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Exhibit 10.1 United States Department of the
Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220 Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
The company set forth on the
signature page hereto (the " Company ") intends to issue in
a private placement the number of shares of a series of its
preferred stock set forth on Schedule A hereto (the "
Preferred Shares ") and a warrant to purchase the number of
shares of its common stock set forth on Schedule A hereto (the
" Warrant " and, together with the Preferred Shares, the "
Purchased Securities ") and the United States Department of
the Treasury (the " Investor ") intends to purchase from the
Company the Purchased Securities. The
purpose of this letter agreement is to confirm the terms and
conditions of the purchase by the Investor of the Purchased
Securities. Except to the extent supplemented or superseded by the
terms set forth herein or in the Schedules hereto, the provisions
contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard
Terms attached hereto as Exhibit A (the " Securities
Purchase Agreement ") are incorporated by reference herein.
Terms that are defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement are
used in this letter agreement as so defined. In the event of any
inconsistency between this letter agreement and the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the terms of this letter agreement shall
govern. Each of the Company and the
Investor hereby confirms its agreement with the other party with
respect to the issuance by the Company of the Purchased Securities
and the purchase by the Investor of the Purchased Securities
pursuant to this letter agreement and the Securities Purchase
Agreement on the terms specified on Schedule A hereto.
This letter agreement (including the
Schedules hereto) and the Securities Purchase Agreement (including
the Annexes thereto) and the Warrant constitute the entire
agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements,
understandings, representations and warranties, both written and
oral, between the parties, with respect to the subject matter
hereof. This letter agreement constitutes the "Letter Agreement"
referred to in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
This letter agreement may be executed
in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being
deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will
together constitute the same agreement. Executed signature pages to
this letter agreement may be delivered by facsimile and such
facsimiles will be deemed as sufficient as if actual signature
pages had been delivered. ***
In witness whereof, this letter
agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly
authorized representatives of the parties hereto as of the date
written below.
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
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By:
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/s/ Neel Kashkar
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Name:
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Neel Kashkari
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Title:
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Interim Assistant Secretary for Financial
Stability
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COMPANY: FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Paul G. Greig
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Name: Paul G. Greig
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Title: Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer
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Date: January 9, 2009
- 2-
EXHIBIT A
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
STANDARD TERMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Article I
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Purchase; Closing
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1.1 Purchase
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1
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1.2 Closing
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2
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1.3 Interpretation
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4
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Article II
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Representations and Warranties
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2.1 Disclosure
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4
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2.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company
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5
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Article III
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Covenants
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3.1 Commercially Reasonable Efforts
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13
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3.2 Expenses
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14
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3.3 Sufficiency of Authorized Common Stock; Exchange Listing
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14
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3.4 Certain Notifications Until Closing
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14
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3.5 Access, Information and Confidentiality
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15
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Article IV
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Additional Agreements
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4.1 Purchase for Investment
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15
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4.2 Legends
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16
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4.3 Certain Transactions
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17
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4.4 Transfer of Purchased Securities and Warrant Shares;
Restrictions on Exercise of the Warrant
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17
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4.5 Registration Rights
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18
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4.6 Voting of Warrant Shares
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29
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4.7 Depositary Shares
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29
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4.8 Restriction on Dividends and Repurchases
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30
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4.9 Repurchase of Investor Securities
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31
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4.10 Executive Compensation
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32
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4.11 Bank and Thrift Holding Company Status
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32
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4.12 Predominantly Financial
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32
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Article V
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Miscellaneous
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5.1 Termination
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33
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5.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties
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33
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- i -
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Page
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5.3 Amendment
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33
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5.4 Waiver of Conditions
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34
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5.5 Governing Law: Submission to Jurisdiction, Etc.
