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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-52188
CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
5520 Monroe Street
Sylvania, Ohio 43560
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 22, 2001
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Capital Holdings, Inc. will hold a special
meeting of its shareholders, on February 22, 2001 at 6:00 p.m., local time, at
the Franciscan Center, Lourdes College, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania, Ohio. The
purpose of the meeting is:
1. to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the affiliation agreement,
dated as of October 24, 2000, by and between Fifth Third Bancorp and
Capital Holdings, Inc. relating to, among other matters, the merger of
Capital Holdings with and into Fifth Third and approval of the control
share acquisition by Fifth Third of more than a majority of the voting
power of Capital Holdings pursuant to and in accordance with Section
1701.831 of the Ohio Revised Code. A copy of the affiliation agreement
is attached as Annex A to the proxy statement/prospectus accompanying
this notice; and
2. to consider and vote upon such other matters as may properly come before
the meeting.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT
AND THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION AND RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on January 16, 2001
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting or any adjournments
or postponements of that meeting. A list of Capital Holdings shareholders
entitled to vote at the special meeting will be available for examination by any
shareholder at the main office of Capital Holdings during ordinary business
hours for at least ten days prior to the special meeting, as well as at the
special meeting.
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT! THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF
THE ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING SHARES OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK ENTITLED TO
VOTE IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT AND A MAJORITY OF THE VOTING
POWER OF SHARES REPRESENTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING, EXCLUDING CERTAIN
"INTERESTED SHARES", IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION BY
FIFTH THIRD. A vote for adoption of the affiliation agreement will also
constitute a vote for approval of the control share acquisition. To ensure that
your shares are voted at the special meeting, please sign, date and promptly
mail the accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope. If you hold shares of
Capital Holdings common stock directly in your name, you may also vote over the
Internet or by telephone. If Internet or telephone voting is available to you,
voting instructions are printed on the proxy card sent to you. Any shareholder
of record present at this meeting or at any adjournments or postponements of the
meeting may revoke his or her proxy and vote personally on each matter brought
before the meeting. You may revoke your proxy by following the instructions
contained in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus at any time before it
is voted.
Remember, if your shares are held in the name of a broker, only your broker
can vote your shares and only after receiving your instructions. Please contact
the person responsible for your account and instruct him/her to execute a proxy
card on your behalf. You should also sign, date and mail your proxy at your
earliest convenience.
Please review the proxy statement/prospectus accompanying this notice for
more complete information regarding the matter proposed for your consideration
at the special meeting. Should you have any questions or require assistance,
please call D.F. King & Co., Inc., who is assisting us, at (800) 207-3156.
By Order of the Board of Directors
John S. Szuch
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
January 19, 2001
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC. UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE ADOPTION OF THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT AND THE CONTROL
SHARE ACQUISITION BY FIFTH THIRD OF MORE THAN A MAJORITY OF THE VOTING POWER OF
CAPITAL HOLDINGS. YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED.
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PROXY STATEMENT FOR CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
SPECIAL MEETING
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PROSPECTUS OF FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
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The boards of directors of Capital Holdings, Inc. and Fifth Third Bancorp
have agreed that Fifth Third will acquire Capital Holdings in a merger. If the
merger is completed, each outstanding share of Capital Holdings common stock
will be exchanged for .638 of a share of Fifth Third common stock. Cash will be
paid in lieu of issuing fractional shares.
Based on the $55.13 closing price per share of Fifth Third common stock on
January 12, 2001, the value of .638 of a share of Fifth Third common stock was
$35.17. Because the number of shares of Fifth Third common stock you will
receive in the merger is fixed, the value of the shares of Fifth Third common
stock you will receive in the merger will fluctuate as the price of Fifth Third
common stock changes. We encourage you to obtain current market price quotations
for Fifth Third common stock.
The merger cannot be completed unless the shareholders of Capital Holdings
adopt the affiliation agreement and approve the control share acquisition by
Fifth Third of more than a majority of the voting power of Capital Holdings.
Capital Holdings has scheduled a special meeting for its shareholders to vote on
these matters.
THE CAPITAL HOLDINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE
HOLDERS OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE
AFFILIATION AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL OF THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION.
Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please take the time
to vote by completing, signing and mailing the enclosed proxy card to us.
Alternatively, if you hold shares of Capital Holdings common stock directly in
your name, you may vote over the Internet or by telephone by following the
instructions set forth on the Proxy Card. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Fifth Third common stock is traded on The Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "FITB." Capital Holdings common stock is traded in the over-the-counter
market on the Nasdaq bulletin board system under the symbol "CLHD."
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FOR A DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT, SEE "RISK FACTORS"
BEGINNING ON PAGE 9.
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NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
------------------------
THE SHARES OF FIFTH THIRD COMMON STOCK ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS
OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF ANY BANK OR SAVINGS ASSOCIATION AND ARE NOT INSURED BY
THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
COMMON STOCK IS SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING LOSS OF VALUE.
------------------------
The date of this proxy statement/prospectus is January 17, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER...................... 1
SUMMARY..................................................... 3
RISK FACTORS................................................ 9
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.................................. 10
THE SPECIAL MEETING......................................... 11
Purpose of the Meeting.................................... 11
Voting and Revocability of Proxies........................ 11
Vote Required............................................. 12
Solicitation of Proxies................................... 13
PROPOSAL -- MERGER OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS INTO FIFTH THIRD..... 15
Structure of the Merger................................... 15
Corporate Governance...................................... 15
Merger Consideration...................................... 15
No Fractional Shares...................................... 15
Effective Time of the Merger.............................. 15
Exchange of Certificates.................................. 16
Background of the Merger.................................. 16
Recommendation of the Capital Holdings Board of Directors
and Reasons for the Merger............................. 18
Opinion of Capital Holdings' Financial Advisor............ 19
Federal Income Tax Consequences........................... 25
Accounting Treatment...................................... 26
Resale of Fifth Third Common Stock by Affiliates.......... 26
Dissenters' Rights of Appraisal........................... 27
TERMS OF THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT.......................... 29
Representations and Warranties............................ 29
Conduct Pending the Merger................................ 29
Conditions to Closing..................................... 30
Termination; Amendment; Waiver............................ 31
Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger................ 32
Effect on Capital Holdings' Employees..................... 34
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP......................................... 36
Description of Business................................... 36
Recent Developments....................................... 36
Additional Information.................................... 37
CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC....................................... 38
Description of Business................................... 38
Additional Information.................................... 38
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION............................................... 39
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF FIFTH THIRD........... 46
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS...... 48
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK AND COMPARATIVE RIGHTS OF
SHAREHOLDERS.............................................. 50
Voting Rights............................................. 50
Dividends................................................. 51
Preemptive Rights......................................... 51
Rights Upon Liquidation................................... 51
Indemnification and Personal Liability of Directors and
Officers............................................... 51
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<TABLE>
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Shareholders' Meetings.................................... 52
Removal of Directors...................................... 52
Amendment to Charter Documents............................ 52
Vacancies on the Board of Directors....................... 53
Advance Notice Requirements for Nominations of Directors
at Meetings of Shareholders............................ 53
Subscription, Conversion, Redemption Rights; Stock
Nonassessable.......................................... 54
Change-of-Control Provisions.............................. 54
REGULATION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS........................ 55
Holding Company Regulation................................ 55
Capital Requirements...................................... 56
Regulation of Depository Institutions..................... 56
LEGAL MATTERS............................................... 57
EXPERTS..................................................... 57
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION......................... 57
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ANNEXES:
Annex A: Affiliation Agreement dated as of October 24, 2000 by and
between Fifth Third Bancorp and Capital Holdings, Inc.
(excluding exhibits)
Annex B: Fairness Opinion of Austin Associates, Inc.
Annex C: Section 1701.85 of the Ohio Revised Code
Annex D: Acquiring Person Statement
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER
Q: WHY DO CAPITAL HOLDINGS AND FIFTH THIRD WANT TO MERGE?
A: The Capital Holdings board of directors believes that you will benefit by
becoming a shareholder of Fifth Third, which has a strong financial
performance record. The Capital Holdings board also believes that you will
benefit from the opportunity for potential future appreciation of Fifth Third
common stock. Fifth Third wants to better serve its customers in Capital
Holdings' service areas and to expand Fifth Third's presence in those
markets.
Q: WHAT WILL I RECEIVE FOR MY CAPITAL HOLDINGS SHARES?
A: You will receive .638 of a share of Fifth Third common stock for each share
of Capital Holdings common stock that you own at the effective time of the
merger. Fifth Third will not issue any fractional shares. Instead, you will
receive cash in lieu of any fractional share owed to you in an amount based
on the average closing price of Fifth Third common stock for the 20
consecutive trading days ending on the fifth trading day before the effective
date of the merger. As of the close of business on January 12, 2001, the
market value of .638 of a share of Fifth Third common stock was $35.17. The
market value of the shares of Fifth Third common stock that you will receive
in the merger will fluctuate both before and after the merger.
Q: WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THE MERGER TO BE COMPLETED?
A: We hope to complete the merger as soon as possible after the special
shareholders' meeting, assuming the required shareholder approval is
obtained. The merger is also subject to the approval of federal and state
banking regulatory authorities and the satisfaction of other closing
conditions.
Q: WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE SPECIAL MEETING TAKE PLACE?
A: The special meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on
February 22, 2001, at Franciscan Center, Lourdes College, 6832 Convent Blvd.,
Sylvania, Ohio 43560.
Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NOW?
A: After reviewing this document, submit your proxy, either by executing and
returning the enclosed proxy card or, if you hold shares directly in your
name, by voting electronically over the Internet or by telephone. By
submitting your proxy, you authorize the individuals named in the proxy to
represent you and vote your shares at the special meeting in accordance with
your instructions. These persons also may vote your shares to adjourn the
special meeting from time to time and will be authorized to vote your shares
at any adjournments of the special meeting. YOUR PROXY VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR
PROXY PROMPTLY EITHER IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, OVER THE INTERNET OR BY
TELEPHONE.
Q: CAN I VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR OVER THE INTERNET IF I AM NOT A REGISTERED
SHAREHOLDER?
A: If your shares are held in "street name" by a broker or other nominee, you
should check the voting form used by that firm to determine whether you will
be able to vote by telephone or over the Internet.
Q: HOW WILL MY SHARES BE VOTED IF I RETURN A BLANK PROXY CARD?
A: If you sign, date and send in your proxy card and do not indicate how you
want to vote, your proxies will be counted as a vote in favor of adoption of
the affiliation agreement.
Q: WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECT IF I DO NOT VOTE?
A: Your failure to vote will have the same effect as if you voted against the
affiliation agreement.
Q: CAN I VOTE MY SHARES IN PERSON?
A: Yes, if you own your shares in certificate form. You may attend the special
meeting and vote your shares in person rather than signing and mailing your
proxy card. However, in order to ensure that your vote is counted at the
special meeting we recommend that you sign, date and promptly mail the
enclosed proxy card.
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Q: CAN I CHANGE MY MIND AND REVOKE MY PROXY?
A: Yes, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the
polls close at the special meeting by:
- signing another proxy with a later date,
- voting by telephone or over the Internet,
- giving written notice of the revocation of your proxy to the Secretary of
Capital Holdings prior to the special meeting, or
- voting in person at the special meeting.
Your latest dated proxy or vote will be counted.
Q: IF MY SHARES ARE HELD IN "STREET NAME" BY MY BROKER, WILL MY BROKER VOTE MY
SHARES FOR ME?
A: Your broker will vote your shares only if you instruct your broker on how to
vote. Your broker will send you directions on how you can instruct your
broker to vote. Your broker cannot vote your shares without instructions from
you.
Q: SHOULD I SEND IN MY STOCK CERTIFICATES NOW?
A: No. If the merger is completed, we will send you written instructions for
exchanging your stock certificates.
Q: WHO CAN ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MERGER?
A: If you have more questions about the merger, please contact D.F. King & Co.,
Inc., who is assisting us, at (800) 207-3156.
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SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this document and may not
contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand the
merger fully and for a more complete description of the legal terms of the
merger, you should read carefully this entire document, including the annexes,
and the other documents we refer to. For more information about Fifth Third and
Capital Holdings, see "Where You Can Find More Information." (page 57)
THE COMPANIES
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45263
(513) 579-5300
Fifth Third is a registered financial holding company, incorporated under
Ohio law, which conducts its principal activities through its banking and
non-banking subsidiaries. Fifth Third's six subsidiary depository institutions
operate a general banking business from 668 offices located throughout Ohio,
Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Florida and Arizona. At September 30,
2000, on a consolidated basis, Fifth Third had assets of approximately $44.4
billion, deposits of approximately $25.5 billion and shareholders' equity of
approximately $4.4 billion. Fifth Third common stock is traded on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol "FITB."
CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
5520 MONROE STREET
SYLVANIA, OHIO 43560
(419) 885-7379
Capital Holdings is a one bank holding company incorporated under Ohio law.
Capital Holdings owns all of the stock of Capital Bank, N.A. a national banking
association, which is headquartered in Sylvania, Ohio. Capital Bank operates its
one banking office located in the Northwestern Ohio county of Lucas. At
September 30, 2000, Capital Holdings, on a consolidated basis, had assets of
approximately $1.1 billion, deposits of approximately $873.9 million and
shareholders' equity of approximately $94.6 million. Capital Holdings common
stock is traded in the over-the-counter market on the Nasdaq bulletin board
system under the symbol "CLHD."
THE MERGER
Pursuant to the affiliation agreement between Capital Holdings and Fifth
Third dated as of October 24, 2000, at the effective time of the merger, Capital
Holdings will merge with and into Fifth Third. Fifth Third will issue shares of
its common stock to the existing shareholders of Capital Holdings in exchange
for their shares of Capital Holdings common stock. Simultaneously with the
merger, we anticipate that Capital Bank, N.A. will merge with and into Fifth
Third Bank.
CAPITAL HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDERS WILL RECEIVE FIFTH THIRD STOCK IN THE MERGER
If the merger is completed, you will have the right to receive .638 of a
share of Fifth Third common stock for each share of Capital Holdings common
stock that you own as of the effective time of the merger. Based on the $55.13
closing price per share of Fifth Third common stock on January 12, 2001, the
value of .638 of a share of Fifth Third common stock was $35.17.
The number of shares of Fifth Third common stock you will receive in the
merger is subject to adjustments for stock dividends and similar events before
the merger is completed. Such adjustments will not alter the value of the
exchange ratio, but the value of the shares of Fifth Third common stock to be
issued in the merger will fluctuate from time to time.
NO FRACTIONAL SHARES WILL BE ISSUED
Fifth Third will not issue any fractional shares. Instead, you will receive
cash in lieu of any fractional share of Fifth Third common stock owed to you in
an amount based on the average closing price of Fifth Third common stock for the
20 consecutive trading days ending on the fifth trading day before the date on
which the merger occurs.
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER
The exchange of shares is expected to be tax-free to you for federal income
tax purposes, except for taxes payable on any cash you receive in lieu of
fractional shares. The expected material federal income tax consequences are set
out in greater detail beginning on page 25.
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Tax matters are very complicated and the tax consequences of the merger to
you will depend on the facts of your own situation. You are urged to consult
your tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax consequences of the merger
to you.
REASONS FOR THE MERGER
The Capital Holdings board believes that in the rapidly changing
environment of the banking industry, Capital Holdings' long-term goal of
enhancing shareholder value will be reached by merging with Fifth Third. In
addition, the Capital Holdings board believes that the customers and community
served by Capital Holdings will benefit from the merger.
You can find a more detailed discussion of the background to the
affiliation agreement and Capital Holdings' and Fifth Third's reasons for the
merger in this document under "Proposal -- Merger of Capital Holdings into Fifth
Third -- Background of the Merger" beginning on page 16 and "-- Recommendation
of the Capital Holdings Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger" beginning
on page 18.
OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Among other factors considered in deciding to approve the merger, the
Capital Holdings board of directors received the opinion of its financial
advisor, Austin Associates, Inc. that, as of October 24, 2000 (the date of the
Capital Holdings board's vote on the merger), the merger consideration was fair
to the holders of Capital Holdings common stock from a financial point of view.
We have attached a copy of this opinion to this document as Annex B. You should
read this opinion completely to understand the assumptions made, matters
considered and limitations of the review undertaken by Austin Associates in
providing its opinion.
RECOMMENDATION TO CAPITAL HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDERS
The Capital Holdings board of directors unanimously recommends that you
vote FOR adoption of the affiliation agreement and approval of the control share
acquisition.
THE SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the Capital Holdings shareholders will be held at 6:00
p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 22, 2001, at Franciscan Center, Lourdes
College, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania, Ohio 43560. Holders of Capital Holdings
common stock outstanding as of the close of business on January 16, 2001 are
entitled to vote at the special meeting and will be asked to consider and vote
upon:
- the adoption of the affiliation agreement, including approval of the
control share acquisition by Fifth Third of a majority of the voting
power of Capital Holdings; and
- any other matters as are properly presented at the special meeting.
As of the date of this document, the Capital Holdings board does not know
of any other matters that will be presented at the special meeting.
VOTES REQUIRED
At the special meeting, the affiliation agreement must be adopted by the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the shares of Capital Holdings common
stock outstanding at the close of business on January 16, 2001.
Adoption of the affiliation agreement will also authorize the Capital
Holdings board to exercise its discretion on whether to proceed with the merger
in the event Capital Holdings has the right to terminate the affiliation
agreement. This determination may be made without notice to, or the
resolicitation of proxies from, the Capital Holdings shareholders.
The merger also constitutes a "control share acquisition" by Fifth Third of
a majority of the voting power of Capital Holdings under the Ohio Control Share
Acquisition Act. At the special meeting, this control share acquisition by Fifth
Third of more than a majority of the voting power of Capital Holdings must also
be approved by (1) a majority of the shares of Capital Holdings common stock
represented at the special meeting, and (2) a majority of the shares of Capital
Holdings common stock represented at the special meeting which are not deemed to
be "interested shares" under the Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act. A vote for
adoption of the affiliation agreement will also constitute a vote for approval
of the control share acquisition.
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS' MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS
On January 16, 2001, the record date for the special meeting, directors of
Capital Holdings and
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their affiliates beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 1,374,609 shares
of Capital Holdings common stock, or 19.5% of the Capital Holdings shares
outstanding on that date. The Capital Holdings directors have indicated that
they intend to vote all 1,374,609 shares of Capital Holdings common stock owned
of record by them in favor of the proposal to adopt the affiliation agreement
and approve the control share acquisition.
OWNERSHIP OF FIFTH THIRD FOLLOWING THE MERGER
Based on the number of shares of Fifth Third common stock and Capital
Holdings common stock and options to purchase Capital Holdings common stock
outstanding on the record date, Fifth Third would issue approximately 5.07
million shares of its common stock to Capital Holdings shareholders in the
merger. This would constitute approximately one percent of the outstanding stock
of Fifth Third immediately after the merger.
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
Fifth Third and Capital Holdings will complete the merger only if certain
conditions are satisfied. Some of these conditions include:
- the adoption of the affiliation agreement by Capital Holdings'
shareholders; and
- the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and the expiration of any
waiting periods.
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System approved the merger on
January 5, 2001.
Some of the conditions to the merger may be waived by the company entitled
to assert the condition.
