SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
March 9, 1998
FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
Colorado 0-27126 84-1320788
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(State or other jurisdiction (SEC File No.) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification
Number)
215 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado 80226
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 303-232-2121
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last Report)
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INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT
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Item 5. Other Events
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The Registrant issued a press release on March 9, 1998, announcing that
it had signed a definitive merger agreement (the "Agreement") with Commercial
Federal Corporation ("Commercial"), dated March 9, 1998, for the acquisition of
all of the outstanding common stock of the Registrant. Shareholders of the
Registrant will receive shares of common stock of Commercial having a value of
$30 for each share of common stock of the Registrant they own. The Exchange
Ratio is subject to adjustment based on fluctuations in the price of Commercial
common stock as set forth in the Agreement.
Consummation of the acquisition is subject to several conditions,
including the receipt from accountants of a letter stating that the acquisition
will qualify for pooling of interests accounting treatment, and receipt of
applicable regulatory approval and stockholder approval by the Registrant's and
Commercial's shareholders.
A copy of a press release issued March 9, 1998 by the Registrant is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
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Exhibit 99.1 -- Press Release Concerning Merger Agreement dated March 9, 1998.
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Exhibit 99.2 -- Reorganization and Merger Agreement dated as of March 9, 1998.
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Exhibit 99.3 -- Stock Option Agreement dated as of March 9, 1998.
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Exhibit 99.4 -- Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of March 9, 1998.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
Date: March 18, 1998 By: /s/ Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
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Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT 99.1
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First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. Contact: Brian L. Johnson
Lakewood, Colorado Chief Financial Officer
(303) 232-2121
For Immediate Release
March 9, 1998
FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC. APPROVES MERGER AGREEMENT
Lakewood, Colorado -- March 9, 1998 -- First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
(Nasdaq National Market: FFBA) ("First Colorado") announced that its Board of
Directors has approved the definitive agreement negotiated with Commercial
Federal Corporation, Omaha, Nebraska (NYSE: CFB) ("Commercial Federal") to
acquire First Colorado.
Under the terms of the agreement, Commercial Federal will acquire
through a tax-free reorganization all of the outstanding shares of First
Colorado's common stock. For each outstanding share of First Colorado common
stock, First Colorado shareholders are to receive Commercial Federal's common
stock valued at $30 per share. Such value is based on an exchange ratio that
will float between Commercial Federal's average stock prices (as defined in the
agreement) of $31 and $38 per share. The exchange ratio will remain fixed at
.9677 for Commercial Federal average stock prices below $31 and will remain
fixed at .7895 for Commercial Federal average stock prices above $38. Based on
Commercial Federal's closing stock price on March 5, 1998, the transaction has
an aggregate value of approximately $525 million, or $30 per share.
The merger is conditioned upon being accounted for as a
pooling-of-interests. The transaction is expected to close during the third
quarter of 1998, subject to approval by the shareholders of First Colorado and
Commercial Federal and the appropriate regulatory authorities, as well as
various other conditions of closing.
Malcolm Collier, Jr., Chairman of First Colorado stated, "We feel this
merger is a unique opportunity for First Colorado stockholders and customers. We
chose to associate with Commercial Federal because of their dedication to the
communities they serve, their customers, and their employees."
First Colorado is the parent company for First Federal Bank of Colorado
(the "Bank'), a federally chartered stock savings bank headquartered in
Lakewood, Colorado with assets of $1.6 billion at December 31, 1997. The Bank's
deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The
Bank is a community-oriented, retail savings institution offering traditional
mortgage and various consumer loan products.
Commercial Federal is the parent company of Commercial Federal Bank,
which currently operates branches in Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and
Iowa. In addition to retail banking, Commercial Federal operations include
mortgage banking, consumer financing, insurance and stock brokerage. As of
December 31, 1997, Commercial Federal had assets of approximately $8.5 billion
and deposit of approximately $5.2 billion.
EXHIBIT 99.2
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REORGANIZATION AND MERGER AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION,
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL BANK, A FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK,
FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
AND
FIRST FEDERAL BANK OF COLORADO
DATED AS OF MARCH 9, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions............................................................................ 2
ARTICLE II
THE PARENT MERGER
Section 2.1 The Parent Merger...................................................................... 8
Section 2.2 Closing................................................................................ 8
Section 2.3 Effective Time......................................................................... 8
Section 2.4 Additional Actions..................................................................... 9
Section 2.5 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws................................................... 9
Section 2.6 Boards of Directors and Officers....................................................... 9
Section 2.7 Conversion of Securities............................................................... 9
Section 2.8 Exchange Procedures.................................................................... 10
Section 2.9 No Fractional Shares................................................................... 11
Section 2.10 Anti-Dilution Adjustments.............................................................. 12
Section 2.11 Dissenting Shares...................................................................... 12
Section 2.12 Treatment of Stock Options............................................................. 12
Section 2.13 Reservation of Right to Revise Transaction............................................. 13
ARTICLE III
THE BANK MERGER
Section 3.1 The Bank Merger........................................................................ 13
Section 3.2 Liquidation Account.................................................................... 13
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
BANCORP AND THE COMPANY
Section 4.1 Organization, Good Standing, Authority, Insurance, Etc................................. 14
Section 4.2 Capitalization......................................................................... 14
Section 4.3 Ownership of Subsidiaries.............................................................. 15
Section 4.4 Financial Statements and Reports....................................................... 15
Section 4.5 Absence of Changes..................................................................... 16
Section 4.6 No Broker's or Finder's Fees........................................................... 16
Section 4.7 Litigation and Other Proceedings....................................................... 16
Section 4.8 Compliance with Law.................................................................... 17
Section 4.9 Corporate Actions...................................................................... 17
Section 4.10 Authority.............................................................................. 17
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Section 4.11 Employment Arrangements................................................................ 18
Section 4.12 Employee Benefits...................................................................... 18
Section 4.13 Information Furnished; Registration Statement.......................................... 20
Section 4.14 Property and Assets.................................................................... 20
Section 4.15 Agreements and Instruments............................................................. 21
Section 4.16 Material Contract Defaults............................................................. 21
Section 4.17 Tax Matters............................................................................ 21
Section 4.18 Environmental Matters.................................................................. 22
Section 4.19 Loan Portfolio; Portfolio Management................................................... 22
Section 4.20 Real Estate Loans and Investments...................................................... 23
Section 4.21 Derivatives Contracts.................................................................. 23
Section 4.22 Insurance.............................................................................. 24
Section 4.23 Accounting and Tax Treatment........................................................... 24
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMMERCIAL AND THE BANK
Section 5.1 Organization, Good Standing, Authority, Insurance, Etc................................. 24
Section 5.2 Capitalization......................................................................... 25
Section 5.3 Ownership of Subsidiaries.............................................................. 25
Section 5.4 Financial Statements and Reports....................................................... 26
Section 5.5 No Broker's or Finder's Fees........................................................... 26
Section 5.6 Litigation and Other Proceedings....................................................... 27
Section 5.7 Compliance With Law.................................................................... 27
Section 5.8 Corporate Actions...................................................................... 27
Section 5.9 Authority.............................................................................. 27
Section 5.10 Information Furnished; Registration Statement.......................................... 28
Section 5.11 Agreements and Instruments............................................................. 28
Section 5.12 Tax Matters............................................................................ 28
Section 5.13 Accounting and Tax Treatment........................................................... 29
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
Section 6.1 Conduct of Business by Bancorp......................................................... 29
Section 6.2 Maintenance of Records................................................................. 32
Section 6.3 Employees; Employee Benefits........................................................... 32
Section 6.4 Efforts of Parties to Close............................................................ 33
Section 6.5 Confidentiality and Announcements...................................................... 33
Section 6.6 Access; Certain Communications......................................................... 34
Section 6.7 Regulatory Matters; Third Party Consents............................................... 34
Section 6.8 Notification of Certain Matters........................................................ 36
Section 6.9 Expenses............................................................................... 36
Section 6.10 Third Party Proposals.................................................................. 37
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Section 6.11 Stock Listing.......................................................................... 37
Section 6.12 Integration; Conforming Entries........................................................ 38
Section 6.13 Pooling-of-Interests and Tax-Free Treatment............................................ 38
Section 6.14 Agreements of Affiliates............................................................... 38
Section 6.15 Stockholder Approval................................................................... 39
Section 6.16 Indemnification........................................................................ 39
Section 6.17 D&O Insurance.......................................................................... 40
Section 6.18 Takeover Provisions Inapplicable....................................................... 40
Section 6.19 Environmental Reports.................................................................. 40
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION
OF THE MERGER
Section 7.1 Mutual Conditions...................................................................... 41
Section 7.2 Conditions to Commercial's and the Bank's Obligations.................................. 42
Section 7.3 Conditions to Bancorp's and the Company's Obligations.................................. 43
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
Section 8.1 Termination............................................................................ 44
Section 8.2 Survival After Termination............................................................. 45
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Amendments; Waiver..................................................................... 45
Section 9.2 Entire Agreement....................................................................... 46
Section 9.3 Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements............................. 46
Section 9.4 Interpretation......................................................................... 46
Section 9.5 Severability........................................................................... 46
Section 9.6 Notices................................................................................ 46
Section 9.7 Binding Effect; Persons Benefiting; No Assignment...................................... 47
Section 9.8 Counterparts........................................................................... 48
Section 9.9 Governing Law.......................................................................... 48
Section 9.10 Specific Performance................................................................... 48
Section 9.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL................................................................... 48
Annex A Merrill Lynch Thrift Index
Exhibit A Stock Option Agreement
Exhibit B Form of Affiliate Agreement
Exhibit C Bank Plan of Merger
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REORGANIZATION AND MERGER AGREEMENT
REORGANIZATION AND MERGER AGREEMENT, dated as of March 9, 1998
(the "Agreement"), by and among Commercial Federal Corporation, a Nebraska
corporation ("Commercial"), Commercial Federal Bank, A Federal Savings Bank, a
federally chartered savings bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Commercial (the
"Bank"), First Colorado Bancorp, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the "Bancorp"),
and First Federal Bank of Colorado, a federally chartered savings bank and
wholly-owned subsidiary of Bancorp (the "Company").
WHEREAS, Commercial, a non-diversified, unitary savings and
loan holding company, with its principal offices in Omaha, Nebraska, owns all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Bank, with its principal offices
in Omaha, Nebraska;
WHEREAS, Bancorp, a unitary savings and loan holding company,
with its principal offices in Lakewood, Colorado, owns all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company, with its principal offices in Lakewood
Colorado;
WHEREAS, Commercial and Bancorp desire to combine their
respective holding companies through a tax-free exchange so that the respective
shareholders of both Commercial and Bancorp will have an equity ownership in the
combined holding company;
WHEREAS, following the combination of Commercial and Bancorp,
it is intended that the Bank and the Company will be merged such that the
combined holding company will retain the advantage of unitary savings and loan
holding company status and that the resulting savings institution will achieve
certain economies of scale and efficiencies as a result of such subsequent
merger;
WHEREAS, to accomplish the foregoing, the Board of Directors
of Bancorp (the "Bancorp Board") and the Board of Directors of Commercial (the
"Commercial Board") have approved the merger (the "Parent Merger") of Bancorp
with and into Commercial, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, and the Commercial Board has approved the merger of the Company
with and into the Bank (the "Bank Merger" and, together with the Parent Merger,
the "Merger") which shall occur as soon as practicable following consummation of
the Parent Merger;
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that
the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code (as defined below) and this Agreement shall constitute a plan
of reorganization pursuant to Section 368 of the Code;
WHEREAS, it is intended that the Merger shall qualify for
pooling-of-interests accounting treatment;
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WHEREAS, as a condition to, and immediately prior to,
execution of this Agreement, Commercial and Bancorp have entered into a stock
option agreement (the "Stock Option Agreement") in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to provide for certain
undertakings, conditions, representations, warranties and covenants in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth
herein and subject to the conditions and other terms herein set forth, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions. For all purposes of this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section
1.1 (such definitions to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural
forms of the terms herein defined):
"Acquisition Proposal" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.10.
"Adjustment Election" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.1(a)(vi).
"Affiliate" shall mean any individual, partnership,
corporation, entity or other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Person specified.
"Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth on the first page
hereof.
"Applicable Law" shall mean any domestic or foreign federal,
state or local statute, law, ordinance, rule, administrative interpretation,
regulation, order, writ, injunction, directive, judgment, decree, policy,
guideline or other requirement applicable to Commercial, Bancorp, the Company or
any of their respective Affiliates, properties, assets, officers, directors,
employees or agents, as the case may be.
"Approval Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
"Asset Classification" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.19.
"Average Index Price" shall mean the arithmetic mean (carried
to four decimal places) of the Index Prices for the fifteen trading days ending
on (and including) the fifth trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date.
"Average NYSE Closing Price" shall mean the arithmetic mean
(carried to four decimal places) of the closing prices per share of Commercial
Common Stock as reported on the
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NYSE Composite Tape (as reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported
therein, in another mutually agreed upon authoritative source) for the fifteen
trading days ending on (and including) the fifth trading day immediately
preceding the Closing Date.
"Bancorp" has the meaning set forth on the first page hereof
and includes any direct or indirect successor or assign.
"Bancorp Board" has the meaning set forth on the first page
hereof.
"Bancorp Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value
$0.10 per share, of Bancorp, together with the Rights attached thereto pursuant
to the Bancorp Rights Agreement.
"Bancorp Employee Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.12(a).
"Bancorp Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, with respect to
Bancorp or any of its Affiliates, a material adverse effect on (i) the business,
financial condition or results of operations of Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of Bancorp or the Company to
complete the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that a Bancorp
Material Adverse Effect shall not be defined to include (w) any change
attributable to or resulting from any change in Applicable Law or GAAP or
regulatory accounting principles, including, but not limited to, changes
resulting from amendments to or modifications of any Applicable Law relating to
the bad debt reserve of or deduction taken by thrift institutions or any special
insurance premium assessments by the FDIC on SAIF-insured deposits, in each case
which affects thrift institutions generally, or (x) the effects of any change
attributable to or resulting from changes in economic conditions applicable to
depository institutions generally or in general levels of interest rates
affecting thrift institutions generally, (y) expenses related to consummation of
the Merger which are otherwise permitted under this Agreement (or set forth in
the Bancorp Disclosure Schedule), including, but not limited to, preparation,
legal, investment banking and auditing fees, or (z) the cost of establishing a
$250,000 charitable foundation in the manner Previously Disclosed.
"Bancorp Option" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.12.
"Bancorp Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.2.
"Bancorp Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.19.
"Bancorp Rights Agreement" shall mean that certain Rights
Agreement, dated as of July 24, 1996, by and between Bancorp and American
Securities Transfer & Trust, Incorporated, as rights agent.
"Bancorp Subsidiary" and "Bancorp Subsidiaries" shall have the
respective meanings set forth in Section 4.1.
"Bank" has the meaning set forth on the first page hereof and
includes any direct or indirect successor or assign.
"Bank Merger" has the meaning set forth on the first page
hereof.
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"Bank Plan of Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1.
"Business Day" shall mean any day that the NYSE is normally
open for trading and that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in
the States of Nebraska and Colorado are generally closed for regular banking
business.
"CBCA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.8.
"Closing" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, together with the Treasury regulations thereunder.
"Commercial" has the meaning set forth on the first page
hereof and includes any direct or indirect successor or assign.
"Commercial Board" has the meaning set forth on the first page
hereof.
"Commercial Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of Commercial, together with the Rights attached thereto
pursuant to the Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of December 19, 1988, by
and between Commercial and Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
"Commercial Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, with respect
to Commercial or any of its Affiliates, a material adverse effect on (i) the
business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations of Commercial
and the Commercial Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of
Commercial to complete the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however,
that a Commercial Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include (x) any
change attributable to or resulting from any change in Applicable Law or GAAP or
regulatory accounting principles, including, but not limited to, changes
resulting from amendments to or modifications of any Applicable Law relating to
the bad debt reserve of or deduction taken by thrift institutions or any special
insurance premium assessments by the FDIC on SAIF-insured deposits, in each case
which affects thrift institutions generally, or (y) the effects of any change
attributable to or resulting from changes in economic conditions applicable to
depository institutions generally or in general levels of interest rates
affecting thrift institutions generally.
"Commercial Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.5.
"Commercial Property" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.19.
"Commercial Subsidiary" and "Commercial Subsidiaries" shall
have the respective meanings set forth in Section 5.1.
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"Company" shall have the meaning set forth on the first page
hereof and includes any direct or indirect successor or assign.
"Confidentiality Agreements" shall mean those certain letter
agreements, dated January 22, 1998 and March 4, 1998, relating to confidential
information provided by the parties to each other and their respective
Affiliates and Representatives.
"Contract" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10.
"Current Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.19.
"Derivatives Contract" shall mean the meaning set forth in
Section 4.21.
"Dissenting Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.11.
"Effective Time" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
"Encumbrance" shall mean any lien, pledge, security interest,
claim, charge, easement, limitation, commitment, encroachment, restriction or
encumbrance of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Environmental Firm" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.19.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
"Exchange Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.8.
"Exchange Option" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.12.
"Exchange Ratio" shall mean, subject to Sections 2.10 and
8.1(a)(vi), either (i) if Commercial has not made an Adjustment Election, then
the quotient (carried to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (x) 30 by (y)
the Average NYSE Closing Price, provided that if such quotient is greater than
.9677, then the Exchange Ratio as calculated under this clause (i) shall be
.9677, and provided further that if such quotient is less than .7895, then the
Exchange Ratio as calculated under this clause (i) shall be .7895, or (ii) if
Commercial has made an Adjustment Election, the lesser of (x) the quotient
(carried to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (A) the product of .85,
the Starting Price and .9677 by (B) the Average NYSE Closing Price and (y) the
quotient (carried to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (A) the product
of the Index Ratio, the Starting Price and .9677 by (B) the Average NYSE Closing
Price.
"Facility Property" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.19.
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"FDIC" shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
and any successor thereto.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as
used in the United States of America as in effect at the time any applicable
financial statements were prepared or any act requiring the application of GAAP
was performed.