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34
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5.6 Notices
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34
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5.7 Definitions
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34
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5.8 Assignment
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35
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5.9 Severability
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35
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5.10 No Third Party Beneficiaries
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35
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- ii -
LIST OF ANNEXES ANNEX A: FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS FOR
PREFERRED STOCK ANNEX B: FORM OF WAIVER ANNEX C: FORM OF OPINION
ANNEX D: FORM OF WARRANT
- iii -
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
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Location of
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Term
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Definition
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Affiliate
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5.7(b)
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Agreement
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Recitals
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Appraisal Procedure
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4.9(c)(i)
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Appropriate Federal Banking Agency
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2.2(s)
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Bank Holding Company
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4.11
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Bankruptcy Exceptions
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2.2(d)
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Benefit Plans
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1.2(d)(iv)
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Board of Directors
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2.2(f)
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Business Combination
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4.4
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business day
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1.3
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Capitalization Date
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2.2(b)
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Certificate of Designations
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1.2(d) (iii)
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Charter
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1.2(d)(iii)
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Closing
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1.2(a)
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Closing Date
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1.2(a)
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Code
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2.2(n)
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Common Stock
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Recitals
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Company
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Recitals
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Company Financial Statements
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2.2(h)
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Company Material Adverse Effect
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2.1(a)
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Company Reports
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2.2(i)(i)
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Company Subsidiary; Company Subsidiaries
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2.2(i)(i)
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control; controlled by; under common control with
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5.7(b)
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Controlled Group
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2.2(n)
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CPP
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Recitals
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EESA
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1.2(d)(iv)
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ERISA
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2.2(n)
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Exchange Act
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2.1(b)
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Federal Reserve
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4.11
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Fair Market Value
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4.9(c)(ii)
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GAAP
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2.1(a)
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Governmental Entities
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1.2(c)
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Holder
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4.5(k)(i)
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Holders’ Counsel
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4.5(k)(ii)
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Indemnitee
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4.5(g)(i)
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Information
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3.5(b)
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Initial Warrant Shares
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Recitals
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Investor
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Recitals
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Junior Stock
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4.8(c)
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knowledge of the Company; Company’s knowledge
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5.7(c)
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Last Fiscal Year
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2.1(b)
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Letter Agreement
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Recitals
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- iv -
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Location of
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Term
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Definition
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officers
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5.7(c)
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Parity Stock
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4.8(c)
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Pending Underwritten Offering
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4.5(l)
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Permitted Repurchases
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4.8(a)(ii)
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Piggyback Registration
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4.5(a)(iv)
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Plan
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2.2(n)
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Preferred Shares
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Recitals
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Preferred Stock
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Recitals
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Previously Disclosed
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2.1(b)
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Proprietary Rights
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2.2(u)
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Purchase
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Recitals
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Purchase Price
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1.1
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Purchased Securities
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Recitals
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Qualified Equity Offering
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4.4
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register; registered; registration
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4.5(k)(iii)
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Registrable Securities
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4.5(k)(iv)
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Registration Expenses
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4.5(k)(v)
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Regulatory Agreement
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2.2(s)
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Rule 144; Rule 144A; Rule 159A; Rule 405;
Rule 415
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4.5(k)(vi)
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Savings and Loan Holding Company
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4.11
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Schedules
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Recitals
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SEC
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2.1(b)
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Securities Act
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2.2(a)
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Selling Expenses
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4.5(k)(vii)
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Senior Executive Officers
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4.10
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Share Dilution Amount
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4.8(a)(ii)
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Shelf Registration Statement
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4.5(a)(ii)
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Signing Date
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2.1(a)
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Special Registration
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4.5(i)
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Stockholder Proposals
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3.1(b)
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subsidiary
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5.8(a)
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Tax; Taxes
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2.2(o)
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Transfer
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4.4
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Warrant
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Recitals
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Warrant Shares
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2.2(d)
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- v -
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT – STANDARD TERMS
Recitals: WHEREAS, the United
States Department of the Treasury (the " Investor ") may
from time to time agree to purchase shares of preferred stock and
warrants from eligible financial institutions which elect to
participate in the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase
Program (" CPP "); WHEREAS, an
eligible financial institution electing to participate in the CPP
and issue securities to the Investor (referred to herein as the "
Company ") shall enter into a letter agreement (the "
Letter Agreement ") with the Investor which incorporates
this Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms;
WHEREAS, the Company agrees to expand
the flow of credit to U.S. consumers and businesses on competitive
terms to promote the sustained growth and vitality of the U.S.
economy; WHEREAS, the Company agrees
to work diligently, under existing programs, to modify the terms of
residential mortgages as appropriate to strengthen the health of
the U.S. housing market; WHEREAS, the
Company intends to issue in a private placement the number of
shares of the series of its Preferred Stock (" Preferred
Stock ") set forth on Schedule A to the Letter
Agreement (the " Preferred Shares ") and a warrant to
purchase the number of shares of its Common Stock (" Common
Stock ") set forth on Schedule A to the Letter
Agreement (the " Initial Warrant Shares ") (the "
Warrant " and, together with the Preferred Shares, the "
Purchased Securities ") and the Investor intends to purchase
(the " Purchase ") from the Company the Purchased
Securities; and WHEREAS, the Purchase
will be governed by this Securities Purchase Agreement –
Standard Terms and the Letter Agreement, including the schedules
thereto (the " Schedules "), specifying additional terms of
the Purchase. This Securities Purchase Agreement –
Standard Terms (including the Annexes hereto) and the Letter
Agreement (including the Schedules thereto) are together referred
to as this "Agreement". All references in this Securities Purchase
Agreement – Standard Terms to "Schedules" are to the
Schedules attached to the Letter Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE , in
consideration of the premises, and of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties
agree as follows: Article I
Purchase; Closing 1.1
Purchase . On the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell to the
Investor, and the Investor agrees to purchase from the Company, at
the Closing (as hereinafter defined), the Purchased Securities for
the price set forth on Schedule A (the " Purchase
Price ").
