due to the
presence of or exposure to any Materials of Environmental
Concern.
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Agent” shall mean American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, or such other bank or trust
company or other agent designated by FNFG, and reasonably
acceptable to HNC, which shall act as agent for FNFG in connection
with the exchange procedures for converting Certificates into the
Merger Consideration.
“Exchange Fund” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1.
“Exchange Ratio” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.1.3.
“FDIA” shall mean the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, as amended.
“FDIC” shall mean the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successor thereto.
“FHLB” shall mean the Federal Home
Loan Bank of New York.
“First Niagara Bank” shall mean
First Niagara Bank, a federally chartered stock savings
association, with its principal offices located at 6950 South
Transit Road, P.O. Box 514, Lockport, New York, which is a wholly
owned subsidiary of FNFG.
“First Niagara Commercial Bank”
shall mean the wholly owned, commercial bank subsidiary of First
Niagara Bank that is chartered under the laws of the State of New
York and is limited to those activities set forth in
Section 2(a)(5)(E)(ii) of the BHCA.
“FNFG” shall mean First Niagara
Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal
executive offices located at 6950 South Transit Road, Lockport, New
York 14095.
“FNFG Common Stock” shall mean the
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of FNFG.
3
“FNFG Disclosure Schedule” shall
mean a written disclosure schedule delivered by FNFG to HNC
specifically referring to the appropriate section of this
Agreement.
“FNFG Financial Statements” shall
mean the (i) the audited consolidated statements of condition
(including related notes and schedules) of FNFG and subsidiaries as
of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the consolidated statements
of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’
equity and cash flows (including related notes and schedules, if
any) of FNFG and subsidiaries for each of the three years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, as set forth in FNFG’s
annual report for the year ended December 31, 2008, and
(ii) the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements
of FNFG and subsidiaries as of the end of each calendar quarter
following December 31, 2008, and for the periods then ended,
as filed by FNFG in its Securities Documents.
“FNFG Regulatory Agreement” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.3.
“FNFG Stock Benefit Plans” shall
mean the 1999 Stock Option Plan, the 1999 Recognition and Retention
Plan and the 2002 Long-Term Incentive Stock Benefit
Plan.
“FNFG Subsidiary” means any
corporation, of which more than 50% of the capital stock is owned,
either directly or indirectly, by FNFG or First Niagara Bank,
except any corporation the stock of which is held in the ordinary
course of the lending activities of First Niagara Bank.
“FRB” shall mean the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System and, where appropriate, the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“GAAP” shall mean accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America,
consistently applied with prior practice.
“Governmental Entity” shall mean any
Federal or state court, administrative agency or commission or
other governmental authority or instrumentality.
“HMS” shall mean Harleysville
Management Services, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
HNB.
“HNB” shall mean Harleysville
National Bank, a national bank, with its principal offices located
at 483 Main Street, Harleysville, Pennsylvania 19438, which is a
wholly owned subsidiary of HNC.
“HNC” shall mean Harleysville
National Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation, with its
principal offices located at 2483 Main Street, Harleysville,
Pennsylvania 19438.
“HNC Common Stock” shall mean the
common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of HNC.
“HNC Delinquent Loans” shall mean
(i) all loans with principal and/or interest that are 30-89
days past due, (ii) all loans with principal and/or interest
that are at least 90 days past due and still accruing,
(iii) all loans with principal and/or interest that are
nonaccruing, (iv) Other
4
Real Estate
Owned and (v) net charge-offs from the date of this Agreement
through the last business day of the month prior to the Closing
Date.
“HNC Disclosure Schedule” shall mean
a written disclosure schedule delivered by HNC to FNFG specifically
referring to the appropriate section of this Agreement.
“HNC Financial Statements” shall
mean (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets (including
related notes and schedules, if any) of HNC and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the consolidated statements of
operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows (including
related notes and schedules, if any) of HNC and subsidiaries for
each of the three years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006, and (ii) the unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements of HNC and subsidiaries as of the end of each calendar
quarter following December 31, 2008 and for the periods then
ended, as filed by HNC in its Securities Documents.
“HNC Option Plans” shall mean the
(i) the Harleysville National Corporation 1993 Stock Incentive
Plan; (ii) the Harleysville National Corporation 1998
Independent Directors Stock Option Plan, as amended; (iii) the
Harleysville National Corporation 1998 Stock Incentive Plan;
(iv) the Harleysville National Corporation 2004 Omnibus Stock
Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective November 9,
2006); (v) Harleysville National Corporation 2008-2010
Restricted Stock Incentive Plan; (vi) East Penn Financial
Corporation 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, as assumed by HNC;
(vii) Willow Financial Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999
Stock Option Plan, as assumed by HNC; (viii) Willow Financial
Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Option Plan, as
assumed by HNC; (ix) East Penn Financial Corporation 1999
Independent Directors Stock Incentive Plan; (x) Chester Valley
Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan; and (xi) Millennium Bank
Stock Compensation Program, and in each case as amended.
“HNC Option” shall mean an option to
purchase shares of HNC Common Stock granted pursuant to the HNC
Option Plans and as set forth in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.3.1.
“HNC Recommendation” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
“HNC Regulatory Agreement” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12.3.
“HNC Regulatory Reports” means the
Call Reports of HNB and accompanying schedules, as filed with the
FDIC, for each calendar quarter beginning with the quarter ended
March 31, 2008, through the Closing Date, and all Reports
filed with the OCC by HNC from March 31, 2008 through the
Closing Date.
“HNC Shareholders Meeting” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
“HNC Subsidiary” means any
corporation, of which more than 50% of the capital stock is owned,
either directly or indirectly, by HNC or HNB, except any
corporation the stock of which is held in the ordinary course of
the lending activities of HNB.
“HOLA” shall mean the Home
Owners’ Loan Act, as amended.
“IRS” shall mean the United States
Internal Revenue Service.