RIGHT TO TERMINATE
The boards of directors of Fifth Third and Capital Holdings may jointly
agree in writing to terminate the affiliation agreement without completing the
merger. In addition, either company can individually terminate the affiliation
agreement prior to the completion of the merger if:
- the other party breaches any of the material representations or
warranties it made or it materially fails to comply with any of its
obligations under the affiliation agreement;
- the merger is not completed by June 30, 2001;
- the parties do not obtain the required regulatory approvals;
- Capital Holdings' shareholders do not adopt the affiliation agreement; or
- other conditions to closing the merger have not been satisfied.
INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE MERGER
When considering the Capital Holdings board's recommendation that Capital
Holdings' shareholders vote to adopt the affiliation agreement, you should be
aware that certain Capital Holdings directors and officers may have interests in
the merger that are different from, or in addition to, yours. These interests
exist because of the terms of the affiliation agreement.
The members of Capital Holdings' board of directors knew about and
considered these additional interests when they approved the affiliation
agreement.
FIFTH THIRD EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. As a condition to the consummation of
the merger, the affiliation agreement requires Fifth Third to enter into
employment agreements with John S. Szuch, Capital Holdings' Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Robert A. Sullivan, Capital Holdings' President and Chief
Operating Officer, and Bruce K. Lee, Capital Holdings' Executive Vice President.
Mr. Szuch's proposed employment agreement would employ Mr. Szuch as the Chairman
and a director of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) and calls for an initial
annual base salary of $226,720 and an annual cash bonus of $240,000. Mr.
Sullivan's proposed employment agreement would employ Mr. Sullivan as the
President, CEO and a director of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) and the
agreement calls for an initial annual base salary of $226,720 and an annual cash
bonus of $240,000. Mr. Lee's proposed employment agreement would employ Mr. Lee
as an Executive Vice President of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) and calls
for an initial annual base salary of $156,000 and an annual cash bonus of
$170,000.
FIFTH THIRD SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS. As a condition to the consummation of the
merger, the affiliation agreement requires Fifth Third to enter into severance
agreements with Michael P. Killian, Capital Holdings' Senior Vice President,
Stephen J. Kovatch, Capital Holdings' Senior Vice President, and David L. Mead,
Capital Holdings' Senior Vice
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President and Chief Financial Officer. Under the proposed severance agreements,
upon termination of employment in certain circumstances, Mr. Kovatch and Mr.
Killian would each receive $230,000 and Mr. Mead would receive $215,000.
STOCK OPTIONS. Upon consummation of the merger, all outstanding awards,
options or other rights to purchase or acquire Capital Holdings common stock
under Capital Holdings 1988 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1996 Incentive Stock
Option Plan, Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan and 1999 Long-Term
Incentive Plan will have vested, become immediately exercisable and will be
converted into options to purchase Fifth Third common stock.
INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY INSURANCE. Fifth Third will assume all
provisions for indemnification now existing in favor of the directors and
officers of Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries. Fifth Third also will
purchase and keep in effect for a two-year period, a policy of directors' and
officers' liability insurance providing coverage for acts or omissions of the
type currently covered by Capital Holdings' existing directors' and officers'
liability insurance for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the merger as
long as such coverage may be obtained on commercially reasonable terms.
EFFECT ON CAPITAL HOLDINGS' EMPLOYEES
EMPLOYMENT. Fifth Third shall consider employing as many of the employees
of Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries who desire employment within the Fifth
Third holding company system as possible, to the extent of available positions
and consistent with Fifth Third's standard staffing levels and personnel
policies.
FIFTH THIRD EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Fifth Third shall provide each of the
full-time employees of Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries who become
employees of Fifth Third or its affiliates, as a group, with employee benefit
plans that in the aggregate are of comparable value to the benefit plans
maintained by Fifth Third for similarly-situated employees of Fifth Third.
Former Capital Holdings employees shall be given credit for prior service with
Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries for purposes of eligibility, vesting and
accrual of benefits.
SEVERANCE. The affiliation agreement provides for the payment of severance
amounts to employees of Capital Holdings who do not have an employment or
severance agreement under certain conditions upon termination of employment.
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN VESTING. The affiliation agreement allows Capital
Holdings to amend its Retirement Savings Plan to provide for the immediate
vesting of all participants' account balances, including employer matching and
profit sharing contributions.
DISSENTERS' RIGHTS
If you (1) do not vote to approve the affiliation agreement and (2) deliver
a written demand for payment of the fair cash value of your shares of Capital
Holdings common stock not later than ten days after the special meeting, you
shall be entitled, if and when the merger is completed, to receive the fair cash
value of your shares of Capital Holdings common stock. Your right to receive the
fair cash value of your Capital Holdings shares of common stock, however, is
contingent upon your strict compliance with the procedures set forth in Ohio
Revised Code Section 1701.85, a copy of which is attached to this document as
Annex C. If you wish to submit a written demand for payment of the fair cash
value of your shares of Capital Holdings common stock, you should deliver your
demand no later than March 5, 2001 to David L. Mead, Chief Financial Officer of
Capital Holdings, Inc., 5520 Monroe Street, Sylvania, Ohio 43560.
ACCOUNTING
Fifth Third intends the merger to qualify for pooling-of-interests
accounting treatment.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Fifth Third's strategy for growth includes strengthening its presence in
core markets, expanding into contiguous markets and broadening its product
offerings. Consistent with this strategy, in addition to the merger, Fifth Third
recently acquired Ottawa Financial Corporation, a unitary savings and loan
holding company headquartered in Holland, Michigan and entered into an agreement
to acquire Old Kent Financial Corporation, a financial holding company
headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fifth Third's pending acquisition of
Old Kent Financial Corporation is expected to be completed during the second
quarter of 2001, after the completion of the merger with Capital Holdings.
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COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS
Fifth Third common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "FITB" and Capital Holdings common stock is traded in the
over-the-counter market on the Nasdaq bulletin board system under the symbol
"CLHD." On October 24, 2000, the business day immediately preceding the public
announcement of the execution of the affiliation agreement setting forth the
terms of the merger, and on January 12, 2001, the most recent practicable date
prior to the printing of this document, the market prices of Fifth Third common
stock and Capital Holdings common stock and the equivalent price per share of
Capital Holdings common stock giving effect to the merger were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OCTOBER 24, JANUARY 12,
2000 2001
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Fifth Third
Common Stock
(Closing sales price)..................................... $51.44 $55.13
Capital Holdings
Common Stock
(Closing sales price)..................................... $25.25 $34.63
Equivalent Price Per Share of Capital Holdings Common
Stock..................................................... $32.82 $35.17
</TABLE>
The "Equivalent Price Per Share of Capital Holdings Common Stock" at each
specified date in the immediately preceding table represents the closing sales
price of a share of Fifth Third common stock on that date multiplied by the
exchange ratio of .638, which is the number of shares of Fifth Third common
stock that a Capital Holdings shareholder would receive for each share of
Capital Holdings common stock owned. Shareholders should obtain current market
quotations for shares of Fifth Third common stock and Capital Holdings common
stock prior to making any decisions with respect to the merger.
The following table sets forth (in per share amounts), for the calendar
quarters indicated, the high and low sales prices and the cash dividends
declared during each quarterly period. These amounts have been retroactively
adjusted to reflect, in the case of Fifth Third, the 3-for-2 stock splits
effected in the form of stock dividends paid July 14, 2000 and April 15, 1998,
and, in the case of Capital Holdings, the 3-for-1 stock split effected in the
form of a stock dividend paid July 15, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIFTH THIRD COMMON STOCK CAPITAL HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK
----------------------------- -----------------------------
DIVIDENDS DIVIDENDS
HIGH LOW DECLARED HIGH LOW DECLARED
------ ------ --------- ------ ------ ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998:
First Quarter..................... $39.22 $33.00 $0.113 $15.67 $15.67 $0.070
Second Quarter.................... 42.08 31.67 0.113 16.75 12.50 0.070
Third Quarter..................... 44.83 32.83 0.113 18.50 18.50 0.070
Fourth Quarter.................... 49.42 33.54 0.133 19.50 18.33 0.080
1999:
First Quarter..................... 50.29 41.58 0.133 21.00 19.38 0.080
Second Quarter.................... 49.50 41.08 0.133 22.25 21.75 0.080
Third Quarter..................... 46.58 39.08 0.160 32.00 22.00 0.080
Fourth Quarter.................... 50.29 38.58 0.160 32.00 26.00 0.090
2000:
First Quarter..................... 48.50 29.33 0.160 30.12 26.00 0.090
Second Quarter.................... 48.00 37.75 0.180 29.00 25.00 0.090
Third Quarter..................... 54.75 40.94 0.180 26.38 23.00 0.090
Fourth Quarter.................... 60.88 43.31 0.180 37.75 22.81 0.100
2001:
First Quarter
(through January 12, 2001)........ 61.31 54.00 -- 37.94 34.13 --
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE> 12
COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA
The following table sets forth certain per share information for both Fifth
Third and Capital Holdings at the dates indicated and for the periods then
ended. The equivalent per share information is based on an exchange ratio of
.638 of a share of Fifth Third common stock for each share of Capital Holdings
common stock. Neither Capital Holdings nor Fifth Third can give any assurances
that the following table will accurately reflect figures and values applicable
at the date of completion of the merger.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EQUIVALENT SHARES
BASIS -- .638
OF A SHARE
OF FIFTH THIRD
FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK
------------------------------------- ----------------- ------------------
HISTORICAL PRO FORMA(1) HISTORICAL PRO FORMA
---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
BASIC DILUTED BASIC DILUTED BASIC DILUTED BASIC DILUTED
----- ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2000:........ $1.35 $1.33 $ 1.46 $1.43 $ 1.24 $1.20 $0.93 $0.91
Twelve Months Ended
December 31:
1999..................... $1.46 $1.43 $ 1.69 $1.66 $ 1.55 $1.50 $1.08 $1.06
1998..................... $1.21 $1.19 $ 1.45 $1.42 $ 1.32 $1.30 $0.93 $0.91
1997..................... $1.18 $1.17 $ 1.39 $1.37 $ 1.19 $1.14 $0.89 $0.87
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER
SHARE
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2000:........ $0.52 -- $ 0.52 -- $ 0.27 -- $0.33 --
Twelve Months Ended
December 31:
1999..................... $0.59 -- $ 0.59 -- $ 0.33 -- $0.37 --
1998..................... $0.47 -- $ 0.47 -- $ 0.29 -- $0.30 --
1997..................... $0.38 -- $ 0.38 -- $ 0.17 -- $0.24 --
BOOK VALUE PER SHARE
At September 30, 2000:....... $9.61 -- $10.39 -- $13.43 -- $6.63 --
At December 31, 1999:........ $8.80 -- $ 9.72 -- $12.24 -- $6.20 --
</TABLE>
---------------
(1) Includes the impact of Fifth Third's pending acquisition of Old Kent
Financial Corporation.
8
<PAGE> 13
RISK FACTORS
In making your determination as to how to vote on the merger, you should
consider the following factors:
RISKS RELATING TO THE MERGER
THE EXCHANGE RATIO IS FIXED AND WILL NOT BE ADJUSTED TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN
STOCK VALUE PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER.
The precise value of the merger consideration to be paid to Capital
Holdings' shareholders will not be known at the time of the special meeting. The
affiliation agreement provides that .638 of a share of Fifth Third common stock
will be issued in the merger in exchange for each share of Capital Holdings
common stock. This exchange ratio is fixed and will not be adjusted to reflect
any changes in the value of either Capital Holdings or Fifth Third common stock
between the date of the affiliation agreement and the effective time of the
merger. The value of Fifth Third common stock, however, will fluctuate prior to
the effective time of the merger and may be higher or lower than on the date of
the affiliation agreement or the date of the special meeting.
THE VALUE OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK MAY VARY IN THE FUTURE.
If the merger is not completed, the value of Capital Holdings common stock
could increase or decrease in the future. Such value could be either higher or
lower than the merger consideration being offered by Fifth Third in the merger.
CAPITAL HOLDINGS' SHAREHOLDERS WILL NOT CONTROL FIFTH THIRD'S FUTURE OPERATIONS.
Capital Holdings' shareholders collectively own 100% of Capital Holdings
and, in the aggregate, have the absolute power to approve or reject any matters
requiring the adoption or approval of shareholders under Ohio law and Capital
Holdings' articles of incorporation. Immediately after the merger, Capital
Holdings' shareholders in the aggregate will hold approximately one percent of
the outstanding shares of Fifth Third common stock. Accordingly, even if all of
the former Capital Holdings shareholders voted in concert on all matters
presented to Fifth Third's shareholders from time to time, the former Capital
Holdings shareholders will not likely have a significant impact on whether
future Fifth Third proposals are approved or rejected.
CERTAIN DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS WILL RECEIVE
BENEFITS IN THE MERGER IN ADDITION TO THE MERGER CONSIDERATION RECEIVED BY ALL
OTHER CAPITAL HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDERS.
Certain officers and directors of Capital Holdings will receive severance
agreements, employment agreements and accelerated stock option vesting in
connection with the merger. See "Terms of the Affiliation Agreement -- Interests
of Certain Persons in the Merger." Accordingly, Capital Holdings' directors and
certain executive officers may have interests in the merger that are different
from, or in addition to, yours.
POST MERGER RISKS
FIFTH THIRD'S FUTURE ACQUISITIONS WILL DILUTE YOUR OWNERSHIP OF FIFTH THIRD AND
MAY CAUSE FIFTH THIRD TO BECOME MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ADVERSE ECONOMIC EVENTS.
Fifth Third's pending acquisition of Old Kent Financial Corporation is
material to Fifth Third and will dilute your ownership interest in Fifth Third.
Other future business acquisitions could also be material to Fifth Third. Fifth
Third may issue additional shares of common stock to pay for those acquisitions,
which would dilute your ownership interest. Acquisitions also could require
Fifth Third to use substantial cash or other liquid assets or to incur debt. In
those events, Fifth Third could become more susceptible to economic downturns
and competitive pressures.
IF FIFTH THIRD DOES NOT ADJUST TO RAPID CHANGES IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES
INDUSTRY, ITS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MAY SUFFER.
Fifth Third's ability to maintain its history of strong financial
performance and return on investment to shareholders will depend in part on
Fifth Third's ability to expand its scope of available financial services as
needed to meet the needs and demands of its customers. In addition to the
challenge of attracting and
9
<PAGE> 14
retaining customers for traditional banking services, Fifth Third's competitors
now include securities dealers, brokers, mortgage bankers, investment advisors
and finance and insurance companies who seek to offer one-stop financial
services to their customers that may include services that banks have not been
able or allowed to offer to their customers in the past. The increasingly
competitive environment is a result primarily of changes in regulation, changes
in technology and product delivery systems and the accelerating pace of
consolidation among financial service providers.
DIFFICULTIES IN COMBINING THE OPERATIONS OF ACQUIRED ENTITIES WITH FIFTH THIRD'S
OWN OPERATIONS MAY PREVENT FIFTH THIRD FROM ACHIEVING THE EXPECTED BENEFITS FROM
ITS ACQUISITIONS.
Fifth Third may not be able to achieve fully the strategic objectives and
operating efficiencies in all of its acquisitions, including Capital Holdings.
Inherent uncertainties exist in integrating the operations of an acquired
company into Fifth Third. In addition, the markets and industries in which Fifth
Third operates are highly competitive. Fifth Third also may lose key personnel,
either from the acquired entities or from itself, as a result of acquisitions.
These factors could contribute to Fifth Third not achieving the expected
benefits from its acquisitions within the desired time frames, if at all.
FUTURE GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION AND LEGISLATION COULD LIMIT FIFTH THIRD'S FUTURE
GROWTH.
Fifth Third and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive state and federal
regulation, supervision and legislation that govern almost all aspects of the
operations of Fifth Third and its subsidiaries. These laws may change from time
to time and are primarily intended for the protection of consumers, depositors
and the deposit insurance funds. The impact of any changes to these laws may
negatively impact Fifth Third's ability to expand its services and to increase
the value of its business. While we cannot predict what effect any presently
contemplated or future changes in the laws or regulations or their
interpretations would have on Fifth Third, these changes could be materially
adverse to Fifth Third's shareholders.
CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES COULD REDUCE FIFTH THIRD'S INCOME AND CASH FLOWS.
Fifth Third's income and cash flows depend to a great extent on the
difference between the interest rates earned on interest-earning assets such as
loans and investment securities, and the interest rates paid on interest-bearing
liabilities such as deposits and borrowings. These rates are highly sensitive to
many factors which are beyond Fifth Third's control, including general economic
conditions and the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, in
particular, the Federal Reserve Board. Changes in monetary policy, including
changes in interest rates, will influence the origination of loans, the purchase
of investments, the generation of deposits and the rates received on loans and
investment securities and paid on deposits. Fluctuations in these areas may
adversely affect Fifth Third.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document, including information incorporated by reference into this
document, contains or may contain forward-looking statements about Fifth Third,
Capital Holdings and the combined company which we believe are within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This document
contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial
condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and
business of Fifth Third, Capital Holdings and the combined company, including
statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believes,"
"expects," "anticipates" or similar expressions. These forward-looking
statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause
actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such
forward-looking statements include, among others, those risks discussed above.
Further information on other factors which could affect the financial results of
Fifth Third after the merger are included in the SEC filings incorporated by
reference into this document. See "Where You Can Find More Information" on page
57.
10
<PAGE> 15
THE SPECIAL MEETING
This document and the accompanying proxy card are being furnished to you in
connection with the solicitation by the board of directors of Capital Holdings
of proxies to be used at the special meeting to be held at 6:00 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time, on February 22, 2001, at Franciscan Center, Lourdes College, 6832
Convent Blvd., Sylvania, Ohio 43560, and at any adjournments thereof. This
document, the enclosed notice of Capital Holdings' special meeting and proxy
card are first being sent to you on or about January 19, 2001.
PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
The purpose of the special meeting of Capital Holdings' shareholders is to
approve the proposals to adopt the affiliation agreement relating to the merger
of Capital Holdings with and into Fifth Third and other transactions
contemplated thereby, including the control share acquisition by Fifth Third of
more than a majority of the voting power of Capital Holdings. Capital Holdings'
shareholders also may consider and vote upon such other matters as are properly
brought before the special meeting, including a proposal to adjourn the special
meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies by the Capital Holdings board
in the event that there are not sufficient votes to approve the proposal to
adopt the affiliation agreement at the time of the special meeting. However, no
proxy which is voted against the adoption of the affiliation agreement will be
voted in favor of adjournment to solicit further proxies for such proposal. As
of the date of this document, the Capital Holdings board knows of no business
that will be presented for consideration at the special meeting, other than
matters described in this document.
VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The Capital Holdings board of directors has fixed the close of business on
January 16, 2001 as the record date for shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the special meeting. Only holders of record of Capital Holdings
common stock on that record date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the
special meeting. Each share of Capital Holdings common stock you own entitles
you to one vote. On the record date, 7,047,556 shares of Capital Holdings common
stock were outstanding and entitled to vote at the special meeting, held by
approximately 1,277 shareholders of record.
You may vote at the special meeting using any one of the following methods:
- You May Vote by Mail. If you properly complete and sign the accompanying
proxy card and return it in the enclosed envelope, it will be voted in
accordance with your instructions. The enclosed envelope requires no
additional postage if mailed in the United States.