1.2 Closing .
(a) On the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the
Purchase (the " Closing ") will take place at the location
specified in Schedule A, at the time and on the date
set forth in Schedule A or as soon as practicable
thereafter, or at such other place, time and date as shall be
agreed between the Company and the Investor. The time and date on
which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the "
Closing Date ".
(b) Subject to the fulfillment
or waiver of the conditions to the Closing in this
Section 1.2, at the Closing the Company will deliver the
Preferred Shares and the Warrant, in each case as evidenced by one
or more certificates dated the Closing Date and bearing appropriate
legends as hereinafter provided for, in exchange for payment in
full of the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately
available United States funds to a bank account designated by the
Company on Schedule A .
(c) The respective obligations
of each of the Investor and the Company to consummate the Purchase
are subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by the Investor and the
Company, as applicable) prior to the Closing of the conditions that
(i) any approvals or authorizations of all United States and
other governmental, regulatory or judicial authorities
(collectively, " Governmental Entities ") required for the
consummation of the Purchase shall have been obtained or made in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each party and shall
be in full force and effect and all waiting periods required by
United States and other applicable law, if any, shall have expired
and (ii) no provision of any applicable United States or other
law and no judgment, injunction, order or decree of any
Governmental Entity shall prohibit the purchase and sale of the
Purchased Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) The obligation of the
Investor to consummate the Purchase is also subject to the
fulfillment (or waiver by the Investor) at or prior to the Closing
of each of the following conditions:
(i) (A) the representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in (x) Section 2.2(g) of
this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as though
made on and as of the Closing Date, (y) Sections 2.2(a)
through (f) shall be true and correct in all material respects
as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than
representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of
another date, which representations and warranties shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of such other date) and (z)
Sections 2.2(h) through (v) (disregarding all qualifications
or limitations set forth in such representations and warranties as
to "materiality", "Company Material Adverse Effect" and words of
similar import) shall be true and correct as though made on and as
of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties that
by their terms speak as of another date, which representations and
warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date), except
to the extent that the failure of such representations and
warranties referred to in this Section 1.2(d)(i)(A)(z) to be
so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, does not
have and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect and (B) the Company shall have
performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the
Closing;
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(ii) the Investor shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a senior
executive officer certifying to the effect that the conditions set
forth in Section 1.2(d)(i) have been satisfied;
(iii) the Company shall have duly
adopted and filed with the Secretary of State of its jurisdiction
of organization or other applicable Governmental Entity the
amendment to its certificate or articles of incorporation, articles
of association, or similar organizational document ("
Charter ") in substantially the form attached hereto as
Annex A (the " Certificate of Designations ")
and such filing shall have been accepted;
(iv) (A) the Company shall have
effected such changes to its compensation, bonus, incentive and
other benefit plans, arrangements and agreements (including golden
parachute, severance and employment agreements) (collectively, "
Benefit Plans ") with respect to its Senior Executive
Officers (and to the extent necessary for such changes to be
legally enforceable, each of its Senior Executive Officers shall
have duly consented in writing to such changes), as may be
necessary, during the period that the Investor owns any debt or
equity securities of the Company acquired pursuant to this
Agreement or the Warrant, in order to comply with Section 111(b) of
the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (" EESA ")
as implemented by guidance or regulation thereunder that has been
issued and is in effect as of the Closing Date, and (B) the
Investor shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the
Company by a senior executive officer certifying to the effect that
the condition set forth in Section 1.2(d)(iv)(A) has been
satisfied; (v) each of the
Company’s Senior Executive Officers shall have delivered to
the Investor a written waiver in the form attached hereto as
Annex B releasing the Investor from any claims that such
Senior Executive Officers may otherwise have as a result of the
issuance, on or prior to the Closing Date, of any regulations which
require the modification of, and the agreement of the Company
hereunder to modify, the terms of any Benefit Plans with respect to
its Senior Executive Officers to eliminate any provisions of such
Benefit Plans that would not be in compliance with the requirements
of Section 111(b) of the EESA as implemented by guidance or
regulation thereunder that has been issued and is in effect as of
the Closing Date; (vi) the Company
shall have delivered to the Investor a written opinion from counsel
to the Company (which may be internal counsel), addressed to the
Investor and dated as of the Closing Date, in substantially the
form attached hereto as Annex C;
(vii) the Company shall have
delivered certificates in proper form or, with the prior consent of
the Investor, evidence of shares in book-entry form, evidencing the
Preferred Shares to Investor or its designee(s); and
(viii) the Company shall have duly
executed the Warrant in substantially the form attached hereto as
Annex D and delivered such executed Warrant to the Investor
or its designee(s).