5
“Knowledge” as used with respect to
a Person (including references to such Person being aware of a
particular matter) means those facts that are known or should have
been known after due inquiry by the executive officers (as defined
in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) of such Person, and in
the case of HNC shall include, without limitation, those persons
set forth in HNC Disclosure Schedule 1.1, and includes any
facts, matters or circumstances set forth in any written notice
from any Bank Regulator or any other material written notice
received by that Person.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall
mean, with respect to FNFG or HNC, respectively, any effect that
(i) is material and adverse to the financial condition,
results of operations or business of FNFG and the FNFG Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, or HNC and the HNC Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
respectively, or (ii) does or would materially impair the
ability of either HNC, on the one hand, or FNFG, on the other hand,
to perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise
materially threaten or materially impede the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that
“Material Adverse Effect” shall not be deemed to
include the impact of (a) changes in laws and regulations
affecting banks or thrift institutions or their holding companies
generally, or interpretations thereof by courts or governmental
agencies, (b) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting
principles generally applicable to financial institutions and their
holding companies, (c) actions and omissions of a party hereto
(or any of its Subsidiaries) taken with the prior written consent
of the other party, (d) the announcement of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, and compliance with this
Agreement on the business, financial condition or results of
operations of the parties and their respective subsidiaries,
including the expenses incurred by the parties hereto in
consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (e)
changes in national or international political or social conditions
including the engagement by the United States in hostilities,
whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency
or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon
or within the United States, or any of its territories, possessions
or diplomatic or consular offices or upon any military
installation, equipment or personnel of the United States, unless
it uniquely affects either or both of the parties or any of their
Subsidiaries (f) changes in the value of the securities or
loan portfolio, or any change in the value of the deposits or
borrowings, of FNFG or HNC, or any of the FNFG Subsidiaries or the
HNC Subsidiaries, respectively, resulting from a change in interest
rates generally, (g) changes in HNC’s stock price or
trading volume, or any failure by HNC to meet internal or published
projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions for any
period (it being agreed that the facts giving rise or contributing
to any such failure may be a Material Adverse Effect); (h) the
termination of any employees or independent contractors,
(i) any increase in HNC Delinquent Loans, which is addressed
in the last sentence of this paragraph; (j) charges or
reserves taken by HNC at the request of FNFG pursuant to
Section 6.11 of this Agreement; or (k) in the case of HNC
and each HNC Subsidiary, the issuance in and of itself of any
orders or directives by any Bank Regulator (it being agreed that
the effects of the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to
the issuance of such orders or directives or the effects of the
issuance of the orders or directives may be a Material Adverse
Effect). In addition, and without regard to any other provision of
this Agreement, and without limiting other events or circumstances
that may constitute a “Material Adverse Effect”, a
“Material Adverse Effect” shall include, solely with
respect to HNC: if the aggregate amount of HNC Delinquent Loans
equals or exceeds $350,000,000 as of any month end prior to the
Closing Date, excluding any month end subsequent to
February 28, 2010.
6
“Material Contracts” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 4.9.3.
“Materials of Environmental Concern”
means pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, petroleum
and petroleum products, and any other hazardous or toxic materials
regulated under Environmental Laws.
“Merger” shall have the meaning set
forth in the preamble.
“Merger Consideration” shall mean
the FNFG Common Stock in an aggregate per share amount to be paid
by FNFG for each share of HNC Common Stock, as set forth in
Section 3.1.
“Merger Registration Statement”
shall mean the registration statement, together with all
amendments, filed with the SEC under the Securities Act for the
purpose of registering shares of FNFG Common Stock to be offered to
holders of HNC Common Stock in connection with the
Merger.
“Nasdaq” shall mean the Nasdaq
Global Select Market.
“OCC” shall mean the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency.
“OTS” shall mean the Office of
Thrift Supervision or any successor thereto.
“PBCL” shall mean the Pennsylvania
Business Corporation Law.
“PBGC” shall mean the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.
“Pension Plan” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 4.13.2.
“Person” shall mean any individual,
corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust or
“group” (as that term is defined under the Exchange
Act).
“Proxy Statement-Prospectus” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.1.
“Regulatory Approvals” means the
approval of any Bank Regulator that is necessary in connection with
the consummation of the Merger, the Bank Merger and the related
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Rights” shall mean warrants,
options, rights, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights
and other arrangements or commitments which obligate an entity to
issue or dispose of any of its capital stock or other ownership
interests or which provide for compensation based on the equity
appreciation of its capital stock.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and
Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
“Securities Act” shall mean the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securities Documents” shall mean
all reports, offering circulars, proxy statements, registration
statements and all similar documents filed, or required to be
filed, pursuant to the Securities Laws.
7
“Securities Laws” shall mean the
Securities Act; the Exchange Act; the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended; the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Significant Subsidiary” shall have
the meaning set forth in Rule 1-02 of SEC Regulation S-X
promulgated under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act.
“Surviving Corporation” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Termination Date” shall mean
July 31, 2010.
“Treasury Stock” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.1.2.
Other terms used herein are defined in the
preamble and elsewhere in this Agreement.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time: (a) HNC shall merge with and
into FNFG, with FNFG as the resulting or surviving corporation (the
“Surviving Corporation”); and (b) the separate
existence of HNC shall cease and all of the rights, privileges,
powers, franchises, properties, assets, liabilities and obligations
of HNC shall be vested in and assumed by FNFG. As part of the
Merger, each share of HNC Common Stock (other than Treasury Stock)
will be converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration pursuant to the terms of Article III hereof.
Immediately after the Merger, HNB shall merge with and into First
Niagara Bank, with First Niagara Bank as the resulting
institution.
The closing (“Closing”) shall occur
no later than the close of business on the fifth business day
following the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by
applicable law) waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article IX (other than those conditions that by their terms
are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction
or (to the extent permitted by applicable law) waiver of those
conditions), or such other date that may be agreed to in writing by
the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Closing shall not
occur prior to January 4, 2010, unless FNFG agrees otherwise.
The Merger shall be effected by the filing of a certificate of
merger with the Delaware Office of the Secretary of State and the
Pennsylvania Department of State on the day of the Closing (the
“Closing Date”), in accordance with the DGCL and the
PBCL. The “Effective Time” means the date and time upon
which the certificate of merger is filed with the Delaware Office
of the Secretary of State, or as otherwise stated in the
certificate of merger, in accordance with the DGCL and the
PBCL.
8
2.3. Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws.
The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of
FNFG as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided therein and by
applicable law.
2.4. Directors and Officers of Surviving
Corporation.
The directors of FNFG immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving
Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation. The
officers of FNFG immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the initial officers of Surviving Corporation, in each case until
their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified.
2.5. Effects of the Merger.
At and after the Effective Time, the Merger
shall have the effects as set forth in the DGCL and the
PBCL.
It is intended that the Merger shall constitute
a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code,
and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of
reorganization” as that term is used in Sections 354 and
361 of the Code. From and after the date of this Agreement and
until the Closing, each party hereto shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and will not knowingly take
any action, cause any action to be taken, fail to take any action
or cause any action to fail to be taken which action or failure to
act could prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization
under Section 368(a) of the Code. Following the Closing, neither
FNFG, HNC nor any of their affiliates shall knowingly take any
action, cause any action to be taken, fail to take any action or
cause any action to fail to be taken, which action or failure to
act could cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a reorganization
under Section 368(a) of the Code. FNFG and HNC each hereby agrees
to deliver certificates substantially in compliance with IRS
published advance ruling guidelines, with customary exceptions and
modifications thereto, to enable counsel to deliver the legal
opinion contemplated by Section 9.1.6, which certificates shall be
effective as of the date of such opinion.
2.7. Possible Alternative
Structures.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time FNFG shall
be entitled to revise the structure of the Merger or the Bank
Merger, including without limitation, by merging HNC into a
wholly-owned subsidiary of FNFG, provided that (i) any such
subsidiary shall become a party to, and shall agree to be bound by,
the terms of this Agreement (ii) there are no adverse Federal
or state income tax or other adverse tax consequences to HNC
shareholders as a result of the modification; (iii) the
consideration to be paid to the holders of HNC Common Stock under
this Agreement is not thereby changed in kind or value or reduced
in amount; and (iv) such modification will not delay or
jeopardize the receipt of Regulatory Approvals or other consents
and approvals relating to the consummation of the Merger and the
Bank Merger, otherwise delay or jeopardize the satisfaction of any
condition to
9
Closing set
forth in Article IX or otherwise adversely affect HNC or the
holders of HNC Common Stock. The parties hereto agree to
appropriately amend this Agreement and any related documents in
order to reflect any such revised structure.