- You May Vote by Telephone. If you are a registered shareholder, that is,
if you hold your stock in your own name, you may vote by telephone by
following the instructions included on the proxy card. If you vote by
telephone, you do not have to mail in your proxy card.
- You May Vote over the Internet. If you are a registered shareholder, that
is, if you hold your stock in your own name, you may vote over the
Internet by following the instructions included on the proxy card. If you
vote over the Internet, you do not have to mail in your proxy card.
- You May Vote in Person at the Meeting. If you plan to attend the special
meeting and wish to vote in person, we will give you a ballot at the
special meeting. However, if your shares are held in the name of your
broker, bank or other nominee, you will need to obtain a proxy form from
the institution that holds your shares indicating that you were the
beneficial owner of Capital Holdings common stock on January 16, 2001,
the record date for voting at the special meeting.
Ohio law and Capital Holdings' code of regulations allow proxy voting by
electronic means.
If you hold shares of Capital Holdings common stock in "street name," you
must instruct your broker to vote your shares on the proposal to adopt the
affiliation agreement, following the directions provided to you by your broker.
Your failure to instruct your broker to vote on the proposal to adopt the
affiliation agreement will be the equivalent of voting against the proposal.
11
<PAGE> 16
Shareholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any
time prior to their exercise. Unless revoked, the shares represented by proxies
will be voted at the special meeting and all adjournments thereof. Proxies may
be revoked by: (1) written notice to the Secretary of Capital Holdings, Inc.,
5520 Monroe Street, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560, (2) filing a later dated proxy prior
to a vote being taken on a particular proposal at the special meeting, (3)
voting by telephone or over the Internet, or (4) attending the special meeting
and voting in person. Your latest dated proxy or vote will be counted.
Proxies solicited by the Capital Holdings board will be voted in accordance
with the directions given on the proxy cards. IF YOU SIGN AND DATE YOUR PROXY
CARD BUT DO NOT INDICATE YOUR VOTE ON THE PROXY CARD, YOUR PROXY WILL BE VOTED
TO ADOPT THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT AND THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION BY FIFTH
THIRD AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. YOU WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED THE
APPRAISAL RIGHTS OF A DISSENTING SHAREHOLDER. The proxies confer discretionary
authority on the persons named on the proxy cards to vote Capital Holdings
common stock with respect to matters incident to the conduct of the special
meeting. If any other business is presented at the special meeting, proxies will
be voted in accordance with the discretion of the proxy holders. Proxies marked
as abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt
the affiliation agreement and approve the control share acquisition by Fifth
Third at the special meeting. If you do not return your proxy card, vote over
the Internet, vote by telephone or otherwise vote at the special meeting, it
will have the same effect as if you voted against the affiliation agreement but
will have no effect on the vote to approve the control shares acquisition by
Fifth Third of more than a majority of the voting power of Capital Holdings.
VOTE REQUIRED
ADOPTION OF AFFILIATION AGREEMENT. The affirmative vote of the holders of
at least two-thirds of the Capital Holdings common stock outstanding is required
to adopt the affiliation agreement. THE CAPITAL HOLDINGS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT CAPITAL HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ADOPTION OF THE
AFFILIATION AGREEMENT.
Because approval of the Capital Holdings proposal to adopt the affiliation
agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the Capital Holdings common stock outstanding, abstentions and failures to vote
will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Under National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. conduct rules, your broker may not vote
your shares on the Capital Holdings proposal to adopt the affiliation agreement
without instructions from you. Without your voting instructions, a broker
non-vote will occur. Broker non-votes have the same effect as votes against the
proposal.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Capital
Holdings common stock present and voting on the matter may authorize the
adjournment of the special meeting. No proxy that is voted against the proposal
to adopt the affiliation agreement will be voted in favor of adjournment to
solicit further proxies for the proposal.
OHIO CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT. Section 1701.831 of the Ohio Revised
Code, the Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act, provides that any "control share
acquisition" of an Ohio issuing public corporation shall be made only with the
prior authorization of the shareholders of the issuing public corporation in
accordance with the provisions of the Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act. A
"control share acquisition" is defined under the Ohio Control Share Acquisition
Act to mean the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person of shares of
an issuing public corporation that, when added to all other shares of the
issuing public corporation such person owns, would entitle such person, directly
or indirectly, to exercise voting power in the election of directors within the
following ranges: more than 20%, more than 33 1/3% and a majority. The merger
constitutes a "control share acquisition" under the Ohio Control Share
Acquisition Act.
The Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act also requires that the acquiring
person must deliver an acquiring person statement to the Ohio issuing public
corporation. Capital Holdings received the acquiring person statement from Fifth
Third on January 10, 2001. The Ohio issuing public corporation must then call a
special meeting of its shareholders to vote upon the proposed acquisition within
50 days after receipt of such
12
<PAGE> 17
acquiring person statement, unless the acquiring person agrees to a later date.
A copy of the acquiring person statement delivered to Capital Holdings by Fifth
Third is attached hereto as Annex D.
The Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act further specifies that the
shareholders of the Ohio issuing public corporation must approve the proposed
control share acquisition by certain percentages at a special meeting of
shareholders at which a quorum is present. For purposes of the Ohio Control
Share Acquisition Act, a quorum is deemed to be a majority of the voting power
of Capital Holdings in the election of directors. Accordingly, failure to return
your signed proxy card, vote over the Internet, vote by telephone or otherwise
vote at the special meeting, while not acting as a vote against the control
share acquisition, will reduce the likelihood that a quorum is present at the
special meeting. If we do not achieve a quorum at the special meeting, we may
have to reschedule the special meeting and continue to solicit proxies for it
which could delay the merger and increase Capital Holdings' costs in holding the
special meeting.
In order to comply with the Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act, Fifth Third
may only acquire the shares of Capital Holdings if the proposal to adopt the
affiliation agreement and approve the control share acquisition is approved by:
(1) a majority of the voting power of the shares of Capital Holdings common
stock that is represented in person or by proxy at the special meeting, and (2)
a majority of the voting power of the shares of Capital Holdings common stock
that is represented in person or by proxy at the special meeting, excluding
those shares of Capital Holdings common stock deemed to be "interested shares"
for purposes of the Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act.
"Interested shares" are defined under the Ohio Control Share Acquisition
Act to mean shares in respect of which the voting power is controlled by any of
the following persons: (1) an acquiring person (in this case, Fifth Third); (2)
any officer of Capital Holdings; or (3) any employee who is also a director of
Capital Holdings. "Interested shares" also include shares of Capital Holdings
common stock that are acquired by any person after the date of the first public
disclosure of the proposed merger (in this case October 25, 2000) and the
January 16, 2001 record date of the special meeting, if either: (a) the
aggregate consideration paid by such person, and any person acting in concert
with him for such shares of the Capital Holdings common stock exceeds $250,000,
or (b) the number of shares acquired by such person, and any person acting in
concert with him, exceeds one-half of one percent of the outstanding shares of
Capital Holdings common stock.
In order to determine whether any shares acquired after October 25, 2000
constitute "interested shares" pursuant to the preceding sentence, Capital
Holdings will examine its stock records as of October 25, 2000, as of the record
date and as of the last business day preceding the special meeting. If any
record holder (other than a broker, bank or other nominee) has increased his
ownership interest by more than one-half of one percent of the outstanding
shares of Capital Holdings common stock, or by a number of shares in excess of
$250,000 divided by the average closing price of a share of Capital Holdings
common stock during the period from October 25, 2000 through the record date,
these additional shares held by this holder will be deemed "interested shares"
upon receipt by Capital Holdings of a validly executed proxy card from this
record holder. A record holder may rebut a presumption that shares are
"interested shares" by providing Capital Holdings with documentation
satisfactory to Capital Holdings' legal counsel establishing that these shares
are not "interested shares" within the definition of Section 1701.01(CC)(2) of
the Ohio Revised Code.
As of the record date, 542,185 of the shares of Capital Holdings common
stock held by employee directors and officers of Capital Holdings would be
"interested shares" under the Ohio Control Share Acquisition Act. Except as set
forth in the preceding paragraph, all other shares will be presumed to be
disinterested shares unless Capital Holdings acquires actual knowledge of facts
that evidence that these other shares must be deemed "interested shares."
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
Capital Holdings will pay all the costs of soliciting proxies, except that
Fifth Third will pay the expenses of printing and mailing this document. Capital
Holdings will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials
to the
13
<PAGE> 18
beneficial owners of common stock. In addition to solicitations by mail,
directors, officers and employees of Capital Holdings may solicit proxies
personally or by telephone without additional compensation.
We have retained D.F. King & Co., Inc., a proxy solicitation firm, to
assist Capital Holdings in soliciting its shareholders. We anticipate that the
costs of these services will be approximately $5,000.
DO NOT SEND IN ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH YOUR PROXY CARD. AS SOON AS
PRACTICABLE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE MERGER, THE EXCHANGE AGENT WILL MAIL
TRANSMITTAL FORMS WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SURRENDER OF STOCK CERTIFICATES FOR
CAPITAL HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK TO FORMER CAPITAL HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDERS.
14
<PAGE> 19
PROPOSAL -- MERGER OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS INTO FIFTH THIRD
The following description summarizes all material terms of the affiliation
agreement. We urge you to read the affiliation agreement, a copy of which is
attached as Annex A to this document and is incorporated by reference into this
document.
STRUCTURE OF THE MERGER
Upon completion of the merger, Capital Holdings will merge with and into
Fifth Third and Capital Holdings will cease to exist as a separate entity. In a
related simultaneous transaction, Capital Bank, N.A. will merge with and into
Fifth Third Bank.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
After the merger is completed, the directors and officers of Fifth Third
who were in office prior to the effective time of the merger will continue to
serve as the directors and officers, respectively, of Fifth Third for the term
for which they were elected, subject to Fifth Third's code of regulations and in
accordance with law.
MERGER CONSIDERATION
Each share of Capital Holdings common stock (excluding treasury shares)
that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the
merger will be canceled and converted, by virtue of the merger and without any
further action, into the right to receive .638 of a share of Fifth Third common
stock.
This exchange ratio is subject to change so as to give Capital Holdings'
shareholders the economic benefit of any stock dividends, reclassifications,
recapitalizations, split-ups, exchanges of shares, distributions or combinations
or subdivisions of Fifth Third common stock effected before the effective time
of the merger.
If, before the effective time of the merger, Fifth Third engages in either
the distribution of any of its assets (other than a cash dividend), or causes
the distribution of capital stock of any company which holds any assets
previously held by Fifth Third or any of its affiliates to the Fifth Third
shareholders, then the exchange ratio shall be increased in such amount so that
the equivalent fair market value of such transaction shall also be distributed
to the Capital Holdings shareholders, as of the effective time of the merger.
NO FRACTIONAL SHARES
Only whole shares of Fifth Third common stock will be issued in connection
with the merger. In lieu of fractional shares, each holder of Capital Holdings
common stock otherwise entitled to a fractional share of Fifth Third common
stock will be paid, without interest, an amount of cash equal to the amount of
this fraction multiplied by the average of the closing prices of a share of
Fifth Third common stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the 20 consecutive
trading days ending on the fifth trading day before the effective time of the
merger. No shareholder will be entitled to interest, dividends, voting rights or
other rights in respect of any fractional share.
EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER
Unless we agree otherwise, the effective time of the merger will occur on a
Friday which is as soon as is reasonably possible after all conditions contained
in the affiliation agreement have been met or waived, including the expiration
of all applicable waiting periods. It is anticipated that the effective time of
the merger will occur in the first quarter of 2001, although no assurance can be
given in this regard. Capital Holdings and Fifth Third each will have the right,
but not the obligation, to terminate the affiliation agreement if the effective
time of the merger does not occur on or before June 30, 2001, provided the
terminating party is not in material breach or default of any representation,
warranty or covenant contained in the affiliation agreement on the date of such
termination.
15
<PAGE> 20
EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
After the effective time of the merger, you will cease to have any rights
as a shareholder of Capital Holdings, and your sole rights will pertain to the
rights to receive shares of Fifth Third common stock and cash in lieu of
fractional shares, if any, into which your shares of Capital Holdings common
stock will have been converted by virtue of the merger.
Within 15 business days after the effective time of the merger, Fifth Third
will send to you a notice and letter of transmittal for use in submitting to
Fifth Third Trust Department, acting as exchange agent, certificates formerly
representing shares of Capital Holdings common stock to be exchanged for
certificates representing shares of Fifth Third common stock (and, to the extent
applicable, cash in lieu of fractional shares of Fifth Third common stock) which
you are entitled to receive as a result of the merger. You will also receive
instructions for handling share certificates which have been lost, stolen,
destroyed or mislaid. You will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other
distributions which may be payable to holders of record of Fifth Third common
stock following the effective time of the merger until you have surrendered and
exchanged your certificates (or, in the case of lost, stolen, destroyed or
mislaid share certificates, such documentation as is required by Fifth Third)
evidencing ownership of Capital Holdings common stock. Any dividends payable on
Fifth Third common stock after the effective time of the merger will be paid to
the exchange agent and, upon receipt of the certificates (or, in the case of
lost, stolen, destroyed or mislaid share certificates, such documentation as is
required by Fifth Third) representing Capital Holdings common stock, subject to
any applicable escheat or similar laws relating to unclaimed funds, the exchange
agent will forward to you (1) certificates representing your shares of Fifth
Third common stock, (2) dividends declared thereon subsequent to the effective
time of the merger, without interest, and (3) the cash value of any fractional
shares, without interest. YOU SHOULD NOT SUBMIT SHARE CERTIFICATES UNTIL YOU
HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO DO SO.
At the effective time of the merger, the stock transfer books of Capital
Holdings will be closed and no transfer of Capital Holdings common stock will
thereafter be made on Capital Holdings' stock transfer books. If a certificate
formerly representing Capital Holdings common stock is presented to Capital
Holdings or Fifth Third, it will be forwarded to the exchange agent for
cancellation and exchange for a certificate representing shares of Fifth Third
common stock.
BACKGROUND OF THE MERGER
Capital Holdings was formed as the holding company for Capital Bank in
1988. Capital Bank was chartered as a de novo bank and opened for business in
August, 1989. Capital Bank operates from a single office located at 5520 Monroe
Street, Sylvania, Ohio. The bank's strategic plan has been to develop
relationships with its customers by providing a high level of personalized
service; to focus on providing safe, sound and profitable growth; and to enhance
overall shareholder value.
Capital Bank has experienced rapid growth since its inception. During
mid-1999, as the bank's assets approached $1 billion, management and the board
of directors identified funding loan growth and overall capital adequacy as the
two critical financial issues facing the organization.
In order to fund loan growth, Capital Bank needed to increase customer
deposits. To the extent that loan growth exceeded deposit growth from core
customers, the bank needed to secure additional funding from other higher cost
borrowing sources or to sell portions of its loans to other community banks.
With either of these funding alternatives, Capital Bank's net interest margins
are adversely impacted. Management and the board of directors recognized this
issue as a potential long-term risk to future earnings growth.
Capital Bank is also subject to bank regulatory capital requirements. The
growth rates achieved during its initial 10 years of existence placed pressure
on the bank's capital ratios. In 1992, Capital Holdings completed a $6 million
offering of common stock to augment its capital position. Since that time,
Capital Holdings was able to internally generate capital through earnings
retention to support growth. By mid-1999, Capital Bank's accelerating growth
caused the board of directors to evaluate the need for additional external
capital. The board of directors and management studied this issue and determined
that at least $20 million in
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<PAGE> 21
new equity should be raised in order to enable the bank to continue with its
strategic plan. Given the potential dilution to the then existing shareholders
of Capital Holdings and the risks and costs associated with a common stock
offering of this magnitude, management authorized Austin Associates to contact
Fifth Third to inquire as to their potential interest in acquiring Capital
Holdings.
Austin Associates contacted Fifth Third during August of 1999 to initiate
discussions regarding a potential transaction. A meeting was held in Cincinnati
between representatives from Austin Associates as financial advisor and Werner &
Blank as legal counsel to Capital Holdings, and Neal A. Arnold, Executive Vice
President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Fifth Third and Robert P.
Niehaus, Executive Vice President of Fifth Third. Following this meeting, a
second meeting was scheduled and held in Sylvania that included the same group
that met in Cincinnati, plus John S. Szuch, Chairman and CEO of Capital
Holdings, Robert A. Sullivan, President of Capital Holdings and George A.
Schaefer, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Fifth Third. Following
this second meeting, the parties decided to terminate discussions.
Following termination of discussions, Capital Holdings initiated and
successfully completed a stock offering that raised over $24 million of new
capital. The offering was completed in December of 1999.
During June of 2000, Fifth Third contacted Capital Holdings and
communicated that they were interested in renewing discussions regarding a
potential transaction. Mr. Szuch and Mr. Sullivan met with Robert J. King, Jr.,
Executive Vice President of Fifth Third on June 15, 2000 to explore the changes
that had occurred in Fifth Third's assessment of the attractiveness of Capital
Holdings' franchise.
On July 11, 2000, the board of directors and senior management of Capital
Holdings held a strategic planning retreat. A central discussion issue focused
on Capital's accelerating loan growth, and the various alternative funding
methods. One alternative strategy discussed involved the intentional tightening
of credit standards and loan pricing in an effort to slow loan growth. The board
consensus, however, was that the strategic plan and operating strategy of
Capital Holdings must not be altered. The board believed that maintaining the
momentum of Capital Bank was crucial to the success of its strategic plan.
Based on Fifth Third's recently communicated interest in acquiring Capital
Holdings, and its financial strength, range of product offerings and reputation,
management of Capital Holdings authorized Austin Associates to prepare an
analysis of potential purchasers following the July 2000 planning meeting. This
involved updating a prior analysis prepared during mid-1999 in preparation for
the initial contact with Fifth Third at that time. On July 28, 2000, Mr. Szuch
and Mr. Sullivan met with a representative of Austin Associates to review the
results. Management concluded that Fifth Third was highly regarded in the
banking industry for its financial performance and historical stock price
appreciation. Further, given the trading multiples of Fifth Third's stock price,
it had the financial capacity to pay significantly more than other realistic
potential acquirers of Capital Holdings. Finally, given Fifth Third's existing
presence and market share in Toledo, Capital Holdings represented an attractive
strategic acquisition. In other words, Capital Holdings should be worth more to
Fifth Third than other potential buyers that do not have existing operations in
Toledo.
On August 24, 2000 Mr. Szuch and Mr. Sullivan met with Mr. Niehaus and Mr.
King of Fifth Third to discuss Capital Holdings' interest in considering a
combination with Fifth Third. Fifth Third communicated that an integral element
of their interest was the continuing involvement of Messrs. Szuch and Sullivan
in executive management positions with Fifth Third's operations in Northwest
Ohio. Fifth Third subsequently offered Mr. Szuch the Chairman position and Mr.
Sullivan the President and CEO position in Fifth Third Bank, Northwestern Ohio,
NA, a subsidiary of Fifth Third.
Throughout the last week of August and all of September 2000, Fifth Third
and Capital Holdings and their representatives exchanged information and held
various discussions regarding the financial and other terms surrounding a
potential transaction. On October 4, Messrs. Szuch, Sullivan and a
representative of Austin Associates met with Messrs. Schaefer, Niehaus and
Arnold to confirm the understandings of the parties with respect to a potential
transaction.