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1.3 Interpretation . When a
reference is made in this Agreement to "Recitals," "Articles,"
"Sections," or "Annexes" such reference shall be to a Recital,
Article or Section of, or Annex to, this Securities Purchase
Agreement – Standard Terms, and a reference to
"Schedules" shall be to a Schedule to the Letter Agreement, in
each case, unless otherwise indicated. The terms defined in the
singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and
vice versa. References to "herein", "hereof", "hereunder" and the
like refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
section or provision, unless the context requires otherwise. The
table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement.
Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in
this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by the words "without
limitation." No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall
be applied in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of
this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation
between sophisticated parties advised by counsel. All references to
"$" or "dollars" mean the lawful currency of the United States of
America. Except as expressly stated in this Agreement, all
references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute,
rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced
from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules
and regulations promulgated under the statute) and to any section
of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to the
section. References to a " business day " shall mean any day
except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions
in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by
law or other governmental actions to close. Article II
Representations and Warranties
2.1 Disclosure .
(a) " Company Material
Adverse Effect " means a material adverse effect on
(i) the business, results of operation or financial condition
of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole;
provided , however , that Company Material Adverse
Effect shall not be deemed to include the effects of
(A) changes after the date of the Letter Agreement (the "
Signing Date ") in general business, economic or market
conditions (including changes generally in prevailing interest
rates, credit availability and liquidity, currency exchange rates
and price levels or trading volumes in the United States or foreign
securities or credit markets), or any outbreak or escalation of
hostilities, declared or undeclared acts of war or terrorism, in
each case generally affecting the industries in which the Company
and its subsidiaries operate, (B) changes or proposed changes
after the Signing Date in generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States (" GAAP ") or regulatory accounting
requirements, or authoritative interpretations thereof,
(C) changes or proposed changes after the Signing Date in
securities, banking and other laws of general applicability or
related policies or interpretations of Governmental Entities (in
the case of each of these clauses (A), (B) and (C), other than
changes or occurrences to the extent that such changes or
occurrences have or would reasonably be expected to have a
materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole relative to comparable
U.S. banking or financial services organizations), or
(D) changes in the market price or trading volume of the
Common Stock or any other equity, equity-related or debt securities
of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries (it being
understood and agreed that the exception set forth in this clause
(D) does
- 4 -
not apply to the underlying reason giving rise to or
contributing to any such change); or (ii) the ability of the
Company to consummate the Purchase and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant and perform its
obligations hereunder or thereunder on a timely basis.
(b) " Previously
Disclosed " means information set forth or incorporated in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently
completed fiscal year of the Company filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the " SEC ") prior to the Signing Date
(the " Last Fiscal Year ") or in its other reports and forms
filed with or furnished to the SEC under Sections 13(a), 14(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the " Exchange
Act ") on or after the last day of the Last Fiscal Year and
prior to the Signing Date. 2.2
Representations and Warranties of the Company . Except as
Previously Disclosed, the Company represents and warrants to the
Investor that as of the Signing Date and as of the Closing Date (or
such other date specified herein):
(a) Organization, Authority
and Significant Subsidiaries . The Company has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with the necessary power
and authority to own its properties and conduct its business in all
material respects as currently conducted, and except as has not,
individually or in the aggregate, had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, has been duly
qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business
and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction
in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so
as to require such qualification; each subsidiary of the Company
that is a "significant subsidiary" within the meaning of
Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the " Securities Act ") has been duly organized and
is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization. The Charter and bylaws of the
Company, copies of which have been provided to the Investor prior
to the Signing Date, are true, complete and correct copies of such
documents as in full force and effect as of the Signing Date.
