AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION BY AND BETWEEN AMERICAN NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC. AND COMMUNITY FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

 

BY AND BETWEEN

 

AMERICAN NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC.

 

AND

 

COMMUNITY FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

_________________________

 

 

October 18, 2005

 

 

_________________________

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

ARTICLE 1

The Merger and Related Matters

 

 

ARTICLE 2

Delivery of Merger Consideration

 

 

ARTICLE 3

Representations and Warranties

 

 

ARTICLE 4

Covenants and Agreements

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5

Conditions to the Merger

 

 

ARTICLE 6

Termination

 

 

ARTICLE 7

General Provisions

 

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 18, 2005, by and between American National Bankshares Inc., a Virginia corporation (“American”), and Community First Financial Corporation, a Virginia corporation (“Community First”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

The parties desire that Community First shall be merged with and into American (the “Merger”) pursuant to a plan of merger (the “Plan of Merger”) substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, and the parties desire to provide for certain undertakings, conditions, representations, warranties and covenants in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

The Merger and Related Matters

 

1.1   The Merger

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 hereof), Community First will be merged with and into American pursuant to the Plan of Merger. The separate corporate existence of Community First thereupon shall cease, and American will be the surviving corporation. From and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effect set forth in Section 13.1-721 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the “VSCA”).

 

1.2   Effective Time

 

The Merger will become effective on the date and at the time shown on the Certificate of Merger issued by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (the “Effective Time”). Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 5, the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Effective Time to occur on or before March 31, 2006, or on such other date as the parties may agree in writing. All documents required by this Agreement to be delivered at or prior to the Effective Time will be exchanged by the parties at the closing of the Merger (the “Merger Closing”), which shall be held on or before the Effective Time. At or after the Merger Closing, American and Community First shall execute and deliver Articles of Merger containing the Plan of Merger to the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

 

1.3   Conversion of Community First Capital Stock

 

At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of a holder of shares of Community First common stock, without par value (“Community First Common Stock”), and the Series A Preferred Stock, $10.00 par value per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) (the shares of Community First Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock shall be referred to collectively as “Community First Capital Stock”), but subject to the provisions of Section 6.1(h) hereof:

 

(a)   Each share of common stock of American, par value $1.00 per share (“American Common Stock”), that is issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time shall remain issued and outstanding and shall remain unchanged by the Merger.

 

(b)   Each share of Community First Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time (other than the Dissenting Shares as defined in Section 1.9 hereof) shall be converted into, at the election of the holder thereof and in accordance with the election and allocation procedures set forth in Article 2, the right to receive the following, without interest:

 

 

(c)   Each share of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time (other than the Dissenting Shares as defined in Section 1.9 hereof) shall be converted into, at the election of the holder thereof and in accordance with the election and allocation procedures set forth in Article 2, the right to receive the following, without interest:

 

 

(d)   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the aggregate amount of cash to be issued to shareholders of Community First in the Merger shall not exceed the Aggregate Cash Consideration, as defined the following paragraph.

 

(e)   For purposes of this Agreement:

 

1.4   Board of Directors of American and American National Bank; Lynchburg Advisory Board

 

(a)   As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, American and its wholly-owned national banking subsidiary, American National Bank and Trust Company (“American National”), will increase the size of their respective Boards of Directors by one member, and such vacancy will be filled by individuals from among Community First’s current directors as selected by American and shall serve in such capacity until such time as his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified. At its next annual meeting of shareholders, American will nominate the Community First representative previously appointed to the American Board of Directors for election to the class of directors whose term expires in either 2008 or 2009.

 

(b)   At the consummation of the Merger, American shall establish the American National Bank/Lynchburg Advisory Board of Directors (the “Lynchburg Advisory Board”). The Lynchburg Advisory Board shall initially be comprised of directors chosen by American from the current members of the Boards of Directors of Community First and Community First Bank, the wholly-owned Virginia chartered banking subsidiary of Community First Community First Bank. Membership on the Lynchburg Advisory Board shall be conditional upon execution of an agreement providing that such person will not engage in activities competitive with American for twelve months following the Effective Time or, if longer, the period that he or she is a member of the Lynchburg Advisory Board.