On October 10, the board of directors of Capital Holdings met to review and
evaluate the status of the discussions with Fifth Third. Management described
the background of the discussions and the rationale for
17
<PAGE> 22
pursuing a transaction at this time. Austin Associates presented a detailed
summary of the financial and non-financial terms for a potential transaction, an
overview of the public market for bank stocks and the bank merger market, and a
comparison of the potential acquirers for Capital Holdings in terms of financial
and stock data. A representative of Werner & Blank, as legal counsel to Capital
Holdings, described the legal and structural steps involved with the transaction
and the anticipated timetable for completion.
The board of directors thoroughly reviewed the information provided by
Austin Associates and there was a full discussion regarding the specific terms
of the transaction. The board of directors also considered the effect of the
proposal on Capital Bank's employees and officers. The board of directors
determined that the proposed transaction was fair and in the best interests of
Capital Holdings' shareholders, and authorized Austin Associates and Werner &
Blank to proceed with negotiations with Fifth Third with a view to Fifth Third
completing due diligence and entering into a definitive contract with respect to
a transaction.
At a special board of directors meeting held on October 24, 2000, the board
of directors was advised that Austin Associates believed the financial terms of
the affiliation agreement were fair, from a financial point of view, to
shareholders of Capital Holdings. The board of directors, with legal counsel,
then considered the overall terms of the proposed transaction with Fifth Third,
including the provisions of the affiliation agreement, the proposed employment
arrangements for Mr. Szuch, Mr. Sullivan and Bruce K. Lee, and the severance
protection for Stephen J. Kovatch, Michael P. Killian, and David L. Mead, and
voted unanimously to approve the affiliation agreement. The affiliation
agreement was executed immediately following the meeting.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE CAPITAL HOLDINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND REASONS FOR THE
MERGER
The Capital Holdings board of directors, with the assistance of outside
financial and legal advisors, evaluated the financial, legal and market
considerations bearing on the decision to pursue and subsequently recommend the
merger. In reaching its decision to pursue the proposed merger with Fifth Third,
the Capital Holdings board of directors considered the following material
factors:
(1) the financial capacity of Fifth Third to assist Capital Holdings in
serving the credit needs of its customers by providing funding for loan
growth beyond the capability of Capital Holdings as an independent
organization;
(2) the liquidity in the market for the common stock of Fifth Third as
compared to the common stock of Capital Holdings;
(3) the concentration of loans of Capital Holdings in the corporate and
commercial real estate sectors as compared to the diversification
afforded through a merger with Fifth Third; and
(4) the broad range of Fifth Third's services, including trust and
investment products, and an array of retail loan products, as compared
to the relatively narrow product line of Capital Holdings.
The terms of the merger, including the purchase price, are a result of
arm's-length negotiations between the representatives of Capital Holdings and
Fifth Third. In reaching its conclusion that the affiliation agreement is in the
best interests of Capital Holdings and its shareholders, the Capital Holdings
board of directors carefully considered the following material factors:
(1) the exchange ratio of the proposed merger, including the fact that
Capital Holdings shareholders will not recognize any gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes on the receipt of Fifth Third common stock
in the merger;
(2) a comparison of the terms of the proposed merger with comparable
transactions;
(3) information concerning the business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects of Capital Holdings and Fifth Third;
(4) the review by the Capital Holdings board of directors with its legal
and financial advisors of the provisions of the affiliation agreement;
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<PAGE> 23
(5) the value to be received by the Capital Holdings shareholders in the
merger in relation to the historical trading prices, book value,
earnings and dividends per share of Capital Holdings common stock;
(6) the opinion rendered by Austin Associates to the Capital Holdings board
of directors that the terms of the affiliation agreement are fair, from
a financial point of view, to Capital Holdings and its shareholders;
and
(7) the potential social and economic impact of the merger on the
constituencies served by Capital Holdings.
The Capital Holdings board of directors also considered the separate
agreements and benefits proposed for employees and management and concluded that
those terms were reasonable. See "Terms of the Affiliation
Agreement -- Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger."
While each member of the Capital Holdings board of directors individually
considered the foregoing and other factors, the board did not collectively
assign any specific or relative weights to the factors considered and did not
make any determination with respect to any individual factor. The Capital
Holdings board of directors collectively made its determination with respect to
the merger based on the conclusion reached by its members, in light of the
factors that each of them considered appropriate, that the merger is in the best
interests of Capital Holdings' shareholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE
HOLDERS OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE
AFFILIATION AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL OF THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION.
Fifth Third's primary reason for entering into the merger is to further a
long-range commitment of realigning and expanding its banking system to better
meet and satisfy the needs of its customers, including those in Capital
Holdings' service area. Fifth Third's historic acquisition strategy has
generally been to fill in its markets along the interstate highways in Ohio,
Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. These acquisitions are designed to strengthen
Fifth Third's ability to compete in these markets by increasing its presence,
consumer access and sales force.
OPINION OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS' FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Capital Holdings retained Austin Associates, Inc. to provide financial
advisory services in connection with the merger. Capital Holdings selected
Austin Associates as its financial advisor on the basis of Austin Associates'
historical relationship with Capital Holdings, and Austin Associates' experience
and expertise in representing community banks in similar transactions. Austin
Associates is an investment banking and consulting firm specializing in
community bank mergers and acquisitions.
On October 24, 2000, Austin Associates delivered to Capital Holdings'
board, in conjunction with its meeting held to consider the merger and approve
the affiliation agreement, its opinion to the effect that the exchange ratio
provided for in the affiliation agreement is fair, from a financial point of
view, to the shareholders of Capital Holdings. Because the pending acquisition
of Old Kent Financial Corporation by Fifth Third was announced on November 20,
2000, the fairness opinion of Austin Associates dated as of October 24, 2000 did
not consider the effect of the Old Kent acquisition.
You should consider the following when reading the discussion of Austin
Associates' opinion in this document:
- The summary of Austin Associates' opinion set forth in this document is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion
that is attached as Annex B to this document. You should read the opinion
in its entirety for a full discussion of the procedures followed,
assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and limitations
of the review undertaken by Austin Associates in connection with its
opinion.
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<PAGE> 24
- Austin Associates expressed no opinion as to the price at which Fifth
Third common stock would actually be trading at any time.
- Austin Associates' opinion does not address the relative merits of the
merger and the other business strategies considered by Capital Holdings'
board, nor does it address the Capital Holdings board decision to proceed
with the merger.
- Austin Associates' opinion to the Capital Holdings board rendered in
connection with the merger does not constitute a recommendation to any
Capital Holdings shareholder as to how he or she should vote at the
special meeting.
No limitations were imposed by the Capital Holdings board of directors or
its management upon Austin Associates with respect to the investigations made or
the procedures followed by Austin Associates in rendering its opinion.
The preparation of a financial fairness opinion involves various
determinations as to the most appropriate methods of financial analysis and the
application of those methods to the particular circumstances. It is, therefore,
not readily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In
connection with rendering its opinion, Austin Associates performed a variety of
financial analyses. Austin Associates believes that its analyses and the factors
considered in its analyses, without considering all other factors and analyses,
could create an incomplete or inaccurate view of the analyses and the process
underlying the rendering of Austin Associates' opinion.
In performing its analyses, Austin Associates made numerous assumptions
with respect to industry performance, business and economic conditions, and
other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Fifth Third and Capital
Holdings and may not be realized. Any estimates contained in Austin Associates'
analyses are not necessarily predictive of future results or values, which may
be significantly more or less favorable than the estimates. Estimates of values
of companies do not purport to be appraisals or necessarily reflect the prices
at which the companies or their securities may actually be sold. Except as
described below, none of the analyses performed by Austin Associates was
assigned a greater significance by Austin Associates than any other. The
relative importance or weight given to these analyses by Austin Associates is
not affected by the order of the analyses (and the corresponding results). The
summaries of financial analyses include information presented in tabular format.
The tables should be read together with the text of those summaries.
Austin Associates has relied, without independent verification, upon the
accuracy and completeness of the information it reviewed for the purpose of
rendering its opinion. Austin Associates did not undertake any independent
evaluation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities of Fifth Third or Capital
Holdings, nor was it furnished with any appraisals.
Austin Associates is not an expert in the evaluation of loan portfolios,
including under-performing or non-performing assets, charge-offs or the
allowance for loan losses; it has not reviewed any individual credit files of
Fifth Third or Capital Holdings and has assumed that Fifth Third's and Capital
Holdings' allowances are in the aggregate adequate to cover losses. Austin
Associates' opinion is based on economic, market and other conditions existing
on the date of its opinion, and on information as of various earlier dates made
available to it which is not necessarily indicative of current market
conditions.
In rendering its opinion, Austin Associates made the following assumptions:
- that the merger is intended to be accounted for as a pooling-of-interests
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, although
this is not a requirement of the transaction;
- that all material governmental, regulatory and other consents and
approvals necessary for the consummation of the merger would be obtained
without any adverse effect on Capital Holdings, Fifth Third or on the
anticipated benefits of the merger;
- that Capital Holdings had provided it with all of the information
prepared by Capital Holdings or its other representatives that might be
material to Austin Associates in its review; and
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<PAGE> 25
- that the financial projections it reviewed were reasonably prepared on a
basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgment of
the management of Capital Holdings as to the future operating and
financial performance of Capital Holdings.
In connection with its opinion, Austin Associates reviewed:
- the affiliation agreement;
- audited financial statements of Fifth Third for the five years ended
December 31, 1999 and unaudited financial statement summaries as of
September 30, 2000;
- audited financial statements of Capital Holdings for the five years ended
December 31, 1999 and unaudited financial statement summaries as of
September 30, 2000;
- financial and operating information with respect to the business,
operations and prospects of Fifth Third and Capital Holdings.
In addition, Austin Associates:
- held discussions with members of the senior management of Fifth Third and
Capital Holdings regarding the historical and current business
operations, financial condition and future prospects of their respective
companies;
- reviewed the historical market prices and trading activity for the common
stock of Fifth Third and the limited information available regarding the
infrequent trades of Capital Holdings' common stock, and compared the
market activity of Fifth Third's common stock with that of certain
publicly traded companies which it deemed to be relevant;
- compared the results of operations of Fifth Third and Capital Holdings
with those of certain financial institutions which it deemed to be
relevant;
- compared the financial terms of the merger with the financial terms, to
the extent publicly available, of other recent business combinations of
financial institutions;
- analyzed the pro forma equivalent financial impact of the merger to
Capital Holdings per share data; and
- conducted such other studies, analyses, inquiries and examinations as
Austin Associates deemed appropriate.
The following is a summary of all material analyses performed by Austin
Associates in connection with its opinion provided to the Capital Holdings board
of directors as of October 24, 2000. Because the pending acquisition of Old Kent
by Fifth Third was announced on November 20, 2000, the Austin Associates'
analyses was based on Fifth Third's financial information without giving effect
to its pending acquisition of Old Kent.
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL TERMS OF AGREEMENT. Austin Associates reviewed the
financial terms of the proposed transaction, including the form of
consideration, the exchange ratio, and the resulting price per share of Capital
Holdings common stock pursuant to the proposed merger. Under the terms of the
affiliation agreement, each outstanding share of Capital Holdings common stock
shall be converted into .638 shares of Fifth Third common stock, plus cash in
lieu of any fractional share.
The .638 exchange ratio was calculated using the following steps. The
consideration payable for all of Capital Holdings' common shares outstanding was
negotiated at $234 million. The $234 million amount payable to common
shareholders was divided by Capital Holdings' common shares outstanding as of
October 24, 2000 of 7,047,556 to arrive at a value of $33.20 per share. The
$33.20 per share purchase price for Capital Holdings common stock was divided by
the Fifth Third average market price as reported by the NASDAQ stock market for
the five trading days from October 18-24, 2000. The five-day average Fifth Third
market price equaled $52.01 per share. The exchange ratio was calculated by
dividing the $33.20 per share price for Capital Holdings by the $52.01 five-day
average Fifth Third market price, and rounding to the nearest thousandth of a
share.
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<PAGE> 26
In addition to payment for common shares, Fifth Third agreed to assume and
convert the 805,415 Capital Holdings options outstanding as of October 24, 2000
into options of Fifth Third. These options are exercisable at a weighted average
price of $17.03 per share. Based on the $33.20 per share stated value of the
transaction, the in-the-money value of the options measures approximately $13
million. Based on the consideration payable for the common shares and options of
Capital Holdings, the aggregate value of the transaction is approximately $247
million.
Austin Associates calculated that the indicated value of $247 million
represented:
- 261 percent of book value at September 30, 2000; and
- 21.9 times net income for the last twelve months ended September 30,
2000.
INDUSTRY COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS. In connection with rendering its opinion,
Austin Associates compared selected results of Capital Holdings' operating
performance to those of 65 Midwest-based banking organizations having assets of
between $500 million and $2 billion. Austin Associates considered this group of
financial institutions comparable to Capital Holdings on the basis of asset size
and geographic location. Austin Associates noted the following selected
financial measures for the Midwest-based banks as compared to Capital Holdings
for the period 1995 to September 30, 2000:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEDIAN FOR MIDWEST
CAPITAL HOLDINGS PEER GROUP
------------------------- -------------------------
YTD 2000 95-99 AVERAGE YTD 2000 95-99 AVERAGE
-------- ------------- -------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Return on Average Assets.................... 1.13% 1.10% 1.00% 1.06%
Return on Average Equity.................... 13.10% 15.11% 13.16% 11.40%
Asset Growth Rate........................... 12.87% 19.65% 9.12% 12.70%
Core E.P.S. Growth Rate(1).................. 7.14% 15.61% 11.32% 9.21%
Leverage Ratio.............................. 8.93% 7.85% 7.68% 8.20%
Nonperforming Assets/Assets................. 0.08% 0.06% 0.52% 0.45%
Net Loan Charge-Offs........................ 0.00% 0.00% 0.16% 0.19%
</TABLE>
---------------
(1) Core E.P.S. = Earnings per share excluding nonrecurring income and expenses
This comparison indicated that Capital Holdings has an above average level
of overall profitability. Capital Holdings' historical growth rate in assets and
earnings has exceeded the Midwest peer group by a significant margin. Capital
Holdings' level of capital as measured by the leverage ratio is above the
Midwest peer median, due principally to the equity offering completed during
1999. Capital Holdings' asset quality measures compare very favorably to the
Midwest peer group, and represent an historical strength of the organization.
Austin Associates also compared selected operating results of Fifth Third
to those of 12 other publicly traded Midwest-based banking organizations having
assets between $10 and $100 billion, including:
- U.S. Bancorp, Minneapolis
- KeyCorp, Cleveland
- National City Corporation, Cleveland
- Firstar Corporation, Milwaukee
- Comerica Incorporated, Detroit
- Northern Trust Corporation, Chicago
- Huntington Bancshares, Columbus
- Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, Milwaukee
- Old Kent Financial Corporation, Grand Rapids
- Associated Banc Corp., Green Bay
- Provident Financial Group, Inc., Cincinnati
- Commerce Bancshares, Inc., Kansas City
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<PAGE> 27
Austin Associates considers this group of financial institutions comparable
to Fifth Third as to financial characteristics, geographic focus and stock
trading volume. Austin Associates compared selected balance sheet data, asset
quality, capitalization, profitability ratios and market statistics for the
period 1995 to September 30, 2000. Selected results of this comparison are set
forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEDIAN FOR MIDWEST
FIFTH THIRD PEER GROUP
------------------------- -------------------------
YTD 2000 95-99 AVERAGE YTD 2000 95-99 AVERAGE
-------- ------------- -------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Core Return on Average Assets............... 1.94% 1.65% 1.43% 1.38%
Core Return on Average Equity............... 19.8% 17.32% 18.92% 17.55%
Asset Growth Rate........................... 9.00% 10.19% 5.60% 8.34%
Core E.P.S. Growth Rate..................... 15.97% 16.33% 5.82% 12.72%
Leverage Ratio.............................. 9.99% 9.43% 7.24% 7.25%
Nonperforming Assets/Assets................. 0.38% 0.48% 0.61% 0.53%
Net Loan Charge-Offs........................ 0.26% 0.38% 0.37% 0.40%
</TABLE>
This summary indicates that Fifth Third has outperformed and compares
favorably to the Midwest peer group in virtually all key financial ratios
related to overall financial performance, growth, capital adequacy and asset
quality. The Austin Associates analysis also indicated that as of October 24,
2000:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEDIAN FOR MIDWEST
FIFTH THIRD PEER GROUP
----------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Market Price to Core E.P.S.............................. 28.6x 11.4x
Market Price to Book Value.............................. 535% 198%
Average Daily Trading Volume in Shares.................. 1,334,000 633,000
Monthly Trading Volume as Percent of Shares
Outstanding........................................... 6.36% 6.47%
</TABLE>
This comparison indicated that Fifth Third trades at a premium to the
Midwest peer group as measured by market valuation. Average daily trading volume
indicates that more than $50 million in value of Fifth Third stock has traded on
a daily basis during 2000.
COMPARABLE TRANSACTION ANALYSIS. Austin Associates reviewed certain
information relating to 13 bank sale transactions nationally announced from
January 1 to September 30, 2000. The sale transaction peer group was selected
based on all transactions in which the consideration payable was stock of the
acquiring company and the amount of consideration ranged from $100 million to
$500 million. The median asset size of the selling banks measured $1.3 billion.
Austin Associates compared the prices paid in these transactions to the
transaction multiples being paid by Fifth Third for Capital Holdings, and
certain underlying financial performance ratios of the selling banks as compared
to Capital Holdings, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIFTH THIRD/ COMPARABLE
CAPITAL HOLDINGS TRANSACTION MEDIAN
---------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Price/Earnings Multiple............................. 21.9 times 18.0 times
Price/Book Value Ratio.............................. 261% 243%
Leverage Ratio...................................... 8.93% 7.18%
Price/Book Adjusted for Excess Capital.............. 299% 243%
Return on Average Assets............................ 1.13% 1.19%
Return on Average Equity............................ 13.10% 15.23%
5-Year Average E.P.S. Growth Rate................... 15.6% 10.7%
</TABLE>
The multiples being paid by Fifth Third for Capital Holdings exceed the
median multiples paid for similarly sized banks during 2000. A significant
factor not reflected by this comparison, however, is the decline in the market
values and trading multiples for banking franchises since the first quarter of
2000. During the first quarter of 2000, the median price/earnings multiple for
selling banks in transactions valued at more than $100 million (includes 6
transactions nationally), measured 20.3 times earnings. During the second and
third quarters of 2000, the median price/earnings multiple declined to 15.9
times earnings (for 13 transactions nationally).