(b) Capitalization . The
authorized capital stock of the Company, and the outstanding
capital stock of the Company (including securities convertible
into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, capital stock of the
Company) as of the most recent fiscal month-end preceding the
Signing Date (the " Capitalization Date ") is set forth on
Schedule B . The outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued and
outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and subject to no
preemptive rights (and were not issued in violation of any
preemptive rights). Except as provided in the Warrant, as of the
Signing Date, the Company does not have outstanding any securities
or other obligations providing the holder the right to acquire
Common Stock that is not reserved for issuance as specified on
Schedule B, and the Company has not made any other
commitment to authorize, issue or sell any Common Stock. Since the
Capitalization Date, the Company has not issued any shares of
Common Stock, other than (i) shares issued upon the exercise
of stock options or delivered under other equity-based awards or
other convertible securities or warrants which were issued and
outstanding on the Capitalization Date and disclosed on
Schedule B and (ii) shares disclosed on
Schedule B .
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(c) Preferred Shares
. The Preferred Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and,
when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such
Preferred Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable, will not be issued in violation of any preemptive
rights, and will rank pari passu with or senior to all other
series or classes of Preferred Stock, whether or not issued or
outstanding, with respect to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation
or winding up of the Company.
(d) The Warrant and Warrant
Shares . The Warrant has been duly authorized and, when
executed and delivered as contemplated hereby, will constitute a
valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the
same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general
equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity (" Bankruptcy
Exceptions "). The shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Warrant (the " Warrant Shares ") have been
duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the
Warrant and when so issued in accordance with the terms of the
Warrant will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,
subject, if applicable, to the approvals of its stockholders set
forth on Schedule C .
(e) Authorization,
Enforceability . (i) The Company
has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Warrant and, subject, if applicable, to the
approvals of its stockholders set forth on Schedule C,
to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder (which
includes the issuance of the Preferred Shares, Warrant and Warrant
Shares). The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
this Agreement and the Warrant and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company and its stockholders, and no further approval or
authorization is required on the part of the Company, subject, in
each case, if applicable, to the approvals of its stockholders set
forth on Schedule C . This Agreement is a valid and
binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy Exceptions.
(ii) The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Warrant and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby and compliance by the Company with the provisions hereof
and thereof, will not (A) violate, conflict with, or result in
a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event
which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a
default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the
performance required by, or result in a right of termination or
acceleration of, or result in the creation of, any lien, security
interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or
assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of (i) subject, if applicable,
to the approvals of the Company’s stockholders set forth on
Schedule C , its organizational documents or
(ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust,
license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
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which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by
which it or any Company Subsidiary may be bound, or to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the properties or
assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary may be subject, or
(B) subject to compliance with the statutes and regulations
referred to in the next paragraph, violate any statute, rule or
regulation or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction or
decree applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any
of their respective properties or assets except, in the case of
clauses (A)(ii) and (B), for those occurrences that, individually
or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) Other than the filing of the
Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of its
jurisdiction of organization or other applicable Governmental
Entity, any current report on Form 8-K required to be filed with
the SEC, such filings and approvals as are required to be made or
obtained under any state "blue sky" laws, the filing of any proxy
statement contemplated by Section 3.1 and such as have been
made or obtained, no notice to, filing with, exemption or review
by, or authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental
Entity is required to be made or obtained by the Company in
connection with the consummation by the Company of the Purchase
except for any such notices, filings, exemptions, reviews,
authorizations, consents and approvals the failure of which to make
or obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Anti-takeover Provisions
and Rights Plan . The Board of Directors of the Company (the "
Board of Directors ") has taken all necessary action to
ensure that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Warrant and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, including the exercise of the Warrant in
accordance with its terms, will be exempt from any anti-takeover or
similar provisions of the Company’s Charter and bylaws, and
any other provisions of any applicable "moratorium", "control
share", "fair price", "interested stockholder" or other
anti-takeover laws and regulations of any jurisdiction. The Company
has taken all actions necessary to render any stockholders’
rights plan of the Company inapplicable to this Agreement and the
Warrant and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, including the exercise of the Warrant by the
Investor in accordance with its terms.
(g) No Company Material
Adverse Effect . Since the last day of the last completed
fiscal period for which the Company has filed a Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC prior to
the Signing Date, no fact, circumstance, event, change, occurrence,
condition or development has occurred that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Company Financial
Statements . Each of the consolidated financial statements of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively the "
Company Financial Statements ") included or incorporated by
reference in the Company Reports filed with the SEC since
December 31, 2006, present fairly in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries as of the dates indicated therein (or if amended prior
to the Signing Date, as of the date of such amendment) and the
consolidated results of their operations for the periods specified
therein; and except as stated therein, such
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financial statements (A) were prepared in conformity with
GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as may be noted
therein), (B) have been prepared from, and are in accordance
with, the books and records of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries and (C) complied as to form, as of their
respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements and with the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.