FNFG and HNC shall use their reasonable best
efforts to cause the Bank Merger to occur as soon as practicable
after the Effective Time. In addition, following the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, FNFG will cause First Niagara Bank, and
HNC will cause HNB, to execute and deliver the Plan of Bank Merger
substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit B.
ARTICLE III
CONVERSION OF SHARES
3.1. Conversion of HNC Common Stock; Merger
Consideration.
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger
and without any action on the part of FNFG, HNC or the holders of
any of the shares of HNC Common Stock, the Merger shall be effected
in accordance with the following terms:
3.1.1. Each share of FNFG Common Stock that is
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall remain issued and outstanding following the Effective Time
and shall be unchanged by the Merger.
3.1.2. All shares of HNC Common Stock held in
the treasury of HNC (“Treasury Stock”) and each share
of HNC Common Stock owned by FNFG immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than shares held in a fiduciary capacity or
in connection with debts previously contracted) shall, at the
Effective Time, cease to exist, and the certificates for such
shares shall be canceled as promptly as practicable thereafter, and
no payment or distribution shall be made in consideration
therefore.
3.1.3. Subject to the provisions of this
Article III, each share of HNC Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than
Treasury Stock) shall become and be converted into, as provided in
and subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the
right to receive 0.474 shares of FNFG Common Stock (the
“Exchange Ratio”), subject to adjustment in accordance
with Section 3.1.7.
3.1.4. After the Effective Time, shares of HNC
Common Stock shall be no longer outstanding and shall automatically
be canceled and shall cease to exist, and shall thereafter by
operation of this section represent the right to receive the Merger
Consideration and any dividends or distributions with respect
thereto or any dividends or distributions with a record date prior
to the Effective Time that were declared or made by HNC on such
shares of HNC Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time and which remain unpaid
at the Effective Time.
3.1.5. In the event FNFG changes (or establishes
a record date for changing) the number of, or provides for the
exchange of, shares of FNFG Common Stock issued and
10
outstanding
prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock split, stock
dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, or similar
transaction with respect to the outstanding FNFG Common Stock and
the record date therefor shall be prior to the Effective Time, the
Exchange Ratio shall be proportionately and appropriately adjusted;
provided , that no such adjustment shall be made with
regard to FNFG Common Stock if FNFG issues additional shares of
FNFG Common Stock and receives fair market value consideration for
such shares.
3.1.6. No Fractional Shares.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no
certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of FNFG Common
Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of
Certificates, no dividend or distribution with respect to FNFG
Common Stock shall be payable on or with respect to any fractional
share interest, and such fractional share interests shall not
entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of a
shareholder of FNFG. In lieu of the issuance of any such fractional
share, FNFG shall pay to each former holder of HNC Common Stock who
otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share of FNFG
Common Stock, an amount in cash, rounded to the nearest cent and
without interest, equal to the product of (i) the fraction of
a share to which such holder would otherwise have been entitled and
(ii) the average of the daily closing sales prices of a share
of FNFG Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq for the five
consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Closing Date.
For purposes of determining any fractional share interest, all
shares of HNC Common Stock owned by an HNC shareholder shall be
combined so as to calculate the maximum number of whole shares of
FNFG Common Stock issuable to such HNC shareholder.
3.1.7. Adjustment to Exchange Ratio. If
the aggregate amount of HNC Delinquent Loans as of the month end
prior to the Closing Date is $237,500,000 or greater, the Exchange
Ratio shall adjust in the manner set forth in Exhibit C (which
Exchange Ratio as adjusted in accordance with Exhibit C shall
become the “Exchange Ratio” for purposes of this
Agreement). Provided further, that if the Closing Date is
subsequent to March 31, 2010, the aggregate amount of HNC
Delinquent Loans shall be calculated as of February 28, 2010
for purposes of any adjustment in the Exchange Ratio.
3.2. Procedures for Exchange of HNC Common
Stock.
3.2.1. FNFG to Make Merger Consideration
Available. At or prior to the Effective Time, FNFG shall
deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent
for the benefit of the holders of HNC Common Stock, for exchange in
accordance with this Section 3.2, certificates representing
the shares of FNFG Common Stock and an aggregate amount of cash
sufficient to pay the aggregate amount of cash payable pursuant to
this Article III (including any cash that may be payable in
lieu of any fractional shares of HNC Common Stock) (such cash and
certificates for shares of FNFG Common Stock, together with any
dividends or distributions with respect thereto, being hereinafter
referred to as the “Exchange Fund”).
3.2.2. Exchange of Certificates . FNFG
shall cause the Exchange Agent, within five (5) business days after
the Effective Time, to mail to each holder of a Certificate or
Certificates, a form letter of transmittal for return to the
Exchange Agent and instructions for use in effecting the surrender
of the Certificates for the Merger Consideration and cash in lieu
of fractional shares, if any, into which the HNC Common Stock
represented by such Certificates
11
shall have been
converted as a result of the Merger. The letter of transmittal
shall be subject to the approval of HNC (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and specify that
delivery shall be affected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to
the Exchange Agent. Upon proper surrender of a Certificate for
exchange and cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with a
properly completed letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder
of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange
therefor, as applicable, (i) a certificate representing that
number of shares of FNFG Common Stock (if any) to which such former
holder of HNC Common Stock shall have become entitled pursuant to
the provisions of Section 3.1 hereof and (ii) a check
representing the amount of cash (if any) payable in lieu of
fractional shares of FNFG Common Stock, which such former holder
has the right to receive in respect of the Certificate surrendered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.2, and the Certificate
so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. No interest will be
paid or accrued on the cash payable in lieu of fractional
shares.
3.2.3. Rights of Certificate Holders after
the Effective Time . The holder of a Certificate that prior to
the Merger represented issued and outstanding HNC Common Stock
shall have no rights, after the Effective Time, with respect to
such HNC Common Stock except to surrender the Certificate in
exchange for the Merger Consideration as provided in this
Agreement. No dividends or other distributions declared after the
Effective Time with respect to FNFG Common Stock shall be paid to
the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate until the holder
thereof shall surrender such Certificate in accordance with this
Section 3.2. After the surrender of a Certificate in
accordance with this Section 3.2, the record holder thereof
shall be entitled to receive, without any interest thereon, any
such dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time, which theretofore had become payable with respect
to shares of FNFG Common Stock represented by such
Certificate.
3.2.4. Surrender by Persons Other than Record
Holders . If the Person surrendering a Certificate and signing
the accompanying letter of transmittal is not the record holder
thereof, then it shall be a condition of the payment of the Merger
Consideration that: (i) such Certificate is properly endorsed
to such Person or is accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in
either case signed exactly as the name of the record holder appears
on such Certificate, and is otherwise in proper form for transfer,
or is accompanied by appropriate evidence of the authority of the
Person surrendering such Certificate and signing the letter of
transmittal to do so on behalf of the record holder; and
(ii) the Person requesting such exchange shall pay to the
Exchange Agent in advance any transfer or other taxes required by
reason of the payment to a Person other than the registered holder
of the Certificate surrendered, or required for any other reason,
or shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that
such tax has been paid or is not payable.