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<PAGE> 28
CONTRIBUTION ANALYSIS. Austin Associates compared the pro forma ownership
interest in Fifth Third that Capital Holdings shareholders would receive, in the
aggregate, to the contribution by Capital Holdings to certain balance sheet and
income statement measures of Fifth Third on a pro forma basis. The following
table compares the pro forma ownership of Capital Holdings and Fifth Third
shareholders in the combined company, based upon the exchange ratio, with each
company's respective contribution of various selected measures:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CAPITAL HOLDINGS FIFTH THIRD
---------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Pro Forma Ownership....................................... 0.96% 99.04%
INCOME STATEMENT
1999 Core Net Income.................................... 1.25% 98.75%
September 30, 2000 Core Net Income...................... 1.33% 98.67%
BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000
Total Assets............................................ 2.38% 97.62%
Total Deposits.......................................... 3.32% 96.68%
Total Shareholders' Equity.............................. 2.09% 97.91%
</TABLE>
PRO FORMA MERGER ANALYSIS. Austin Associates also reviewed the pro forma
effect of the proposed transaction to Capital Holdings' September 30, 2000
year-to-date earnings per share and book value per share. Austin Associates
calculated the pro forma effect using the .638 exchange ratio.
Capital Holdings recorded diluted earnings per share of $1.20 for the nine
months ended September 30, 2000 and Fifth Third's earnings measured $1.33 per
share for the same period. Giving effect to the merger, the equivalent Capital
Holdings earnings would have equaled $0.85 per share, a decrease of 29 percent
from actual results.
Capital Holdings' book value per share equaled $13.43 as of September 30,
2000 and Fifth Third's book value measured $9.61 per share. Giving effect to the
merger, the equivalent Capital Holdings book value would have equaled $6.20 per
share, a decrease of 54 percent from actual results.
PRO FORMA EQUIVALENT DIVIDENDS. Austin Associates reviewed the September
30, 2000 cash dividends paid by Fifth Third and Capital Holdings. Based on the
exchange ratio, equivalent dividends to Capital Holdings' shareholders would
have equaled $0.33 for the nine months ended September 30, 2000, compared to
actual dividends of $0.27 per share. The current quarterly dividend rate of
Fifth Third is $0.18 per share, or $0.72 per share on an annualized basis.
Equivalent dividends to Capital Holdings shareholders equal $0.46 annually,
assuming the .638 exchange ratio. This represents a 28 percent increase over the
September 30, 2000 annualized dividend rate of Capital Holdings of $0.36 per
share.
The opinion expressed by Austin Associates was based on market, economic
and other relevant considerations as they existed and could be evaluated as of
the date of the opinion. Events occurring after the date of issuance of the
opinion, including but not limited to, changes affecting the securities markets,
the results of operations or material changes in the financial condition of
either Fifth Third or Capital Holdings could materially affect the assumptions
used in preparing this opinion.
Capital Holdings has agreed to pay Austin Associates customary fees for its
services as financial advisor in connection with the merger. This fee is equal
to 0.50% of the greater of the value of the transaction as determined on October
24, 2000 or the date of the effective time of the merger, and is payable upon
the closing of the merger. Assuming the closing of the merger had occurred on
January 12, 2001, this fee would have totaled approximately $1,312,000. Capital
holdings has already paid Austin Associates $100,000 of this fee. In addition to
its fees and regardless of whether the merger is consummated, Capital Holdings
has agreed to reimburse Austin Associates for its reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses, and to indemnify Austin Associates against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under securities laws.
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<PAGE> 29
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
Fifth Third will receive an opinion from its counsel, Graydon Head &
Ritchey LLP, that, for federal income tax purposes, the merger will constitute a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
Capital Holdings will receive an opinion from Fifth Third's counsel,
Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP, that, for federal income tax purposes: (1) the
merger will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code and (2) no gain or loss will be recognized by
shareholders of Capital Holdings who receive shares of Fifth Third common stock
in exchange for shares of Capital Holdings common stock, except to the extent of
any cash received for any fractional share interest in Fifth Third common stock
to which the shareholders may otherwise be entitled.
In rendering its opinion, Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP will rely upon
representations contained in letters from Fifth Third and Capital Holdings to be
delivered for purposes of the opinion. The opinion will also be based on the
assumption that the merger will be completed in accordance with the provisions
of the affiliation agreement, that the merger will qualify as a statutory merger
under state law and that the representations made by Fifth Third and Capital
Holdings in the affiliation agreement are accurate. An opinion of counsel
represents only counsel's best legal judgment on the matters addressed in the
opinion, and has no binding effect or official status of any kind, and no
assurance can be given that contrary positions may not be taken by the Internal
Revenue Service or a court considering the issues. Neither Fifth Third nor
Capital Holdings has requested or will request a ruling from the Internal
Revenue Service with regard to any of the federal income tax consequences of the
merger.
Provided that the merger constitutes a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, for federal income tax purposes:
- no gain or loss will be recognized by Capital Holdings as a result of the
merger;
- no gain or loss will be recognized by Fifth Third as a result of the
merger;
- no gain or loss will be recognized by a shareholder of Capital Holdings
who receives solely Fifth Third common stock in exchange for Capital
Holdings common stock pursuant to the terms of the affiliation agreement,
except to the extent of any cash received for any fractional share
interest in Fifth Third common stock to which the shareholder may be
entitled;
- the aggregate federal income tax basis of the Fifth Third common stock
received by a Capital Holdings shareholder who receives solely Fifth
Third common stock in exchange for Capital Holdings common stock pursuant
to the terms of the affiliation agreement will be, in each instance, the
same as the aggregate federal income tax basis of the Capital Holdings
common stock surrendered in exchange therefore, reduced by any amount
allocated to a fractional share of Fifth Third common stock with respect
to which cash is received;
- the holding period of the Fifth Third common stock received (including
any fractional share deemed received and redeemed for cash) by a Capital
Holdings shareholder will include, in each case, the period during which
the Capital Holdings common stock surrendered in exchange therefor was
held, provided that the Capital Holdings common stock was held as a
capital asset by such shareholder on the date of the exchange;
- a holder of Capital Holdings common stock who receives cash in lieu of a
fractional share of Fifth Third common stock will, in general, recognize
capital gain or loss under Section 302 of the Internal Revenue Code on
the excess of the amount received for such fractional share over the
shareholder's adjusted basis in such fractional share; and
- a holder of Capital Holdings common stock who perfects dissenter's rights
with respect to such person's shares of Capital Holdings common stock
will, in general, recognize capital gain or loss under Section 302 of the
Internal Revenue Code on the difference between the amount received for
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<PAGE> 30
perfecting dissenter's rights and the shareholder's adjusted basis in the
shareholder's shares of Capital Holdings common stock.
The foregoing discussion is intended only as a summary of the material
federal income tax consequences of the merger. The foregoing discussion does not
address the tax consequences that may be relevant to particular taxpayers in
light of their personal circumstances (for example, individuals who receive
Fifth Third common stock in exchange for Capital Holdings common stock acquired
as a result of the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as
compensation) or to taxpayers subject to special treatment under the Internal
Revenue Code (for example, insurance companies, financial institutions, dealers
in securities, tax-exempt organizations, foreign corporations, foreign
partnerships, or other foreign entities and individuals who are not citizens or
residents of the United States).
No information is provided herein with respect to the tax consequences, if
any, of the merger under applicable state, local, foreign and other tax laws.
The foregoing discussion is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code, applicable Treasury regulations thereunder, Internal Revenue Service
rulings, and judicial decisions as in effect as of the date of this document.
There can be no assurance that future legislative, administrative or judicial
changes or interpretations will not affect the accuracy of the statements or
conclusions set forth herein. Any such change could apply retroactively and
could affect the accuracy of such discussion.
You are urged to consult your own tax advisor as to the specific tax
consequences to you of the merger, including the application of federal, state,
local, foreign and other tax laws.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
Fifth Third intends the merger to qualify for pooling-of-interests
accounting treatment. Under pooling-of-interests accounting treatment, as of the
effective time of the merger, the assets and liabilities of Capital Holdings
will be added to those of Fifth Third at their recorded book values and the
shareholders' equity account of Capital Holdings will be included on Fifth
Third's consolidated balance sheet. The merger agreement, however, does not
contain any representations or agreements regarding pooling-of-interests
accounting treatment. Although neither Fifth Third nor Capital Holdings is
obligated in the affiliation agreement to obtain agreements from its affiliates
designed to ensure that the merger will qualify as a pooling-of-interests, each
has agreed to attempt to obtain such agreements. These agreements will, among
other things, state that these affiliates may not dispose of any shares of Fifth
Third common stock or Capital Holdings common stock during the period beginning
30 days prior to the effective time of the merger and ending when financial
results covering at least 30 days of post-merger operations of Fifth Third have
been published. We can give no assurances that we will be able to obtain these
agreements or that the merger will qualify for pooling-of-interests accounting
treatment.
RESALE OF FIFTH THIRD COMMON STOCK BY AFFILIATES
The shares of Fifth Third common stock to be issued to shareholders of
Capital Holdings in connection with the merger have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be freely transferable under the Securities Act,
except for shares issued to any shareholder who may be deemed to be an
"affiliate" of Capital Holdings or Fifth Third at the time of the special
meeting. Generally, an affiliate includes a director, an executive officer or a
10% or more shareholder of Capital Holdings or Fifth Third at the time of the
special meeting.
Rule 145 under the Securities Act restricts the public sale of Fifth Third
common stock received in the merger by affiliates. During the first year
following the effective time of the merger, affiliates of Capital Holdings who
do not become affiliates of Fifth Third may publicly resell the Fifth Third
common stock received by them in connection with the merger upon compliance with
the following conditions of Rule 144:
- Fifth Third must have satisfied its reporting requirements under the
Exchange Act for the 12 months preceding the proposed sale;
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<PAGE> 31
- the number of shares sold in any three-month period is limited to the
greater of (1) one percent of Fifth Third's shares outstanding, or (2)
the average weekly trading volume during the four calendar weeks
preceding the first sale; and
- the shares must be sold by a broker in a routine open market transaction
that does not involve the solicitation of orders for purchase.
Shares of Fifth Third common stock sold by: (1) an affiliate's spouse or
relative living in the affiliate's household, (2) any trust or estate in which
the affiliate or person listed in (1) collectively owns 10% or more of the
beneficial interest or of which any of these persons serves as trustee or
executor, (3) any corporation in which the affiliate or any person specified in
(1) beneficially owns at least 10% of an equity interest, (4) any person to whom
the affiliate donated shares, or (5) any person who acquired the shares from the
affiliate as a result of the affiliate defaulting on an obligation secured by a
pledge of the shares; will be aggregated with the number of shares sold by the
affiliate for purposes of determining whether the volume limitations of Rule 144
are exceeded.
After the first year following the completion of the merger, affiliates of
Capital Holdings who are not affiliates of Fifth Third may resell their shares
publicly without regard to the volume limitation or manner of sale requirement
so long as Fifth Third has satisfied its reporting requirements under the
Exchange Act during the prior 12 month period. If Fifth Third has not satisfied
its reporting requirements, affiliates may not publicly resell their shares of
Fifth Third common stock received in the merger until two years have elapsed
since completion of the merger. At that time, the shares may be sold without any
restriction.
Sales and other dispositions of Fifth Third common stock by any affiliate
of Capital Holdings who becomes an affiliate of Fifth Third in connection with
the merger, must be made in compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 set
forth above until such person has not been an affiliate of Fifth Third for at
least three months and a period of at least two years has elapsed since the date
the shares were acquired in connection with the merger.
If the shares are pledged or donated in compliance with Rule 145, the
shares will remain subject to Rule 145 in the hands of the recipient until the
restrictive period applicable to the affiliate transferor have expired.
The affiliation agreement provides that Capital Holdings will use its best
efforts to cause each person who is deemed by Capital Holdings to be an
affiliate (for purposes of Rule 145) of Capital Holdings to execute and deliver
to Fifth Third a written agreement intended to ensure compliance with the
Securities Act.
Fifth Third has also agreed, subject to certain conditions, to cause the
Fifth Third board of directors to adopt a resolution providing that, to the
extent that any directors and executive officers of Capital Holdings who will
become affiliates of Fifth Third would be deemed, for purposes of Section 16(b)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to have "acquired" shares
and/or options to purchase shares of Fifth Third common stock as a result of the
merger, such "acquisitions" are intended to be exempt from liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. The Capital Holdings board of directors
likewise expects to adopt a resolution providing that, to the extent that any
directors and executive officers of Capital Holdings would be deemed, for
purposes of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, to have "sold" their Capital
Holdings common stock and options to purchase Capital Holdings common stock as a
result of the merger, such "sales" are intended to be exempt from liability
under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
DISSENTERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL
You are entitled to relief as a dissenting shareholder under Ohio Revised
Code Section 1701.85 only if you comply strictly with all of the procedural and
other requirements of Section 1701.85, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Annex C. The following is a description of the material terms of Section
1701.85.
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<PAGE> 32
A Capital Holdings shareholder who wishes to perfect his rights as a
dissenting shareholder in the event the affiliation agreement is approved and
adopted:
- must be a record holder of the shares of Capital Holdings common stock as
to which he seeks relief on the record date;
- must not vote his shares of Capital Holdings common stock in favor of
adoption of the affiliation agreement; and
- must deliver to Capital Holdings, not later than 10 days after the
special meeting, a written demand for payment of the fair cash value of
the shares as to which he seeks relief. The written demand must state the
name of the shareholder, his address, the number and class of shares as
to which he seeks relief and the amount claimed as the fair cash value
for those shares.
Voting against the adoption of the affiliation agreement will not satisfy
the requirements of a written demand for payment. Any written demand for payment
should be mailed or delivered to the Secretary of Capital Holdings, Inc., 5520
Monroe Street, Sylvania, Ohio 43560. As the written demand must be delivered to
Capital Holdings within the 10 day period following the special meeting, we
recommend that a dissenting shareholder use certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, to confirm that he has made a timely delivery.
If Capital Holdings sends the dissenting shareholder, at the address
specified in his demand, a request for the certificate(s) representing his
shares, the dissenting shareholder must deliver the certificate(s) to Capital
Holdings within 15 days of the date Capital Holdings sent the request. Capital
Holdings will endorse the certificate(s) with a legend to the effect that the
shareholder has demanded the fair cash value of the shares represented by the
certificate(s). Capital Holdings will then return such shares to the dissenting
shareholder. If the shareholder fails to deliver the certificate(s) within 15
days of the request, Capital Holdings may terminate his right to dissent.
Capital Holdings must notify the shareholder of its election to terminate his
rights as a dissenting shareholder within 20 days after the lapse of the 15-day
period.
If the dissenting shareholder and Capital Holdings cannot agree on the fair
cash value per share of the shares of Capital Holdings common stock, either may,
within three months after the service of the written demand by the shareholder,
file a petition in the Court of Common Pleas of Lucas County, Ohio. If the court
finds that the shareholder is entitled to be paid the fair cash value of any
shares, the court may appoint one or more appraisers to receive evidence and to
recommend a decision on the amount of the fair cash value.
The fair cash value of a share of Capital Holdings common stock to which a
dissenting shareholder is entitled under Section 1701.85 will be determined as
of the day prior to the special meeting. Fair cash value will be computed as the
amount a willing seller and willing buyer would accept or pay if neither was
compelled to sell or buy, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in market
value resulting from the merger. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the fair cash
value may not exceed the amount specified in the shareholder's written demand.
The court will make a finding as to the fair cash value of a share and render
judgment against Capital Holdings for its payment with interest at such rate and
from such date as the court considers equitable. The court will assess or
apportion the costs of the proceedings as it considers equitable.
The rights of any dissenting shareholder will terminate if:
- the dissenting shareholder has not complied with Section 1701.85, unless
Capital Holdings, by its board of directors, waives this failure;
- Capital Holdings abandons or is finally enjoined or prevented from
carrying out, or the shareholders of Capital Holdings rescind their
adoption of, the affiliation agreement;
- the dissenting shareholder withdraws his written demand with the consent
of Capital Holdings, by its board of directors; or
- Capital Holdings and the dissenting shareholder have not agreed upon the
fair cash value per share of the Capital Holdings common stock and
neither has timely filed or joined in a petition in an appropriate court
for a determination of the fair cash value of the shares.
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<PAGE> 33
When a dissenting shareholder exercises his rights under Section 1701.85,
all other rights with respect to such Capital Holdings common stock will be
suspended until Capital Holdings purchases the shares, or the right to receive
fair cash value is otherwise terminated. Such rights will be reinstated should
the right to receive fair cash value be terminated other than by the purchase of
the shares by Capital Holdings.
Because a proxy card which does not contain voting instructions regarding
the proposal to adopt the affiliation agreement will be voted for adoption of
the affiliation agreement, a shareholder who wishes to exercise dissenters'
rights must either: (1) not sign and return the proxy card, or (2) sign and
return the proxy card, and vote against or abstain from voting on the adoption
of the affiliation agreement.
For a discussion of the tax consequences to a shareholder who exercises
dissenters' rights, see "Proposal -- Merger of Capital Holdings into Fifth
Third -- Federal Income Tax Consequences."
TERMS OF THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Fifth Third and Capital Holdings have made numerous representations and
warranties to each other relating to, among other things, the following:
- their incorporation, good standing, corporate power and similar corporate
matters;
- their capitalization;
- their authorization, execution, delivery and performance and the
enforceability of the affiliation agreement and the absence of
violations;
- tax treatment;
- compliance with laws and regulations;
- the absence of material changes since June 30, 2000;
- their SEC and other regulatory filings; and
- their financial statements.
The affiliation agreement also contains, among other things,
representations and warranties of Capital Holdings relating to employee benefit
matters and certain material contracts of Capital Holdings and a representation
and warranty by Fifth Third that the shares of Fifth Third common stock issued
in the merger will be duly and validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.
No representations or warranties made by either Capital Holdings or Fifth
Third will survive beyond the effective time of the merger.
CONDUCT PENDING THE MERGER
The affiliation agreement provides that, except with the prior approval of
Fifth Third, Capital Holdings shall not, and shall not permit its
representatives to, initiate, solicit, negotiate with, encourage discussions
with, provide information to, or agree to a transaction with, any other third
party concerning any merger of Capital Holdings or its subsidiaries or any sale
of substantial assets or shares of capital stock (including securities
convertible or exchangeable into, or otherwise evidencing, or any agreement or
instrument evidencing the right to acquire, capital stock) or any similar
transaction involving Capital Holdings or its subsidiaries. Capital Holdings
must communicate to Fifth Third the terms of any proposal which it may receive
in respect of any of these transactions and any request by or indication of
interest on the part of any third party with respect to initiation of any of
these transactions or discussions with respect thereto. These restrictions on
Capital Holdings are subject to the exercise of Capital Holdings' directors'
fiduciary duties.
In addition, Capital Holdings has agreed that, prior to the effective time
of the merger, Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries will be operated in the
ordinary course of business and will give Fifth Third and Fifth
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<PAGE> 34
Third's representatives reasonable access during business hours to its books,
records and properties. In addition, without Fifth Third's prior written
consent, neither Capital Holdings nor its subsidiaries will, among other things:
- make any changes in its capital or corporate structures;
- issue any additional shares of common stock or other equity securities
other than pursuant to the exercise of: (a) options granted prior to the
date of the affiliation agreement or (b) permitted option grants;
- issue as borrower any long-term debt or convertible or other securities
of any kind, or right to acquire any of its securities;
- make any material changes in its method of business operations;
- make, enter into any agreement to make, or become obligated to make, any
capital expenditures in excess of $50,000;
- make, or enter into or renew any agreement for services to be provided to
Capital Holdings or its subsidiaries, or permit the automatic renewal of
any such agreement, other than certain scheduled agreements, except any
agreement for services having a term of less than 3 months or requiring
the expenditure of not more than $50,000;
- declare or pay any cash dividends on its own stock other than normal and
customary quarterly cash dividends consistent with Capital Holdings'
historical practices;
- pay any stock dividends or make any other distributions on its stock,
other than cash dividends as described in the immediately preceding
clause;
- change or otherwise amend any benefit plans other than as required by law
or as contemplated in the affiliation agreement;
- provide any increases in employee salaries or benefits other than in the
ordinary course of business; and
- acquire, become obligated to acquire, or enter into any agreement to
acquire, any banking or non-banking company or any branch offices of any
such companies (other than agreements existing on the date of the
affiliation agreement and previously scheduled).