 

(c)   On or after the Effective Time, Community First Bank will merge with and into American National.

 

1.5   Community First Stock Options

 

At the Effective Time, each stock option to purchase shares of Community First Common Stock granted pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan of Community First then outstanding (and which by its terms does not lapse on or before the Effective Time), whether or not then exercisable, shall be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment equal to the difference between the per share exercise price and $21.00 (the “Stock Option Cash Consideration”).

 

1.6   Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

The articles of incorporation and bylaws of American at the Effective Time shall be the articles of incorporation and bylaws of American after the Effective Time until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law.

 

 

1.7   Tax Consequences

 

It is intended that the Merger shall constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of the Code.

 

 

In the event American changes the number of shares of American Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or other similar recapitalization, and the record date thereof (in the case of a stock dividend) or the effective date thereof (in the case of a stock split or similar recapitalization for which a record date is not established) shall be prior to the Effective Time, the Merger Consideration shall be proportionately adjusted.

 

 

Shareholders of Community First shall have the right to demand and receive payment of the fair value of their shares of Community First Capital Stock pursuant to the provisions of Section 13.1-729 et seq. of the VSCA (the “Dissenting Shares”).

 

Any term defined anywhere in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it for all purposes of this Agreement (unless expressly noted to the contrary). In addition:

(a)   the term “Knowledge” means the knowledge, after due inquiry, of any one or more of Messrs. Wynne, Falls, Davis, Thomas and Mason, and their respective successors in office, if any, as of the Effective Time.

(b)   “Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to American or Community First any effect that (i) is material and adverse to the financial position, results of operations or business of American and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or Community First and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, as the case may be, or (ii) would materially impair the ability of any of American and its subsidiaries or Community First and its subsidiaries to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially impede the consummation of the Merger; provided that Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of (A) changes in banking and similar laws of general applicability or interpretations thereof by any Governmental Authority (as defined in Section 4.11), (B) changes in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to banks and their holding companies generally, (C) changes in general economic conditions affecting banks and their holding companies generally, (D) any modifications or changes to valuation policies and practices, or expenses incurred, in connection with the Merger or restructuring charges taken in connection with the Merger, in each case in accordance with GAAP, and (E) with respect to Community First, the effects of any action or omission taken with the prior consent of American or as otherwise contemplated by the Agreement.

(c)   the term “ Previously Disclosed ” by a party shall mean information set forth in a section of its Disclosure Schedule (as defined in Section 3.1) corresponding to the section of this Agreement where such term is used.

(d)   the term “Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.’s National Market or such other securities market or exchange on which American Common Stock may be listed.

 

ARTICLE 2

Delivery of Merger Consideration

 

 

(a)   American (or such other company as American and Community First may agree to designate), will act as the exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for purposes of conducting the election and exchange procedures described in this Article 2. Provided that Community First has delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Exchange Agent all information that is necessary for the Exchange Agent to perform its obligations as specified herein, the Exchange Agent shall provide to Community First contemporaneously with the mailing of the Proxy Statement (as defined in Section 4.4) but in no event more than ten days after such mailing, an election form and accompanying letter of transmittal in such form as American and Community First shall agree (the “Election Form”) advising each holder of record of Community First Capital Stock of the election choices hereunder and providing instructions for surrendering to the Exchange Agent such holder’s certificate(s) of Community First Capital Stock in exchange for the consideration set forth in Sections 1.3(b) and (c) hereof deliverable in respect of Community First Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock respectively. The Election Form shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates theretofore representing shares of Community First Capital Stock shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the certificates to the Exchange Agent.

 

(b)   Each Election Form shall permit the holder (or in the case of nominee record holders, the beneficial owner through proper instructions and documentation) to make the following elections:

 

 

(c)   Nominee record holders who hold Community First Capital Stock on behalf of multiple beneficial owners shall indicate how many of the shares held by them are Stock

Election Shares, Cash Election Shares, and No-Election Shares. If a shareholder either (i) does not submit a properly completed Election Form in a timely fashion or (ii) revokes an Election Form prior to the Election Deadline and does not resubmit a properly completed Election Form prior to the Election Deadline, the shares of Community First Capital Stock held by such shareholder shall be designated No-Election Shares.