(i) Reports .
(i) Since December 31, 2006, the
Company and each subsidiary of the Company (each a " Company
Subsidiary " and, collectively, the " Company
Subsidiaries ") has timely filed all reports, registrations,
documents, filings, statements and submissions, together with any
amendments thereto, that it was required to file with any
Governmental Entity (the foregoing, collectively, the " Company
Reports ") and has paid all fees and assessments due and
payable in connection therewith, except, in each case, as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As of their respective
dates of filing, the Company Reports complied in all material
respects with all statutes and applicable rules and regulations of
the applicable Governmental Entities. In the case of each such
Company Report filed with or furnished to the SEC, such Company
Report (A) did not, as of its date or if amended prior to the
Signing Date, as of the date of such amendment, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and
(B) complied as to form in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
With respect to all other Company Reports, the Company Reports were
complete and accurate in all material respects as of their
respective dates. No executive officer of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary has failed in any respect to make the
certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(ii) The records, systems, controls,
data and information of the Company and the Company 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 the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or
their accountants (including all means of access thereto and
therefrom), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct
control that would not reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the system of internal accounting controls
described below in this Section 2.2(i)(ii). The Company
(A) 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 the Company,
including the consolidated Company Subsidiaries, is made known to
the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the
Company by others within those entities, and (B) has
disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to the Signing
Date, to the Company’s outside auditors and the audit
committee of the Board of Directors (x) any significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that are reasonably likely
to adversely affect the Company’s ability to
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record, process, summarize and report financial information and
(y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the
Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
(j) No Undisclosed
Liabilities . Neither the Company nor any of the Company
Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature
(absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) which are not properly
reflected or reserved against in the Company Financial Statements
to the extent required to be so reflected or reserved against in
accordance with GAAP, except for (A) liabilities that have
arisen since the last fiscal year end in the ordinary and usual
course of business and consistent with past practice and
(B) liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, have
not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. (k)
Offering of Securities . Neither the Company nor any person
acting on its behalf has taken any action (including any offering
of any securities of the Company under circumstances which would
require the integration of such offering with the offering of any
of the Purchased Securities under the Securities Act, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder), which might
subject the offering, issuance or sale of any of the Purchased
Securities to Investor pursuant to this Agreement to the
registration requirements of the Securities Act.
(l) Litigation and Other
Proceedings . Except (i) as set forth on
Schedule D or (ii) as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect, there is no (A) pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened, claim, action, suit, investigation or
proceeding, against the Company or any Company Subsidiary or to
which any of their assets are subject nor is the Company or any
Company Subsidiary subject to any order, judgment or decree or
(B) unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any
Governmental Entity with respect to any report or relating to any
examinations or inspections of the Company or any Company
Subsidiaries. (m) Compliance
with Laws . Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have all
permits, licenses, franchises, authorizations, orders and approvals
of, and have made all filings, applications and registrations with,
Governmental Entities that are required in order to permit them to
own or lease their properties and assets and to carry on their
business as presently conducted and that are material to the
business of the Company or such Company Subsidiary. Except as set
forth on Schedule E, the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries have complied in all respects and are not in default
or violation of, and none of them is, to the knowledge of the
Company, under investigation with respect to or, to the knowledge
of the Company, have been threatened to be charged with or given
notice of any violation of, any applicable domestic (federal, state
or local) or foreign law, statute, ordinance, license, rule,
regulation, policy or guideline, order, demand, writ, injunction,
decree or judgment of any Governmental Entity, other than such
noncompliance, defaults or violations that would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Except for statutory or regulatory
restrictions of general application or as set forth on
Schedule E, no Governmental Entity has placed any
restriction on the business or properties of
- 9 -
the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. (n)
Employee Benefit Matters . Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect: (A) each "employee benefit
plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (" ERISA
")) providing benefits to any current or former employee, officer
or director of the Company or any member of its " Controlled
Group " (defined as any organization which is a member of a
controlled group of corporations within the meaning of
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the " Code ")) that is sponsored, maintained or contributed
to by the Company or any member of its Controlled Group and for
which the Company or any member of its Controlled Group would have
any liability, whether actual or contingent (each, a " Plan
") has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the
requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations,
including ERISA and the Code; (B) with respect to each Plan
subject to Title IV of ERISA (including, for purposes of this
clause (B), any plan subject to Title IV of ERISA that the Company
or any member of its Controlled Group previously maintained or
contributed to in the six years prior to the Signing Date),
(1) no "reportable event" (within the meaning of Section
4043(c) of ERISA), other than a reportable event for which the
notice period referred to in Section 4043(c) of ERISA has been
waived, has occurred in the three years prior to the Signing Date
or is reasonably expected to occur, (2) no "accumulated
funding deficiency" (within the meaning of Section 302 of
ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has
occurred in the three years prior to the Signing Date or is
reasonably expected to occur, (3) the fair market value of the
assets under each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits
accrued under such Plan (determined based on the assumptions used
to fund such Plan) and (4) neither the Company nor any member
of its Controlled Group has incurred in the six years prior to the
Signing Date, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under
Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums
to the PBGC in the ordinary course and without default) in respect
of a Plan (including any Plan that is a "multiemployer plan",
within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and
(C) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter
from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to its qualified
status that has not been revoked, or such a determination letter
has been timely applied for but not received by the Signing Date,
and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act,
which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss, revocation or
denial of such qualified status or favorable determination letter.