Regardless of the restrictions listed above, the affiliation agreement
specifically allows Capital Holdings to: (1) pay its year-end cash bonuses in
accordance with its past practice, the aggregate amount of which shall not
exceed its accrued cash bonus amounts, including additional normal monthly
accrual amounts through the month of December 2000, and (2) grant additional
options in accordance with its past practice to its senior officers which
options shall not exceed options to purchase 110,000 shares of Capital Holdings
common stock.
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
The affiliation agreement must be adopted by the affirmative vote of
holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Capital Holdings
common stock. The control share acquisition by Fifth Third of a majority of the
voting power of Capital Holdings must be approved by: (1) a majority of the
voting power of the shares of Capital Holdings common stock that is represented
in person or by proxy at the special meeting, and (2) a majority of the voting
power of the shares of Capital Holdings common stock that is represented in
person or by proxy at the special meeting, excluding those shares of Capital
Holdings common stock deemed to be "interested shares" for purposes of the Ohio
Control Share Acquisition Act. The merger also must be approved in writing by
the Federal Reserve Board and the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Fifth
Third and Capital Holdings filed these applications in November, 2000. The
Federal Reserve Board approved the merger on January 5, 2001.
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Fifth Third's and Capital Holdings' obligations to complete the merger are
subject to additional conditions set forth in the affiliation agreement. These
include: (1) the absence at the effective time of the merger of any waiting
period mandated by law or any material investigations, orders or injunction of
any federal or state agency or court preventing, prohibiting or enjoining the
transactions contemplated by the affiliation agreement; (2) the receipt of all
necessary governmental and regulatory orders, consents, clearances, approvals
and requirements necessary to approve the merger; and (3) Capital Holdings'
shareholders having approved the proposal to adopt the affiliation agreement.
Fifth Third's obligation to complete the merger is further subject to
conditions set forth in the affiliation agreement, including:
- the continuing truth and accuracy in all material respects of the
representations and warranties of Capital Holdings;
- Capital having performed all of its obligations under the affiliation
agreement in all material respects;
- Capital Holdings' consolidated shareholders' equity being at least $90.5
million;
- receipt by Fifth Third of an opinion of its counsel as to certain tax
matters (see "Proposal -- Merger of Capital Holdings into Fifth
Third -- Federal Income Tax Consequences"); and
- no exercises of options to purchase Capital Holdings common stock occur
between October 24, 2000 and the effective time of the merger.
Capital Holdings' obligation to complete the merger is further subject to
conditions set forth in the affiliation agreement, including:
- the continuing truth and accuracy in all material respects of Fifth
Third's representations and warranties;
- Fifth Third having performed all of its obligations under the affiliation
agreement in all material respects;
- receipt by Capital Holdings of an opinion of counsel to Fifth Third as to
certain tax matters (see "Proposal -- Merger of Capital Holdings into
Fifth Third -- Federal Income Tax Consequences"); and
- Fifth Third having entered into employment agreements with John S. Szuch,
Robert A. Sullivan and Bruce K. Lee and severance agreements with Stephen
J. Kovatch, Michael P. Killian and David L. Mead (see " -- Interests of
Certain Persons in the Merger").
TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER
The affiliation agreement may be terminated and the merger abandoned at any
time prior to the effective time of the merger by written notice delivered by
Fifth Third to Capital Holdings or by Capital Holdings to Fifth Third in the
following instances:
- if there has been a material misrepresentation, a material breach of a
warranty or a material failure to comply with any covenant on the part of
the other party with respect to the representations, warranties and
covenants set forth in the affiliation agreement and that
misrepresentation, breach or failure to comply has not been cured within
30 days after receipt of written notice or is not capable of being cured,
provided the party in default has no right to terminate for its own
default;
- if the merger has not been completed by June 30, 2001, provided the
terminating party is not in material breach or default of any
representation, warranty or covenant contained in the affiliation
agreement on the date of the termination;
- by the mutual written consent of Fifth Third and Capital Holdings;
- if Capital Holdings' shareholders do not adopt the affiliation agreement;
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- if any event occurs which renders impossible satisfaction of one or more
of the conditions to the obligations of the other party to effect the
merger in any material respect, and such non-compliance is not waived by
the unaffected party; or
- if the business, assets or financial condition of the other party has
materially and adversely changed since June 30, 2000.
The affiliation agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by the
written agreement of each of the parties, upon the authorization of each
company's respective board of directors at any time before or after adoption of
the affiliation agreement by Capital Holdings' shareholders. Approval of any
amendment, modification or supplement by Capital Holdings' shareholders is not
required unless this action would adversely change the consideration to be
provided to Capital Holdings' shareholders pursuant to the affiliation
agreement.
INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE MERGER
Shares of Capital Holdings common stock held by or for the benefit of
directors and executive officers of Capital Holdings will be canceled and
converted into the right to receive shares of Fifth Third common stock on the
same basis as shares held by you and the other shareholders of Capital Holdings.
In addition, directors and executive officers of Capital Holdings may be deemed
to have the following interests in the merger that are different from, or in
addition to, those of you and the other shareholders of Capital Holdings.
FIFTH THIRD EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. As a condition to the consummation of
the merger, the affiliation agreement requires Fifth Third to enter into
employment agreements with John S. Szuch, Capital Holdings' Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Robert A. Sullivan, Capital Holdings' President and Chief
Operating Officer, and Bruce K. Lee, Capital Holdings' Executive Vice President.
Each proposed employment agreement contains restrictions on these
individuals concerning the disclosure of confidential information and a
noncompetition agreement which lasts for the longer of three years from the
effective time of the merger and one year after termination of employment. Each
of these individuals will be eligible to participate in Fifth Third's Employee
Stock Option Plan and in any 401(k), profit sharing, vacation, disability, life
or medical insurance or other benefit plan adopted by Fifth Third or any
affiliate to the extent such plan is made available to similarly- situated
employees of Fifth Third and such individual is eligible to participate in such
plan according to its terms. In the event of death or total disability, each
individual will be entitled to his salary through the end of the month in which
the death or total disability occurs (minus any amounts paid under a salary
continuation or disability plan of Fifth Third) and any compensation previously
awarded to him that remains unpaid. If Fifth Third terminates employment for
cause or one of these individuals terminates his employment without good reason,
he will just be entitled to his accrued but unpaid base salary. If Fifth Third
terminates employment without cause or one of these individuals terminates his
employment for good reason, he will be entitled to receive for one year (or
until the end of the term of the proposed employment agreement, if longer) his
base salary, and the cash bonus described below.
Mr. Szuch's proposed employment agreement would employ Mr. Szuch as the
Chairman and a director of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) and is
contemplated to be for a term of five years. Mr. Szuch's proposed employment
agreement calls for an annual base salary of $226,720 with increases during the
term in accordance with the percentage increases of similarly-situated executive
officers of Fifth Third, taking into account Mr. Szuch's performance and salary
in relation to such similarly-situated executive officers. During the term of
the proposed employment agreement, Mr. Szuch will be entitled to receive an
annual cash bonus of $240,000 and will be eligible for payment of the first such
bonus in the fourth quarter of 2001.
Mr. Sullivan's proposed employment agreement would employ Mr. Sullivan as
the President, CEO and a director of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) and is
contemplated to be for a term of five years. Mr. Sullivan's proposed employment
agreement calls for an annual base salary of $226,720 with increases during the
term in accordance with the percentage increases of similarly-situated executive
officers of Fifth Third, taking into account Mr. Sullivan's performance and
salary in relation to such similarly-situated
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executive officers. During the term of the proposed employment agreement, Mr.
Sullivan will be entitled to receive an annual cash bonus of $240,000 and will
be eligible for payment of the first such bonus in the fourth quarter of 2001.
Mr. Lee's proposed employment agreement would employ Mr. Lee as an
Executive Vice President of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) and is
contemplated to be for a term of three years. Mr. Lee's proposed employment
agreement calls for an annual base salary of $156,000 with increases during the
term in accordance with the percentage increases of similarly-situated executive
officers of Fifth Third, taking into account Mr. Lee's performance and salary in
relation to such similarly-situated executive officers. During the term of the
proposed employment agreement, Mr. Lee will be entitled to receive an annual
cash bonus of $170,000 and will be eligible for payment of the first such bonus
in the fourth quarter of 2001.
FIFTH THIRD SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS. As a condition to the consummation of the
merger, the affiliation agreement requires Fifth Third to enter into severance
agreements with Michael P. Killian, Capital Holdings' Senior Vice President,
Stephen J. Kovatch, Capital Holdings' Senior Vice President, and David L. Mead,
Capital Holdings' Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Each proposed severance agreement provides that the individual will be paid
a certain amount of money in bi-weekly installments over a 52 week period if
their employment with Fifth Third is involuntarily terminated or if such
individual resigns for good reason within six months of the effective time of
the merger. Upon such termination Mr. Kovatch and Mr. Killian would each receive
$230,000 and Mr. Mead would receive $215,000. Each proposed severance agreement
also contains a non-solicitation agreement which lasts for one year after the
individual begins employment with a competitor of Fifth Third and a
noncompetition agreement which lasts until the earlier of one year from
termination, or the discontinuation of severance payments (upon signing a
nonsolicitation agreement).
NO EXCESS PARACHUTE PAYMENTS. In no event shall any of these individuals
receive any payment pursuant to the terms of an employment or severance
agreement that would be considered an "Excess Parachute Payment" pursuant to
Section 280(G) of the Internal Revenue Code.
STOCK OPTIONS. Capital Holdings has granted stock options to certain
directors, executive officers and key employees under its 1988 Incentive Stock
Option Plan, 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan, Non-Employee Director Stock
Option Plan and 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Upon consummation of the merger, all outstanding awards, options or other
rights to purchase or acquire Capital Holdings common stock under these plans
will have vested, become immediately exercisable and will be converted into
options to purchase Fifth Third common stock. The number of shares subject to
these options will be adjusted to allow the holder, upon exercise, to receive
shares of Fifth Third common stock calculated by multiplying the exchange ratio
by the number of shares of Capital Holdings common stock subject to the options,
and the exercise price of the Capital Holdings stock options will be adjusted by
dividing the exercise price per share by the exchange ratio.
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The effect of the merger on the Capital Holdings options held by the chief
executive officer and the four most highly paid executive officers of Capital
Holdings, by all executive officers as a group and by all directors and
executive officers as a group will be as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS EXERCISABLE OPTIONS VESTING AS
AS OF A RESULT OF
NAME OPTIONS HELD JANUARY 12, 2001 THE MERGER
---- ------------ ------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
John S. Szuch......................... 178,053 30,450 147,603
Robert A. Sullivan.................... 178,053 30,450 147,603
Bruce K. Lee.......................... 105,375 24,750 80,625
Michael P. Killian.................... 63,896 13,020 50,876
Stephen J. Kovatch.................... 64,091 5,715 58,376
Other executive officers.............. 36,258 13,758 22,500
-------- -------- --------
All executive officers................ 625,726 118,143 507,583
Non-employee directors................ 174,016 174,016 0
-------- -------- --------
Total 799,742 292,159 507,583
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
Within 60 days after the effective time of the merger, Fifth Third will file
a registration statement with the SEC to register the shares of Fifth Third
common stock issuable pursuant to these options. Holders of these options may
not exercise the options until this registration statement has become effective.
INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY INSURANCE. Fifth Third will assume the
obligations of Capital Holdings or any of its subsidiaries arising under
applicable Ohio and federal law and under Capital Holdings' or any subsidiary's
articles of incorporation, charter or code of regulations, to indemnify each
officer or director of Capital Holdings or any of its subsidiaries against
liabilities in connection with any claim arising out of the fact that such
person is or was a director or officer of Capital Holdings or any of its
subsidiaries, if such claim pertains to any matter occurring prior to the
effective time of the merger, regardless of whether such claim is asserted prior
to, at or after the effective time of the merger. Fifth Third's assumption of
these indemnification obligations will continue for a period of three years
after the effective time of the merger or, in the case of claims asserted prior
to the third anniversary of the effective time of the merger, until such matters
are finally resolved. Fifth Third also shall purchase and keep in force for a
two-year period, a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance
providing coverage for acts or omissions of the type currently covered by
Capital Holdings' existing directors' and officers' liability insurance for acts
or omissions occurring on or prior to the effective time of the merger, but only
to the extent that this insurance may be purchased or kept in full force on
commercially reasonable terms. Fifth Third and Capital Holdings have agreed that
these costs shall be commercially reasonable so long as they do not exceed 125%
of the annual costs currently paid for such coverage by Capital Holdings. Fifth
Third has agreed that all rights to indemnification existing in favor of
officers and directors of Fifth Third affiliates shall be accorded to officers
and directors of Capital Holdings or any of its subsidiaries who become
affiliated with any Fifth Third affiliate in such capacities after the effective
time of the merger and that this indemnification will relate to covered actions
or inactions only after the effective time of the merger.
EFFECT ON CAPITAL HOLDINGS' EMPLOYEES
EMPLOYMENT. Fifth Third shall consider employing as many of the employees
of Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries who desire employment within the Fifth
Third holding company system as possible, to the extent of available positions
and consistent with Fifth Third's standard staffing levels and personnel
policies.
FIFTH THIRD EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Fifth Third shall provide each of the
full-time employees of Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries who become
employees of Fifth Third, as a group, with employee benefit plans that in the
aggregate are of comparable value to the benefit plans maintained by Fifth Third
for similarly-situated employees. Former Capital Holdings employees shall be
given credit for service with
34
<PAGE> 39
Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries for purposes of eligibility, vesting and
accrual of benefits. No former Capital Holdings employee shall be entitled to
participate in the Fifth Third Bancorp Master Retirement Plan (which has been
frozen to new participants). Such employees will not be subject to any exclusion
or penalty for pre-existing conditions that were covered under the medical plans
of Capital Holdings, or its subsidiaries.
SEVERANCE. The affiliation agreement provides for the payment of severance
amounts to employees of Capital Holdings who do not have an employment or
severance agreement under certain conditions upon termination of employment.
Those amounts will be equal to two weeks of pay for each year of service, with a
minimum of 8 weeks of pay for any officer of Capital Holdings and a minimum of 4
weeks of pay for all other employees of Capital Holdings, and a maximum of up to
22 weeks of pay. Officers of Capital Holdings or its subsidiaries who enter into
employment or severance agreements with Capital Holdings or Fifth Third after
October 24, 2000 will not be eligible to receive these severance amounts (see
"Terms of the Affiliation Agreement -- Interests of Certain Persons in the
Merger").
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN VESTING. The affiliation agreement allows Capital
Holdings to amend its Retirement Savings Plan to provide for the immediate
vesting of all participants' account balances, including employer matching and
profit sharing contributions.
35
<PAGE> 40
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Fifth Third is an Ohio corporation organized in 1975 as a bank holding
company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act and subject to regulation
by the Federal Reserve Board. In 2000, Fifth Third elected to become a financial
holding company under that act. Fifth Third, with its principal office located
in Cincinnati, owns all of the outstanding stock of five commercial banks and
one federal savings bank with 668 offices in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, Florida and Arizona. Those institutions are: Fifth Third Bank; Fifth
Third Bank, Florida; Fifth Third Bank, Northern Kentucky, Inc.; Fifth Third
Bank, Kentucky, Inc.; Fifth Third Bank, Indiana; and Fifth Third Bank,
Southwest, F.S.B.
At September 30, 2000, Fifth Third, its affiliated banks and other
subsidiaries had consolidated total assets of approximately $44.4 billion,
consolidated total deposits of approximately $25.5 billion and consolidated
total shareholders' equity of approximately $4.4 billion.
Fifth Third, through its subsidiaries, engages primarily in commercial,
retail and trust banking, investment services and leasing activities and also
provides credit life, accident and health insurance, discount brokerage services
and property management for its properties. Those subsidiaries consist of The
Fifth Third Company, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., The Fifth Third Leasing
Company, Fifth Third Insurance Services, Inc., Fifth Third Mortgage Company,
Fifth Third Mortgage Insurance Reinsurance Company, Midwest Payment Systems,
Inc., Fifth Third International Company, Fifth Third Investment Company, Fifth
Third Community Development Corporation, Fifth Third Trade Services Limited,
Fifth Third Real Estate Capital Markets Co., and Heartland Capital Management,
Inc. Fifth Third's affiliates provide a full range of financial products and
services to the retail, commercial, financial, governmental, educational and
medical sectors, including a wide variety of checking, savings and money market
accounts, and credit products such as credit cards, installment loans, mortgage
loans and leasing. Each of the banking affiliates has deposit insurance provided
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation through either the Bank Insurance
Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund.
Fifth Third, through its banking subsidiaries, also participates in several
regional shared ATM networks, including "Money Station," "Honor" and "Star."
These networks include approximately 6,500, 42,000 and 70,000 ATMs,
respectively. All Fifth Third banking subsidiaries also participate in the "PLUS
System(R)" network, which is an international ATM network with approximately
490,000 ATMs.
Fifth Third is a corporate entity legally separate and distinct from its
affiliates. The principal source of Fifth Third's income is dividends from its
affiliates. There are certain regulatory restrictions as to the extent to which
the affiliates can pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to Fifth Third. See
"Description of Capital Stock and Comparative Rights of Shareholders --
Dividends."
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Fifth Third's strategy for growth includes strengthening its presence in
core markets, expanding into contiguous markets and broadening its product
offerings.
Fifth Third believes it has an excellent track record in integrating
acquired businesses. Since 1989, Fifth Third has completed more than 30
acquisitions, which have contributed to its growth. Consistent with this
strategy, in addition to the merger with Capital Holdings, Fifth Third recently
acquired Ottawa Financial Corporation and entered into an agreement to acquire
Old Kent Financial Corporation.
OTTAWA FINANCIAL CORPORATION. On December 8, 2000, Fifth Third acquired
Ottawa Financial Corporation, a unitary savings and loan holding company based
in Holland, Michigan which owns AmeriBank. As of September 30, 2000, Ottawa had
total assets of approximately $1.1 billion, deposits of approximately $732.8
million and shareholders' equity of approximately $83.2 million. Fifth Third
issued approximately 3.7 million shares of Fifth Third common stock to
shareholders of Ottawa in that merger. Based on the fair market value per share
of Fifth Third common stock as of December 8, 2000, the closing
36
<PAGE> 41
date of this merger, these shares had an aggregate value of approximately $207.9
million. This merger was accounted for as a purchase.
OLD KENT FINANCIAL CORPORATION. On November 20, 2000, Fifth Third agreed to
acquire Old Kent Financial Corporation, a financial holding company based in
Grand Rapids, Michigan that owns Old Kent Bank and Old Kent Bank, National
Association. As of September 30, 2000, Old Kent had total assets of
approximately $22.5 billion, deposits of approximately $16.8 billion and
shareholders' equity of approximately $1.6 billion.