 

(d)   The term “Election Deadline” shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 30th day following but not including the date of mailing of the Election Form or such other date as American and Community First shall agree upon.

 

(e)   Any election to receive American Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof shall have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent shall have actually received by the Election Deadline a properly completed Election Form accompanied by the certificate(s) representing shares of Community First Capital Stock to which such Election Form relates or by an appropriate and customary guarantee of delivery of such certificates, as set forth in the Election Form, from a member of any registered national securities exchange or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States provided, that such certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent by the time required in such guarantee of delivery. Failure to deliver shares of Community First Capital Stock covered by such a guarantee of delivery within the time set forth on such guarantee shall be deemed to invalidate any otherwise properly made Election. Any election may be revoked or changed by the person submitting such Election Form to the Exchange Agent by written notice to the Exchange Agent only if such written notice is actually received by the Exchange Agent at or prior to the Election Deadline. The Exchange Agent shall have reasonable discretion to determine when any election, modification or revocation is received, whether any such election, modification or revocation has been properly made and to disregard immaterial defects in any Election Form; and any good faith decisions of the Exchange Agent regarding such matters shall be binding and conclusive. Neither American nor the Exchange Agent shall be under any obligation to notify any person of any defect in an Election Form.

 

(f)   As soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than ten business days after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of Community First Capital Stock at the Effective Time who did not complete an Election Form a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates theretofore representing shares of Community First Capital Stock shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the certificates to the Exchange Agent) with instructions for use in surrendering stock certificates theretofore representing shares of Community First Capital Stock in exchange for the Merger Consideration.

 

2.2   Allocation of Shares

 

(a)   Within five business days after the Merger Closing, the Exchange Agent, as directed by American, shall effect the allocation among holders of Community First Capital Stock of rights to receive American Common Stock or cash in the Merger in accordance with the Election Forms as follows.

 

(b)   If the number of Cash Election Shares times the Per Share Common Cash Consideration with respect to Community First Common Stock and the Per Share Series A Cash

Consideration with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, when combined with the Stock Option Cash Consideration, is greater than the Aggregate Cash Consideration, then:

                (i)    all Stock Election Shares and all No-Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive American Common Stock;

 

(c)   If the number of Cash Election Shares times the Per Share Common Cash Consideration with respect to Community First Common Stock and the Per Share Series A Cash Consideration with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, when combined with the Stock Option Cash Consideration, is less than the Aggregate Cash Consideration, then:

 

 

(d)   In the event the Exchange Agent is required pursuant to Section 2.2(b) to convert some Cash Election Shares into Reallocated Stock Shares, each holder of Cash Election Shares shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the total Reallocated Stock Shares. In the event that the Exchange Agent is required pursuant to Section 2.2(c) to convert some Stock Election Shares into Reallocated Cash Shares, each holder of Stock Election Shares shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the total Reallocated Cash Shares.

 

2.3   Exchange Procedures

 

(a)   After completion of the allocation referred to paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 2.2, each holder of an outstanding certificate representing shares of Community First Capital Stock prior to the Effective Time (a “Community First Certificate”) who has surrendered such Community First Certificate to the Exchange Agent will, upon acceptance thereof by the Exchange Agent, be entitled to a certificate or certificates representing the number of whole shares of American Common Stock and/or the amount of cash into which the aggregate number of shares of Community First Capital Stock previously represented by such Community First Certificate(s) surrendered shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement and, if such holder’s shares of Community First Capital Stock have been converted into American Common Stock, any other distribution theretofore paid with respect to American Common Stock issuable in the Merger, in each case without interest. The Exchange Agent shall accept such Community First Certificates upon compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange Agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal exchange practices. Each Community First Certificate that is not surrendered to the Exchange Agent in accordance with the procedures provided for herein shall, except as otherwise herein provided, until duly surrendered to the Exchange Agent be deemed to evidence ownership of the number of shares of American Common Stock or the right to receive the amount of cash into which such Community First Capital Stock shall have been converted. No dividends that have been declared by American will be remitted to any person entitled to receive shares of American Common Stock under Section 2.2 until such person surrenders the Community First Certificate(s) representing Community First Capital Stock, at which time such dividends shall be remitted to such person, without interest.