3.2.5. Closing of Transfer Books . From
and after the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the
stock transfer books of HNC of the HNC Common Stock that were
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
other than to settle transfers of HNC Common Stock that occurred
prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time,
Certificates representing such shares are presented for transfer to
the Exchange Agent, they shall be exchanged for the Merger
Consideration and canceled as provided in this
Section 3.2.
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3.2.6. Return of Exchange Fund . At any
time following the twelve (12) month period after the
Effective Time, FNFG shall be entitled to require the Exchange
Agent to deliver to it any portions of the Exchange Fund which had
been made available to the Exchange Agent and not disbursed to
holders of Certificates (including, without limitation, all
interest and other income received by the Exchange Agent in respect
of all funds made available to it), and thereafter such holders
shall be entitled to look to FNFG (subject to abandoned property,
escheat and other similar laws) with respect to any Merger
Consideration that may be payable upon due surrender of the
Certificates held by them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither
FNFG nor the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any holder of a
Certificate for any Merger Consideration delivered in respect of
such Certificate to a public official pursuant to applicable
abandoned property, escheat or other similar law.
3.2.7. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates . In the event any Certificate shall have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or
destroyed and, if reasonably required by FNFG, the posting by such
person of a bond in such amount as FNFG may reasonably direct as
indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with
respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger
Consideration deliverable in respect thereof.
3.2.8. Withholding. FNFG or the Exchange
Agent will be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby to any holder of HNC Common Stock
such amounts as FNFG (or any Affiliate thereof) or the Exchange
Agent are required to deduct and withhold with respect to the
making of such payment under the Code, or any applicable provision
of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law. To the extent
that such amounts are properly withheld by FNFG or the Exchange
Agent, such withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes of
this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the HNC Common
Stock in respect of whom such deduction and withholding were made
by FNFG or the Exchange Agent.
3.2.9. Treatment of HNC Options . HNC
Disclosure Schedule 3.2.9 sets forth all of the outstanding
HNC Options as of the date hereof, which schedule includes, for
each option grant, the name of the individual grantee, the date of
grant, the exercise price, the vesting schedule and the expiration
date.
(a) At the Effective Time, all HNC Options
which are outstanding and unexercised immediately prior thereto
shall become fully vested and exercisable and be converted, in
their entirety, automatically into fully vested and exercisable
options to purchase shares of FNFG Common Stock (the
“Continuing Options”) in an amount and at an exercise
price determined as provided below (and otherwise subject to the
terms of HNC Option Plans):
(1) The number of shares of FNFG Common
Stock to be subject to the Continuing Options shall be equal to the
product of the number of shares of HNC Common Stock subject to the
HNC Options and the Exchange Ratio, provided that any fractional
shares of FNFG Common Stock resulting from such multiplication
shall be rounded down to the nearest share; and
13
(2) The exercise price per share of FNFG
Common Stock under the Continuing Options shall be equal to the
exercise price per share of HNC Common Stock under the HNC Options
divided by the Exchange Ratio, provided that such exercise price
shall be rounded up to the nearest cent.
The adjustment
provided herein with respect to any options which are
“incentive stock options” (as defined in
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”)) shall be and is intended to be effected
in a manner which is consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code.
The duration and other terms of the Continuing Options shall be the
same as the HNC Options, except that all references to HNC shall be
deemed to be references to FNFG.
(b) At all times after the Effective Time,
FNFG shall reserve for issuance such number of shares of FNFG
Common Stock as necessary so as to permit the exercise of
Continuing Options in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and
in the instruments pursuant to which such options were
granted.
3.2.10. Continuing Options may be exercised in
accordance with the terms of the HNC Options in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, subject to applicable law and
regulation.
3.2.11. Reservation of Shares . FNFG
shall reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of the
FNFG Common Stock for the purpose of issuing shares of FNFG Common
Stock to the HNC shareholders in accordance with this
Article III.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HNC
HNC represents and warrants to FNFG that the
statements contained in this Article IV are correct and
complete as of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in
the HNC Disclosure Schedules delivered by HNC to FNFG on the date
hereof. HNC has made a good faith effort to ensure that the
disclosure on each schedule of the HNC Disclosure Schedule
corresponds to the section referenced herein. However, for purposes
of the HNC Disclosure Schedule, any item disclosed on any schedule
therein is deemed to be fully disclosed with respect to all
schedules under which such item may be relevant as and to the
extent that it is reasonably clear on the face of such schedule
that such item applies to such other schedule. References to the
Knowledge of HNC shall include the Knowledge of HNB.
4.2.1. HNC is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and is duly registered as a bank
holding company under the BHCA. HNC has the requisite corporate
power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and
is duly licensed or qualified to do business in the states of the
United States and foreign jurisdictions where its ownership or
leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification.
14
4.2.2. HNB is a national bank duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the United States. The deposits
of HNB are insured by the FDIC to the fullest extent permitted by
law, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in
connection therewith have been paid by HNB when due. HNB is a
member in good standing of the FHLB and owns the requisite amount
of stock therein.
4.2.3. HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.2.3 sets
forth each HNC Subsidiary. Each HNC Subsidiary is a corporation,
limited liability company or other entity duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization.
4.2.4. The respective minute books of HNC, HNB
and each other HNC Subsidiary accurately records, in all material
respects, all material corporate actions of their respective
shareholders and boards of directors (including
committees).
4.2.5. Prior to the date of this Agreement, HNC
has made available to FNFG true and correct copies of the articles
of incorporation or charter and bylaws of HNC, HNB and each other
HNC Subsidiary.
4.3.1. The authorized capital stock of HNC
consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per
share, of which 43,090,911 shares are outstanding, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. There
are 22,718 shares of HNC Common Stock held by HNC as treasury
stock. Neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary has or is bound by any
Rights of any character relating to the purchase, sale or issuance
or voting of, or right to receive dividends or other distributions
on any shares of HNC Common Stock, or any other security of HNC or
an HNC Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to vote,
purchase or otherwise receive any shares of HNC Common Stock or any
other security of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary, other than (i) shares
issuable under the HNC Option Plans, (ii) capital securities
issued by HNC Statutory Trusts I, II, III and IV (the
“Trusts”); (iii) debentures issued by HNC to the
Trusts; (iv) the guarantee issued by HNC to the holders of the
capital securities issued by the Trusts, and (v) the warrants
listed on HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.3.1. HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.3.1 sets forth the name of each holder of options
to purchase HNC Common Stock, the number of shares each such
individual may acquire pursuant to the exercise of such options,
the grant and vesting dates, and the exercise price relating to the
options held.
4.3.2. HNC owns all of the capital stock of HNB,
free and clear of any lien or encumbrance. Except for the HNC
Subsidiaries, HNC does not possess, directly or indirectly, any
material equity interest in any corporate entity, except for equity
interests held in the investment portfolios of HNC Subsidiaries,
equity interests held by HNC Subsidiaries in a fiduciary capacity,
and equity interests held in connection with the lending activities
of HNC Subsidiaries, including stock in the FHLB. Either HNC or HNB
owns all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each HNC
Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, security interests,
pledges, charges, encumbrances, agreements and restrictions of any
kind or nature, except that, in the case of the Trusts, HNC owns
100% of the common securities and less than 100% of the preferred
securities.
15
4.3.3. To HNC’s Knowledge, no Person or
“group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act), is the beneficial owner (as defined in
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of the outstanding
shares of HNC Common Stock.