"Governmental Authority" shall mean any government, any state
or other political subdivision thereof, any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, including the SEC or any other government authority, agency,
department, board, commission or instrumentality of the United States, any State
of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, and any court or
tribunal of competent jurisdiction, and any governmental or non-governmental
self-regulatory organization, agency or authority (including the NYSE and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.).
"HOLA" shall mean the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Index Price" shall mean, with respect to a given date, the
weighted average (weighted based on the number of fully-diluted shares
outstanding as last disclosed in publicly available Regulatory Documents filed
by the respective companies) of the closing prices on such date of the companies
comprising the Merrill Lynch Thrift Index, set forth as Annex A hereto, on such
date, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, reclassification,
recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchanges of shares or similar
transaction declared or effected by any of such companies between the Starting
Date and the close of business on the fifth trading day immediately preceding
the Closing Date.
"Index Ratio" shall mean the number equal to the product of
(x) the quotient (carried to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (A) the
Average Index Price by (B) the Index Price on the Starting Date, and (y) .90.
"IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service and any
successor thereto.
"Merger" has the meaning set forth on the first page hereof.
"Merger Consideration" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.13.
"NBCA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and any
successor thereto.
"OTS" shall mean the Office of Thrift Supervision and any
successor thereto.
"Parent Merger" has the meaning set forth on the first page
hereof.
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"Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, company,
partnership (limited or general), joint venture, association, trust or other
entity or similar contractual arrangement or relationship.
"Previously Disclosed" by a party shall mean information set
forth in a schedule (with respect to Bancorp and the Company, the "Bancorp
Disclosure Schedule"; and with respect to Commercial, the "Commercial Disclosure
Schedule"), correspondingly enumerated to the representations, warranties or
covenants to which such information relates, that is delivered by such party to
the other party contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement and
specifically designated as information "Previously Disclosed" pursuant to this
Agreement.
"Price Termination Notice" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.1(a)(vi).
"Prospectus" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
"Proxy Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.13.
"Records" shall mean, with respect to any Person, all records
and original documents (and copies thereof) in the Person's possession, or in
the possession of an Affiliate of such Person, as of the Closing Date (a) which
pertain to or are utilized by such Person or Affiliate to administer, reflect,
monitor, evidence or record information respecting the business or conduct of
Bancorp or the Bancorp Subsidiaries, or (b) necessary or appropriate for Bancorp
or the Bancorp Subsidiaries to comply with any Applicable Law, and shall include
in the case of (a) and (b) above, all such records maintained on electronic or
magnetic media, or in the electronic data base system of or used by such Person
or Affiliate.
"Registration Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.13.
"Regulatory Documents" shall mean, with respect to a Person,
all forms, reports, registration statements, schedules and other documents
filed, or required to be filed by such Person with any Governmental Authority or
pursuant to any Applicable Law.
"Representatives" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.10.
"Right" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(ii).
"SAIF" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 and any
successor thereto.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission and
any successor thereto.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
"Starting Date" shall mean February 24, 1998.
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"Starting Price" shall mean $34.875 (the closing price per
share of Commercial Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape on the
Starting Date).
"Stock Option Agreement" has the meaning set forth on the
first page hereof.
"Structured Note" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.21.
"Surviving Corporation" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1.
"Tax Return" shall mean any return, report, information
statement, schedule or other document (including any related or supporting
information and including any Form 1099 or other document or report required to
be provided to third parties) with respect to Taxes, including any document
required to be retained or provided to any governmental authority pursuant to 31
U.S.C. Sections 5311-5328 and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Taxes" shall mean all federal, provincial, territorial,
state, municipal, local, foreign or other taxes, imposts, rates, levies,
assessments and other charges (and all interest and penalties thereon),
including, without limitation, all income, excise, franchise, gains, capital,
real property, goods and services, transfer, value added, gross receipts,
windfall profits, severance, ad valorem, personal property, production, sales,
use, license, stamp, documentary stamp, mortgage recording, employment, payroll,
social security, unemployment, disability, estimated or withholding taxes, and
all customs and import duties, and all interest, penalties and losses thereon or
associated therewith or associated with any Tax Return.
ARTICLE II
THE PARENT MERGER
Section 2.1. The Parent Merger. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and to the HOLA, Bancorp shall be merged with and
into Commercial in accordance with the Nebraska Business Corporation Act (the
"NBCA") and the Colorado Business Corporations Act (the "CBCA"), and thereafter
the separate corporate existence of Bancorp shall cease. Commercial shall be the
surviving corporation of the Parent Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the
"Surviving Corporation") and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the
State of Nebraska. The Parent Merger shall have the effects set forth in the
applicable provisions of the NBCA.
Section 2.2. Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the
Parent Merger shall take place at the offices of Commercial, 2120 South 72nd
Street, Omaha, Nebraska (including by mail, fax or otherwise as reasonably
agreed to by the parties hereto), prior to the Effective Time on the date that
the Effective Time occurs (the "Closing Date").
Section 2.3. Effective Time. The Parent Merger shall become
effective on the date and at the time (the "Effective Time") on which
appropriate documents in respect of the Parent Merger are filed with the
Secretaries of State of the States of Nebraska and Colorado in such form as
required by, and in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the NBCA and
CBCA, respec-
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tively. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Effective
Time shall occur on any such date as Commercial shall notify Bancorp in writing
(such notice to be at least five full trading days in advance of the Effective
Time) but (i) not earlier than the later of (x) the satisfaction or waiver of
all conditions set forth in Article VII and (y) July 24, 1998 (such later date
being referred to herein as the "Approval Date") and (ii) subject to clause (i),
not later than the first Business Day of the first full calendar month
commencing at least five full trading days after the Approval Date, or at such
other time as Commercial and Bancorp shall agree.
Section 2.4. Additional Actions. If, at any time after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any
further deeds, assignments or assurances or any other acts are necessary or
desirable to (i) vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the
Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the
rights, properties or assets of Commercial or Bancorp or (ii) otherwise carry
out the purposes of this Agreement, Bancorp and each of its officers and
directors shall be deemed to have granted to the Surviving Corporation an
irrevocable power of attorney to execute and deliver all such deeds, assignments
or assurances and to do all acts necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or
confirm title and possession to such rights, properties or assets in the
Surviving Corporation and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement,
and the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation are authorized in
the name of Bancorp or otherwise to take any and all such action.
Section 2.5. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Commercial in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation following the Parent Merger until otherwise amended or
repealed.
Section 2.6. Boards of Directors and Officers. At the
Effective Time, the directors and officers of Commercial immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall continue to be directors and officers, respectively, of
the Surviving Corporation following the Parent Merger; such directors and
officers shall hold office in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's Bylaws
and applicable law. Promptly following the Effective Time, (i) Malcolm E.
Collier, Jr., President, CEO and Chairman of Bancorp, shall be invited to serve
as an additional member of the Commercial Board (or, at Mr. Collier's election,
a director emeritus for a period of not less than 36 months) and, upon
acceptance thereof and appointment thereon, shall be entitled to receive
director fees (of no less than $500 per meeting) on the same basis as other
non-employee directors of Commercial, and (ii) each other director serving on
the Bancorp Board as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Time shall be
invited to serve on an advisory board to Commercial for a period of not less
than 12 months following the Effective Time and, upon acceptance thereof and
appointment thereon, each such director serving on such advisory board who is
not an employee of Commercial or a Commercial Subsidiary following the Effective
Time shall be entitled to receive a meeting fee of $500 per meeting for such
service, such advisory board to meet not less frequently than 4 times a year.
Section 2.7. Conversion of Securities. At the Effective Time,
by virtue of the Parent Merger and without any action on the part of Commercial,
Bancorp or the holder of any of the following securities:
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(i) Each share of the Commercial Common Stock that is issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding
and shall be unchanged after the Parent Merger; and
(ii) Subject to Sections 2.9, 2.10 and 2.11 hereof, each share
of Bancorp Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into and
become the right to receive a number of shares of Commercial Common Stock equal
to the Exchange Ratio, provided, however, that any shares of Bancorp Common
Stock held by Bancorp, Commercial or any of their respective Subsidiaries, in
each case other than in a fiduciary capacity or as a result of debts previously
contracted, shall be canceled and shall not be exchanged for shares of
Commercial Common Stock.
Section 2.8. Exchange Procedures. (a) At or prior to the
Effective Time, Commercial shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with
the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of certificates of Bancorp
Common Stock for exchange in accordance with this Article II, certificates
representing the shares of Commercial Common Stock and an estimated amount of
cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares to be paid pursuant to this Article
II in exchange for outstanding shares of Bancorp Common Stock.
(b) Holders of record of certificates which immediately prior
to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Bancorp Common Stock
(the "Certificates") shall be instructed to tender such Certificates to
Commercial, or to an exchange agent designated by Commercial (the "Exchange
Agent"), pursuant to a letter of transmittal that Commercial shall deliver or
cause to be delivered to such holders as promptly as practicable following the
Effective Time. Such letter of transmittal shall specify that risk of loss and
title to Certificates shall pass only upon delivery of such Certificates to
Commercial or the Exchange Agent.
(c) Subject to Section 2.9, after the Effective Time, each
holder of a Certificate(s) that surrenders such Certificate(s) to Commercial, or
to the Exchange Agent, will, upon acceptance thereof by Commercial or the
Exchange Agent, be entitled to (x) a certificate or certificates representing
the number of whole shares of Commercial Common Stock into which the shares
represented by the Certificate(s) so surrendered (aggregating all Certificates
surrendered by such holder) shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement
and (y) a check representing the amount of any cash in lieu of fractional
shares, if any, and dividends and distributions, if any, which such holder has
the right to receive hereunder with respect to the Certificate(s) so
surrendered, in each case after giving effect to any required withholding tax.
(d) Commercial or, at the election of Commercial, the Exchange
Agent shall accept Certificates upon compliance with such reasonable terms and
conditions as Commercial or the Exchange Agent may impose to effect an orderly
exchange thereof in accordance with customary exchange practices. Certificates
shall be appropriately endorsed or accompanied by such instruments of transfer
as Commercial or the Exchange Agent may reasonably require.
(e) All shares of Commercial Common Stock issued upon
surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof (including any
cash paid pursuant to this Article II) shall be deemed to have been in full
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Bancorp
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Common Stock represented thereby. After the Effective Time, holders of
Certificates shall cease to have rights with respect to the shares previously
represented by such Certificates, and their sole rights shall be to exchange
such Certificates for the consideration provided for in this Agreement.
(f) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further
transfer on the records of Bancorp of Certificates, and if such Certificates are
presented to Bancorp for transfer, they shall be canceled against delivery of
the consideration provided therefor in this Agreement. Commercial shall not be
obligated to deliver the consideration to which any former holder of Bancorp
Common Stock is entitled as a result of the Parent Merger until such holder
surrenders the Certificates as provided herein. Certificates surrendered for
exchange by any person constituting an "affiliate" of Bancorp for purposes of
Rule 145 of the Securities Act, shall not be exchanged for certificates
representing Commercial Common Stock until Commercial has received a written
agreement from such person in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. Neither the
Exchange Agent nor any party to this Agreement nor any Affiliate thereof shall
be liable to any holder of stock represented by any Certificate for any
consideration paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar laws. Commercial and the Exchange Agent shall be
entitled to rely upon the stock transfer books of Bancorp to establish the
identity of those persons entitled to receive consideration specified in this
Agreement, which books shall be conclusive with respect thereto. In the event of
a dispute with respect to ownership of stock represented by any Certificate,
Commercial and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deposit any consideration
represented thereby in escrow with an independent third party and thereafter be
relieved with respect to any claims thereto.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, no
dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with
respect to Commercial Common Stock having a record date after the Effective Time
shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate, and no cash
payment in lieu of fractional shares shall be paid to any such holder, until the
holder shall surrender such Certificate as provided in this Section 2.8. Subject
to the effect of Applicable Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate,
there shall be paid to the holder of the certificates representing whole shares
of Commercial Common Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at
the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or other distributions with
a record date on or after the Effective Time theretofore payable with respect to
such whole shares of Commercial Common Stock and not paid, less the amount of
any withholding taxes which may be required thereon, and (ii) at the appropriate
payment date subsequent to surrender, the amount of dividends or other
distributions with a record date on or after the Effective Time but prior to
surrender and a payment date subsequent to surrender payable with respect to
such whole shares of Commercial Common Stock, less the amount of any withholding
taxes which may be required thereon.
Section 2.9. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, neither certificates nor scrip for fractional
shares of Commercial Common Stock shall be issued in the Parent Merger. Each
holder who otherwise would have been entitled to a fraction of a share of
Commercial Common Stock shall receive in lieu thereof cash (without interest) in
an amount determined by multiplying the fractional share interest to which such
holder would other-
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wise be entitled by the average of the closing prices per share of Commercial
Common Stock for the five full trading days immediately preceding the Closing
Date as reported on the NYSE Consolidated Tape (as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or, if not reported therein, in another mutually agreed upon
authoritative source). No such holder shall be entitled to dividends, voting
rights or any other rights in respect of any fractional share.
Section 2.10. Anti-Dilution Adjustments. In the event that
prior to the Effective Time Commercial shall (or shall establish a record date
prior to the Effective Time for the following) declare a stock dividend or other
distribution payable in Commercial Common Stock or securities convertible into
Commercial Common Stock or a distribution otherwise Previously Disclosed, or
effect a stock split, reclassification, combination or other change with respect
to Commercial Common Stock, the Exchange Ratio or the Merger Consideration (in
each case, as defined herein), as the case may be, shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect such dividend, distribution, stock split, reclassification,
combination or other change, such that the shareholders of Bancorp shall be
entitled to same as if the Effective Time had occurred prior thereto.
Section 2.11. Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, any shares of Bancorp Common Stock which are
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and with respect
to which the holder thereof shall have perfected any appraisal rights under the
CBCA (the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into or be exchangeable
for the right to receive the Merger Consideration (but instead shall be
converted into the right to receive payment from the Surviving Corporation with
respect to such Dissenting Shares in accordance with the CBCA), unless and until
such holder shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or
lost their rights to appraisal under the CBCA. Bancorp shall give prompt notice
to Commercial of any demands received by Bancorp for appraisal of shares of
Bancorp Common Stock, and Commercial shall have the right to participate in all
negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. Bancorp shall not,
except with the prior written consent of Commercial, make any payment with
respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.
Section 2.12. Treatment of Stock Options. (a) Prior to the
Effective Time, Commercial and Bancorp shall take all such actions as may be
necessary to cause each unexpired and unexercised option under stock option
plans of Bancorp in effect on the date hereof which has been granted to current
or former directors, officers or employees of Bancorp by Bancorp (each, a
"Bancorp Option") to be automatically converted at the Effective Time into an
option (an "Exchange Option") to purchase that number of shares of Commercial
Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Bancorp Common Stock issuable
immediately prior to the Effective Time upon exercise of the Bancorp Option
(without regard to actual restrictions on exercisability) multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio (fractional shares as a result thereof to be subject to the terms
of the respective Bancorp Options and the terms of the plans governing same),
with an exercise price equal to the exercise price which existed under the
corresponding Bancorp Option divided by the Exchange Ratio, and with other terms
and conditions that are the same as the terms and conditions of such Bancorp
Option immediately before the Effective Time, provided that with respect to any
Bancorp Option that is an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code, the foregoing conversion shall be carried out in a manner
satisfying the requirements of Section
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424(a) of the Code. In connection with the issuance of Exchange Options,
Commercial shall (i) reserve for issuance the number of shares of Commercial
Common Stock that will become subject to Exchange Options pursuant to this
Section 2.12 and (ii) from and after the Effective Time, upon exercise of
Exchange Options, make available for issuance all shares of Commercial Common
Stock covered thereby, subject to the terms and conditions applicable thereto.
(b) Bancorp agrees to issue treasury shares of Bancorp, to the
extent available, upon the exercise of Bancorp Options prior to the Effective
Time.
(c) Commercial agrees to file with the SEC within one month
after the Closing Date a registration statement on Form S-8 or other appropriate
form under the Securities Act to register shares of Commercial Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Exchange Options and use its reasonable efforts to
cause such registration statement to remain effective until the exercise or
expiration of all of such Exchange Options.
Section 2.13. Reservation of Right to Revise Transaction.
Commercial may at any time change the method of effecting the acquisition of
Bancorp or the Bancorp Subsidiaries by Commercial, and Bancorp shall cooperate
in such efforts, if and to the extent Commercial deems such change to be
desirable and subject to Bancorp's approval (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that no such change shall (A) alter
or change the amount or kind of consideration to be issued to holders of Bancorp
Common Stock as provided for in this Agreement (the "Merger Consideration"), (B)
adversely affect the tax treatment to Bancorp's shareholders as a result of
receiving the Merger Consideration, (C) adversely affect the qualification of
the Merger as a pooling of interests for accounting and financial reporting
purposes or (D) materially delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
THE BANK MERGER
Sectin 3.1. The Bank Merger. As soon as practicable following
the Effective Time, the Company shall be merged with and into the Bank pursuant
to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan of Merger attached
hereto as Exhibit C (the "Bank Plan of Merger") and pursuant to 12 U.S.C. ss.ss.
1467a(s) and 1828(c) and ss. 552.13 of the rules and regulations of the OTS
promulgated thereunder, and the separate existence of the Company shall
thereupon cease, the Bank shall be the surviving institution in the Merger and
shall retain the name "Commercial Federal Bank, A Federal Savings Bank", all of
the Bank's rights, privileges, powers, immunities, purposes and franchises shall
continue unaffected by the Bank Merger and the Bank shall continue at the
effective time of the Bank Merger to be regulated by the OTS.
Section 3.2. Liquidation Account. The liquidation account
established by the Company pursuant to the plan of conversion adopted in
connection with its conversion from mutual to stock form shall, to the extent
required by Applicable Law, continue to be maintained by the Bank after the
Effective Time for the benefit of those persons and entities who were savings
account holders of the Company on the eligibility and supplemental eligibility
record dates for such conversion and who continue from time to time to have
rights therein. If required by the
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<PAGE>
rules and regulations of the OTS, the Bank shall amend its charter to
specifically provide for the continuation of the liquidation account previously
established by the Company.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
BANCORP AND THE COMPANY
Bancorp and the Company jointly and severally represent and
warrant to Commercial and the Bank, except as otherwise Previously Disclosed, as
follows:
Section 4.1. Organization, Good Standing, Authority,
Insurance, Etc. (a) Bancorp is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado, and is duly
registered as a savings and loan holding company with the OTS under the HOLA.