 

(b)   The Exchange Agent and American, as the case may be, shall not be obligated to deliver cash and/or a certificate or certificates representing shares of American Common Stock to which a holder of Community First Capital Stock would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Merger until such holder surrenders the Community First Certificate(s) representing the shares of Community First Capital Stock for exchange as provided in this Section 2.3, or, in default thereof, an appropriate affidavit of loss and indemnity agreement or bond in such amount as may be reasonably required in each case by American.

 

(c)   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Community First Certificates surrendered for exchange by a Community First Affiliate (as defined in Section 4.14) shall not be exchanged for certificates representing shares of American Common Stock to which such Community First Affiliate may be entitled pursuant to the terms of this Agreement until American has received a written agreement from such person as specified in Section 5.2(d).

 

2.4   No Fractional Securities

 

No certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of American Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Community First Certificates, and such fractional shares shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of a holder of American Common Stock. A holder of shares of Community First Capital Stock converted in the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to a fractional share of American Common Stock shall be entitled to receive a cash payment (without interest) in lieu of such fractional share in an amount determined by multiplying (i) the fractional share interest to which such holder would otherwise be entitled by (ii) the Per Share Common Cash Consideration or the Per Share Series A Cash Consideration, as appropriate.

ARTICLE 3

Representations and Warranties

 

3.1     Disclosure Schedules  

 

Before entering into this Agreement, Community First delivered to American a schedule, and American delivered to Community First a schedule (respectively, each schedule a “Disclosure Schedule”), setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more of its representations or warranties contained in Article 3; provided, that the mere inclusion of an item in a Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty will not be deemed an admission by a party that such item is material or was required to be disclosed therein.

 

3.2     Standard

 

For all purposes of this Agreement, no representation or warranty of Community First contained in Section 3.3 (other than the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.3(d), which shall be true in all material respects) or American contained in Section 3.4 (other than the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.4(d), which shall be true in all material respects) will be deemed untrue or incorrect, and no party will be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, event or circumstance unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other facts, events or circumstances inconsistent with any representation or warranty contained in Section 3.3 or Section 3.4, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Community First or American, as the case may be.

 

3.3   Representations and Warranties of Community First

 

Subject to Section 3.1 and 3.2, Community First hereby represents and warrants to American as follows:

 

 

(a)   Organization, Standing and Power.   Community First is a Virginia corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Community First has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business in Virginia as now conducted and to own and operate its assets, properties and business; and it has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Community First is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”). Community First Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Community First, is a Virginia chartered bank duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Virginia, is in compliance in all material respects with all rules and regulations promulgated by any relevant regulatory authority, and it has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on a commercial banking business as now being conducted and to own and operate its assets, properties and business.

 

(b)   Subsidiaries.   Community First does not own, directly or indirectly, five percent   or more of the outstanding capital stock or other voting securities of any corporation, bank or other organization actively engaged in business except as set forth in Section 3.3(b) in its Disclosure Schedule (each individually a “Community First Subsidiary” and collectively the “Community First Subsidiaries”).   Each Community First Subsidiary (i) is a duly organized corporation, validly existing and in good standing under applicable laws, (ii) has full corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and (iii) is duly qualified to do business in the states where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and where the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect on Community First on a consolidated basis. The outstanding shares of capital stock of each Community First Subsidiary have been duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares are directly or indirectly owned by Community First free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances or preemptive rights of any person. No rights are authorized, issued or outstanding with respect to the capital stock of any Community First Subsidiary and there are no agreements, understandings or commitments relating to the right of Community First to vote or to dispose of said shares.

 

(c)   Authorized and Effective Agreement .