4.4. Authority; No Violation.
4.4.1. HNC has full corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the
receipt of the Regulatory Approvals and the approval of this
Agreement by HNC’s shareholders, to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by HNC and the consummation by HNC of the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, have been
duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of HNC, and no
other corporate proceedings on the part of HNC, except for the
approval of the HNC shareholders, is necessary to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by HNC,
and subject to approval by the shareholders of HNC and receipt of
the Regulatory Approvals and due and valid execution and delivery
of this Agreement by FNFG, constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of HNC, enforceable against HNC in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar
laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as
to enforceability, to general principles of equity.
4.4.2. Subject to receipt of Regulatory
Approvals and HNC’s and FNFG’s compliance with any
conditions contained therein, and to the receipt of the approval of
the shareholders of HNC, (A) the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by HNC, (B) the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, and (C) compliance by HNC with any of the
terms or provisions hereof will not (i) conflict with or
result in a breach of any provision of the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary or the charter
and bylaws of HNB; (ii) violate any statute, code, ordinance,
rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction
applicable to HNC or any HNC Subsidiary or any of their respective
properties or assets; or (iii) violate, conflict with, result
in a breach of any provisions of, constitute a default (or an event
which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a
default), under, result in the termination of, accelerate the
performance required by, or result in a right of termination or
acceleration or the creation of any lien, security interest, charge
or other encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of HNC or
HNB under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement
or other investment or obligation to which HNC or HNB is a party,
or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets
may be bound or affected, except for such violations, conflicts,
breaches or defaults under clause (ii) or (iii) hereof which,
either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Material
Adverse Effect on HNC and the HNC Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
Except for (a) filings with Bank
Regulators, the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals, and compliance
with any conditions contained therein, (b) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, (c) the filing with the SEC of (i) the Merger
Registration Statement and (ii) such reports under
Sections 13(a), 13(d), 13(g) and 16(a) of the Exchange Act as
may be required in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions
16
contemplated
hereby and the obtaining from the SEC of such orders as may be
required in connection therewith, (d) approval of the listing
of FNFG Common Stock to be issued in the Merger on the Nasdaq,
(e) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or
obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of
various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of
FNFG Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, and (f) the
approval of this Agreement by the requisite vote of the
shareholders of HNC, no consents, waivers or approvals of, or
filings or registrations with, any Governmental Entity are
necessary, and, to HNC’s Knowledge, no consents, waivers or
approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any other third
parties are necessary, in connection with (x) the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by HNC, and (y) the completion
of the Merger and the Bank Merger by HNC. HNC has no reason to
believe that any Regulatory Approvals or other required consents or
approvals will not be received.
4.6. Financial Statements.
4.6.1. HNC has previously made available to FNFG
the HNC Regulatory Reports. The HNC Regulatory Reports have been
prepared in all material respects in accordance with applicable
regulatory accounting principles and practices throughout the
periods covered by such statements.
4.6.2. HNC has previously made available to FNFG
the HNC Financial Statements. The HNC Financial Statements have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (including the related
notes where applicable) fairly present in each case in all material
respects (subject in the case of the unaudited interim statements
to normal year-end adjustments and to any other adjustments
described therein), the consolidated financial position, results of
operations and cash flows of HNC and the HNC Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis as of and for the respective periods ending on
the dates thereof, in accordance with GAAP during the periods
involved, except as indicated in the notes thereto, or in the case
of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q.
4.6.3. At the date of each balance sheet
included in the HNC Financial Statements or the HNC Regulatory
Reports, neither HNC nor HNB, as applicable, had any liabilities,
obligations or loss contingencies of any nature (whether absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise) of a type required to be
reflected in such HNC Financial Statements or HNC Regulatory
Reports or in the footnotes thereto which are not fully reflected
or reserved against therein or fully disclosed in a footnote
thereto, except for liabilities, obligations and loss contingencies
which are not material individually or in the aggregate or which
are incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with
past practice, and except for liabilities, obligations and loss
contingencies which are within the subject matter of a specific
representation and warranty herein and subject, in the case of any
unaudited statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments and
the absence of footnotes.
4.6.4. The records, systems, controls, data and
information of HNC and its Subsidiaries are recorded, stored,
maintained and operated under means (including any electronic,
mechanical or photographic process, whether computerized or not)
that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of HNC or
its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access
thereto and there from), except for any non-exclusive ownership and
non-direct control
17
that would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
system of internal accounting controls described below in this
Section 4.6.4. HNC (x) has implemented and maintains a
system of internal control over financial reporting (as required by
Rule 13a-15(a) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to
provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of its financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, (y) has
implemented and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that
material information relating to HNC, including its consolidated
Subsidiaries, is made known to the chief executive officer and the
chief financial officer of HNC by others within those entities, and
(z) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior
to the date hereof, to HNC’s outside auditors and the audit
committee of HNC’s Board of Directors (i) any
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting (as defined
in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect HNC’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information and (ii) any fraud,
whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in HNC’s internal
control over financial reporting. These disclosures (if any) were
made in writing by management to HNC’s auditors and audit
committee and a copy has previously been made available to FNFG. As
of the date hereof, to the knowledge of HNC, its chief executive
officer and chief financial officer will be able to give the
certifications required pursuant to the rules and regulations
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act,
without qualification, when next due.
4.6.5. Since December 31, 2008,
(i) neither HNC nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the
Knowledge of HNC, any director, officer, employee, auditor,
accountant or representative of HNC or any of its Subsidiaries has
received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral,
regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures,
methodologies or methods of HNC or any of its Subsidiaries or their
respective internal accounting controls, including any material
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that HNC or any of its
Subsidiaries has engaged in illegal accounting or auditing
practices, and (ii) no attorney representing HNC or any of its
Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by HNC or any of its
Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of
Securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by
HNC or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the
Board of Directors of HNC or any committee thereof or to any
director or officer of HNC.
HNC and the HNC Subsidiaries are members of the
same affiliated group within the meaning of Code
Section 1504(a). HNC and each HNC Subsidiary has duly filed
all federal, state and material local tax returns required to be
filed by or with respect to HNC and every HNC Subsidiary on or
prior to the Closing Date, taking into account any extensions (all
such returns, to HNC’s Knowledge, being accurate and correct
in all material respects) and has duly paid or made provisions for
the payment of all material federal, state and local taxes which
have been incurred by or are due or claimed to be due from HNC and
any HNC Subsidiary by any taxing authority or pursuant to any
written tax sharing agreement on or prior to the Closing Date other
than taxes or other charges which (i) are not delinquent,
(ii) are being contested in good faith, or (iii) have not
yet been fully determined. Except as set forth in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.7, as of the date of this Agreement, HNC has
received no written notice of, and to HNC’s
Knowledge
18
there is no
audit examination, deficiency assessment, tax investigation or
refund litigation with respect to any taxes of HNC or any HNC
Subsidiary, and no written claim has been made by any authority in
a jurisdiction where HNC or any HNC Subsidiary does not file tax
returns that HNC or any HNC Subsidiary is subject to taxation in
that jurisdiction. HNC and the HNC Subsidiaries have not executed
an extension or waiver of any statute of limitations on the
assessment or collection of any material tax due that is currently
in effect. HNC and each HNC Subsidiary has withheld and paid all
taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with
amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor,
creditor, shareholder or other third party, and HNC and each HNC
Subsidiary, to HNC’s Knowledge, has timely complied with all
applicable information reporting requirements under Part III,
Subchapter A of Chapter 61 of the Code and similar applicable
state and local information reporting requirements.