The Company is a federal savings bank. Each "subsidiary" of Bancorp within the
meaning of Section 10(a)(1)(G) of HOLA (individually a "Bancorp Subsidiary" and
collectively the "Bancorp Subsidiaries"), has been Previously Disclosed. Each of
the Bancorp Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the respective jurisdiction under which it is
organized, as set forth in the Bancorp Disclosure Schedule. Each of Bancorp and
the Bancorp Subsidiaries has all requisite power and authority and is duly
qualified and licensed to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its
business as it is now being conducted, except for such failure or failures to be
so qualified or licensed as would not, in the aggregate, have a Bancorp Material
Adverse Effect. Bancorp has made available to Commercial a true, complete and
correct copy of the articles of incorporation, charter, or other organizing
documents and of the by-laws, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, of
Bancorp and each Bancorp Subsidiary. Each of Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which qualification is necessary under
Applicable Law, except to the extent that any failures to so qualify would not,
in the aggregate, have a Bancorp Material Adverse Effect. The Company is a
member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, and all
eligible accounts issued by the Company are insured by the FDIC through the
Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") to the maximum extent permitted
under Applicable Law, and all premiums and assessments required in connection
therewith have been paid by the Company. The Company is a "domestic building and
loan association" as defined in Section 7701(a)(19) of the Code, and is a
"qualified thrift lender" as defined in Section 10(m) of the HOLA.
(b) The minute books of Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries
contain records of all meetings and other corporate actions held or taken of
their respective shareholders and Boards of Directors (including the committees
of such Boards) since January 1, 1996, which records are complete and accurate
in all material respects and have been made available to Commercial.
Section 4.2. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of
Bancorp consists of 50,000,000 shares of Bancorp Common Stock, of which
16,826,798 shares were issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement,
and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of
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$.10 per share ("Bancorp Preferred Stock"), of which no shares were outstanding
as of the date of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, no shares of
Bancorp Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance, except for 1,500,000 shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock reserved for issuance upon
exercise of the Rights distributed to the holders of Bancorp Common Stock
pursuant to the Bancorp Rights Agreement. No other class or series of capital
stock of Bancorp is or has been authorized. As of the date of this Agreement,
there were 3,707,458 shares of Bancorp Common Stock and no shares of Bancorp
Preferred Stock held in Bancorp's treasury and, except as Previously Disclosed,
there were no shares of Bancorp Common Stock reserved for issuance. As of
immediately prior to the Effective Time, there will be no more than 1,807,458
shares of Bancorp Common Stock held in Bancorp's treasury. All issued and
outstanding shares of Bancorp Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. As of the date of this
Agreement, except as Previously Disclosed, there are no outstanding Rights to
purchase or acquire any capital stock of Bancorp and no oral or written
agreement, contract, arrangement, understanding, plan or instrument of any kind
to which Bancorp or any of its Affiliates is subject with respect to the
issuance, voting or sale of issued or unissued shares of the capital stock of
Bancorp.
Section 4.3. Ownership of Subsidiaries. All the outstanding
shares of the capital stock or other ownership interests in all of the Bancorp
Subsidiaries are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and owned
beneficially and of record by Bancorp or a Bancorp Subsidiary free and clear of
any Encumbrance. There are no outstanding Rights to purchase or acquire any
capital stock of any Bancorp Subsidiary and no oral or written agreement,
contract, arrangement, understanding, plan or instrument of any kind to which
any of Bancorp or any of its Affiliates is subject with respect to the issuance,
voting or sale of issued or unissued shares of the capital stock of any of the
Bancorp Subsidiaries. Neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp Subsidiary owns any of the
capital stock or other equity securities (including any Rights with respect to
such securities) of or profit participations in any Person or "company" (as
defined in Section 10(a)(1)(C) of the HOLA) other than the Federal Home Loan
Bank of Topeka and the Bancorp Subsidiaries.
Section 4.4. Financial Statements and Reports. For the past
three years, Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries have timely filed all
Regulatory Documents required to be filed by them, except to the extent that all
failures to so file, in the aggregate, would not have a Bancorp Material Adverse
Effect; and all such documents, as finally amended, complied in all material
respects with applicable requirements of Applicable Law and, as of their
respective date or the date as amended, 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 light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Except to the extent stated therein, all
financial statements and schedules included in the documents referred to in the
preceding sentences (i) are in accordance with Bancorp's books and records and
those of any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries, which books and records are complete
and accurate in all material respects and have been maintained in all material
respects in accordance with Applicable Law, and (ii) present fairly the
consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations and
cash flows of Bancorp as of the dates and for the periods indicated in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved (except
for the omission of notes to unaudited statements, year-end adjustments to
interim results normal in nature and amount and changes in GAAP and except where
regulatory
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reporting requirements provide otherwise). The audited consolidated financial
statements of Bancorp as of December 31, 1996 and for the three years then ended
last filed by Bancorp as part of a publicly available Regulatory Document
disclose all liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or
otherwise, whether due or to become due and regardless of when asserted), as of
their respective dates, of Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries required to be
reflected in such financial statements according to GAAP, other than liabilities
which are not, in the aggregate, material to Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and contain in the opinion of management,
adequate reserves for losses on loans and properties acquired in settlement of
loans, Taxes and all other material accrued liabilities and for all reasonably
anticipated material losses in accordance with GAAP, if any, as of such date.
Except for (i) those liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved against on
Bancorp's audited consolidated balance sheet last filed by Bancorp as part of a
publicly available Regulatory Document and (ii) liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business since the date of such audited consolidated balance
sheet and which would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Bancorp
Material Adverse Effect, Bancorp has no liabilities or obligations of any
nature, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to
become due, which are or would be required by GAAP to be shown on its
consolidated balance sheet.
Section 4.5. Absence of Changes. (a) Except as disclosed in
publicly available Regulatory Documents filed by Bancorp prior to the date of
this Agreement, since December 31, 1996, there has been no event, occurrence,
development, fact or set of circumstances of any nature existing or, to the
knowledge of Bancorp, threatened which, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or could reasonably be expected to have a Bancorp Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as Previously Disclosed, since September 30, 1997,
each of Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries has owned and operated its
respective assets, properties and businesses in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with past practice and has not taken any action or suffered any
event that if taken or suffered after the date hereof would violate Section 6.1
of this Agreement.
Section 4.6. No Broker's or Finder's Fees. No agent, broker,
investment banker, Person or firm acting on behalf or under authority of Bancorp
or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries is or will be entitled to any broker's or
finder's fee or any other commission or similar fee directly or indirectly in
connection with the Merger or any other transaction contemplated hereby or by
the Stock Option Agreement, except Bancorp has engaged The Wallach Company, an
investment banking firm, to provide financial advisory services.
Section 4.7. Litigation and Other Proceedings. (a) Except for
matters which would not have, in the aggregate, a Bancorp Material Adverse
Effect, neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp Subsidiary is a defendant in, nor is any
of its property subject to, any pending or, to the knowledge of Bancorp,
threatened claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding. There is no
judicial order, judgment or decree to which any of Bancorp, the Bancorp
Subsidiaries or their respective properties is subject which has had or could
reasonably be expected to have a Bancorp Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) All pending claims, actions, suits, investigations and
proceedings in which Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary is a defendant and all
judicial orders, judgments or decrees to which Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary
is subject have been Previously Disclosed.
Section 4.8. Compliance with Law. Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries have been in compliance in all respects with all Applicable Laws,
except where such non-compliance would not have, in the aggregate, a Bancorp
Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any Bancorp Subsidiary has
received notice from any Governmental Authority of any material violation of,
and does not know of any material violations of, any Applicable Law.
Section 4.9. Corporate Actions. (a) The Boards of Directors of
Bancorp and the Company have duly authorized their respective officers to
execute and deliver (as appropriate) this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement
and the Bank Plan of Merger and to take all action necessary to consummate the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Except for
obtaining the requisite approval of the Bancorp shareholders as contemplated
hereby, all corporate authorization by the Boards of Directors and shareholders
of Bancorp and the Company required for the consummation of the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Stock Option Agreement has been
obtained. The Bancorp Board and Bancorp have taken all necessary steps to render
the Bancorp Rights Agreement inapplicable to the Merger and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and by the Stock Option Agreement (including,
such that the Rights related thereto will not be distributed, become exercisable
or be triggered in any way as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the
Stock Option Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby).
(b) The Boards of Directors of Bancorp and the Company have
taken or will take all necessary action to exempt this Agreement, the Stock
Option Agreement and the Bank Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby from (i) any applicable state takeover laws, (ii) any
Applicable Laws limiting or restricting the voting rights of shareholders, (iii)
any Applicable Laws requiring a shareholder approval vote in excess of the vote
normally required in transactions of similar type not involving a "related
person," "interested shareholder" or Person of similar type, and (iv) any
provision in its or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries' articles of incorporation,
charter or by-laws (A) restricting or limiting stock ownership or the voting
rights of shareholders or (B) requiring a shareholder approval vote in excess of
the vote normally required in transactions of similar type not involving a
"related person," interested shareholder" or Person of similar type.
Section 4.10. Authority. Except as Previously Disclosed, the
execution, delivery and performance by each of Bancorp and the Company of their
respective obligations under this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and
the consummation thereby of the transaction contemplated hereby and thereby do
not, and will not, violate or conflict with any of the provisions of, or
constitute a breach or default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time,
or both, would constitute a breach or default) under, terminate, give any Person
the right to terminate, modify or accelerate payment or performance under or
result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the respective properties
or assets of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary under (i) the articles of
incorporation, charter or by-laws of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary, (ii)
subject to the Gov-
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ernmental Approvals and the approval of Bancorp shareholders described below,
any Applicable Law to which Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries is
subject or (iii) except, in each case, where such violation, conflict, breach,
default, termination (or right to terminate), modification, acceleration or
Encumbrance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Bancorp Material
Adverse Effect, any agreement, lease, contract, note, mortgage, indenture,
arrangement or other obligation or instrument, whether oral or written
("Contract"), to which Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries is a party or
is subject or by which any of their properties or assets is bound or affected.
The parties acknowledge that the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby is subject to various regulatory approvals.
Each of Bancorp and the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the Bank Plan of
Merger, as the case may be, and to perform its respective obligations hereunder
and thereunder. Other than the filings, notices, approvals and consents with or
of the Governmental Authorities as Previously Disclosed (the "Governmental
Approvals") and the requisite approval of Bancorp shareholders as contemplated
hereby, no filings, notices, approvals or consents are required on behalf of
Bancorp, the Company or any Bancorp Subsidiary in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Stock
Option Agreement or the Bank Plan of Merger. Neither Bancorp nor the Company has
knowledge of any reason why the Governmental Approvals cannot be obtained or
granted on a timely basis. The only vote of Bancorp shareholders required to
approve the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby is
the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of
Bancorp Common Stock entitled to vote at a meeting called for such purpose. This
Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the Bank Plan of Merger constitute the
valid and binding obligations of Bancorp and the Company, as the case may be,
and are enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may
be limited by Applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or creditors
rights generally and general principles of equity.
Section 4.11. Employment Arrangements. Except as Previously
Disclosed, there are no employment, incentive compensation, severance or other
agreements, plans or arrangements with any current or former directors, officers
or employees of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary which may not be terminated
without penalty or liability (including any augmentation or acceleration of
benefits) on thirty (30) days' or less notice to such Person. Except as
Previously Disclosed, neither the execution of this Agreement or the Stock
Option Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby will (either alone or upon the occurrence of additional events or acts)
result in, cause the accelerated vesting or delivery of, or increase the amount
or value of, any payment or benefit to any employee, officer or director of
Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary. Except as Previously Disclosed, no amount
paid or payable to directors, officers or employees of Bancorp or the Bancorp
Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (either
solely as a result of such transactions or as a result of such transactions in
conjunction with any other event) will cause the imposition of excise taxes
under Section 4999 of the Code or the disallowance of a deduction pursuant to
Sections 162, 280G or any other section of the Code.
Section 4.12. Employee Benefits. (a) Neither Bancorp nor any
of the Bancorp Subsidiaries maintains, contributes to or sponsors any funded
deferred compensation plans (including profit sharing, pension, savings or stock
bonus plans), unfunded deferred compensation
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arrangements or employee benefit plans as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,
other than any plans ("Bancorp Employee Benefit Plans") Previously Disclosed
(true and correct copies of which have been delivered to Commercial). Except as
Previously Disclosed, neither Bancorp nor any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries (i)
provides health, medical, death or survivor benefits to any former employee or
beneficiary thereof, or (ii) maintains any form of current (exclusive of base
salary and base wages) or deferred compensation, bonus, stock option, stock
appreciation right, benefit, severance pay, retirement, incentive, group or
individual health insurance, welfare or similar plan or arrangement for the
benefit of any single or class of directors, officers or employees, whether
active or retired (collectively "Benefit Arrangements").
(b) All Bancorp Employee Benefit Plans and Benefit
Arrangements which are in effect were in effect for substantially all of
calendar year 1997 and, except as Previously Disclosed, there has been no
material amendment thereof (other than amendments required to comply with
Applicable Law) and, except as disclosed in publicly available Regulatory
Documents filed by Bancorp prior to the date of this Agreement, no material
increase in the cost thereof or benefits payable thereunder on or after January
1, 1997.
(c) To the knowledge of Bancorp, with respect to all Bancorp
Employee Benefit Plans and Benefit Arrangements, Bancorp and each Bancorp
Subsidiary are in substantial compliance with the requirements prescribed by any
and all Applicable Laws currently in effect, including but not limited to ERISA
and the Code, applicable to such Bancorp Employee Benefit Plans or Benefit
Arrangements. None of the Bancorp Employee Benefit Plans which are defined
benefit pension plans have incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency"
(whether or not waived) as that term is defined in Section 412 of the Code and
the fair market value of the assets of each such plan equals or exceeds the
accrued liabilities of such plan. To the best knowledge of Bancorp and the
Company, there are not now nor have there been any non-exempt "prohibited
transactions," as such term is defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section
406 of ERISA, involving the Bancorp Employee Benefit Plans which could subject
Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries to the penalty or Tax imposed under
Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. No Bancorp Employee Benefit
Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA has been completely or partially
terminated; no proceedings to completely or partially terminate any Bancorp
Employee Benefit Plan have been instituted within the meaning of Subtitle C of
said Title IV of ERISA; and no reportable event, within the meaning of Section
4043(c) of said Subtitle C for which the 30-day notice requirement of ERISA has
not been waived, has occurred with respect to any Bancorp Employee Benefit Plan.
No Bancorp Employee Benefit Plan or Benefit Arrangement is a "multiemployer
plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or a plan that has two
or more contributing sponsors at least two of whom are not under common control,
within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA. Neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp
Subsidiary has engaged in any transaction described in Section 4069 of ERISA
within the last five years. There does not now exist, nor do any circumstances
exist that could result in, any liability of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary
(or any entity, trade or business that is or was at any time required to be
aggregated with Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary under Section 414(b), (c), (m)
or (o) of the Code) under Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA, Sections 412
and 4971 of the Code, the continuation coverage requirements of Section 601 et
seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code, and similar provisions of foreign
laws or regulations, other than such liabilities that
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arise solely out of, or relate solely to, the Bancorp Employee Benefit Plans or
Benefit Arrangements, that would be a liability of Bancorp, a Bancorp
Subsidiary, Commercial or the Bank following consummation of the Merger. Neither
Bancorp nor any Bancorp Subsidiary has failed to make any contribution or pay
any amount due and owing as required by the terms of any Bancorp Employee
Benefit Plan or Benefit Arrangement. None of Bancorp or any of the Bancorp
Subsidiaries has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability to the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation except for required premium payments which,
to the extent due and payable, have been paid. To the knowledge of Bancorp, the
Bancorp Employee Benefit Plans intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Code are so qualified, and Bancorp is not aware of any fact which would
adversely affect the qualified status of such plans.
Section 4.13. Information Furnished; Registration Statement.
(a) To the best knowledge of Bancorp, no statement contained in any schedule,
certificate or other document furnished (whether prior to or subsequent to the
date of this Agreement) or to be furnished in writing by or on behalf of Bancorp
or any of its Affiliates to Commercial pursuant to this Agreement contains or
will 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) None of the information provided by Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary for inclusion in the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed
with the SEC by Commercial under the Securities Act relating to shares of
Commercial Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, including the prospectus
(the "Prospectus") relating to such issuance and the joint proxy statement and
forms of proxy relating to the vote of Commercial shareholders and Bancorp
shareholders with respect to the Merger (as amended, supplemented or modified,
the "Proxy Statement") contained therein (such registration statement as
amended, supplemented or modified, the "Registration Statement"), at the time
the Registration Statement becomes effective or, in the case of the Proxy
Statement, at the date of mailing, will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Each of the
Registration Statement and Proxy Statement, except for such portions thereof
that relate only to Commercial or a Commercial Subsidiary, will comply as to
form in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and
Exchange Act, as applicable.
Section 4.14. Property and Assets. Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all of their real property
reflected in the consolidated financial statements last filed by Bancorp as part
of a publicly available Regulatory Document or acquired subsequent thereto, free
and clear of all Encumbrances, except for (a) such items reflected in such
financial statements or in the notes thereto, (b) liens for current taxes not
yet delinquent, (c) customary title exceptions that have no material adverse
effect upon the current use of such property, (d) property sold or transferred
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the date
of such financial statements and (e) as otherwise Previously Disclosed. Bancorp
and the Bancorp Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession under all
material leases for the use of real property under which they are the lessee;
all of such leases are valid and binding and in full force and effect and
neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp Subsidiary is in default in any respect under
any
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such lease, except where such failure to be valid and binding and in full force
and effect, or where such default, would not have, in the aggregate, a Bancorp
Material Adverse Effect. No consent of the lessor of any material real property
or material personal property lease is required for consummation of the Merger.