(o) Taxes . Except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and
the Company Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and
foreign income and franchise Tax returns required to be filed
through the Signing Date, subject to permitted extensions, and have
paid all Taxes due thereon, and (ii) no Tax deficiency has
been determined adversely to the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries, nor does the Company have any knowledge of any Tax
deficiencies. " Tax " or " Taxes " means any federal,
state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, property, sales,
use, license, excise, franchise, employment, payroll, withholding,
alternative or add on minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax,
or any other tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like
assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest or penalty, imposed by any Governmental Entity.
- 10 -
(p) Properties and
Leases . Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect,
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have good and marketable
title to all real properties and all other properties and assets
owned by them, in each case free from liens, encumbrances, claims
and defects that would affect the value thereof or interfere with
the use made or to be made thereof by them. Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries hold all leased real or personal property under valid
and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would interfere with
the use made or to be made thereof by them.
(q) Environmental
Liability . Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect: (i) there is no
legal, administrative, or other proceeding, claim or action of any
nature seeking to impose, or that would reasonably be expected to
result in the imposition of, on the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, any liability relating to the release of hazardous
substances as defined under any local, state or federal
environmental statute, regulation or ordinance, including the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980, pending or, to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
(ii) to the Company’s
knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any such proceeding,
claim or action; and (iii) neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any agreement,
order, judgment or decree by or with any court, Governmental Entity
or third party imposing any such environmental liability.
(r) Risk Management
Instruments . Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect, all derivative instruments, including, swaps, caps,
floors and option agreements, whether entered into for the
Company’s own account, or for the account of one or more of
the Company Subsidiaries or its or their customers, were entered
into (i) only in the ordinary course of business, (ii) in
accordance with prudent practices and in all material respects with
all applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory policies and
(iii) with counterparties believed to be financially
responsible at the time; and each of such instruments constitutes
the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company or one of
the Company Subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions. Neither the
Company or the Company Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the
Company, any other party thereto, is in breach of any of its
obligations under any such agreement or arrangement other than such
breaches that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(s) Agreements with
Regulatory Agencies . Except as set forth on
Schedule F, neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary is subject to any material cease-and-desist or other
similar order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any
material written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of
understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or
similar undertaking to, or is subject to any capital directive by,
or since December 31, 2006,
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has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any
Governmental Entity (other than the Appropriate Federal Banking
Agencies with jurisdiction over the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries) that currently restricts in any material respect the
conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to
its capital adequacy, its liquidity and funding policies and
practices, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk
management or compliance policies or procedures, its internal
controls, its management or its operations or business (each item
in this sentence, a " Regulatory Agreement "), nor has the
Company or any Company Subsidiary been advised since
December 31, 2006 by any such Governmental Entity that it is
considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting any such
Regulatory Agreement. The Company and each Company Subsidiary are
in compliance in all material respects with each Regulatory
Agreement to which it is party or subject, and neither the Company
nor any Company Subsidiary has received any notice from any
Governmental Entity indicating that either the Company or any
Company Subsidiary is not in compliance in all material respects
with any such Regulatory Agreement. " Appropriate Federal
Banking Agency " means the "appropriate Federal banking agency"
with respect to the Company or such Company Subsidiaries, as
applicable, as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)).