4.8. No Material Adverse
Effect.
HNC has not suffered any Material Adverse Effect
since March 31, 2009 and no event has occurred or circumstance
arisen since that date which, in the aggregate, has had or is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on
HNC.
4.9. Material Contracts; Leases;
Defaults.
4.9.1. Except as set forth in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.9.1, neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary is a party
to or subject to: (i) any employment, consulting or severance
contract or material arrangement with any past or present officer,
director or employee of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary, except for
“at will” arrangements; (ii) any plan, material
arrangement or contract providing for bonuses, pensions, options,
deferred compensation, retirement payments, profit sharing or
similar material arrangements for or with any past or present
officers, directors or employees of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary;
(iii) any collective bargaining agreement with any labor union
relating to employees of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary; (iv) any
agreement which by its terms limits the payment of dividends by HNC
or any HNC Subsidiary; (v) any instrument evidencing or
related to material indebtedness for borrowed money whether
directly or indirectly, by way of purchase money obligation,
conditional sale, lease purchase, guaranty or otherwise, in respect
of which HNC or any HNC Subsidiary is an obligor to any person,
which instrument evidences or relates to indebtedness other than
deposits, repurchase agreements, FHLB advances, bankers’
acceptances, and “treasury tax and loan” accounts and
transactions in “federal funds” in each case
established in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or which contains financial covenants or other
restrictions (other than those relating to the payment of principal
and interest when due) which would be applicable on or after the
Closing Date to FNFG or any FNFG Subsidiary; (vi) any other
agreement, written or oral, that obligates HNC or any HNC
Subsidiary for the payment of more than $50,000 annually or for the
payment of more than $100,000 over its remaining term, which is not
terminable without cause on 60 days’ or less notice
without penalty or payment (other than agreements for commercially
available “off-the- shelf” software), or (vii) any
agreement (other than this Agreement), contract, arrangement,
commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) that
restricts or limits in any material way the conduct of business by
HNC or any HNC Subsidiary (it being understood that any non-compete
or similar provision shall be deemed material, but any limitation
on the scope of any license granted under any such agreement shall
not be deemed material).
19
4.9.2. Each real estate lease that requires the
consent of the lessor or its agent resulting from the Merger or the
Bank Merger by virtue of the terms of any such lease, is listed in
HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.9.2 identifying the section of the
lease that contains such prohibition or restriction. Subject to any
consents that may be required as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, to its Knowledge, neither HNC nor
any HNC Subsidiary is in default in any material respect under any
material contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease,
insurance policy or other instrument to which it is a party, by
which its assets, business, or operations may be bound or affected,
or under which it or its assets, business, or operations receive
benefits, and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse
of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a
default.
4.9.3. True and correct copies of agreements,
contracts, arrangements and instruments referred to in
Section 4.9.1 and 4.9.2 (“Material Contracts”)
have been made available to FNFG on or before the date hereof, and
are in full force and effect on the date hereof and neither HNC nor
any HNC Subsidiary (nor, to the Knowledge of HNC, any other party
to any such contract, arrangement or instrument) has materially
breached any provision of, or is in default in any respect under
any term of, any Material Contract. Except as listed on HNC
Disclosure Schedule 4.9.3, no party to any Material Contract
will have the right to terminate any or all of the provisions of
any such Material Contract as a result of the execution of, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this
Agreement.
4.9.4. Since December 31, 2008, through and
including the date of this Agreement, except as publicly disclosed
by HNC in the Securities Documents filed or furnished by HNC prior
to the date hereof, neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary has
(i) except for (A) normal increases for employees (other
than officers and directors subject to the reporting requirements
of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act) made in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice, or (B) as required
by applicable law, increased the wages, salaries, compensation,
pension, or other fringe benefits or perquisites payable to any
executive officer, employee, or director from the amount thereof in
effect as of December 31, 2008 (which amounts have been
previously made available to FNFG), granted any severance or
termination pay, entered into any contract to make or grant any
severance or termination pay (except as required under the terms of
agreements or severance plans listed on HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.13.1, as in effect as of the date hereof), or paid
any bonus other than the customary year-end bonuses in amounts
consistent with past practice, (ii) granted any options to
purchase shares of HNC Common Stock, or any right to acquire any
shares of its capital stock to any executive officer, director or
employee other than grants to employees (other than officers
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act) made in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice under HNC Option Plans, (iii) increased or
established any bonus, insurance, severance, deferred compensation,
pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option (including,
without limitation, the granting of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, performance awards, or restricted stock
awards), stock purchase or other employee benefit plan,
(iv) made any material election for federal or state income
tax purposes, (v) made any material change in the credit
policies or procedures of HNC or any of its Subsidiaries, the
effect of which was or is to make any such policy or procedure less
restrictive in any material respect, (vi) made any material
acquisition or disposition of any assets or properties, or any
contract for any such acquisition or disposition entered into other
than loans and loan commitments, (vii) entered into any lease
of real or personal property requiring annual payments in excess of
$100,000, other than
20
in connection
with foreclosed property or in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (viii) changed any accounting
methods, principles or practices of HNC or its Subsidiaries
affecting its assets, liabilities or businesses, including any
reserving, renewal or residual method, practice or policy or
(ix) suffered any strike, work stoppage, slow-down, or other
labor disturbance.
4.10. Ownership of Property; Insurance
Coverage.
4.10.1. HNC and each HNC Subsidiary has good
and, as to real property, marketable title to all material assets
and properties owned by HNC or each HNC Subsidiary in the conduct
of its businesses, whether such assets and properties are real or
personal, tangible or intangible, including assets and property
reflected in the balance sheets contained in the HNC Regulatory
Reports and in the HNC Financial Statements or acquired subsequent
thereto (except to the extent that such assets and properties have
been disposed of in the ordinary course of business, since the date
of such balance sheets), subject to no material encumbrances,
liens, mortgages, security interests or pledges, except
(i) those items which secure liabilities for public or
statutory obligations or any discount with, borrowing from or other
obligations to FHLB, inter-bank credit facilities, or any
transaction by an HNC Subsidiary acting in a fiduciary capacity,
(ii) statutory liens for amounts not yet delinquent or which
are being contested in good faith, (iii) non-monetary liens
affecting real property which do not adversely affect the value or
use of such real property, and (iv) those described and
reflected in the HNC Financial Statements. HNC and the HNC
Subsidiaries, as lessee, have the right under valid and existing
leases of real and personal properties used by HNC and its
Subsidiaries in the conduct of their businesses to occupy or use
all such properties as presently occupied and used by each of
them.
4.10.2. With respect to all material agreements
pursuant to which HNC or any HNC Subsidiary has purchased
securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, HNC or such
HNC Subsidiary, as the case may be, has a lien or security interest
(which to HNC’s Knowledge is a valid, perfected first lien)
in the securities or other collateral securing the repurchase
agreement, and the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the
amount of the debt secured thereby.