 

 

(d)   Capital Structure.   The authorized capital stock of Community First consists of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $10.00 per share, of which 300,000 shares are issued and outstanding and designated as the Series A Preferred Stock, and 10,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, of which 1,162,326 shares are issued and outstanding as of this date. All outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Community First Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have not been issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any person. As of the date hereof, there are stock options held by employees and directors of Community First that represent rights to purchase a total of 233,956 shares of Community First Common Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, there are not any shares of capital stock of Community First or any Community First Subsidiary reserved for issuance, or any outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other commitments, contingent or otherwise, relating to its capital stock pursuant to which Community First or any Community First Subsidiary is or may become obligated to issue shares of capital stock or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for, any shares of its capital stock (collectively, “Rights”), except as contemplated under Community First’s Long-Term Incentive Plan or Employee Stock Ownership and Savings Plan and as set forth in Section 3.3(d) in its Disclosure Schedule (which includes copies of such plan and the individual stock option agreements pursuant to which employees and directors of Community First may exercise stock options).

 

(e)   Financial Reports and Regulatory Documents.   Community First’s Annual Reports on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004, and all other reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements or information statements filed by it or any Community First Subsidiary subsequent to December 31, 2002 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in the form filed (collectively, the “Community First Regulatory Filings”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as of the date filed, (i) complied in all material respects as to form with the applicable requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and (ii) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact

 

required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each of the statements of financial position contained in or incorporated by reference into any such Community First Regulatory Filing (including the related notes and schedules) fairly presented in all material respects Community First’s financial position and that of the Community First Subsidiaries as of the date of such statement, and each of the statements of income and changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows or equivalent statements in such Community First Regulatory Filings (including any related notes and schedules thereto) fairly presented in all material respects, the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and changes in cash flows, as the case may be, of Community First and the Community First Subsidiaries for the periods to which those statements relate, in each case in accordance with GAAP consistently applied to banks and bank holding companies during the periods involved, except in each case as may be noted therein, and subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and as permitted by Form 10-QSB in the case of unaudited statements.

 

(f)   Absence of Material Changes and Events .   Since December 31, 2004, and except as Previously Disclosed , there has been no change in the financial condition or results of operations of Community First or the Community First Subsidiaries which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Community First.

 

(g)   Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities .   Since December 31, 2004, Community First and the Community First Subsidiaries have not incurred any liability (contingent or otherwise) that is material to Community First on a consolidated basis or that, when combined with all similar liabilities, would be material to Community First on a consolidated basis, except as Previously Disclosed or as disclosed in the Community First Regulatory Filings and except for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

 

(h)   Material Contracts; Defaults . Except for those agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to the Community First Regulatory Filings, neither Community First nor any Community First Subsidiary is a party to, bound by or subject to any agreement, contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) (A) that is a “material contract” within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K, (B) that restricts the conduct of business by Community First or any Community First Subsidiary of its ability to compete in any line of business or (C) with respect to employment of an officer, director or consultant of Community First or any Community First Subsidiary. Neither Community First nor any Community First Subsidiary is in default under any material contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument to which it is a party, by which its respective assets, business, or operations may be bound or affected, or under which it or its respective assets, business, or operations receives 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.

 

 

(i)   Legal Proceedings .   Except as Previously Disclosed , there are no actions, suits or proceedings instituted or pending or, to Community First’s Knowledge, threatened against Community First or any Community First Subsidiary or against any of Community First’s or the Community First Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, interests or rights, or against any of Community First’s or the Community First Subsidiaries’ officers, directors or employees that would, if determined adversely to Community First or any Community First Subsidiary, have a Material Adverse Effect on Community First on a consolidated basis.

 

(j)   Tax Matters .   Community First and each Community First Subsidiary have filed all federal, state and local tax returns and reports (“Tax Returns”) required to be filed, and all such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects. All Taxes (as defined below) owed by Community First or any Community First Subsidiary have been paid, are reflected as a liability in the Community First Regulatory Filings, or are being contested in good faith and have been Previously Disclosed . Except as Previously Disclosed , no tax return or report filed by Community First or any Community First Subsidiary is under examination by any taxing authority or the subject of any administrative or judicial proceeding, and no unpaid tax deficiency has been asserted against Community First or any Community First Subsidiary by any taxing authority. As used herein, “Taxes” mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments, including, without limitation, all income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, employer health, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property or other taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments or chargers of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any taxing authority.