In connection with the acquisition of Old Kent, holders of Old Kent common
stock will receive .74 of a share of Fifth Third common stock for each
outstanding share of Old Kent common stock. Fifth Third expects to issue
approximately 102.3 million shares of Fifth Third common stock to shareholders
of Old Kent. Based on the fair market value per share of Fifth Third common
stock as of January 12, 2001, these shares would have an aggregate value of
approximately $5.6 billion. Unless amended, the merger agreement for this
acquisition further states that each share of Old Kent series D perpetual
preferred stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time
of the merger would be converted into one share of perpetual preferred stock of
Fifth Third designated as Fifth Third series D perpetual preferred stock. The
terms of the Fifth Third series D perpetual preferred stock would be
substantially identical to the terms of the Old Kent series D perpetual
preferred stock, except for such changes as may be required to give effect to
the adjustment required by Section D.5.3.E. of the certificate of designations,
preferences and rights relating thereto in respect of the merger. Additionally,
each share of Old Kent series E perpetual preferred stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the effective time of the merger would be converted into
one share of perpetual preferred stock of Fifth Third designated as Fifth Third
series E perpetual preferred stock. The terms of the Fifth Third series E
perpetual preferred stock would be substantially identical to the terms of the
Old Kent series E perpetual preferred stock.
This merger is subject to Old Kent and Fifth Third shareholder approval and
regulatory approval. Fifth Third expects that its acquisition of Old Kent will
be accounted for as a pooling of interests and will be completed in the second
quarter of 2001, after the merger with Capital Holdings.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more detailed information about Fifth Third, reference is made to the
Fifth Third Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30 and
September 30, 2000, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June
21, July 17 and November 20, 2000, which are incorporated into this document by
reference. See "Where You Can Find More Information." More information about
Fifth Third is also contained in its 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders which is
available through Fifth Third's website at http://www.53.com/
investor/annual_report/index.htm.
37
<PAGE> 42
CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Capital Holdings, Inc. is a one-bank holding company with headquarters in
Sylvania, Ohio. Capital Holdings was formed in July 1988, for the purpose of
owning and organizing Capital Bank, N.A., a national banking association which
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capital Holdings.
Capital Bank opened for business on August 24, 1989, with $12.4 million in
equity capital contributed by the Company. As of September 30, 2000, Capital
Holdings had total assets of approximately $1.1 billion, deposits of
approximately $873.9 million and shareholders' equity of approximately $94.6
million.
Capital Bank has focused its business on the borrowing needs of corporate,
executive and professional customers. It pursues a deposit gathering strategy of
offering money market checking, savings accounts, and certificates of deposits
at attractive rates to mid-sized and large depositors with an emphasis on
minimizing the operating costs of obtaining these deposits. Capital Bank has one
facility and utilizes an extensive courier system to service its customers.
Capital Bank is located in Sylvania, Ohio, a suburban community northwest
of Toledo, Ohio. In addition to drawing customers from Sylvania, Capital Bank
also draws customers from Lucas and Wood counties in Ohio as well as southeast
Michigan. Capital Bank has defined its market niche as serving small to
mid-sized businesses, professionals and their families.
Capital Holdings owns its main office facility located at 5520 Monroe
Street, Sylvania, Ohio through a wholly-owned subsidiary, CBNA Building Company.
Capital Holdings' executive offices are located at 5520 Monroe Street,
Sylvania, Ohio and its telephone number at that address is (419) 885-7379.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more detailed information about Capital Holdings, reference is made to
the Capital Holdings Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1999, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 2000, and Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
November 7, 2000, which are incorporated into this document by reference. See
"Where You Can Find More Information."
38
<PAGE> 43
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
is based on the historical financial statements of Fifth Third, Old Kent and
Capital Holdings and has been prepared to illustrate the effects of the
acquisitions described below. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined
Financial Information is presented for illustration purposes only in accordance
with the assumptions set forth below, and is not necessarily indicative of the
operating results or financial position that would have occurred if Fifth
Third's mergers with Old Kent and Capital Holdings had been consummated nor is
it necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial position of
the combined company.
The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information reflects
the following transactions using the pooling-of-interests method of accounting:
(1) pending merger of Fifth Third and Old Kent; and (2) pending merger of Fifth
Third and Capital Holdings.
The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet assumes Fifth
Third's mergers with Old Kent and Capital Holdings were consummated on September
30, 2000.
The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Income for the
nine months ended September 30, 2000 and the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998
and 1997 present the combined results of operations of Fifth Third, Old Kent and
Capital Holdings as if the mergers had been effective at the beginning of each
period presented.
The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information should be
read in conjunction with Fifth Third's Consolidated Financial Statements and
notes thereto incorporated by reference in this document and Old Kent's
Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference in
this document. The documents incorporated by reference are listed under the
heading "Where You Can Find More Information" on page 57.
Fifth Third expects that substantial benefits will be achieved from the
mergers with Old Kent and Capital Holdings including operating cost savings and
revenue enhancements. The pro forma earnings do not reflect any potential
savings or revenue enhancements which are expected to result from the
consolidation of operations of Fifth Third, Old Kent and Capital Holdings and
are not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations. No
assurances can be given with respect to the ultimate level of expense savings
and revenue enhancements to be realized.
39
<PAGE> 44
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000
($000'S)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIFTH THIRD OLD KENT CAPITAL
BANCORP AND FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
SUBSIDIARIES CORPORATION INC. ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
------------ ----------- ---------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Cash and Due From Banks.......... $ 779,589 $ 654,298 $ 20,296 $ -- $ 1,454,183
Securities Available for Sale.... 14,847,612 3,391,554 227,928 -- 18,467,094
Securities Held to Maturity...... 44,110 562,762 -- -- 606,872
Other Short-Term Investments..... 200,381 44,624 -- -- 245,005
Loans Held for Sale.............. 437,466 934,793 -- -- 1,372,259
Loans and Leases................. 25,861,725 15,617,327 823,989 -- 42,303,041
Reserve for Credit Losses........ (383,923) (223,913) (11,846) (42,000)(3) (661,682)
----------- ----------- ---------- --------- -----------
Net Loans and Leases...... 25,477,802 15,393,414 812,143 (42,000) 41,641,359
Bank Premises and Equipment...... 498,990 277,808 10,188 (42,000)(3) 744,986
Accrued Income Receivable........ 348,414 170,133 7,609 -- 526,156
Other Assets..................... 1,761,536 1,089,214 6,503 (10,000)(3) 2,847,253
----------- ----------- ---------- --------- -----------
Total Assets.............. $44,395,900 $22,518,600 $1,084,667 $ (94,000) $67,905,167
=========== =========== ========== ========= ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Total Deposits................... $25,474,581 $16,758,128 $ 873,886 $ -- $43,106,595
Federal Funds Borrowed........... 3,598,709 782,550 13,660 -- 4,394,919
Short-Term Bank Notes............ 2,900,536 -- -- -- 2,900,536
Other Short-Term Borrowings...... 1,695,180 2,567,202 39,206 -- 4,301,588
Accrued Taxes, Interest and
Expenses....................... 1,157,945 304,001 10,280 141,000(3) 1,613,226
Other Liabilities................ 238,478 55,394 4,111 -- 297,983
Long-Term Debt................... 4,721,842 349,779 48,900 -- 5,120,521
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial
Interests in Convertible
Preferred Debentures........... 172,500 100,000 -- -- 272,500
----------- ----------- ---------- --------- -----------
Total Liabilities......... 39,959,771 20,917,054 990,043 141,000 62,007,868
----------- ----------- ---------- --------- -----------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred Stock:
Series D Perpetual............. -- 7,250 -- -- 7,250
Series E Perpetual............. -- 2,000 -- -- 2,000
Common Stock..................... 1,033,188 137,029 1,178 96,885(2) 1,268,280
Capital Surplus.................. 620,893 562,127 60,513 (96,993)(2) 1,146,540
Retained Earnings................ 3,102,851 935,640 35,468 (235,000)(3) 3,838,959
Net Unrealized Losses on
Securities Available for
Sale........................... (156,031) (42,500) (2,427) -- (200,958)
Treasury Stock................... (164,772) -- (108) 108(2) (164,772)
----------- ----------- ---------- --------- -----------
Total Shareholders'
Equity.................. 4,436,129 1,601,546 94,624 (235,000) 5,897,299
----------- ----------- ---------- --------- -----------
Total Liabilities and
Shareholders' Equity.... $44,395,900 $22,518,600 $1,084,667 $ (94,000) $67,905,167
=========== =========== ========== ========= ===========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.
40
<PAGE> 45
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000
($000'S, EXCEPT SHARES AND PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIFTH THIRD OLD KENT CAPITAL
BANCORP AND FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
SUBSIDIARIES CORPORATION INC. ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest Income................. $ 2,427,356 $ 1,227,978 $ 60,512 $ -- $ 3,715,846
Interest Expense................ 1,328,198 644,423 35,658 -- 2,008,279
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Interest Income............. 1,099,158 583,555 24,854 -- 1,707,567
Provision for Credit Losses..... 65,926 40,201 1,375 -- 107,502
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Interest Differential....... 1,033,232 543,354 23,479 -- 1,600,065
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Other Operating Income:
Service Charges on Deposits... 160,631 61,119 488 -- 222,238
Other Operating Income........ 581,971 269,159 1,240 -- 852,370
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Total Other Income.............. 742,602 330,278 1,728 -- 1,074,608
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Operating Expenses:
Salaries, Wages and
Benefits.................... 395,097 283,406 6,607 -- 685,110
Equipment and Occupancy
Expenses.................... 94,836 81,554 1,246 -- 177,636
Other Operating Expenses...... 356,434 223,678 4,251 -- 584,363
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Total Operating Expenses........ 846,367 588,638 12,104 -- 1,447,109
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Earnings Before Income Taxes.... 929,467 284,994 13,103 -- 1,227,564
Applicable Income Taxes......... 302,984 89,554 4,333 -- 396,871
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Income...................... 626,483 195,440 8,770 -- 830,693
Dividend on Preferred Stock..... -- (555) -- -- (555)
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Income Available to Common
Shareholders.................. $ 626,483 $ 194,885 $ 8,770 $ -- $ 830,138
============ ============ ========== ========== ============
Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic......................... 464,201,545 137,333,000 7,048,190 570,324,710
Diluted....................... 475,624,871 138,620,000 7,283,791 582,850,730
Earnings Per Share:
Basic......................... $ 1.35 $ 1.42 $ 1.24 $ 1.46
Diluted....................... $ 1.33 $ 1.41 $ 1.20 $ 1.43
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.
41
<PAGE> 46
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
($000'S, EXCEPT SHARES AND PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIFTH THIRD OLD KENT CAPITAL
BANCORP AND FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
SUBSIDIARIES CORPORATION INC. ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest Income................. $ 2,738,082 $ 1,461,363 $ 65,786 $ -- $ 4,265,231
Interest Expense................ 1,333,491 688,245 36,818 -- 2,058,554
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Interest Income............. 1,404,591 773,118 28,968 -- 2,206,677
Provision for Credit Losses..... 134,057 35,388 2,310 -- 171,755
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Interest Differential....... 1,270,534 737,730 26,658 -- 2,034,922
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Other Operating Income:
Service Charges on Deposits... 174,257 78,153 569 -- 252,979
Other Operating Income........ 703,429 378,577 1,663 -- 1,083,669
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Total Other Income.............. 877,686 456,730 2,232 -- 1,336,648
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Operating Expenses:
Salaries, Wages and
Benefits.................... 505,075 381,224 7,888 -- 894,187
Equipment and Occupancy
Expenses.................... 122,072 107,345 1,529 -- 230,946
Other Operating Expenses...... 494,809 277,310 5,370 -- 777,489
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Total Operating Expenses........ 1,121,956 765,879 14,787 -- 1,902,622
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Earnings Before Income Taxes.... 1,026,264 428,581 14,103 -- 1,468,948
Applicable Income Taxes......... 358,035 149,463 4,608 -- 512,106
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Income...................... 668,229 279,118 9,495 -- 956,842
Dividend on Preferred Stock..... -- (740) -- -- (740)
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Income Available to Common
Shareholders.................. $ 668,229 $ 278,378 $ 9,495 $ -- $ 956,102
============ ============ ========== ========== ============
Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic......................... 459,178,812 139,003,000 6,135,009 565,955,168
Diluted....................... 471,855,758 140,594,000 6,324,889 579,930,597
Earnings Per Share:
Basic......................... $ 1.46 $ 2.00 $ 1.55 $ 1.69
Diluted....................... $ 1.43 $ 1.98 $ 1.50 $ 1.66
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.
42
<PAGE> 47
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
($000'S, EXCEPT SHARES AND PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIFTH THIRD OLD KENT CAPITAL
BANCORP AND FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
SUBSIDIARIES CORPORATION INC. ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest Income................ $ 2,585,927 $ 1,466,230 $ 55,568 $ -- $ 4,107,725
Interest Expense............... 1,315,947 726,027 31,751 -- 2,073,725
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Net Interest Income............ 1,269,980 740,203 23,817 -- 2,034,000
Provision for Credit Losses.... 123,489 52,930 1,230 -- 177,649
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Net Interest Differential...... 1,146,491 687,273 22,587 -- 1,856,351
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Other Operating Income:
Service Charges on
Deposits................... 155,786 74,401 395 -- 230,582
Other Operating Income....... 597,758 339,219 1,286 -- 938,263
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Total Other Income............. 753,544 413,620 1,681 -- 1,168,845
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Operating Expenses:
Salaries, Wages and
Benefits................... 454,373 361,551 6,611 -- 822,535
Equipment and Occupancy
Expenses................... 112,108 99,453 1,192 -- 212,753
Other Operating Expenses..... 499,726 242,599 4,731 -- 747,056
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Total Operating Expenses....... 1,066,207 703,603 12,534 -- 1,782,344
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Earnings Before Income Taxes... 833,828 397,290 11,734 -- 1,242,852
Applicable Income Taxes........ 287,316 136,152 3,805 -- 427,273
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Net Income..................... 546,512 261,138 7,929 -- 815,579
Dividend on Preferred Stock.... -- (740) -- -- (740)
------------ ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Net Income Available to Common
Shareholders................. $ 546,512 $ 260,398 $ 7,929 $ -- $ 814,839
============ ============ ========== ============ ============
Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic........................ 452,002,289 143,962,000 6,007,458 562,366,927
Diluted...................... 463,127,454 145,888,000 6,110,595 574,983,134
Earnings Per Share:
Basic........................ $ 1.21 $ 1.81 $ 1.32 $ 1.45
Diluted...................... $ 1.19 $ 1.79 $ 1.30 $ 1.42
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.
43
<PAGE> 48
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
($000'S, EXCEPT SHARES AND PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIFTH THIRD OLD KENT CAPITAL
BANCORP AND FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
SUBSIDIARIES CORPORATION INC. ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest Income................. $ 2,477,612 $ 1,455,829 $ 47,593 $ -- $ 3,981,034
Interest Expense................ 1,304,077 722,055 27,026 -- 2,053,158
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Interest Income............. 1,173,535 733,774 20,567 -- 1,927,876
Provision for Credit Losses..... 116,946 59,673 1,005 -- 177,624
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Interest Differential....... 1,056,589 674,101 19,562 -- 1,750,252
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Other Operating Income:
Service Charges on Deposits... 132,340 66,544 313 -- 199,197
Other Operating Income........ 458,088 247,798 892 -- 706,778
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Total Other Income.............. 590,428 314,342 1,205 -- 905,975
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Operating Expenses:
Salaries, Wages and
Benefits.................... 402,338 333,765 5,669 -- 741,772
Equipment and Occupancy
Expenses.................... 103,886 91,402 903 -- 196,191
Other Operating Expenses...... 343,678 188,565 4,179 -- 536,422
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Total Operating Expenses........ 849,902 613,732 10,751 -- 1,474,385
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Earnings Before Income Taxes.... 797,115 374,711 10,016 -- 1,181,842
Applicable Income Taxes......... 267,736 126,880 3,234 -- 397,850
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Income...................... 529,379 247,831 6,782 -- 783,992
Dividend on Preferred Stock..... -- (740) -- -- (740)
------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------
Net Income Available to Common
Shareholders.................. $ 529,379 $ 247,091 $ 6,782 $ -- $ 783,252
============ ============ ========== ========== ============
Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic......................... 446,796,159 150,116,000 5,699,712 561,518,415
Diluted....................... 454,240,608 151,803,000 5,927,454 570,356,544
Earnings Per Share:
Basic......................... $ 1.18 $ 1.65 $ 1.19 $ 1.39
Diluted....................... $ 1.17 $ 1.63 $ 1.14 $ 1.37
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.
44
<PAGE> 49
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA
CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
NOTE 1 -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information has been
prepared assuming Fifth Third's mergers with both Old Kent and Capital Holdings
will be accounted for under the pooling-of-interests method and is based on the
historical consolidated financial statements of Fifth Third, Old Kent and
Capital Holdings.
NOTE 2 -- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the merger of Fifth Third and Old Kent, each share of Old Kent common
stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be
cancelled and converted into the right to receive .74 of a share of Fifth Third
common stock. Old Kent had 137.0 million shares of common stock outstanding at
September 30, 2000, which will be exchanged for approximately 101.4 million
shares of Fifth Third common stock. The common stock in the Unaudited Pro Forma
Condensed Combined Balance Sheet has been adjusted to reflect the par value
amount of the Fifth Third shares issued.
For the merger of Fifth Third and Capital Holdings, each share of Capital
Holdings common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the
merger will be cancelled and converted in to the right to receive .638 of a
share of Fifth Third common stock. Capital Holdings had 7.0 million shares of
common stock outstanding at September 30, 2000, which will be exchanged for
approximately 4.5 million shares of Fifth Third common stock. The common stock
in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet has been adjusted to
reflect the par value amount of the Fifth Third shares issued.
Pro forma retained earnings reflects an adjustment for estimated
merger-related charges as described in Note 3 below.
Fifth Third's treasury stock at September 30, 2000 represents shares
purchased in anticipation of reissuance in connection with the purchase of
Ottawa Financial Corporation. The treasury shares were reissued upon the
December 8, 2000 consummation of the transaction, the pro forma effects of which
are immaterial. Pro forma treasury stock reflects the elimination of Capital
Holdings treasury stock.
On December 19, 2000, Fifth Third rescinded the board of directors'
authorization dated June 20, 2000 to purchase up to five percent of Fifth
Third's outstanding shares of common stock on the open market.
NOTE 3 -- MERGER-RELATED CHARGES
In connection with the merger of Fifth Third and Old Kent, the combined
company expects to incur pretax merger-related charges of approximately $304
million. These charges are expected to include approximately $42 million for
conforming Old Kent's loan quality measurements to those of Fifth Third and for
the change in intent in the management of certain commercial loans; $42 million
in occupancy and equipment charges (including lease termination costs,
elimination of duplicate facilities and write-off of equipment); $10 million in
the write-off of capitalized software and other assets; $77 million in employee-
related costs (including change-in-control and severance payments); $50 million
in conversion costs and contract terminations; $47 million in balance sheet
restructuring charges to comply with Fifth Third's asset liability management
policies; and $36 million in other merger-related costs (including investment
banker and other professional fees).