4.10.3. HNC and each HNC Subsidiary currently
maintain insurance considered by each of them to be reasonable for
their respective operations. Neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary,
except as disclosed in HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.10.3, has
received notice from any insurance carrier during the past five
years that (i) such insurance will be canceled or that
coverage thereunder will be reduced or eliminated, or
(ii) premium costs (other than with respect to health or
disability insurance) with respect to such policies of insurance
will be substantially increased. There are presently no material
claims pending under such policies of insurance and no notices have
been given by HNC or any HNC Subsidiary under such policies (other
than with respect to health or disability insurance). All such
insurance is valid and enforceable and in full force and effect,
and within the last three years HNC and each HNC Subsidiary has
received each type of insurance coverage for which it has applied
and during such periods has not been denied indemnification for any
material claims submitted under any of its insurance policies. HNC
Disclosure Schedule 4.10.3 identifies all material policies of
insurance maintained by HNC and each HNC Subsidiary as well as the
other matters required to be disclosed under this
Section.
21
Neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary is a party to
any, and there are no pending or, to HNC’s Knowledge,
threatened legal, administrative, arbitration or other proceedings,
claims (whether asserted or unasserted), actions or governmental
investigations or inquiries of any nature (i) against HNC or any
HNC Subsidiary, (ii) to which HNC or any HNC
Subsidiary’s assets are or may be subject,
(iii) challenging the validity or propriety of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iv) which
could adversely affect the ability of HNC or HNB to perform under
this Agreement, except for any proceeding, claim, action,
investigation or inquiry which, if adversely determined,
individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on HNC.
4.12. Compliance With Applicable
Law.
4.12.1. To HNC’s Knowledge, each of HNC
and each HNC Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes,
laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees
applicable to it, its properties, assets and deposits, its
business, and its conduct of business and its relationship with its
employees, including, without limitation, the USA PATRIOT Act, the
Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community
Reinvestment Act of 1977, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and all
other applicable fair lending laws and other laws relating to
discriminatory business practices and neither HNC nor any HNC
Subsidiary has received any written notice to the contrary. The
Board of Directors of HNB has adopted and HNB has implemented an
anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and
appropriate customer identification verification procedures that
has not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Entity and that
meets the requirements of Sections 352 and 326 of the USA
PATRIOT Act and the regulations thereunder.
4.12.2. Each of HNC and each HNC Subsidiary has
all material permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and
approvals of, and has made all filings, applications and
registrations with, all Governmental Entities and Bank Regulators
that are required in order to permit it to own or lease its
properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted
except where the failure to hold such permits, licensees,
authorizations, orders or approvals, or the failure to make such
filings, applications or registrations would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on HNC; all such permits, licenses, certificates of
authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect in all
material respects and, to the Knowledge of HNC, no suspension or
cancellation of any such permit, license, certificate, order or
approval is threatened or will result from the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject to obtaining
Regulatory Approvals.
4.12.3. Other than those listed on HNC
Disclosure Schedule 4.12.3, for the period beginning
January 1, 2007, neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary has
received any written notification or, to HNC’s Knowledge, any
other communication from any Bank Regulator (i) asserting that
HNC or any HNC Subsidiary is not in material compliance with any of
the statutes, regulations or ordinances which such Bank Regulator
enforces; (ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise,
permit or governmental authorization which is material to HNC or
any HNC Subsidiary; (iii) requiring, or threatening to
require, HNC or any HNC Subsidiary, or indicating
22
that HNC or any
HNC Subsidiary may be required, to enter into a cease and desist
order, agreement or memorandum of understanding or any other
agreement with any federal or state governmental agency or
authority which is charged with the supervision or regulation of
banks or engages in the insurance of bank deposits restricting or
limiting, or purporting to restrict or limit, in any material
respect the operations of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary, including
without limitation any restriction on the payment of dividends; or
(iv) directing, restricting or limiting, or purporting to
direct, restrict or limit, in any manner the operations of HNC or
any HNC Subsidiary, including without limitation any restriction on
the payment of dividends (any such notice, communication,
memorandum, agreement or order described in this sentence is
hereinafter referred to as a “HNC Regulatory
Agreement”). Neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary has consented
to or entered into any HNC Regulatory Agreement that is currently
in effect or that was in effect since January 1, 2008. The
most recent regulatory rating given to HNB as to compliance with
the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) is satisfactory
or better.
4.12.4. Since January 1, 2007, HNC has been
and is in compliance in all material respects with (i) the
applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (ii) the
applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations
of the Nasdaq. HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.12.4 sets forth, as
of December 31, 2008, a schedule of all executive officers and
directors of HNC who have outstanding loans from HNC or HNB, and
there has been no default on, or forgiveness or waiver of, in whole
or in part, any such loan during the two years immediately
preceding the date hereof.
4.13. Employee Benefit Plans.
4.13.1. HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.13.1
includes a list of all existing bonus, incentive, deferred
compensation, supplemental executive retirement plans, pension,
retirement, profit-sharing, thrift, savings, employee stock
ownership, stock bonus, stock purchase, restricted stock, stock
option, stock appreciation, phantom stock, severance, welfare
benefit plans (including paid time off policies and other material
benefit policies and procedures), fringe benefit plans, employment,
consulting, settlement and change in control agreements and all
other material benefit practices, policies and arrangements
maintained by HNC or any HNC Subsidiary in which any employee or
former employee, consultant or former consultant or director or
former director of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary participates or to
which any such employee, consultant or director is a party or is
otherwise entitled to receive benefits (the “HNC Compensation
and Benefit Plans”). Neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary has
any commitment to create any additional HNC Compensation and
Benefit Plan or to materially modify, change or renew any existing
HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan (any modification or change that
increases the cost of such plans would be deemed material), except
as required to maintain the qualified status thereof, HNC has made
available to FNFG true and correct copies of the HNC Compensation
and Benefit Plans.
4.13.2. To the Knowledge of HNC, HNB and HMS and
except as disclosed in HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.13.2, each
HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan has been operated and
administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms
and with applicable law, including, but not limited to, ERISA, the
Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Age Discrimination
in Employment Act, COBRA, the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and any regulations or
rules promulgated thereunder, and all material filings,
23
disclosures and
notices required by ERISA, the Code, the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, COBRA and
HIPAA and any other applicable law have been timely made or any
interest, fines, penalties or other impositions for late filings
have been paid in full. Each HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan
which is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the
meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (a “Pension
Plan”) and which is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter
from the IRS, and HNC is not aware of any circumstances which are
reasonably likely to result in revocation of any such favorable
determination letter. There is no material pending or, to the
Knowledge of HNC, HNB and HMS, threatened action, suit or claim
relating to any of the HNC Compensation and Benefit Plans (other
than routine claims for benefits). Neither HNC nor any HNC
Subsidiary has engaged in a transaction, or omitted to take any
action, with respect to any HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan that
would reasonably be expected to subject HNC or any HNC Subsidiary
to a material unpaid tax or penalty imposed by either
Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502 of
ERISA.