There has been no physical loss, damage or destruction, whether or not covered
by insurance, affecting the real properties of Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries since December 31, 1996, except such loss, damage or destruction
which would not have, in the aggregate, a Bancorp Material Adverse Effect. All
property and assets material to their businesses and currently used by Bancorp
and the Bancorp Subsidiaries are, in all material respects, in good operating
condition and repair, normal wear and tear excepted.
Section 4.15. Agreements and Instruments. Except as Previously
Disclosed, neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp Subsidiary is a party to (a) any
material Contract, (b) any Contract relating to the borrowing of money by
Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary or the guarantee by Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary of any such obligation (other than Federal Home Loan Bank advances
with a maturity of one year or less from the date hereof), (c) any Contract to
make loans or for the provision, purchase or sale of goods, services or property
between Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary and any director or officer of Bancorp
or and Bancorp Subsidiary, or any member of the immediate family or Affiliate of
any of the foregoing (other than loans or deposits made on an arm's-length basis
in the ordinary course of business), (d) any Contract with or concerning any
labor or employee organization, (e) any Contract between Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary and any Affiliate thereof (other than Contracts solely between
Bancorp and a Bancorp Subsidiary or solely between Bancorp Subsidiaries), (f)
any agreements, directives, orders, or similar arrangements between or involving
Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority, (g) any
Contract with respect to the employment, retention or severance of any
directors, officers, employees or consultants, (h) any Contract which materially
restricts the conduct of any line of business by Bancorp or any current or
future Affiliates thereof or (i) any Contract pursuant to which Bancorp or any
Bancorp Subsidiary is or may become obligated to invest in or contribute capital
to any Bancorp Subsidiary.
Section 4.16. Material Contract Defaults. Neither Bancorp nor
any Bancorp Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of Bancorp and the Company, the
other party thereto is in default in any respect under any Contract to which any
of Bancorp or the Bancorp Subsidiaries is a party or 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, other than any
such default or defaults which would not have, in the aggregate, a Bancorp
Material Adverse Effect, 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.
All material Contracts to which Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries is a
party are valid, binding and in full force and effect.
Section 4.17. Tax Matters. (a) Bancorp, each of the Bancorp
Subsidiaries and any affiliated group (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of
the Code) of which Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries is a member have
duly and properly filed all federal, state, local and other Tax Returns required
to be filed by them and have made timely payments of all Taxes due and payable,
whether disputed or not; such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all
material respects; the current status of audits of such Tax Returns by the IRS
and other applicable agen-
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cies has been Previously Disclosed; and there is no agreement by Bancorp or any
Bancorp Subsidiary for the waiver or extension of time for the assessment or
payment of any Taxes payable. Neither the IRS nor any other taxing authority is
now asserting or, to the best knowledge of Bancorp and the Company, threatening
to assert any deficiency or claim for additional Taxes, nor to the knowledge of
Bancorp or the Company is there any basis for any such assertion or claim.
Bancorp and each of the Bancorp Subsidiaries have complied in all material
respects with applicable IRS backup withholding requirements and have filed all
appropriate information reporting returns for all Tax years for which the
statute of limitations has not closed. Bancorp and each Bancorp Subsidiary have
complied with all applicable state law sales and use Tax collection and
reporting requirements.
(b) Adequate provision for any federal, state, local or
foreign Taxes due or to become due for Bancorp or any of the Bancorp
Subsidiaries for any period or periods through and including September 30, 1997,
has been made and is reflected on the September 30, 1997 consolidated financial
statements last filed by Bancorp as part of a publicly available Regulatory
Document and has been or will be made with respect to periods ending after
September 30, 1997.
Section 4.18. Environmental Matters. To the knowledge of
Bancorp, neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp Subsidiary owns or leases any
properties affected by toxic waste, radon gas or other hazardous conditions or
constructed in part with the use of asbestos. Neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp
Subsidiary has knowledge of, nor has Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary received
written notice from any Governmental Authority of, any conditions, activities,
practices or incidents which are reasonably likely to interfere with or prevent
compliance or continued compliance by Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary with
hazardous substance laws or any regulation, order, decree, judgment or
injunction, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder, or which may
give rise to any common law or legal liability on the part of Bancorp or any
Bancorp Subsidiary, or otherwise form the basis of any claim, action, suit,
proceeding, hearing or investigation against or of Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary, based on or related to the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling, or the emission,
discharge, release or threatened release into the environment, of any pollutant,
contaminant or chemical, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substance or waste.
There is no civil, criminal or administrative claim, action, suit, proceeding,
hearing or investigation pending or, to the best knowledge of Bancorp and the
Company, threatened against Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary relating in any
way to such hazardous substance laws or any regulation, order, decree, judgment
or injunction issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder. To the
knowledge of Bancorp and the Company, none of Bancorp or the Bancorp
Subsidiaries has made or participated in any loan to any Person who is subject
to any civil, criminal or administrative claim, action, suit, proceeding,
hearing or investigation relating in any way to such hazardous substance laws or
any regulation, order, decree, judgment or injunction issued, entered,
promulgated or approved thereunder and relating to the property secured by such
loan.
Section 4.19. Loan Portfolio; Portfolio Management. (a) All
evidences of indebtedness reflected as assets in the consolidated financial
statements last filed by Bancorp as part of a publicly available Regulatory
Document or acquired since such date, are (except with respect to those assets
which are no longer assets of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary) binding
obliga-
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tions of the respective obligors named therein except as enforcement may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors rights generally, and except that the availability of
equitable remedies, including specific performance, is subject to the discretion
of the court before which any proceeding may be brought, and the payment of no
material amount thereof (either individually or in the aggregate with other
evidences of indebtedness) is subject to any defenses which have been threatened
or asserted against Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary. All such indebtedness
which is secured by an interest in real property is secured by a valid and
perfected mortgage lien having the priority specified in the loan documents. All
loans originated or purchased by Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiaries were at the
time entered into and at all times since have been in compliance in all material
respects with all Applicable Laws (including, without limitation, all consumer
protection laws). Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries administer their loan and
investment portfolios (including, but not limited to, adjustments to adjustable
mortgage loans) in accordance with all Applicable Laws and the terms of
applicable instruments. The records of Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries
regarding all loans outstanding on their books are accurate in all material
respects and the risk classification system has been established in accordance
with the requirements of the OTS.
(b) Bancorp and the Company have Previously Disclosed a list,
accurate and complete in all material respects, of the aggregate amounts of
loans, extensions of credit and other assets of Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries that have been adversely designated, criticized or classified as of
February 28, 1998, separated by category of classification or criticism (the
"Asset Classification"); and no amounts of loans, extensions of credit or other
assets that have been adversely designated, classified or criticized as of the
date hereof by any representative of any Government Authority as "Special
Mention," "Substandard," "Doubtful," "Loss" or words of similar import are
excluded from the amounts disclosed in the Asset Classification, other than
amounts of loans, extensions of credit or other assets that were charged off or
recovered by Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries before the date hereof.
Section 4.20. Real Estate Loans and Investments. Except for
properties acquired in settlement of loans, there are no facts, circumstances or
contingencies known to Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary which exist which would
require a material reduction under GAAP in the present carrying value of any of
the real estate investments, joint ventures, construction loans, other
investments or other loans of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary (either
individually or in the aggregate with other loans and investments).
Section 4.21. Derivatives Contracts. (a) Neither Bancorp nor
any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries is a party to or has agreed to enter into an
exchange-traded or over-the-counter swap, forward, future, option, cap, floor or
collar financial contract or any other Contract not included on the consolidated
balance sheet last filed by Bancorp as part of a publicly available Regulatory
Document which is a derivatives contract (including various combinations
thereof) (each, a "Derivatives Contract") or owns securities that are identified
in Thrift Bulletin No. 65 or otherwise referred to as structured notes (each, a
"Structured Note"), except for those Derivatives Contracts and Structured Notes
Previously Disclosed, including a list, as applicable, of any of Bancorp's or
the Bancorp Subsidiaries' assets pledged as security for a Derivatives Contract.
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(b) All Derivative Contracts to which Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their properties or assets may be bound
were entered into in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with
prudent banking practice, based on industry-wide standards at the time, and with
counterparties believed by Bancorp or the appropriate Bancorp Subsidiaries to be
financially responsible at the time.
Section 4.22. Insurance. Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries
have in effect insurance coverage with reputable insurers which, in respect of
amounts, types and risks insured, is reasonably adequate for the business in
which Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries are engaged. A schedule of all
insurance policies in effect as to Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries (the
"Insurance Policies") has been Previously Disclosed (other than policies
pertaining to secured loans made in the ordinary course of business). All
Insurance Policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect
thereto covering all periods up to and including the date of this Agreement have
been paid, such premiums covering all periods from the date hereof up to and
including the Effective Date shall have been paid on or before the Effective
Date, to the extent then due and payable (other than retrospective premiums
which may be payable with respect to worker's compensation insurance policies,
adequate reserves for which are reflected in Bancorp's financial statements last
filed by Bancorp as part of a publicly available Regulatory Document). The
Insurance Policies are valid, outstanding and enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms and will not in any way be affected by, or terminated or
lapsed solely by reason of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To
the knowledge of Bancorp, neither Bancorp nor any Bancorp Subsidiary has been
refused any insurance with respect to any material properties, assets or
operations, nor has any coverage been limited or terminated by any insurance
carrier to which it has applied for any such insurance or with which it has
carried insurance during the last three (3) years.
Section 4.23. Accounting and Tax Treatment. Neither Bancorp
nor any of its Affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that or has
failed to take any action the result of which would (but without giving effect
to any actions taken or agreed to be taken by Commercial or any of its
Affiliates) (i) prevent Commercial from accounting for the Merger as a pooling
of interests for accounting and financial reporting purposes or (ii) prevent the
Merger from qualifying as a "reorganization" under Section 368(a) of the Code.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMMERCIAL AND THE BANK
Commercial and the Bank jointly and severally represent and
warrant to Bancorp and the Company, except as otherwise Previously Disclosed, as
follows:
Section 5.1. Organization, Good Standing, Authority,
Insurance, Etc. (a) Commercial is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and is
duly registered as a savings and loan holding company with the OTS under the
HOLA. The Bank is a federal savings bank. Each of the subsidiaries of Commercial
within the meaning of Section 10(a)(1)(G) of HOLA (individually a "Commercial
Subsidiary" and collectively the "Commercial Subsidiaries") is duly organized,
validly existing, and in good standing
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under the laws of the respective jurisdiction under which it is organized. Each
of Commercial and the Commercial Subsidiaries has all requisite power and
authority and is duly qualified and licensed to own, lease and operate its
properties and conduct its business as it is now being conducted, except for
such failure or failures to be so qualified or licensed as would not, in the
aggregate, have a Commercial Material Adverse Effect. Commercial has made
available to Bancorp a true, complete and correct copy of the articles of
incorporation, charter or other organizing documents and of the by-laws of
Commercial and the Bank as in effect on the date of this Agreement. Each of
Commercial and the Commercial Subsidiaries is qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
qualification is necessary under Applicable Law, except to the extent that any
failures to so qualify would not, in the aggregate, have a Commercial Material
Adverse Effect. The Bank is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan
Bank of Topeka, and all eligible accounts issued by the Bank are insured by the
FDIC through the SAIF to the maximum extent permitted under Applicable Law, and
all premiums and assessments required in connection therewith have been paid by
the Bank. The Bank is a "domestic building and loan association" as defined in
Section 7701(a)(19) of the Code, and is a "qualified thrift lender" as defined
in Section 10(m) of the HOLA.
(b) The minute books of Commercial and the Commercial
Subsidiaries contain records of all meetings and other corporate actions held or
taken of their respective shareholders and Boards of Directors (including the
committees of such Boards) since January 1, 1996, which records are complete and
accurate in all material respects and have been made available to Bancorp.
Section 5.2. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of
Commercial consists of 50,000,000 shares of Commercial Common Stock, of which
40,305,820 shares were issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement,
and 10,000,000 shares of serial preferred stock, par value of $.01 per share, of
which no shares were outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. As of the
date of this Agreement, there were no shares of Commercial Common Stock held in
Commercial's treasury and, except as Previously Disclosed, there were no shares
of Commercial Common Stock reserved for issuance. All issued and outstanding
shares of Commercial Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. As of the date of this
Agreement, except as Previously Disclosed, there are no outstanding Rights to
purchase or acquire any capital stock of Commercial and no oral or written
agreement, contract, arrangement, understanding, plan or instrument of any kind
to which Commercial or any of its Affiliates is subject with respect to the
issuance, voting or sale of issued or unissued shares of the capital stock of
Commercial. The shares of Commercial Common Stock, if any, to be issued pursuant
to the Merger will be duly authorized and validly issued and, at the Closing,
all such shares will be fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights,
with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.
Section 5.3. Ownership of Subsidiaries. All the outstanding
shares of the capital stock or other ownership interests in all of the
Commercial Subsidiaries are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and owned
beneficially and of record by Commercial or a Commercial Subsidiary free and
clear of any Encumbrance. There are no outstanding Rights to purchase or acquire
any capital stock of any Commercial Subsidiary and no oral or written agreement,
contract, ar-
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rangement, understanding, plan or instrument of any kind to which Commercial or
any of its Affiliates is subject with respect to the issuance, voting or sale of
issued or unissued shares of the capital stock of any of the Commercial
Subsidiaries.
Section 5.4. Financial Statements and Reports. For the past
three years, Commercial and the Commercial Subsidiaries have timely filed all
Regulatory Documents required to be filed by them, except to the extent that all
failures to so file, in the aggregate, would not have a Commercial Material
Adverse Effect; and all such documents, as finally amended, complied in all
material respects with applicable requirements of Applicable Law and, as of
their respective date or the date as amended, 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 light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Except to the extent
stated therein, all financial statements and schedules included in the documents
referred to in the preceding sentences (i) are in accordance with Commercial's
books and records and those of any of the Commercial Subsidiaries, which books
and records are complete and accurate in all material respects and have been
maintained in all material respects in accordance with Applicable Law, and (ii)
present fairly the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results
of operations and cash flows of Commercial as of the dates and for the periods
indicated in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods
involved (except for the omission of notes to unaudited statements, year-end
adjustments to interim results normal in nature and amount and changes in GAAP
and except where regulatory reporting requirements provide otherwise). The
consolidated financial statements of Commercial as of December 31, 1997 and for
the three years then ended last filed by Commercial as part of a publicly
available Regulatory Document disclose all liabilities (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise, whether due or to become due
and regardless of when asserted), as of their respective dates, of Commercial
and the Commercial Subsidiaries required to be reflected in such financial
statements according to GAAP, other than liabilities which are not, in the
aggregate, material to Commercial and the Commercial Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, and contain in the opinion of management, adequate reserves for losses on
loans and properties acquired in settlement of loans, Taxes and all other
material accrued liabilities and for all reasonably anticipated material losses
in accordance with GAAP, if any, as of such date. Except for (i) those
liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved against on Commercial's audited
consolidated balance sheet last filed by Commercial as part of a publicly
available Regulatory Document and (ii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary
course of business since the date of such audited consolidated balance sheet and
which would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Commercial Material
Adverse Effect, Commercial has no liabilities or obligations of any nature,
whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become
due, which are or would be required by GAAP to be shown on its consolidated
balance sheet.
Section 5.5. No Broker's or Finder's Fees. No agent, broker,
investment banker, Person or firm acting on behalf or under authority of
Commercial or any of the Commercial Subsidiaries is or will be entitled to any
broker's or finder's fee or any other commission or similar fee directly or
indirectly in connection with the Merger or any other transaction contemplated
hereby or by the Stock Option Agreement, except Commercial has engaged Merrill
Lynch & Co., an investment banking firm, to provide financial advisory services.
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Section 5.6. Litigation and Other Proceedings. Except for
matters which would not have, in the aggregate, a Commercial Material Adverse
Effect, neither Commercial nor any Commercial Subsidiary is a defendant in, nor
is any of its property subject to, any pending, or, to the knowledge of
Commercial, threatened claim, action, suit, investigation, or proceeding. There
is no judicial order, judgment or decree to which any of Commercial, the
Commercial Subsidiaries or their respective properties is subject which has had
or could reasonably be expected to have a Commercial Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.7. Compliance With Law. Commercial and the
Commercial Subsidiaries have been and are in compliance in all respects with all
Applicable Laws, except where such non-compliance would not have, in the
aggregate, a Commercial Material Adverse Effect, and neither Commercial nor any
Commercial Subsidiary has received notice from any Governmental Authority of any
material violation of, and does not know of any material violations of, any
Applicable Law.
Section 5.8. Corporate Actions. The Boards of Directors of
Commercial and the Bank have duly authorized their respective officers to
execute and deliver (as appropriate) this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement
and the Bank Plan of Merger and to take all action necessary to consummate the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Except for
obtaining the requisite approval of the Commercial shareholders as contemplated
hereby, all corporate authorization by the Boards of Directors of Commercial and
the Bank required for the consummation of the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the Stock Option Agreement has been obtained.
Section 5.9. Authority. The execution, delivery and
performance by Commercial of its obligations under this Agreement and the Stock
Option Agreement and the consummation thereby of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby do not, and will not, violate or conflict with any of the
provisions of, or constitute a breach or default (or an event which, with notice
or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or default) under,
terminate, give any Person the right to terminate, modify or accelerate payment
or performance under or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of
the properties or assets of Commercial under (i) the articles of incorporation,
charter or by-laws of Commercial, the Bank or any other Commercial Subsidiary,
(ii) subject to the Governmental Approvals and the approval of Commercial
shareholders described below, any Applicable Law to which Commercial or any of
the Commercial Subsidiaries is subject or (iii) except, in each case, where such
violation, conflict, breach, default, termination (or right to terminate),
modification, acceleration or Encumbrance would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Commercial Material Adverse Effect, any Contract to which
Commercial or any of the Commercial Subsidiaries is a party or is subject or by
which any of their properties or assets is bound or affected. The parties
acknowledge that the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby is subject to various regulatory approvals. Each of
Commercial and the Bank has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the Bank Plan of Merger, as
the case may be, and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. Other
than the Governmental Approvals and the requisite approval of Commercial
shareholders as contemplated hereby, no filings, notices, approvals or consents
are required on behalf of Commercial or any Commercial Subsidiary in connection
with the
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consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Stock
Option Agreement or the Bank Plan of Merger. Commercial has no knowledge of any
reason why the Governmental Approvals cannot be obtained or granted on a timely
basis. This Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the Bank Plan of Merger
constitute the valid and binding obligations of Commercial and the Bank, as the
case may be, and are enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by Applicable Law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency or creditors' rights generally and general principles of equity.