 

(k)   Property .   Except as Previously Disclosed or reserved against as disclosed in the Community First Regulatory Filings, Community First and each Community First Subsidiary have good and marketable title free and clear of all material liens, encumbrances, charges, defaults or equitable interests to all of the properties and assets, real and personal, reflected in the balance sheet included in the Community First Regulatory Filings as of December 31, 2004 or acquired after such date. To Community First’s Knowledge, all buildings, and all fixtures, equipment, and other property and assets that are material to the business of Community First or any Community First Subsidiary, held under leases or subleases, are held under valid instruments enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws. To Community First’s Knowledge, the buildings, structures, and appurtenances owned, leased, or occupied by Community First and each Community First Subsidiary are in good operating condition and in a state of good maintenance and repair and comply with applicable zoning and other municipal laws and regulations, and there are no latent defects therein.

 

(l)   Employee Benefit Plans .

 

 

 

(n)   Loans; Allowance for Loan Losses .

 

 

(o)   Environmental Matters .

     

(p)   Books and Records . Community First’s books and records and those of the Community First Subsidiaries have been fully, properly and accurately maintained in all material respects, and there are no material inaccuracies or discrepancies of any kind contained or reflected therein.

 

(q)   Takeover Laws and Provisions . Community First and each Community First Subsidiary has taken all action necessary to exempt this Agreement and the Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby from the requirements of any “control share,”“fair price,”“affiliate transaction,”“business combination” or other anti-takeover laws and regulations of Virginia. Community First and each Community First Subsidiary has taken all action required to be taken by it in order to make this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby comply with, and this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby do comply with, the requirements of any articles, sections or provisions of its articles of incorporation and bylaws concerning “business combination,”“fair price,”“voting requirement,”“constituency requirement” or other related provisions.

 

(r)   Reports . Since December 31, 2004, Community First and the Community First Subsidiaries have filed all reports and statements, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that were required to be filed with the SEC, the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) and any other governmental or regulatory authority or agency having jurisdiction over their operations, and such reports were prepared in all material respects in accordance with the applicable statutes, regulations and instructions in existence as of the date of filing of such reports.

 

(t)   No Brokers . No action has been taken by Community First that would give rise to any valid claim against any party hereto for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment with respect to the Merger, except a Previously Disclosed fee to be paid to Anderson & Strudwick, Inc.

(u)   Fiduciary Accounts . Community First and each Community First Subsidiary has properly administered all accounts for which it acts as a fiduciary, including but not limited to accounts for which it serves as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor, in accordance with the terms of the governing documents and applicable laws and regulations. Neither Community First, nor any Community First Subsidiary nor any of their respective directors, officers or employees, has committed any breach of trust with respect to any fiduciary account and the records for each such fiduciary account are true and correct and accurately reflect the assets of such fiduciary account.

(v)   Transactions With Affiliates . All “covered transactions” between Community First and an “affiliate” within the meaning of Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, have been in compliance with such provisions.

(w)   Fairness Opinion . The Community First Board has received the written opinion of Anderson & Strudwick, Inc. to the effect that as of the date hereof the Merger Consideration is fair to the holders of Community First Common Stock from a financial point of view.

(x)   Transactions in Securities .

 

(y)   Tax Treatment . As of the date hereof, Community First is not aware of any reason why the Merger will fail to qualify as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

(z)   Disclosure . The representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.3, when considered as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements and information contained in this Section 3.3 not misleading.

 

3.4   Representations and Warranties of American  

 

Subject to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, American hereby represents and warrants to Community First as follows:

 

(a)   Organization, Standing and Power.   American is a Virginia corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. American has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business in Virginia as now conducted and to own and operate its assets, properties and business; and it has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. American is duly registered as a bank holding company under the BHC Act. American National is a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States, is in compliance in all material respects with all rules and regulations promulgated by any relevant regulatory authority, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on a commercial banking business as now being conducted and to own and operate its assets, properties and business.

 

(b)   Subsidiaries.   Each subsidiary of American (each individually an “American Subsidiary” and collectively the “American Subsidiaries”) (i) is a duly organized corporation, validly existing and in good standing under applicable laws, (ii) has full corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and (iii) is duly qualified to do business in the states where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and where the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect on American on a consolidated basis. The outstanding shares of capital stock of each American Subsidiary have been duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares are directly or indirectly owned by it free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances or preemptive rights of any person.

 

(c)   Authorized and Effective Agreement .