(t) Insurance . The
Company and the Company Subsidiaries are insured with reputable
insurers against such risks and in such amounts as the management
of the Company reasonably has determined to be prudent and
consistent with industry practice. The Company and the Company
Subsidiaries are in material compliance with their insurance
policies and are not in default under any of the material terms
thereof, each such policy is outstanding and in full force and
effect, all premiums and other payments due under any material
policy have been paid, and all claims thereunder have been filed in
due and timely fashion, except, in each case, as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Intellectual
Property . Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each Company Subsidiary
owns or otherwise has the right to use, all intellectual property
rights, including all trademarks, trade dress, trade names, service
marks, domain names, patents, inventions, trade secrets, know-how,
works of authorship and copyrights therein, that are used in the
conduct of their existing businesses and all rights relating to the
plans, design and specifications of any of its branch facilities ("
Proprietary Rights ") free and clear of all liens and any
claims of ownership by current or former employees, contractors,
designers or others and (ii) neither the Company nor any of
the Company Subsidiaries is materially infringing, diluting,
misappropriating or violating, nor has the Company or any or the
Company Subsidiaries received any written (or, to the knowledge of
the Company, oral) communications alleging that any of them has
materially infringed, diluted, misappropriated or violated, any of
the Proprietary Rights owned by any other person. Except as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Company’s
knowledge, no other person is infringing, diluting,
misappropriating or violating, nor has the Company or any or the
Company Subsidiaries sent any written communications since
January 1, 2006 alleging that any person has infringed,
diluted, misappropriated or violated, any of the Proprietary Rights
owned by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.
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(v) Brokers and
Finders . No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to
any financial advisory, brokerage, finder’s or other fee or
commission in connection with this Agreement or the Warrant or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for
which the Investor could have any liability.
Article III
Covenants 3.1 Commercially
Reasonable Efforts .
(a) Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties will use its
commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to take, or cause to
be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or desirable, or advisable under applicable laws,
so as to permit consummation of the Purchase as promptly as
practicable and otherwise to enable consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other party to that end.
(b) If the Company is required
to obtain any stockholder approvals set forth on
Schedule C, then the Company shall comply with this
Section 3.1(b) and Section 3.1(c). The Company shall call
a special meeting of its stockholders, as promptly as practicable
following the Closing, to vote on proposals (collectively, the "
Stockholder Proposals ") to (i) approve the exercise of
the Warrant for Common Stock for purposes of the rules of the
national security exchange on which the Common Stock is listed
and/or (ii) amend the Company’s Charter to increase the
number of authorized shares of Common Stock to at least such number
as shall be sufficient to permit the full exercise of the Warrant
for Common Stock and comply with the other provisions of this
Section 3.1(b) and Section 3.1(c). The Board of Directors
shall recommend to the Company’s stockholders that such
stockholders vote in favor of the Stockholder Proposals. In
connection with such meeting, the Company shall prepare (and the
Investor will reasonably cooperate with the Company to prepare) and
file with the SEC as promptly as practicable (but in no event more
than ten business days after the Closing) a preliminary proxy
statement, shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond to any
comments of the SEC or its staff thereon and to cause a definitive
proxy statement related to such stockholders’ meeting to be
mailed to the Company’s stockholders not more than five
business days after clearance thereof by the SEC, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies for such stockholder
approval of the Stockholder Proposals. The Company shall notify the
Investor promptly of the receipt of any comments from the SEC or
its staff with respect to the proxy statement and of any request by
the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to such proxy
statement or for additional information and will supply the
Investor with copies of all correspondence between the Company or
any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its
staff, on the other hand, with respect to such proxy statement. If
at any time prior to such stockholders’ meeting there shall
occur any event that is required to be set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the proxy statement, the Company shall as promptly as
practicable prepare and mail
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to its stockholders such an amendment or supplement. Each of the
Investor and the Company agrees promptly to correct any information
provided by it or on its behalf for use in the proxy statement if
and to the extent that such information shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect, and the Company shall as
promptly as practicable prepare and mail to its stockholders an
amendment or supplement to correct such information to the extent
required by applicable laws and regulations. The Company shall
consult with the Investor prior to filing any proxy statement, or
any amendment or supplement thereto, and provide the Investor with
a reasonable opportunity to comment thereon. In the event that the
approval of any of the Stockholder Proposals is not obtained at
such special stockholders meeting, the Company shall include a
proposal to approve (and the Board of Directors shall recommend
approval of) each such proposal at a meeting of its stockholders no
less than once in each subsequent six- month period beginning on
January 1, 2009 until all such approvals are obtained or made.
(c) None of the information
supplied by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries for
inclusion in any proxy statement in connection with any such
stockholders meeting of the Company will, at the date it is filed
with the SEC, when first mailed to the Company’s stockholders
and at the time of any stockholders meeting, and at the time of any
amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a
materia
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