4.13.3. No liability under Title IV of ERISA has
been incurred by HNC or any HNC Subsidiary with respect to any HNC
Compensation and Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA
(“HNC Pension Plan”) currently or formerly maintained
by HNC or any entity which is considered one employer with HNC
under Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or Section 414 of the
Code (an “HNC ERISA Affiliate”) since the effective
date of ERISA that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition
exists that presents a material risk to HNC or any HNC ERISA
Affiliate of incurring a liability under such Title. No HNC Pension
Plan had an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as
defined in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, as of
the last day of the end of the most recent plan year ending prior
to the date hereof; the fair market value of the assets of each HNC
Pension Plan exceeds the present value of the “benefit
liabilities” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of
ERISA) under such HNC Pension Plan as of the end of the most recent
plan year with respect to the respective HNC Pension Plan ending
prior to the date hereof, calculated on the basis of the actuarial
assumptions used in the most recent actuarial valuation for such
HNC Pension Plan as of the date hereof; there is not currently
pending with the PBGC any filing with respect to any reportable
event under Section 4043 of ERISA nor has any reportable event
occurred as to which a filing is required and has not been made
(other than as might be required with respect to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby). Neither HNC nor any HNC
ERISA Affiliate has contributed to any “multiemployer
plan,” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA. Neither
HNC, nor any HNC ERISA Affiliate, nor any HNC Compensation and
Benefit Plan, including any HNC Pension Plan, nor any trust created
thereunder, nor any trustee or administrator thereof has engaged in
a transaction in connection with which HNC, any HNC ERISA
Affiliate, and any HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan, including any
HNC Pension Plan or any such trust or any trustee or administrator
thereof, could reasonably be expected to be subject to either a
civil liability or penalty pursuant to Section 409, 502(i) or
502(l) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of the
Code.
4.13.4. All material contributions required to
be made under the terms of any HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan
have been timely made, and all anticipated contributions and
funding obligations are accrued on HNC’s consolidated
financial statements to the extent required by GAAP. HNC and each
HNC Subsidiary has expensed and accrued as a liability the
present
24
value of future
benefits under each applicable HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan
for financial reporting purposes as required by GAAP.
4.13.5. Neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary has
any obligations to provide retiree health, life insurance, or
disability insurance, or, except as set forth in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.13.5, any retiree death benefits under any HNC
Compensation and Benefit Plan, other than benefits mandated by
Section 4980B of the Code. Except as set forth in HNC
Disclosure Schedule 4.13.5, there has been no communication to
employees by HNC or any HNC Subsidiary that would reasonably be
expected to promise or guarantee such employees retiree health,
life insurance, or disability insurance, or any retiree death
benefits, other than as set forth in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.13.5.
4.13.6. HNC and its Subsidiaries do not maintain
any HNC Compensation and Benefit Plans covering employees who are
not United States residents.
4.13.7. With respect to each HNC Compensation
and Benefit Plan, if applicable, HNC has provided or made available
to FNFG copies of the: (A) trust instruments and insurance
contracts; (B) three most recent Forms 5500 filed with the
IRS; (C) three most recent actuarial reports and financial
statements; (D) most recent summary plan description;
(E) most recent determination letter issued by the IRS;
(F) any Form 5310 or Form 5330 filed with the IRS
within the last three years; (G) most recent nondiscrimination
tests performed under ERISA and the Code (including 401(k) and
401(m) tests); and (H) PBGC Form 500 and 501 filings,
along with the Notice of Intent to Terminate, ERISA Section 204(h)
Notice, Notice of Plan Benefits, and all other documentation
related to the termination of the HNC Pension Plan.
4.13.8. Except as provided in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.13.8 and in Section 3.2.9, the consummation of
the Merger will not, directly or indirectly (including, without
limitation, as a result of any termination of employment or service
at any time prior to or following the Effective Time)
(A) entitle any employee, consultant or director to any
payment or benefit (including severance pay, change in control
benefit, or similar compensation) or any increase in compensation,
(B) entitle any employee or independent contractor to
terminate any plan, agreement or arrangement without cause and
continue to accrue future benefits thereunder, or result in the
vesting or acceleration of any benefits under any HNC Compensation
and Benefit Plan, (C) result in any material increase in
benefits payable under any HNC Compensation and Benefit Plan, or
(D) entitle any current or former employee, director or
independent contractor of HNC or any HNC Subsidiary to any actual
or deemed payment (or benefit) which could constitute a
“parachute payment” (as such term is defined in
Section 280G of the Code).
4.13.9. Except as disclosed in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.13.9, neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary maintains
any compensation plans, programs or arrangements under which any
payment is reasonably likely to become non-deductible, in whole or
in part, for tax reporting purposes as a result of the limitations
under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations issued
thereunder.
4.13.10. Except as disclosed in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.13.10, all deferred compensation plans, programs or
arrangements are in material compliance, both in form and
operation, with Section 409A of the Code and all guidance
issued thereunder.
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4.13.11. Except as disclosed in HNC Disclosure
Schedule 4.13.11, there are no stock options, stock
appreciation or similar rights, earned dividends or dividend
equivalents, or shares of restricted stock, outstanding under any
of the HNC Compensation and Benefit Plans or otherwise as of the
date hereof and none will be granted, awarded, or credited after
the date hereof.
4.13.12. HNC Disclosure Schedule 4.13.12
sets forth, as of the payroll date immediately preceding the date
of this Agreement, a list of the full names of all officers, and
employees whose annual rate of salary is $50,000 or greater, of HNB
or HNC, their title and rate of salary, and their date of
hire.
4.14. Brokers, Finders and Financial
Advisors.
Neither HNC nor any HNC Subsidiary, nor any of
their respective officers, directors, employees or agents, has
employed any broker, finder or financial advisor in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or incurred any
liability or commitment for any fees or commissions to any such
person in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement except for the retention of JPMorgan Securities, Inc.
(“JP Morgan”) by HNC and the fee payable pursuant
thereto. A true and correct copy of the engagement agreement with
JPMorgan, setting forth the fee payable to JPMorgan for its
services rendered to HNC in connection with the Merger and
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, is attached to HNC
Disclosure Schedule 4.14.
4.15. Environmental Matters.
4.15.1. Except as may be set forth in HNC
Disclosure Schedule 4.15 and any Phase I Environmental Report
identified therein, with respect to HNC and each HNC
Subsidiary:
(A) To the Knowledge of HNC, neither the
conduct nor operation of its business nor any condition of any
property currently or previously owned or operated by it (including
Participation Facilities) (including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary or agency capacity), or on which it holds a lien, results
or resulted in a violation of any Environmental Laws that is
reasonably likely to impose a material liability (including a
material remediation obligation) upon HNC or any HNC Subsidiary. To
the Knowledge of HNC, no condition has existed or event has
occurred with respect to any of them or any such property that,
with notice or the passage of time, or both, is reasonably likely
to result in any material liability to HNC or any HNC Subsidiary by
reason of any Environmental Laws. Neither HNC nor any HNC
Subsidiary during the past five years has received any written
notice from any Person or Governmental Entity that HNC or any HNC
Subsidiary or the operation or condition of any property ever
owned, operated (including Participation Facilities), or held as
collateral or in a fiduciary capacity by any of them are currently
in violation of or otherwise are alleged to have liability under
any Environmental Laws or relating to Materials of Environmental
Concern (including, but not limited to, responsibility (or
potential responsibility) for the cleanup or other remediation of
any Materials of Environmental Con
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