Section 5.10. (a) To the best knowledge of Commercial, no
statement contained in any schedule, certificate or other document furnished
(whether prior to or subsequent to the date of this Agreement) or to be
furnished in writing by or on behalf of Commercial or any of its Affiliates to
Bancorp pursuant to this Agreement contains or will 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 light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) None of the information provided by Commercial or any
Commercial Subsidiary for inclusion in the Registration Statement, at the time
the Registration Statement becomes effective or, in the case of the Proxy
Statement, at the date of mailing, will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Each of the
Registration Statement and Proxy Statement, except for such portions thereof
that relate only to Bancorp or a Bancorp Subsidiary, will comply as to form in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and Exchange
Act, as applicable.
Section 5.11. Agreements and Instruments. As of the date of
this Agreement, there are no agreements, directives, orders or similar
arrangements between or involving Commercial or any Commercial Subsidiary and
any Governmental Authority.
Section 5.12. Tax Matters. (a) Commercial, each of the
Commercial Subsidiaries and any affiliated group (within the meaning of Section
1504(a) of the Code) of which Commercial or any of the Commercial Subsidiaries
is a member have duly and properly filed all federal, state, local and other Tax
Returns required to be filed by them and have made timely payments of all Taxes
due and payable, whether disputed or not; and such Tax Returns are true, correct
and complete in all material respects. Neither the IRS nor any other taxing
authority is now asserting or, to the best knowledge of Commercial, threatening
to assert any deficiency or claim for additional Taxes, nor to the knowledge of
Commercial is there any basis for any such assertion or claim. Commercial and
each of the Commercial Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with
applicable IRS backup withholding requirements and have filed all appropriate
information reporting returns for all Tax years for which the statute of
limitations has not closed. Commercial and each Commercial Subsidiary have
complied with all applicable state law sales and use Tax collection and
reporting requirements.
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(b) Adequate provision for any federal, state, local or
foreign Taxes due or to become due for Commercial or any of the Commercial
Subsidiaries for any period or periods through and including December 31, 1997,
has been made and is reflected on the December 31, 1997 consolidated financial
statements last filed by Commercial as part of a publicly available Regulatory
Document and has been or will be made with respect to periods ending after
December 31, 1997.
Section 5.13. Accounting and Tax Treatment. Neither Commercial
nor any of its Affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that or has
failed to take any action the result of which would (but without giving effect
to any actions taken or agreed to be taken by Bancorp or any of its Affiliates)
(i) prevent Commercial from accounting for the Merger as a pooling of interests
for accounting and financial reporting purposes or (ii) prevent the Merger from
qualifying as a "reorganization" under Section 368(a) of the Code.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
Section 6.1. Conduct of Business by Bancorp. During the period
from the date of this Agreement and continuing through the Closing Date, except
as Previously Disclosed and except as expressly contemplated and permitted by
this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Commercial (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), each of Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries shall, and Bancorp shall cause each of Bancorp and the Bancorp
Subsidiaries to, (a) carry on its business in the ordinary course consistent
with past practice; (b) use its reasonable best efforts to preserve its present
business organization and relationships; (c) use its reasonable best efforts to
keep available the present services of its employees; and (d) use its reasonable
best efforts to preserve its rights, franchises, goodwill and relations with its
customers and others with whom it conducts business. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, except as expressly contemplated and permitted by
this Agreement, consented to in writing by Commercial or Previously Disclosed,
none of Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries shall, and Bancorp shall not permit
any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(i) amend its articles/certificate of incorporation, charter or
bylaws (or comparable governing instruments) or merge with or into or
consolidate with any other Person, subdivide, combine or in any way
reclassify any shares of its capital stock, or change in any manner the
rights of its outstanding capital stock;
(ii) issue or sell or purchase any shares of its capital stock, or
issue or sell or purchase any option, warrant, convertible or exchangeable
security, right, subscription, call, unsatisfied pre-emptive right or other
agreement or right of any kind to purchase or otherwise acquire (including,
without limitation, by exchange or conversion) (each a "Right") any shares
of its capital stock (except that Bancorp may issue shares of Bancorp
Common Stock upon (i) exercise of Bancorp Options outstanding on the date
of this Agreement or (ii) as Previously Disclosed);
(iii) [Intentionally Omitted];
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(iv) waive any right of value to its business other than a waiver,
together with all other such waivers, that would not have a Bancorp
Material Adverse Effect;
(v) make any change in its accounting methods or practices for Tax or
accounting purposes or make any change in depreciation or amortization
policies or rates adopted by it for Tax or accounting purposes, except in
each case as required by GAAP or Applicable Law;
(vi) materially change, or agree to change, any of its lending
activities, policies or practices, except as required by Applicable Law or
by any Governmental Authority;
(vii) make any loan or advance to any of its Affiliates, officers,
directors, employees, consultants, agents or other representatives (other
than travel advances made in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice), or make any other loan or advance otherwise than in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(viii) sell, offer to sell, abandon or make any other disposition of
any of its material assets, including selling or closing any branches; or
grant or suffer any Encumbrance on any of its material assets;
(ix) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, incur or assume, or agree to incur or assume, any liability or
obligation (whether or not currently due and payable) relating to its
business or any of its assets;
(x) create, renew, amend, terminate or cancel, or take any other
action that may result in the creation, renewal, amendment, termination or
cancellation of, any Contract with any of its Affiliates;
(xi) declare, set aside or pay any dividends or declare or make any
other distributions of any kind on or in respect of its capital stock
(other than dividends from a Bancorp Subsidiary to Bancorp or another
Bancorp Subsidiary), or make any direct or indirect redemption, retirement,
purchase or other acquisition of any shares of its capital stock or Rights,
provided that Bancorp may declare and pay its regular quarterly cash
dividends on the Bancorp Common Stock of not more than $.13 per share
per quarterly period, provided further that the parties agree that after
the date of this Agreement, each of Bancorp and Commercial shall coordinate
with the other the declaration of any dividends in respects of Bancorp
Common Stock and Commercial Common Stock and the record dates and payment
dates relating thereto, it being the intention of the parties hereto that
holders of Bancorp Common Stock shall not receive two dividends, or fail to
receive one dividend, for any single calendar quarter with respect to their
shares of Bancorp Common Stock and any shares of Commercial Common Stock
any such holder receives in exchange therefore in the Merger;
(xii) create, renew, amend, terminate or cancel, or take any other
action that may result in the creation, renewal, amendment, termination or
cancellation of, any Contract, except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and as would
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not, in the aggregate, have a Bancorp Material Adverse Effect; enter
into or amend any Contract pursuant to which it agrees to indemnify any
party on behalf of its business or pursuant to which it agrees to refrain
from competing with any party with respect to its business;
(xiii) except as Previously Disclosed, adopt, amend, renew, terminate
or accelerate or vest benefits under any Bancorp Employee Benefit Plan or
Benefit Arrangement or any other employee program, plan, agreement,
arrangement or policy between Bancorp or a Bancorp Subsidiary and one or
more of employees of Bancorp or a Bancorp Subsidiary, except as required by
Applicable Law;
(xiv) commit any act or omission which constitutes a breach or default
under any Contract or license to which it is a party or by which it or any
of its properties or assets is bound except as would not have, in the
aggregate, a Bancorp Material Adverse Effect;
(xv) acquire in any manner, including by way of merger, consolidation
or purchase of an equity interest or assets, any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or
division thereof (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of
control in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of debts
previously contracted in good faith, in each case in the ordinary and usual
course of business consistent with past practice);
(xvi) increase the salary or wages of any employees of Bancorp or of
any Bancorp Subsidiary; or pay any incentive, bonus or similar payments to
employees other than as required by the terms of any Bancorp Employee
Benefit Plan or Benefit Arrangement in effect as of the date hereof and
Previously Disclosed;
(xvii) purchase any debt securities or derivative securities,
including CMO or REMIC products, that are defined as "high risk mortgage
securities" under OTS Thrift Bulletin No. 52 dated January 10, 1992 as
revised or purchase any Derivatives Contracts;
(xviii) make any investment which would cause the Company to not be a
qualified thrift lender under Section 10(m) of the HOLA, or not to be a
"domestic building and loan association" as defined in Section 7701(a)(19)
of the Code;
(xix) change its existing investment guidelines Previously Disclosed,
except as required by Applicable Law or any Governmental Authority, or the
manner in which its investment securities portfolio is classified or
reported;
(xx) authorize or make capital expenditures in excess of $100,000,
individually, or $500,000, in the aggregate;
(xxi) [Intentionally Omitted];
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(xxii) take any action that or fail to take any action the result of
which would (but without giving effect to any actions taken or agreed to be
taken by Commercial or any of its Affiliates) (i) prevent Commercial from
accounting for the Merger as a pooling of interests for accounting and
financial reporting purposes or (ii) prevent the Merger from qualifying as
a "reorganization" under Section 368(a) of the Code; or
(xxiii) agree (by Contract or otherwise) to do any of the foregoing.
Section 6.2. Maintenance of Records. Through the Closing Date,
Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries will maintain their Records in the same
manner and with the same care that such Records have been maintained prior to
the execution of this Agreement.
Section 6.3. . (a) Commercial shall, or shall cause the
appropriate Commercial Subsidiary to, permit employees of Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary who are employees with Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary as of
immediately prior to the Effective Time and become employees of Commercial or a
Commercial Subsidiary as of the Effective Time ("Transferred Employees") to
participate in the employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements of
Commercial or the Commercial Subsidiaries, as applicable (the "Commercial
Plans"), on the same terms as such plans and benefits are offered to similarly
situated employees of Commercial or the Commercial Subsidiaries, as applicable.
Commercial shall recognize, or shall cause the appropriate Commercial Subsidiary
to recognize, each Transferred Employee's service with Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary for purposes of determining eligibility to participate in and vest
under the Commercial Plans, but not for purposes of benefit accruals under any
such plans and no such Transferred Employees or dependents shall be subject to
any uninsured waiting periods or preexisting condition exclusions under any plan
of Commercial or the Bank. Furthermore, benefit levels under the welfare plans
sponsored by Commercial or the Bank shall be determined based upon prior service
with the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Commercial shall, or shall
cause the appropriate Commercial Subsidiary to, (A) provide severance benefits
to Transferred Employees who (i) were employees of Bancorp or any Bancorp
Subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) are terminated without
cause as of or within 12 months after the Effective Time by Commercial or a
Commercial Subsidiary (but not upon termination by the employee or termination
for cause by Commercial or a Commercial Subsidiary) and (iii) are not otherwise
entitled to any severance benefits under any Contract as a result or in respect
of such termination, in the amounts as Previously Disclosed, which amounts, less
applicable withholding taxes, shall be paid upon the effectiveness of such
termination and (B) recognize and carry forward as of the Effective Time all
sick leave and vacation accrued by each Transferred Employee during the 12 month
period ending on (and including) the Closing Date under the respective policies
of Bancorp or the appropriate Bancorp Subsidiary (but (x) without giving effect
to any accrued benefits carried forward from any time prior to such 12-month
period under such Bancorp and Bancorp Subsidiary policies and (y) in no event
greater than such benefits as would accrue under such policies during one full
calendar year without giving effect to accrued benefits carried forward from
prior calendar years under such policies).
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(c) Further, Commercial shall, or shall cause the appropriate
Commercial Subsidiary to, perform after the Effective Time all of the
obligations of Bancorp or the appropriate Bancorp Subsidiary under the terms of
the severance agreements existing as of the date hereof which are between
Bancorp or a Bancorp Subsidiary, on the one hand, and management employees of
Bancorp or a Bancorp Subsidiary, on the other hand, which have been Previously
Disclosed and which by their terms survive the Effective Time, provided,
however, Bancorp or the Company shall make payments due as of or prior to the
Effective Time.
Section 6.4. Efforts of Parties to Close. During the period
from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date, each party to this
Agreement shall take such actions as may be reasonably required to carry out the
provisions hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and each party hereto
shall use its reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of
the conditions precedent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the execution and delivery of any documents, certificates,
instruments or other papers that are reasonably required for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby. During the period from the date of this
Agreement and continuing through the Closing, except as required by Applicable
Law or with the prior written consent of the other parties to this Agreement, no
party to this Agreement shall take any action which, or fail to take any action
the failure of which to be taken, would, or could reasonably be expected to, (a)
result in any of the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement
on the part of the party taking or failing to take such action being or becoming
untrue in any material respect; (b) result in any conditions to the Closing set
forth in Article VII not being satisfied; or (c) adversely affect or materially
delay the receipt of any of the requisite regulatory approvals or the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Bancorp hereby agrees to cause the Company at or prior to the Closing to perform
and comply with all of the obligations, covenants and agreements to be performed
or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing as provided under
this Agreement.
Section 6.5. Confidentiality and Announcements. (a) The
parties agree to be bound by and comply with the provisions set forth in the
Confidentiality Agreements, the provisions of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
(b) Other than as required by Applicable Law upon prior notice
to the other parties (where reasonably practicable) or with the prior consent of
the other parties, none of Bancorp, the Company, Commercial or the Bank shall,
and each of the foregoing shall cause each of its Affiliates and Representatives
not to, disclose to any Person the fact of execution and delivery hereof, any of
the contents hereof or any information with respect to the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated hereby, except that nothing herein shall prohibit any
party from providing any information to its regulatory authorities as required
by Applicable Law.
(c) Subject to Section 6.7(a) and (b), the parties to this
Agreement shall agree with each other as to the form and substance of any press
release related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and
shall consult each other as to the form and substance of other public
disclosures related hereto and thereto.
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Section 6.6. Access; Certain Communications. Between the date
of this Agreement and the Closing Date, subject to any Applicable Laws relating
to the exchange of information:
(a) Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries shall afford to
Commercial and its authorized agents and representatives reasonable access, upon
reasonable notice to an executive officer of Bancorp and during normal business
hours, to all Contracts, documents and information of or relating to the assets,
liabilities, business, operations, personnel and other aspects of the business
of Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries. Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries
shall cause their personnel, attorneys and accountants to provide assistance to
Commercial in Commercial's investigation of matters relating to the Merger,
including allowing Commercial and its authorized agents and representatives
access to their operating sites and facilities and cooperating therewith in an
effort to coordinate and facilitate conversion of the Commercial and Bancorp
computer systems in anticipation of consummation of the Merger; provided,
however, that Commercial's investigation shall be conducted in a manner which
does not unreasonably interfere with the normal operations, customers, and
employee relations of Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries; provided further,
however, that, in providing the foregoing access, Bancorp shall not be required
to jeopardize its attorney-client privilege (Bancorp hereby agreeing to use all
reasonable efforts to make appropriate alternative disclosure arrangements in
such circumstances).
(b) Commercial shall afford to Bancorp and its authorized
agents and representatives reasonable access, upon reasonable notice to an
executive officer of Commercial and during normal business hours, to all
Contracts, documents and information of or relating to the assets, liabilities,
business, operations, personnel and other aspects of relevance, in the
reasonable judgment of Commercial, to the transactions contemplated hereby.
Commercial shall cause its personnel, attorneys and accountants to provide
assistance to Bancorp in Bancorp's investigation of matters relating to the
Merger, including allowing Bancorp and its authorized agents and representatives
access to its operating sites and facilities; provided, however, that Bancorp's
investigation shall be conducted in a manner which does not unreasonably
interfere with Commercial's normal operations, customers, and employee
relations; provided further, however, that, in providing the foregoing access,
Commercial shall not be required to jeopardize its attorney-client privilege
(Commercial hereby agreeing to use all reasonable efforts to make appropriate
alternative disclosure arrangements in such circumstances).
(c) The investigations of the parties pursuant to this Section
6.6 shall not affect any of the representations or warranties contained herein.
Section 6.7. (a) The parties to this Agreement shall cooperate
with each other and use their reasonable best efforts promptly to prepare and
file all necessary documentation, to effect all applications, notices, petitions
and filings, and to obtain as promptly as practicable all permits, consents,
approvals, waivers and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental
Authorities which are necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. If any required consent of or waiver by any
third party (excluding any Governmental Authority) is not obtained prior to the
Closing, or if the assignment of any Contract would be ineffective or would
adversely affect any material
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rights or benefits thereunder so that Commercial would not in fact receive all
such rights and benefits, the parties hereto, each without cost, expense or
liability to the other, shall cooperate in good faith to seek, if possible, an
alternative arrangement to achieve the economic results intended. The parties to
this Agreement will have the right to review in advance, and will consult with
each other on, in each case subject to Applicable Laws relating to the exchange
of information, all the information relating to Commercial, the Bank, Bancorp,
the Company or the Bancorp Subsidiaries, as the case may be, which appear in any
filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third party or any
Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to
provide any party to this Agreement with a right to review any information
provided to any Governmental Authority on a confidential basis in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby. The parties to this Agreement agree
that they will consult with each other with respect to the obtaining of all
permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and
Governmental Authorities necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and each party will keep the others apprised of
the status of matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated
herein. The party responsible for a filing as set forth above shall promptly
deliver to the other parties hereto evidence of the filing of all applications,
filings, registrations and notifications relating thereto (except for any
confidential portions thereof), and any supplement, amendment or item of
additional information in connection therewith (except for any confidential
portions thereof). The party responsible for a filing shall also promptly
deliver to the other parties hereto a copy of each material notice, order,
opinion and other item of correspondence received by such filing party from any
Governmental Authority in respect of any such application (except for any
confidential portions thereof). In exercising the foregoing rights and
obligations, Commercial, Bancorp, the Company and the Bancorp Subsidiaries shall
each act reasonably and as promptly as practicable.
(b) Commercial shall prepare and, subject to the review and
reasonable consent of Bancorp with respect to matters relating to Bancorp or any
Bancorp Subsidiary, file with the SEC as soon as is reasonably practicable the
Registration Statement (or the equivalent in the form of preliminary proxy
material). The parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts (i) to
cause the Registration Statement to become effective, (ii) to maintain the
effectiveness thereof through the Effective Time, and (iii) to the extent any
such party becomes aware of any information contained or omitted from the
Registration Statement which makes any material statement contained therein
false or misleading, to file the information necessary to make such statements
in the Registration Statement not false or misleading. Commercial also shall
take such other reasonable actions (other than qualifying to do business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified) required to be taken under any
applicable state securities laws in connection with the issuance of Commercial
Common Stock under the Registration Statement as contemplated hereby. Commercial
and Bancorp shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to mail at the
earliest practicable date to Commercial shareholders and Bancorp shareholders,
respectively, a Proxy Statement, which shall include all information required
under Applicable Law to be furnished to Commercial shareholders and Bancorp
shareholders, respectively, in connection with the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby and shall include the recommendation of the Commercial Board
and of the Bancorp Board in favor of the Merger, this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the Bancorp Board
shall not be required
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to make such recommendation if it reasonably determines in good faith not to so
recommend based upon the advice of counsel, which counsel either is Malizia,
Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C. or is otherwise reasonably acceptable to Commercial,
to the effect that to so recommend would constitute a violation of the Board's
fiduciary duties under Applicable Law.
(c) Each party to this Agreement shall, upon request, promptly
furnish each other with all information concerning themselves, Affiliates,
directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably
necessary or advisable in connection with any statement (including the
Registration Statement), filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of
Commercial, the Bank, Bancorp, the Company or the Bancorp Subsidiaries to any
Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(d) The parties to this Agreement shall promptly advise each
other upon receiving any communication from any Governmental Authority whose
consent or approval is required for consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement which causes such party to believe that there is
a reasonable likelihood that any requisite regulatory approval will not be
obtained or that the receipt of any such approval will be materially delayed.
Section 6.8. Notification of Certain Matters. (a) Each party
to this Agreement shall give prompt notice to the other parties of the
occurrence, or any known failure to occur, of any event or existence of any
condition that has caused or could reasonably be expected to cause any of its
representations or warranties contained in this Agreement to be untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect at any time after the date of this Agreement,
up to and including the Closing Date, and (ii) any failure on its part to comply
with or satisfy, in any material respect, any covenant, condition or agreement
to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement.
(b) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Closing Date, Bancorp will promptly notify Commercial of any material change in
the conduct of its business or in the operation of the properties of Bancorp and
of any governmental complaints, investigations or hearings (or communications
indicating that the same may be contemplated), or the institution or the threat
of significant litigation involving Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary, and will
keep Commercial fully informed of such events.
(c) Bancorp and the Company shall provide Commercial with
true, correct and complete copies of all financial and other information
regarding Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries provided to directors thereof in
connection with any meetings of their Boards of Directors or committees thereof,
in each case as soon as practicable, and in any event within 7 days, thereafter.
Further, Bancorp shall provide Commercial with true, correct and complete copies
of Bancorp's audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997
and for the three years then ended promptly following completion thereof, but in
any event on or before the date such financial statements are first filed with
the SEC or any other Governmental Authority in any Regulatory Document.
Section 6.9. Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the parties hereto shall each bear their respective direct and indirect
expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and preparation of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
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contemplated hereby (including all fees and expenses payable to or on behalf of
financial advisors, attorneys, accountants and consultants).
Section 6.10. Third Party Proposals. None of Bancorp, any of
the Bancorp Subsidiaries, any of the Affiliates of the foregoing or any
officers, directors, employees, representatives or advisors of the foregoing
("Representatives") shall directly or indirectly solicit, encourage or
facilitate inquiries or proposals, or enter into any definitive agreement, with
respect to, or initiate or participate in any negotiations or discussions with
any Person concerning, any acquisition or purchase of all or any material
portion of the assets of, or of any material equity interest in, Bancorp or any
of the Bancorp Subsidiaries or any merger or business combination with or
involving Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries other than as contemplated
by this Agreement (each, an "Acquisition Proposal") or furnish any information
regarding Bancorp or the Bancorp Subsidiaries to any such Person; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors of Bancorp may, and may authorize and
permit its Representatives to, furnish or cause to be furnished nonpublic
information, subject to a binding confidentiality agreement with Bancorp on
substantially similar terms as the Confidentiality Agreements, to such Person
and may participate in such discussions and negotiations directly or through its
Representatives with such Person, if (i) such Board of Directors has reasonably
determined in good faith based upon the advice of counsel, which counsel either
is Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C. or is otherwise reasonably acceptable to
Commercial, to the effect that the failure to provide such nonpublic information
or participate in such negotiations and discussions would constitute a violation
of the Board's fiduciary duties under Applicable Law and (ii) copies of all
information so furnished to such Person and the terms of such Person's
Acquisition Proposal (and any supplements or amendments thereto) are furnished
promptly to Commercial. Bancorp, the Company and any of their respective
Affiliates and Representatives shall notify Commercial immediately if any
Acquisition Proposal (including the terms thereof) is received by, any such
information is requested from or any such negotiations or discussions are sought
to be initiated with any of Bancorp, the Bancorp Subsidiaries or any of the
Affiliates or Representatives of the foregoing. Bancorp and each of the Bancorp
Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates and
Representatives to, immediately cease or cause to be terminated any existing
activities, including discussions or negotiations with any parties, conducted
prior to the date hereof with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall seek
to have all materials distributed to such Persons by or on behalf of Bancorp,
any Bancorp Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates and Representatives
returned to Bancorp promptly. None of Bancorp, the Bancorp Subsidiaries or any
of their respective Affiliates and Representatives shall amend, modify, waive or
terminate, or otherwise release any Person from, any standstill, confidentiality
or similar agreement or arrangement currently in effect with respect to Bancorp
or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries. Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries shall
cause their respective Affiliates and Representatives to comply with the
provisions of this Section 6.10. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
require Bancorp or the Bancorp Board to take any action or fail to take any
action in violation of Applicable Laws.
Section 6.11. Stock Listing. Commercial shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause to be listed on the NYSE, subject to official
notice of issuance, the shares of Commercial Common Stock to be issued as Merger
Consideration.
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Section 6.12. Integration; Conforming Entries. (a) Bancorp and
the Company, prior to the Closing, shall (i) consult and cooperate with
Commercial regarding the implementation as of the Effective Time of those
policies, procedures and systems (including computer stems) established by
Commercial for its governance and operations and for that of the Commercial
Subsidiaries and not otherwise referenced in Sections 6.12(b) and 6.12(c),
including, without limitation, policies, procedures and systems pertaining to
the accounting, asset/liability management, audit, credit, human resources,
treasury and legal functions, and (ii) at the request of Commercial, conform
Bancorp's and the Bancorp Subsidiaries' existing policies, procedures and
systems to Commercial's policies, procedures and systems or, in the absence of
any existing Bancorp or Bancorp Subsidiary policy, procedure or system regarding
any function, introduce Commercial's policies, procedures and systems in respect
thereof, in each case effective as of the Effective Time, unless to do so would
cause Bancorp or any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries to be in violation of any
Applicable Law.
(b) Notwithstanding that Bancorp believes that Bancorp and the
Bancorp Subsidiaries have established all reserves and taken all provisions for
possible loan losses required by GAAP and Applicable Laws, Bancorp recognizes
that Commercial may have adopted different loan, accrual and reserve policies
(including loan classifications and levels of reserves for possible loan
losses). From and after the date of this Agreement to the Closing, Bancorp, the
Company and Commercial shall consult and cooperate with each other with respect
to conforming as of the Effective Time the loan, accrual and reserve policies of
Bancorp and the Bancorp Subsidiaries to those policies of Commercial, as
specified in each case in writing to Bancorp and the Company.
(c) Subject to Applicable Laws, Bancorp shall (i) establish
and take such reserves and accruals at such time as Commercial shall reasonably
request to conform Bancorp's loan, accrual and reserve policies to Commercial's
policies, and (ii) establish and take such accruals, reserves and charges in
order to implement such policies in respect of excess facilities and equipment
capacity, severance costs, litigation matters, write-off or write-down of
various assets and other appropriate accounting adjustments, and to recognize
for financial accounting purposes such expenses of the Merger and restructuring
charges related to or to be incurred in connection therewith, in each case at
such times as are reasonably requested by Commercial; provided, however, that on
the date such reserves, accruals and charges are to be taken, Commercial shall
certify to Bancorp that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3
have been satisfied or waived (except to the extent that any waiting period
associated therewith may then have commenced but not expired); and provided
further, however, that Bancorp shall not be required to take any such action
that is not consistent with GAAP and regulatory accounting principles.
Section 6.13. Pooling-of-Interests and Tax-Free Treatment.
Each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts (i) to cause
the Merger to qualify for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment and (ii) to
cause the Merger to constitute a "reorganization" under Section 368(a) of the
Code.
Section 6.14. Agreements of Affiliates. Bancorp shall cause
each Person who may be at the Effective Time or was on the date hereof an
"affiliate" of Bancorp for purposes of
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Rule 145 under the Securities Act or of determining the qualification of the
Merger as a pooling of interest for accounting and financial reporting purposes,
to execute and deliver to Commercial, no less than 45 days prior to the date of
the meeting of Bancorp shareholders to approve the Merger, the written
undertakings in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. On or prior to such
delivery date, Bancorp shall provide Commercial with a letter specifying, to the
best of its knowledge, all of the Persons who may be deemed to be "affiliates"
of Bancorp under the preceding sentence.
Section 6.15. Stockholder Approval. Each of Commercial and
Bancorp shall call a meeting of its shareholders to be held as soon as
practicable for the purpose of voting upon and approving the Merger, this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Bancorp Board shall
submit for approval of Bancorp shareholders the matters to be voted upon in
order to authorize the Merger and hereby does and will recommend the Merger,
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to Bancorp shareholders
and will use its best efforts to obtain any vote of Bancorp shareholders that is
necessary for the approval of the Merger and the approval and adoption of this
Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, provided
that Bancorp shall have received an opinion of The Wallach Company, or such
other nationally recognized investment banking firm as is reasonably acceptable
to Commercial, dated within five days of mailing of the Proxy Statement to
Bancorp shareholders that the Exchange Ratio is fair to Bancorp shareholders
from a financial point of view (Bancorp hereby agreeing that the terms of this
proviso are subject to Bancorp's using all commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain such opinion from The Wallach Company and, if not forthcoming therefrom
within a reasonable period of time following a request made therefor, to obtain
such opinion from at least one such other reasonably acceptable investment
banking firm); provided further, however, that the Bancorp Board shall not be
required to make such recommendation if it reasonably determines in good faith
not to so recommend based upon the advice of counsel, which counsel either is
Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C. or is otherwise reasonably acceptable to
Commercial, to the effect that to so recommend would constitute a violation of
the Board's fiduciary duties under Applicable Law. The Commercial Board shall
submit for approval of Commercial shareholders the matters to be voted upon in
order to authorize the Merger and hereby does and will recommend the Merger,
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to Commercial
shareholders and will use its best efforts to obtain any vote of Commercial
shareholders that is necessary for the approval of the Merger and the approval
and adoption of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
Section 6.16. Indemnification. From and after the Effective
Time, Commercial shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless, and advance expenses
for, the present and former officers and directors of Bancorp against all
losses, expenses, claims, damages or liabilities arising from any acts or
omissions by such person in his or her capacity as such occurring prior to the
Effective Time, including any of the foregoing arising out of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted or required
under the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Bancorp, in each case, as in
effect on the date hereof. This Section shall be construed as an agreement as to
which the directors and officers of Bancorp and the Company referred to herein
are intended to be third party beneficiaries and shall be enforceable by such
persons and their heirs and representatives.
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Section 6.17. D&O Insurance. From and after the Effective
Time, Commercial shall maintain in effect, for not less than three years,
policies of directors' and officers liability insurance providing coverage with
respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time, which policies shall
cover those present and former officers and directors of Bancorp that are
covered by and shall provide coverage that is no less beneficial, in the
aggregate, than those covered and that coverage provided by the current policies
of Bancorp; provided, however, that Commercial shall not be required to pay
aggregate premiums for such insurance in excess of $100,000, but in such case
shall purchase as much coverage as possible for such amount.
Section 6.18. Takeover Provisions Inapplicable. Bancorp shall
take all action (including, if required, redeeming all of the outstanding Rights
related to the Bancorp Rights Agreement or amending or terminating the Bancorp
Rights Agreement) so that the entering into of this Agreement and the Stock
Option Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby shall not result in the grant of any rights to any person under the
Bancorp Rights Agreement to purchase or receive additional shares of capital
stock of Bancorp, Commercial or any Affiliate of the foregoing or enable or
require the Rights related thereto to be exercised, distributed or triggered in
any way.
Section 6.19. Environmental Reports. Commercial, at its
expense, may order within thirty (30) days of the Agreement a reputable
environmental firm selected by Commercial (the "Environmental Firm") to perform
a phase one environmental investigation and/or asbestos survey on (i) each
parcel of commercial real estate ("Commercial Property") owned or leased by,
(ii) each office and premise used as a facility ("Facility Property") by, and
(iii) each property that serves as security for any commercial real estate loan
having an original principal balance greater than $500,000 made by, Bancorp or
any Bancorp Subsidiary (collectively, clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the "Current
Property"); provided, however, that Commercial shall cause the Environmental
Firm to complete any such investigation or survey as soon as reasonably
practicable, but not later than sixty (60) days after the date hereof. In
addition, Commercial, at its expense, may cause the Environmental Firm to
perform a phase one environmental examination and/or asbestos survey on any
Commercial Property or Facility Property acquired, leased or used by Bancorp or
any of the Bancorp Subsidiaries after the date hereof (together with the Current
Property, the "Bancorp Property"); provided, however, that Commercial shall
cause the Environmental Firm to complete any such investigation or survey as
soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than fifteen (15) days after being
notified by Bancorp of the acquisition, lease or commencement of use of such
Commercial Property or Facility Property. If a phase one report provided by the
Environmental Firm recommends that a phase two environmental survey be performed
with respect to any parcel of the Bancorp Property, then Commercial, at its
expense, may cause the Environmental Firm to perform a phase two environmental
investigation of such Bancorp Property; provided, however, that Commercial shall
cause the Environmental Firm to complete any such phase two investigation as
soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than forty-five (45) days after
the date that such phase one report is received by Commercial. Should the cost
of taking all remedial or other corrective actions and measures (i) required by
Applicable Law or (ii) recommended by the Environmental Firm in such phase one
or phase two report or reports in light of potentially serious life, health or
safety concerns, in the aggregate, exceed the sum of $5,000,000, as reasonably
estimated by the Environmental Firm, or if the cost of such actions or measures
cannot be so reasona-
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bly estimated by the Environmental Firm to be such amounts or less with any
reasonable degree of certainty, Commercial shall have the right pursuant to
Section 8.1(a)(vii) hereof, for a period of fifteen (15) Business Days following
receipt of such estimate or indication that the cost of such actions and
measures cannot be so reasonably estimated, to terminate this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION
OF THE MERGER
Section 7.1. Mutual Conditions. The obligations of each party
to this Agreement to consummate the Merger shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(a) No statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction, decree or other
Applicable Law shall have been enacted, entered, issued, promulgated or
enforced by any Governmental Authority which prohibits, restricts or makes
illegal consummation of the Merger pursuant hereto (an "Injunction") and
which remains in effect; and no proceeding initiated by any Governmental
Authority seeking an Injunction shall be pending;
(b) All consents, waivers, authorizations and approvals required from
all Governmental Authorities to consummate Merger shall have been obtained
and shall remain in full force and effect and all waiting periods under
Applicable Law in respect thereof shall have expired or terminated;
(c) The Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby shall have been approved by the Commercial shareholders and the
Bancorp shareholders, in each case, in the manner required by Applicable
Law;
(d) The SEC shall have declared the Registration Statement effective;
and on the Closing Date and at the Effective Time, no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or then
threatened by the SEC;
(e) The shares of Commercial Common Stock, if any, to be issued as
Merger Consideration in the Merger shall have been approved for listing on
the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance;
(f) Commercial and Bancorp shall have received a letter, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Commercial, from Deloitte & Touche
LLP, dated the date of the Proxy Statement and confirmed in writing at the
Effective Time, stating that the Merger will qualify as a pooling of
interests transaction under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board,
the interpretive releases issued pursuant thereto and the pronouncements of
the SEC thereon; and
(g) Commercial and Bancorp shall have received an opinion of Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz, special counsel to Commercial, or of such other
reasonably quali-
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fied Person as Commercial shall reasonably determine, in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to Commercial, dated the Closing Date,
substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations
and assumptions set forth in such opinion which are consistent with the
state of facts existing at the Effective Time, (i) the Merger should
constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code and (ii) no gain or loss should be recognized by Bancorp shareholders
who receive solely Commercial Common Stock in exchange for shares of
Bancorp Common Stock pursuant to the Merger (except with respect to cash
received in lieu of a fractional share interest in Commercial Common
Stock). In rendering such opinion, counsel may require and rely upon
representations contained in certificates of officers or Bancorp,
Commercial and others.
Section 7.2. Conditions to Commercial's and the Bank's
Obligations. The obligations of Commercial and the Bank to consummate the Merger
shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of each of Bancorp and the
Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the
extent such representation and warranty speaks as of an earlier date) as of
the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date;
(b) Each of Bancorp and the Company shall have performed and complied
in all material respects with each agreement, covenant, obligation and
condition required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
at or prior to the Closing Date;
(c) Bancorp shall have delivered to Commercial and the Bank a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Bancorp by
its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, confirming the
satisfaction of the conditions contained in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 7.2;
(d) Commercial, at its expense, shall have received from KPMG Peat
Marwick, LLP letters dated the date of mailing the Prospectus and the date
of the Closing to the effect that: (i) with respect to Bancorp they are
independent accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, (ii) it is their opinion that the audited financial
statements of Bancorp included in or incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Securities Act and Exchange Act, (iii) on
the basis of such procedures as are set forth therein but without
performing an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards nothing has come to their attention which would cause them to
believe that (A) any unaudited interim financial statements appearing in
the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and Exchange Act;
(B) said financial statements are not stated on a basis substantially
consistent with that of the audited financial statements; (C) (1) at the
date of the latest available consolidated financial statements of Bancorp
and at a specific date not more than five (5) Business Days prior to the
date of each such letter there has been, except as specified in such
letter, any increase in the outstanding capital stock, or indebtedness for
borrowed
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money of Bancorp (other than deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank
advances with a maturity of one year or less) or any decrease in the
shareholders' equity thereof as compared with amounts shown in the latest
statement of financial condition included in the Prospectus, or (2) for the
period from the date of the latest audited financial statements of Bancorp
included in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus to a specific
date not more than five (5) Business Days prior to the date of each such
letter, there were, except as specified in such letter, any decreases, as
compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in
consolidated net income for Bancorp excluding expenses associated with the
Merger or any increase, as compared with the corresponding period in the
preceding year, in the provision for loan losses for Bancorp, (iv) they
have performed certain specific procedures as a result of which they
determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or
statistical nature included in the Prospectus and requested by Commercial
and agreed upon by such accountants, which is expressed in dollars (or
percentages obtained from such dollar amounts) and obtained from accounting
records which are subject to the internal controls of Bancorp's accounting
system or which has been derived directly from such accounting records by
analysis or computation is in agreement with such records or computations
made therefrom (excluding any questions of legal interpretation), and (v)
on the basis of such procedures as are set forth in such letter, nothing
came to their attention with respect to Bancorp which would cause them to
believe that the pro forma financial statements had not been properly
compiled on the pro forma basis described therein; and
(e) Each Person who may be at the Effective Time or was on the date of
this Agreement an "affiliate" of Bancorp for purposes of Rule 145 under the
Securities Act or for determining the qualification of the Merger as a
pooling of interest for accounting and financial reporting purposes shall
have executed and delivered to Commercial, at least 45 days prior to the
date of the meeting of Bancorp shareholders to approve the Merger, the
written undertakings in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(f) The number of Dissenting Shares shall not be greater than 5% of
the number of shares of Bancorp Common Stock issued and outstanding as of
the date hereof.
Section 7.3. Conditions to Bancorp's and the Company's
Obligations. The obligation of Bancorp and the Company to consummate the Merger
shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of each of Commercial and the
Bank set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent such
representation and warranty speaks as of an earlier date) as of the Closing
Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date;
(b) Each of Commercial and the Bank shall have performed and complied
in all material respects with each agreement, covenant, obligation and
condition required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
at or prior to the Closing Date; and
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(c) Commercial shall have delivered to Bancorp and the Company a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Commercial
by its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, confirming the
satisfaction of the conditions contained in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 7.3.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
Section 8.1. Termination. (a) This Agreement may be terminated
at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval and
adoption of this Agreement by the Commercial shareholders or Bancorp
shareholders, as follows:
(i) by written consent of the parties hereto;
(ii) by Bancorp or Commercial if a condition to the terminating
party's obligation to close set forth in Section 7.1 cannot be satisfied
prior to the date set forth in Section 8.1(a)(iv) below unless caused by
the breach of any covenant or agreement under this Agreement (x) by Bancorp
or the Company, in the case of a termination by Bancorp, or (y) by
Commercial or the Bank, in the case of termination by Commercial;
(iii) by Bancorp or Commercial (provided that none of the terminating
party or any of its Affiliates is not then in material breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein) if
there shall have been a material breach of any of the covenants or
agreements or any of the representations or warranties set forth in this
Agreement on the part of Bancorp or the Company, in the case of a
termination by Commercial, or on the part of Commercial or the Bank, in the
case of a termination by Bancorp, which breach is not cured within thirty
(30) days following written notice given by the terminating party to the
party committing such breach, or, by its nature, cannot be cured prior to
the date set forth in Section 8.1(a)(iv) below, and which breach would
entitle the terminating party to not consummate the Merger pursuant to
Article VII;
(iv) by Bancorp or Commercial, if the Closing has not occurred on or
before February 28, 1999 (provided that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 8.1(a)(iv) shall not be available to any party
whose failure or whose Affiliate's failure to perform any covenant of
obligation under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the
failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date);
(v) by Commercial if the Bancorp Board shall withdraw, modify or
change in a manner adverse to Commercial its recommendation with respect to
the Merger, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby;
(vi) subject to Section 8.1(b), by Bancorp by delivery of written
notice to Commercial at any time during the period beginning on (and
including) the fourth trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date
and ending on (and including) the
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third trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date (a "Price
Termination Notice"), if both of the following conditions are satisfied:
(A) the Average NYSE Closing Price shall be less than the product of (x)
.85 and (y) the Starting Price, and (B) (x) the quotient obtained by
dividing the Average NYSE Closing Price by the Starting Price shall be less
than (y) the Index Ratio; provided, however, that if following a Price
Termination Notice Commercial shall deliver written notice to Bancorp on or
before the trading day last preceding the Closing Date that Commercial
has elected for the Exchange Ratio to be determined pursuant to clause
(ii) of the definition thereof (an "Adjustment Election"), then no
termination shall occur under this Section 8.1(a)(vi); and
(vii) by Commercial pursuant to and in accordance with the provision
of the last sentence of Section 6.19.
(b) The termination of this Agreement shall be effectuated by
the delivery by the party terminating this Agreement to each other party of a
written notice of such termination; provided, however, that a termination
pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(vi) shall not become effective unless both (i) an
Adjustment Election has not been made by Commercial and (ii) the time period
thereunder for making an Adjustment Election has expired. If this Agreement
terminates pursuant to this Section 8.1, it shall become null and void and have
no further force or effect, except as provided in Section 8.2.
Section 8.2. Survival After Termination. If this Agreement is
terminated in accordance with Section 8.1 hereof and the transactions
contemplated hereby are not consummated, this Agreement shall become void and of
no further force and effect, without any liability on the part of any party
hereto, except for the provisions of Sections 6.5 and 6.9. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 8.2 shall relieve any party to this Agreement
of liability for a willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Amendments; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended
by the parties hereto, by action taken by or on behalf of their respective
Boards of Directors, at any time before or after approval of this Agreement by
the Commercial shareholders or Bancorp shareholders; provided, however, that
after any such approval by the Commercial shareholders or Bancorp shareholders,
no such amendment shall be made which under Applicable Law would require further
approval or authorization by the Commercial shareholders or Bancorp
shareholders, without obtaining such further approval or authorization.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto. Any
agreement on the part of any party to waive (i) any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained herein made by any other party or in
any document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto by any other
party, or (ii) compliance with any of the agreements, covenants or conditions
contained herein, shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party. No such waiver shall constitute a waiver of, or
estoppel
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with respect to, any subsequent or other inaccuracy, breach or failure to
strictly comply with the provisions of this Agreement. The failure of any party
at any time or times to enforce or require performance of any provision hereof
shall in no way operate as a waiver or affect the right of such party at a later
time to enforce the same.
Section 9.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including
Disclosure Schedules, Annexes, Exhibits, certificates, lists and documents
referred to herein, and any documents executed by the parties simultaneously
herewith or pursuant hereto), the Stock Option Agreement, the Confidentiality
Agreement and the Bank Plan of Merger constitute the entire agreement of the
parties hereto and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, written
and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 9.3. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and
Agreements. No investigation by the parties hereto made heretofore or hereafter
shall affect the representations and warranties of the parties which are
contained herein and each such representation and warranty shall survive such
investigation. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the
parties contained herein shall not survive the Effective Time, except for those
covenants and agreements which by their terms contemplate performance after the
Effective Time.
Section 9.4. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this
Agreement to Sections, Annexes, Exhibits or Disclosure Schedules, such reference
shall be to a Section of or Annex or Exhibit or Disclosure Schedule to this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words
"include," "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation." The phrases "the date
of this Agreement," "the date hereof" and terms of similar import, unless the
context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to the date set forth in
the first paragraph of this Agreement.
Section 9.5. Severability. Any term or provision of this
Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to
that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms
and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of
any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If
any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the
provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.
Section 9.6. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) upon delivery in person, (b)
upon transmission by telecopy (with written confirmation), (c) upon receipt if
mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), or (d) on the
business date after being delivered to a reputable overnight delivery service,
in each case, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
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If to Bancorp or the Company:
First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
215 S. Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado 80226
Telecopy: (303) 237-2601
Attention: Malcolm Collier, Jr., Chairman of the Board
With a copy to:
Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C.
1301 K Street, N.W.
Suite 700 East
Washington, D.C. 20005
Telecopy: (202) 434-4661
Attention: Samuel J. Malizia, Esq.
If to Commercial or the Bank:
Commercial Federal Corporation
2120 South 72nd Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68124
Telecopy: : (402) 390-5361
Attention: James A. Laphen, President
With copies to:
Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan, P.C.
1000 Commercial Federal Tower
2120 South 72nd Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68124
Telecopy: (402) 390-2866
Attention: Douglas Reno
and
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Telecopy: (212) 403-2000
Attention: Edward D. Herlihy, Esq.
Section 9.7. Binding Effect; Persons Benefiting; No
Assignment. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 9.7, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns. Except for the provisions of
Sections 6.16 and 6.17, nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed
-47-
<PAGE>
to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns any right, remedy or claim under or by reason
of their Agreement or any part hereof or to create any third party
beneficiaries. This Agreement may not be assigned by any of the parties hereto
without the prior written consent of each of the other parties hereto.
Section 9.8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, it being
understood that all of the parties need not sign the same counterpart.
Section 9.9. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT, THE LEGAL
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND THE ADJUDICATION AND THE ENFORCEMENT THEREOF,
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, WITHOUT REGARD TO APPLICABLE CHOICE
OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.
Section 9.10. Specific Performance. The parties hereto each
acknowledge that, in view of the uniqueness of its business and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, each party would not have an adequate remedy at
law for money damages in the event that the covenants to be performed hereunder
have not been performed in accordance with their terms, and therefore agree that
the other parties shall be entitled to specific enforcement of the terms hereof
in addition to any other equitable remedy to which such parties may be entitled.
Section 9.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES TO THIS
AGREEMENT AGREE TO WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AS TO ALL DISPUTES HEREUNDER.
-48-
EXHIBIT 99.3
<PAGE>
THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS
CONTAINED HEREIN AND TO RESALE RESTRICTIONS
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
----------------------
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Option Agreement") dated March 9,
1998, by and between COMMERCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION ("Commercial"), a Nebraska
corporation registered as a savings and loan holding company under the Home
Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended ("HOLA"), and FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
("Bancorp"), a Colorado corporation registered as a savings and loan holding
company under the HOLA.
W I T N E S S E T H:
--------------------
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Commercial and the Board of
Directors of Bancorp have approved a Reorganization and Merger Agreement dated
as of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement") providing, among other things,
for the merger of Bancorp with and into Commercial;
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Commercial's
entering into the Merger Agreement, Commercial has required that Bancorp agree,
and Bancorp has agreed, to grant to Commercial the Option (as hereinafter
defined);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises contained
herein and in the Merger Agreement, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
------------
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
same meanings as in the Merger Agreement.
2. Grant of Option.
----------------
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Bancorp
hereby grants to Commercial an option (the "Option") to purchase up to 3,348,533
fully paid and nonassessable, authorized and unissued shares of Bancorp Common
Stock at a price of $24.125 per share (the "Purchase Price") payable in cash as
provided in Section 4 hereof; provided, however, that in no event shall the
number of shares of Bancorp Common Stock for which this Option is exercisable
exceed 19.9% of Bancorp's issued and outstanding shares of Bancorp Common Stock
(without giving effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant to the
Option). The number of shares of Bancorp Common Stock that may be received upon
the exercise of the Option and the Purchase Price are subject to adjustment as
herein set forth.
3. Exercise of Option.
-------------------
(a) Commercial may exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any time
or from time to time only if a Purchase Event (as defined below) shall have
occurred; provided, however, that (i) to the extent the Option shall not have
been exercised, it shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
the earliest to occur of (A) the Effective Time of the Merger, (B) the
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with any of Sections
8.1(a)(i), 8.1(a)(ii), 8.1(a)(iii) (but only upon termination by (I) Bancorp
under such Section 8.1(a)(iii) or (II) by Commercial under such Section
8.1(a)(iii) other than with respect to a willful breach by Bancorp), 8.1(a)(iv),
8.1(a)(vi) or 8.1(a)(vii) thereof, and (C) 12 months following the
<PAGE>
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with any of Sections
8.1(a)(iii) (but only upon termination by Commercial under such Section
8.1(a)(iii) with respect to a willful breach by Bancorp) or 8.1(a)(v) thereof,
provided that, with respect to any of the foregoing, if such termination follows
an Extension Event (as defined below), the Option shall not terminate until the
date that is 18 months following such termination; (ii) if the Option cannot be
exercised on such day because of any injunction, order or similar restraint
issued by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction, the Option shall
expire on the 30th Business Day after such injunction, order or restraint shall
have been dissolved or when such injunction, order or restraint shall have
become permanent and no longer subject to appeal, as the case may be; and (iii)
that any such exercise shall be subject to compliance with Applicable Law,
including the HOLA. This Option may not be exercised at any time when Commercial
shall be in willful and material breach of any of its covenants or agreements
contained in the Merger Agreement such that Bancorp shall be entitled to
terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(iii) thereof.
(b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" shall mean any of the
following events:
(i) Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary, without having received
prior written consent from Commercial, shall have entered into,
authorized, recommended, proposed or publicly announced its intention
to enter into, authorize, recommend, or propose, an agreement,
arrangement or understanding with any Person (other than Commercial or
any Commercial Subsidiary) to (A) effect a merger or consolidation or
similar transaction involving Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary (other
than internal mergers, reorganizing actions, consolidations or
dissolutions involving only existing Bancorp Subsidiaries), (B)
purchase, lease or otherwise acquire 20% or more of the assets of
Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary or (C) purchase or otherwise acquire
(including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar
transaction) Beneficial Ownership of securities representing 20% or
more of the voting power of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary;
(ii) any Person (other than Commercial or any Commercial Subsidiary
or any Person acting in concert with Commercial; or Bancorp or any
Bancorp Subsidiary in a fiduciary capacity) shall have acquired
Beneficial Ownership of 20% or more of the voting power of Bancorp or
any Bancorp Subsidiary; or
(iii) Bancorp's Board of Directors shall have withdrawn, modified or
changed in a manner adverse to Commercial the recommendation of
Bancorp's Board of Directors with respect to the Merger, the Merger
Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, unless the Board of
Directors of Bancorp reasonably determines in good faith not to so
recommend based upon the advice of counsel, which counsel either is
Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C. or is otherwise reasonably
acceptable to Commercial, to the effect that to so recommend would
constitute a violation of the Board's fiduciary duties under Applicable
Law, in each case after an Extension Event.
(c) As used herein, the term "Extension Event" shall mean any of
the following events:
(i) a Purchase Event of the type specified in clauses (b)(i) and
(b)(ii) above;
(ii) any Person (other than Commercial or any Commercial
Subsidiary) shall have "commenced" (as such term is defined in Rule
14d-2 under the Exchange Act), or shall have filed a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to, a tender offer or
exchange offer to purchase shares of Bancorp Common Stock such that,
upon consummation of such offer, such Person would have Beneficial
Ownership (as defined
2
<PAGE>
below) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership of 10% or more of
the voting power of Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary; or
(iii) any Person (other than Commercial or any Commercial
Subsidiary; or Bancorp or any Bancorp Subsidiary in a fiduciary
capacity) shall have publicly announced its willingness, or shall have
publicly announced a bona fide proposal, or publicly disclosed an
intention to make a bona fide proposal, (x) to make an offer described
in clause (ii) above or (y) to engage in a transaction described in
clause (i) above.
(d) As used herein, the terms "Beneficial Ownership" and
"Beneficially Own" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act.
(e) In the event Commercial wishes to exercise the Option, it
shall deliver to Bancorp a written notice (the date of which being herein
referred to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of shares it
intends to purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not
earlier than three Business Days nor later than 60 calendar days from the Notice
Date for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing Date").
4. Payment and Delivery of Certificates.
-------------------------------------
(a) At the closing referred to in Section 3 hereof, Commercial
shall pay to Bancorp the aggregate Purchase Price for the shares of Bancorp
Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Bancorp.
(b) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of cash as
provided in Section 4(a), Bancorp shall deliver to Commercial a certificate or
certificates representing the number of shares of Bancorp Common Stock purchased
by Commercial, registered in the name of Commercial or a nominee designated in
writing by Commercial, and Commercial shall deliver to Bancorp a letter agreeing
that Commercial shall not offer to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of such
shares in violation of Applicable Law or the provisions of this Option
Agreement.
(c) If at the time of issuance of any Bancorp Common Stock
pursuant to any exercise of the Option, Bancorp shall have issued any share
purchase rights or similar securities to holders of Bancorp Common Stock, then
each such share of Bancorp Common Stock shall also represent rights with terms
substantially the same as and at least as favorable to Commercial as those
issued to other holders of Bancorp Common Stock.
(d) Certificates for Bancorp Common Stock delivered at any closing
hereunder shall be endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read
substantially as follows:
The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
subject to certain provisions of an agreement between the
registered holder hereof and ____________________, a copy of
which is on file at the principal office of
____________________, and to resale restrictions arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 and any applicable state securities
laws. A copy of such agreement will be provided to the holder
hereof without charge upon receipt by __________________ of a
written request therefor.
It is understood and agreed that the above legend shall be removed by delivery
of substitute certificate(s) without such legend if Commercial shall have
delivered to Bancorp an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Bancorp and its counsel, to the effect that such legend is not
required for purposes of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities
laws.
3
<PAGE>
5. Authorization, etc.
-------------------
(a) Bancorp hereby represents and warrants to Commercial that:
(i) Bancorp has full corporate authority to execute and deliver
this Option Agreement and, subject to Section 11(i), to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby;
(ii) such execution, delivery and consummation have been authorized
by the Board of Directors of Bancorp, and no other corporate
proceedings are necessary therefor;
(iii) this Option Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered and represents a valid and legally binding obligation of
Bancorp, enforceable against Bancorp in accordance with its terms; and
(iv) Bancorp has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize
and reserve and, subject to Section 11(i), permit it to issue and, at
all times from the date hereof through the date of the exercise in full
or the expiration or termination of the Option, shall have reserved for
issuance upon exercise of the Option, 3,348,533 shares of Bancorp
Common Stock, all of which, upon issuance pursuant hereto, shall be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
shall be delivered free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrances,
restrictions (other than federal and state securities restrictions) and
security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.
(b) Commercial hereby represents and warrants to Bancorp that:
(i) Commercial has full corporate authority to execute and deliver
this Option Agreement and, subject to Section 11(i), to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby;
(ii) such execution, delivery and consummation have been authorized
by all requisite corporate action by Commercial, and no other corporate
proceedings are necessary therefor;
(iii) this Option Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered and represents a valid and legally binding obligation of
Commercial, enforceable against Commercial in accordance with its
terms; and
(iv) any Bancorp Common Stock or other securities acquired by
Commercial upon exercise of the Option will not be taken with a view to
the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or
otherwise disposed of except in compliance with the Securities Act.
6. Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization.
------------------------------------------
In the event of any change in Bancorp Common Stock by reason
of stock dividends, split-ups, recapitalizations or the like, the type and
number of shares subject to the Option, and the Purchase Price per share, as the
case may be, shall be adjusted appropriately. In the event that any additional
shares of Bancorp Common Stock are issued after the date of this Option
Agreement (other than pursuant to an event described in the preceding sentence
or pursuant to this Option Agreement), the number of shares of Bancorp Common
Stock subject to the Option shall be adjusted so that, after such issuance, it
equals at least 19.9% of the number of
4
<PAGE>
shares of Bancorp Common Stock then issued and outstanding (without considering
any shares subject to or issued pursuant to the Option).
7. Repurchase.
-----------
(a) Subject to Section 11(i), at the request of Commercial at any
time commencing upon the occurrence of a Purchase Event and ending 13 months
immediately thereafter (the "Repurchase Period"), Bancorp (or any successor
entity thereof) shall repurchase the Option from Commercial together with all
(but not less than all, subject to Section 10) shares of Bancorp Common Stock
purchased by Commercial pursuant thereto with respect to which Commercial then
has Beneficial Ownership, at a price (on a per share basis, the "Per Share
Repurchase Price") equal to the sum of:
(i) The aggregate Purchase Price paid by Commercial for any shares
of Bancorp Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Option;
(ii) The difference between (A) the "Market/Tender Offer Price" for
shares of Bancorp Common Stock (defined as the higher of (x) the
highest price per share at which a tender or exchange offer has been
made for shares of Bancorp Common Stock or (y) the highest closing mean
of the "bid" and the "ask" price per share of Bancorp Common Stock
reported by NASDAQ, the automated quotation system of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., for any day within that
portion of the Repurchase Period which precedes the date Commercial
gives notice of the required repurchase under this Section 7) and (B)
the Purchase Price as determined pursuant to Section 2 hereof (subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 6), multiplied by the number of
shares of Bancorp Common Stock with respect to which the Option has not
been exercised, but only if the Market/Tender Offer Price is greater
than such Purchase Price;
(iii) The difference between the Market/Tender Offer Price and the
Purchase Price paid by Commercial for any shares of Bancorp Common
Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option, multiplied by
the number of shares so purchased, but only if the Market/Tender Offer
Price is greater than such Purchase Price; and
(iv) Commercial's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking
fees;
provided, however, that if such price is greater than an amount (the "Maximum
Repurchase Price") equal to the sum of (x) $20,000,000 and (y) the amount set
forth in (i) above, then such price shall be deemed to be the Maximum Repurchase
Price for all purposes hereunder.
(b) In the event Commercial exercises its rights under this
Section 7, Bancorp shall, within 10 Business Days thereafter, pay the required
amount to Commercial by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an
account designated by Commercial and Commercial shall surrender to Bancorp the
Option and the certificates evidencing the shares of Bancorp Common Stock
purchased thereunder with respect to which Commercial then has Beneficial
Ownership, and Commercial shall warrant that it has sole record and Beneficial
Ownership of such shares and that the same are free and clear of all liens,
claims, charges, restrictions and encumbrances of any kind whatsoever.
(c) In determining the Market/Tender Offer Price, the value of any
consideration other than cash shall be determined by an independent nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by Commercial and reasonably
acceptable to Bancorp.
5
<PAGE>
8. Repurchase at Option of Bancorp and Right of First Refusal.
(a) Except to the extent that Commercial shall have previously
exercised its rights under Section 7, at the request of Bancorp during the
six-month period commencing 13 months following the first occurrence of a
Purchase Event, Bancorp may repurchase from Commercial, and Commercial shall
sell to Bancorp, all (but not less than all, subject to Section 10) of the
Bancorp Common Stock acquired by Commercial pursuant hereto and with respect to
which Commercial has Beneficial Ownership at the time of such repurchase at a
price per share equal to the greater of (i) 110% of the Market/Tender Offer
Price, (ii) the Per Share Repurchase Price or (iii) the quotient obtained by
dividing (x) the sum of (A) the aggregate Purchase Price paid for the shares so
repurchased plus (B) interest on the aggregate Purchase Price paid for the
shares so repurchased from the date of purchase to the date of repurchase at the
highest rate of interest announced by Commercial as its prime or base lending or
reference rate during such period, less any dividends received on the shares so
repurchased, plus (C) Commercial's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees by
(y) the number of shares so repurchased. Any repurchase under this Section 8(a)
shall be consummated in accordance with Section 7(b).
(b) If, at any time after the occurrence of a Purchase Event and
prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of 18 months immediately following
such Purchase Event or (ii) the expiration or termination of the Option,
Commercial shall desire to sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of the
Option or all or any of the shares of Bancorp Common Stock acquired by it
pursuant to the Option, it shall give Bancorp written notice of the proposed
transaction (an "Offeror's Notice"), identifying the proposed transferee, and
setting forth the terms of the proposed transaction. An Offeror's Notice shall
be deemed an offer by Commercial to Bancorp, which may be accepted within 10
Business Days of the receipt of such Offeror's Notice, on the same terms and
conditions and at the same price at which Commercial is proposing to transfer
the Option or such shares to a third party. The purchase of the Option or any
such shares by Bancorp shall be closed within 10 Business Days of the date of
the acceptance of the offer and the purchase price shall be paid to Commercial
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by
Commercial. In the event of the failure or refusal of Bancorp to purchase the
Option or all the shares covered by the Offeror's Notice or if any Governmental
Authority disapproves Bancorp's proposed purchase of the Option or such shares,
Commercial may, within 60 days from the date of the Offeror's Notice, sell all,
but not less than all, of the Option or such shares to such third party at no
less than the price specified and on terms no more favorable to the purchaser
than those set forth in the Offeror's Notice. The requirements of this Section
8(b) shall not apply to (A) any disposition as a result of which the proposed
transferee would Beneficially Own not more than 2% of the voting power of
Bancorp or (B) any disposition of Bancorp Common Stock by a Person to whom
Commercial has sold shares of Bancorp Common Stock issued upon exercise of the
Option.
9. Registration Rights.
--------------------
At any time after a Purchase Event, Bancorp shall, if
requested by any holder or Beneficial Owner of shares of Bancorp Common Stock
issued upon exercise of the Option (except any Beneficial Owner or holder who
acquired all of such Beneficial Owner's or holder's shares in a transaction
exempt from the requirements of Section 8(b) by reason of clause (A) thereof)
(each a "Holder"), as expeditiously as possible file a registration statement on
a form for general use under the Securities Act if necessary in order to permit
the sale or other disposition of the shares of Bancorp Common Stock that have
been acquired upon exercise of the Option in accordance with the intended method
of sale or other disposition requested by any such Holder (it being understood
and agreed that any such sale or other disposition shall be effected on a widely
distributed basis so that, upon consummation thereof, no purchaser or transferee
shall
6
<PAGE>
Beneficially Own more than 2% of the shares of Bancorp Common Stock then
outstanding). Each such Holder shall provide all information reasonably
requested by Bancorp for inclusion in any registration statement to be filed
hereunder. Bancorp shall use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement first to become effective and then to remain effective for such period
not in excess of 180 days from the day such registration statement first becomes
effective as may be reasonably necessary to effect such sales or other
dispositions. The registration effected under this Section 9 shall be at
Bancorp's expense except for underwriting commissions and the fees and
disbursements of such Holders' counsel attributable to the registration of such
Bancorp Common Stock. In no event shall Bancorp be required to effect more than
two registrations hereunder. The filing of the registration statement hereunder
may be delayed for such period of time as may reasonably be required to
facilitate any public distribution by Bancorp of Bancorp Common Stock or if a
special audit of Bancorp would otherwise be required in connection therewith. If
requested by any such Holder in connection with such registration, Bancorp shall
become a party to any underwriting agreement relating to the sale of such
shares, but only to the extent of obligating itself in respect of
representations, warranties, indemnities and other agreements customarily
included in such underwriting agreements for parties similarly situated. Upon
receiving any request for registration under this Section 9 from any Holder,
Bancorp agrees to send a copy thereof to any other Person known to Bancorp to be
entitled to registration rights under this Section 9, in each case by promptly
mailing the same, postage prepaid, to the address of record of the Persons
entitled to receive such copies, and each such other Person, whether or not
known by Bancorp to be entitled thereto, shall be permitted to include shares of
Bancorp Common Stock with respect to which such Person is entitled to such
registration rights in such registration requested by such Holder, to the extent
reasonably practicable.
10. Severability.
-------------
Any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this
Option Agreement held by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, void or unenforceable, shall be ineffective to the extent of such
invalidity, voidness or unenforceability, but neither the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants or restrictions contained in this Option Agreement nor the
validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction shall be affected
or impaired thereby. Any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in
this Option Agreement that is so found to be so broad as to be unenforceable
shall be interpreted to be as broad as is enforceable. If for any reason such
Governmental Authority determines that Applicable Law will not permit Commercial
or any other Person to acquire, or Bancorp to repurchase or purchase, the full
number of shares of Bancorp Common Stock provided in Section 2 hereof (as
adjusted pursuant to Section 6 hereof), it is the express intention of the
parties hereto to allow Commercial or such other Person to acquire, or Bancorp
to repurchase or purchase, such lesser number of shares as may be permissible,
without any amendment or modification hereof.
11. Miscellaneous.
--------------
(a) Expenses. Each of the parties hereto shall pay all costs and
expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereunder, including fees and expenses of its own financial
consultants, investment bankers, accountants and counsel, except as otherwise
provided herein.
(b) Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, this Option Agreement and the Merger Agreement contain the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereunder and supersedes all prior arrangements or understandings with respect
thereto, written or oral.
(c) Successors; No Third Party Beneficiaries. The terms and
conditions of this Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their
7
<PAGE>
respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Option Agreement,
expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the
parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns, any rights,
remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Option
Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
(d) Assignment. Other than as provided in Sections 8 and 9 hereof,
neither of the parties hereto may sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of
any of its rights or obligations under this Option Agreement or the Option
created hereunder to any other Person (whether by operation of law or
otherwise), without the express written consent of the other party.
(e) Notices. All notices or other communications which are
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered
in accordance with Section 9.6 of the Merger Agreement (which is incorporated
herein by reference).
(f) Counterparts. This Option Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original
instrument, but both such counterparts together shall constitute but one
agreement.
(g) Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that if for any
reason Commercial or Bancorp shall have failed to perform its obligations under
this Option Agreement, then either party hereto seeking to enforce this Option
Agreement against such non-performing party shall be entitled to specific
performance and injunctive and other equitable relief, and the parties hereto
further agree to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond
in connection with the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable
relief. This provision is without prejudice to any other rights that either
party hereto may have against the other party hereto for any failure to perform
its obligations under this Option Agreement.
(h) Governing Law. This Option Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nebraska applicable to
agreements made and entirely to be performed within such state. Nothing in this
Option Agreement shall be construed to require any party (or any subsidiary or
affiliate of any party) to take any action or fail to take any action in
violation of Applicable Law, rule or regulation.
(i) Regulatory Approvals; Section 16(b). If, in connection with
(A) the exercise of the Option under Section 3 or a sale by Commercial to a
third party under Section 8, (B) a repurchase by Bancorp under Section 7 or a
repurchase or purchase by Bancorp under Section 8, prior notification to or
approval of any Governmental Authority is required, then the required notice or
application for approval shall be promptly filed and expeditiously processed and
periods of time that otherwise would run pursuant to such Sections shall run
instead from the date on which any such required notification period has expired
or been terminated or such approval has been obtained, and in either event, any
requisite waiting period shall have passed. In the case of clause (A) of this
subsection (i), such filing shall be made by Commercial, and in the case of
clause (B) of this subsection (i), such filing shall be made by Bancorp,
provided that each of Commercial and Bancorp shall use its best efforts to make
all filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and Governmental
Authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, including without limitation applying to the OTS under the HOLA for
approval to acquire the shares issuable hereunder. Periods of time that
otherwise would run pursuant to Sections 3, 7 or 8 shall also be extended to the
extent necessary to avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(j) No Breach of Merger Agreement. Nothing contained in this
Option Agreement shall, and performance by any party hereto of any of its
obligations under this Option Agreement in accordance with their terms shall
not, constitute a breach of any of the provisions of the Merger Agreement.
8
<PAGE>
(k) Waiver and Amendment. Any provision of this Agreement may be
waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such
provision, but only by delivery of a written instrument executed by such party.
This Option Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto.
9
EXHIBIT 99.4
<PAGE>
AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT, dated as of March 9, 1998, to the Rights Agreement, dated as
of July 24, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"), between First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.,
a Colorado corporation (the "Company"), and American Securities Transfer &
Trust, Incorporated, a Colorado corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore executed and
entered into the Rights Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Company
may from time to time supplement or amend the Rights Agreement in accordance
with the provisions of Section 27 thereof;
WHEREAS, it is proposed that the Company enter into a Reorganization
and Merger Agreement (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time,
the "Merger Agreement"), substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A to
this Amendment, between the Company and Commercial Federal Corporation
("Commercial"), as the same may be amended from time to time (all capitalized
terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement);
WHEREAS, it is proposed that immediately prior to the execution of the
Merger Agreement the Company enter into the Stock Option Agreement attached as
an exhibit to the Merger Agreement (the "Stock Option Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are fair to and in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best
interest of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Rights Agreement to
exempt the Merger Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby from the application of the Rights Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends the Rights Agreement as
follows:
(1) Amendment to Section 1(a)
Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby modified and
amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Neither Commercial nor any other Person, shall be
deemed to be an Acquiring Person by virtue of the
Merger Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement, each
to be entered into as of March 9, 1998, between the
Company and Commercial or by virtue of any of the
transactions contemplated thereby."
<PAGE>
(2) Amendment of Section 1(g)
The definition of "Distribution Date" in Section 1(g) of the
Rights Agreement is amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a
Distribution Date shall not be deemed to have occurred as the result of
(i) the execution of the Merger Agreement or the Stock Option
Agreement, (ii) the consummation of the Merger, (iii) the consummation
of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the
Stock Option Agreement or (iv) the announcement or disclosure of any of
the foregoing."
(3) Addition of Section 1(p)
A new Section 1(p) is added to the Rights Agreement, to read
as follows:
"(p) 'Commercial' shall mean Commercial Federal Corporation, a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nebraska,
and its successors."
(4) Addition of Section 1(q)
A new Section 1(q) is added to the Rights Agreement, to read
as follows:
"(q) 'Merger Agreement' shall mean the Reorganization and
Merger Agreement, to be dated as of March 9, 1998, by and among
Commercial, a subsidiary of Commercial, the Company and a subsidiary of
the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time."
(5) Addition of Section 1(r)
A new Section 1(r) is added to the Rights Agreement, to read
as follows:
"(r) 'Stock Option Agreement' shall mean the Stock Option
Agreement, to be dated as of March 9, 1998, by and between the Company
as issuer, and Commercial, as grantee, as the same may be amended from
time to time."
(6) Addition of Section 1(s)
A new Section 1(s) is added to the Rights Agreement, to read
as follows:
"(s) 'Termination Time' shall be immediately prior to the
Effective Time, as defined in the Merger Agreement."
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<PAGE>
(7) Amendment of Section 7(a)
Section 7(a) of the Rights Agreement is amended and restated
to read in its entirety as follows:
"The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise
the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in
whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender
of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the
reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
principal office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of the
Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as to
which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the
close of business on July 24, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii)
the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23
hereof (the "Redemption Date"), (iii) the time at which such Rights are
exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof, or (iv) the Termination
Time."
(8) Amendment to Section 13
The language of Section of 13 of the Rights Agreement prior to
Section 13, Clause (w) is amended to read as follows:
"Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets of Earning Power. In the event, directly or indirectly, (a) the
Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other
Person, (b) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge
with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such
merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or the
Company) or cash or any other property, or (c) the Company shall sell
or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or
otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning
power aggregating 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person other than the
Company or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries, provided,
however, that as long as the Merger Agreement shall not have been
terminated, the references to 'other Person' and 'any Person' in the
above transactions (a) through (c) shall not include Commercial or any
of its Affiliates, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall
be made so that"
(9) Amendment to Section 25
Clause (iv) of Section 25(a) of the Rights Agreement is
amended to read as follows:
"(iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or
to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its
Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other
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<PAGE>
transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to, any other Person, provided, however, that as long as the Merger
Agreement shall not have been terminated, such other Person shall not,
in any such consolidation, merger, or sale or transfer of assets or
earning power, include Commercial or any of its Affiliates or
Associates,"
(10) Amendment of Section 29
Section 29 of the Rights Agreement is amended to add the
following sentence at the end thereof:
"Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any
holder of Rights or any other Person any legal or equitable rights,
remedies or claims under this Agreement by virtue of the execution of
the Merger Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement or by virtue of any
of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Stock
Option Agreement."
(11) Effectiveness
This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of the date first
written above, as if executed on such date. Except as amended hereby, the Rights
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be otherwise
unaffected hereby.
(12) Miscellaneous
This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Colorado and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such state. This Amendment may be executed
in any number of counterparts, each of such counterparts shall for all purposes
be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument. If any provision, covenant or restriction of
this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be effected, impaired or invalidated.
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