The merger-related charges and the related tax effect have been reflected
in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30,
2000, and have not been reflected in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined
Statements of Income as they are not expected to have a continuing impact on the
operations of the combined company.
45
<PAGE> 50
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF FIFTH THIRD
The following table sets forth certain historical financial data concerning
Fifth Third for the five years ended December 31, 1999 and the nine months ended
September 30, 2000 and 1999. This data is based on information contained in
Fifth Third's 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1999, as well as Fifth Third's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2000, which are incorporated by reference into this
document. Financial data for all periods has been restated to reflect the second
quarter 1998 mergers with CitFed Bancorp, Inc. and State Savings Company and the
fourth quarter 1999 mergers with CNB Bancshares, Inc. and Peoples Bank
Corporation of Indianapolis. These mergers were accounted for as
poolings-of-interest. All share and per share information has been retroactively
adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock splits effected in the form of stock
dividends paid on July 14, 2000, April 15, 1998, July 15, 1997 and January 12,
1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------
2000(1) 1999 1999(2) 1998(3) 1997 1996(4) 1995
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Interest income.......... $2,427,356 $2,012,224 $2,738,082 $2,585,927 $2,477,612 $2,272,049 $1,949,924
Interest expense......... 1,328,198 963,521 1,333,491 1,315,947 1,304,077 1,189,309 1,045,392
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net interest income...... 1,099,158 1,048,703 1,404,591 1,269,980 1,173,535 1,082,740 904,532
Provision for credit
losses................. 65,926 90,310 134,057 123,489 116,946 82,880 54,819
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net interest income after
provision for credit
losses................. 1,033,232 958,393 1,270,534 1,146,491 1,056,589 999,860 849,713
Other operating income... 742,602 649,865 877,686 753,544 590,428 494,024 407,160
Operating expenses....... 846,367 777,055 1,121,956 1,066,207 849,902 833,361 675,398
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income before income
taxes.................. 929,467 831,203 1,026,264 833,828 797,115 660,523 581,475
Applicable income
taxes.................. 302,984 279,241 358,035 287,316 267,736 217,647 192,458
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net income............... $ 626,483 $ 551,962 $ 668,229 $ 546,512 $ 529,379 $ 442,876 $ 389,017
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
COMMON SHARE DATA:
Earnings per share....... $ 1.35 $ 1.21 $ 1.46 $ 1.21 $ 1.18 $ 0.99 $ 0.91
Earnings per diluted
share.................. 1.33 1.19 1.43 1.19 1.17 0.97 0.88
Cash dividends declared
per share.............. 0.52 0.43 0.59 0.47 0.38 0.33 0.28
Book value at period
end.................... 9.61 8.44 8.80 8.38 7.52 7.02 6.10
Average shares
outstanding (000's).... 464,202 457,369 459,179 452,002 446,796 448,762 428,251
Average diluted shares
Outstanding (000's).... 475,625 471,157 471,856 463,127 454,241 458,640 442,878
</TABLE>
---------------
(1) Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2000 include $33.5 million
of pretax merger-related and special charges ($23.1 million after tax, or
$.05 per diluted share). For comparability, excluding the impact of these
charges, net income, earnings per share and earnings per diluted share would
have been $649.5 million, $1.40 and $1.38, respectively.
(2) Provision for credit losses and operating expenses for 1999 include $26.2
million and $82.1 million of pretax merger-related charges ($83.8 million
after tax, or $.18 per diluted share). For comparability, excluding the
impact of these charges, net income, earnings per share and earnings per
diluted share would have been $752.0 million, $1.64 and $1.61, respectively.
(3) Provision for credit losses and operating expenses for 1998 include $16.7
million and $121.3 million of pretax merger-related charges ($98.7 million
after tax, or $.21 per diluted share). For comparability, excluding the
impact of these charges, net income, earnings per share and earnings per
diluted share would have been $645.2 million, $1.42 and $1.40, respectively.
(4) Operating expenses for 1996 include the impact of the special SAIF
assessment of $49.6 million pretax ($31.3 million after tax, or $.07 per
diluted share). For comparability, excluding the impact of this assessment,
net income, earnings per share and earnings per diluted share would have
been $474.1 million, $1.05 and $1.03, respectively.
46
<PAGE> 51
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------
2000(1) 1999 1999(2) 1998(3) 1997 1996(4) 1995
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FINANCIAL CONDITION AT PERIOD
END:
Securities.................... $14,891,722 $12,893,537 $12,816,671 $11,305,815 $10,530,928 $10,145,613 $ 7,476,140
Loans and leases.............. 25,861,725 25,250,958 24,963,620 22,356,524 21,898,954 20,207,880 18,422,675
Assets........................ 44,395,900 41,446,488 41,589,512 37,092,266 35,180,173 33,135,051 28,301,971
Deposits...................... 25,474,581 25,006,594 26,083,560 24,495,784 24,289,566 23,306,020 20,825,573
Short-term borrowings......... 8,194,425 8,979,955 8,374,133 4,514,636 4,391,386 4,263,311 2,474,043
Long-term debt and convertible
subordinated notes.......... 4,894,342 2,543,739 1,976,272 3,236,090 2,305,341 1,795,069 1,781,708
Shareholders' equity.......... 4,436,129 3,907,742 4,077,031 3,795,054 3,358,540 3,135,413 2,658,637
RATIOS:
PROFITABILITY RATIOS:
Return on average assets...... 1.87% 1.89% 1.68% 1.51% 1.57% 1.42% 1.47%
Return on average
shareholders' equity........ 19.1% 18.9% 16.9% 15.4% 17.2% 15.3% 15.9%
Net interest margin........... 3.77% 4.05% 3.99% 3.93% 3.86% 3.83% 3.76%
Overhead ratio(5)............. 44.3% 44.3% 47.6% 51.1% 46.8% 51.4% 50.1%
Other operating income to
total income(6)............. 40.3% 48.8% 38.4% 36.9% 33.2% 30.9% 30.6%
Dividend payout............... 39.1% 35.9% 41.0% 39.8% 32.4% 33.6% 32.3%
CAPITAL RATIOS:
Average shareholders' equity
to average assets........... 9.83% 9.97% 9.95% 9.80% 9.16% 9.28% 9.24%
Tier 1 risk-adjusted
capital..................... 12.88% 13.15% 12.16% 12.47% 11.28% 11.84% 11.75%
Total risk-adjusted capital... 14.71% 15.12% 14.00% 14.44% 13.44% 14.31% 14.67%
Tier 1 leverage............... 9.99% 10.15% 9.81% 10.09% 9.15% 8.84% 9.28%
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED
CHARGES:(7)
Including deposit interest.... 1.70x 1.86x 1.76x 1.63x 1.61x 1.55x 1.55x
Excluding deposit interest.... 2.87x 3.38x 3.12x 3.00x 3.12x 3.23x 3.20x
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS:
Reserve for credit losses to
nonperforming assets........ 467.40% 385.64% 474.06% 364.44% 265.41% 228.08% 206.69%
Reserve for credit losses to
loans and leases
outstanding................. 1.48% 1.48% 1.47% 1.48% 1.43% 1.41% 1.47%
Net charge-offs to average
loans and leases
outstanding................. 0.26% 0.36% 0.36% 0.47% 0.43% 0.40% 0.23%
Nonperforming assets to loans,
leases and other real estate
owned....................... 0.32% 0.38% 0.31% 0.41% 0.54% 0.62% 0.71%
</TABLE>
---------------
(1) Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2000 include merger-related
and special charges totaling $33.5 million pretax ($23.1 million after tax,
or $.05 per diluted share). For comparability, excluding the impact of these
charges, return on average assets, return on average equity and the overhead
ratio were 1.94%, 19.8% and 42.6%, respectively.
(2) Provision for credit losses and operating expenses for 1999 include charges
of $26.2 million and $82.1 million of pretax merger-related charges ($83.8
million after tax, or $.18 per diluted share). For comparability, excluding
the impact of these charges, return on average assets, return on average
equity and the overhead ratio were 1.89%, 19.0% and 44.1%, respectively.
(3) Provision for credit losses and operating expenses for 1998 include $16.7
million and $121.3 million of pretax merger-related charges ($98.7 million
after tax, or $.21 per diluted share). For comparability, excluding the
impact of these charges, return on average assets, return on average equity
and the overhead ratio were 1.78%, 18.2% and 45.3%, respectively.
(4) Operating expenses for 1996 include the impact of the special SAIF
assessment of $49.6 million pretax ($31.3 million after tax, or $.07 per
diluted share). For comparability, excluding the impact of this assessment,
return on average assets, return on average equity and the overhead ratio
were 1.52%, 16.3% and 48.3%, respectively.
(5) Operating expenses divided by the sum of taxable-equivalent net interest
income and other operating income.
(6) Other operating income excluding securities gains and losses as a percent of
net interest income and other operating income excluding securities gains
and losses.
(7) Earnings represent income before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed
charges include interest expense and the proportion deemed representative of
the interest factor of rental expense.
47
<PAGE> 52
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF CAPITAL HOLDINGS
The following table sets forth certain historical financial data concerning
Capital Holdings for the five years ended December 31, 1999 and the nine months
ended September 30, 2000 and 1999. This information is based on information
contained in Capital Holdings' 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999, as well as Capital Holdings' Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000, which are incorporated by
reference in this document. All share and per share information has been
retroactively adjusted to reflect the 3-for-1 stock split effected in the form
of a stock dividend paid July 15, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------ ---------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Interest income............................ $60,512 $47,718 $65,786 $55,568 $47,593 $39,639 $34,752
Interest expense........................... 35,658 26,618 36,818 31,751 27,026 22,305 19,964
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net interest income........................ 24,854 21,100 28,968 23,817 20,567 17,334 14,788
Provision for credit losses................ 1,375 1,600 2,310 1,230 1,005 980 850
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net interest income after provision for
credit losses............................ 23,479 19,500 26,658 22,587 19,562 16,354 13,938
Other operating income..................... 1,728 1,767 2,232 1,681 1,205 874 753
Operating expenses......................... 12,104 10,968 14,787 12,534 10,751 8,821 7,590
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income before income taxes................. 13,103 10,299 14,103 11,734 10,016 8,407 7,101
Applicable income taxes.................... 4,333 3,335 4,608 3,805 3,234 2,681 2,256
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net income................................. $ 8,770 $ 6,964 $ 9,495 $ 7,929 $ 6,782 $ 5,726 $ 4,845
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
COMMON SHARE DATA:
Earnings per share......................... $ 1.24 $ 1.15 $ 1.55 $ 1.32 $ 1.19 $ 1.01 $ 0.86
Earnings per diluted share................. 1.20 1.12 1.50 1.30 1.14 0.98 0.84
Cash dividends declared per share.......... 0.27 0.24 0.33 0.29 0.17 -- --
Book value at period end................... 13.43 9.96 12.24 9.66 8.46 7.31 6.39
Average shares outstanding (000's)......... 7,048 6,072 6,135 6,007 5,700 5,653 5,607
Average diluted shares outstanding
(000's).................................. 7,284 6,250 6,325 6,111 5,927 5,843 5,783
</TABLE>
48
<PAGE> 53
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
--------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FINANCIAL CONDITION AT
PERIOD END:
Securities.............................. $ 227,928 $218,649 $223,817 $184,583 $167,521 $159,209 $140,627
Loans and leases........................ 823,989 677,988 722,583 578,370 469,036 380,160 324,788
Assets.................................. 1,084,667 922,729 989,213 801,628 669,540 559,726 483,170
Deposits................................ 873,886 743,573 802,711 663,066 579,661 470,743 407,622
Short-term borrowings................... 52,866 52,045 46,123 33,116 18,395 38,331 27,203
Long-term debt and convertible
subordinated notes.................... 48,900 53,900 43,900 38,900 11,900 4,000 8,000
Shareholders' equity.................... 94,624 60,541 86,112 58,422 50,547 41,590 36,136
RATIOS:
PROFITABILITY RATIOS:
Return on average assets................ 1.13% 1.08% 1.07% 1.09% 1.12% 1.13% 1.10%
Return on average shareholders'
equity................................ 13.10% 15.53% 15.33% 14.52% 15.22% 15.19% 15.30%
Net interest margin..................... 3.36% 3.43% 3.43% 3.45% 3.61% 3.59% 3.54%
Overhead ratio(1)....................... 44.8% 47.2% 46.6% 48.3% 48.2% 47.0% 48.0%
Other operating income to total
income(2)............................. 6.5% 7.6% 7.2% 6.4% 5.5% 5.1% 4.3%
Dividend payout......................... 22.5% 21.4% 22.0% 22.3% 14.9% 0.0% 0.0%
CAPITAL RATIOS:
Average shareholders' equity to average
assets................................ 8.59% 6.94% 6.96% 7.49% 7.33% 7.41% 7.16%
Tier 1 risk-adjusted capital............ 10.90% 8.52% 11.49% 9.11% 9.81% 10.14% 10.19%
Total risk-adjusted capital............. 12.15% 9.77% 12.74% 10.36% 11.06% 11.39% 11.44%
Tier 1 leverage......................... 8.93% 6.88% 9.31% 7.20% 7.67% 7.60% 7.47%
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES:(3)
Including deposit interest.............. 1.37x 1.39x 1.39x 1.37x 1.37x 1.38x 1.36x
Excluding deposit interest.............. 3.68x 4.10x 4.10x 5.30x 8.29x 5.53x 5.26x
CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS:
Reserve for credit losses to
nonperforming assets.................. * * * * * * *
Reserve for credit losses to loans and
leases outstanding.................... 1.44% 1.44% 1.45% 1.41% 1.48% 1.56% 1.53%
Net charge-offs to average loans and
leases outstanding.................... ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Nonperforming assets to loans, leases
and other real estate owned........... 0.11% ** ** 0.10% 0.14% 0.12% **
</TABLE>
---------------
* Greater than 1000%.
** Less than 0.10%.
(1) Operating expenses divided by the sum of taxable-equivalent net interest
income and other operating income.
(2) Other operating income excluding securities gains and losses as a percent of
net interest income and other operating income excluding securities gains
and losses.
(3) Earnings represent income before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed
charges include interest expense.
49
<PAGE> 54
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK AND COMPARATIVE
RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Fifth Third and Capital Holdings are both corporations organized under the
laws of the State of Ohio.
Fifth Third is authorized to issue 650,000,000 shares of Fifth Third common
stock, no par value, and 500,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value. As of
December 31, 2000, Fifth Third had outstanding 465,651,949 shares of Fifth Third
common stock and no shares of Fifth Third preferred stock. Pursuant to article
fourth of Fifth Third's articles of incorporation, the board of directors of
Fifth Third may, without further action of the shareholders: (1) divide into one
or more new series the authorized shares of Fifth Third preferred stock which
have not previously been designated, (2) fix the number of shares constituting
any new series, and (3) fix the dividend rates, payment dates, whether dividend
rights shall be cumulative or non-cumulative, conversion rights, redemption
rights (including sinking fund provisions) and liquidation preferences. Except
as otherwise provided by law, holders of any series of Fifth Third preferred
stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter.
In connection with Fifth Third's acquisition of Old Kent Financial
Corporation, Fifth Third has agreed to issue 7,250 shares of its newly-created
series D preferred stock and 2,000 shares of its newly-created series E
preferred stock. The terms of such shares will be substantially identical to the
terms of the Old Kent's currently outstanding series D and series E preferred
stock. These series of preferred stock are described in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus relating to the special meetings of Fifth Third's and Old
Kent's stockholders in connection with that merger. Fifth Third will provide you
with a copy of the description of such series D and series E preferred stock
contained in such proxy statement upon your request delivered in accordance with
the procedures described under "Where You Can Find More Information" on page 57.
Capital Holdings is authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of Capital
Holdings common stock, no par value per share. As of January 16, 2001, Capital
Holdings had outstanding 7,047,556 shares of Capital Holdings common stock.
Set forth below is a description of Fifth Third common stock and Capital
Holdings common stock. This description and analysis are brief summaries of
relevant provisions of the articles of incorporation and code of regulations of
Fifth Third and Capital Holdings and Ohio law and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to these documents.
VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of both Fifth Third common stock and Capital Holdings common stock
are generally entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote
of shareholders.
Fifth Third's code of regulations provides for the division of its board of
directors into three classes of approximately equal size. Directors of Fifth
Third's board of directors are elected for three-year terms, and the terms of
office of approximately one-third of the members of the classified board of
directors expire each year. This classification of the board of Fifth Third may
make it more difficult for a shareholder to acquire immediate control of Fifth
Third and remove management by means of a hostile takeover. Since the terms of
approximately one-third of the incumbent directors expire each year, at least
two annual elections are necessary for the shareholders to replace a majority of
directors, whereas a majority of the directors of a non-classified board of
directors may be replaced in one annual meeting.
The Capital Holdings board is also classified. The Capital Holdings board
is divided into three classes, with the current board consisting of two classes
containing five directors each and one class containing six directors; and the
election of each class of directors constitutes a separate election. Directors
serve for terms of three years and until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified. As a result of the classification of the Capital Holdings
board, a minimum of two annual meetings of shareholders would be necessary for a
majority of the members of the Capital Holdings board to stand for election.
As stated above, Fifth Third is authorized to issue 500,000 shares of Fifth
Third preferred stock, and its board of directors may designate various
characteristics and rights of Fifth Third preferred stock, including
50
<PAGE> 55
conversion rights. Accordingly, Fifth Third's board of directors may authorize
the conversion of shares of Fifth Third preferred stock into any number of
shares of Fifth Third common stock and thus dilute the outstanding shares of
Fifth Third common stock. Subject to the board's fiduciary duties, Fifth Third
could issue convertible preferred stock with the purpose or effect of deterring
or preventing a takeover of Fifth Third.
DIVIDENDS
Holders of Fifth Third common stock and Capital Holdings common stock are
each entitled to dividends as and when declared by the respective boards of
directors of each institution out of funds legally available for the payment of
dividends. Fifth Third and Capital Holdings have, in the past, declared and paid
dividends on a quarterly basis, and intend to continue to do so in the immediate
future in such amounts as their respective boards of directors shall determine.
Most of the revenues of Fifth Third and Capital Holdings available for
payment of dividends derive from amounts paid to each corporation by its
respective subsidiaries. Under applicable banking law, the total dividends
declared in any calendar year by a national bank or a state-chartered bank may
not, without the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal
Reserve Board, or the FDIC, as the case may be, exceed the aggregate of the
bank's net profits and retained net profits for the preceding two years. Neither
any affiliate of Capital Holdings nor any affiliate of Fifth Third has ever been
prohibited from declaring dividends or restricted in paying any dividends
declared.
If, in the opinion of the applicable regulatory authority, a depository
institution under its jurisdiction is engaged in or is about to engage in an
unsafe or unsound practice (which, depending on the financial condition of the
depository institution, could include the payment of dividends), the authority
may require, after notice and hearing, that the bank cease and desist from the
practice. The Federal Reserve Board has similar authority with respect to bank
holding companies. In addition, the Federal Reserve Board, the Comptroller of
the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have issued policy
statements which provide that insured banks and bank holding companies should
generally only pay dividends out of current operating earnings. Finally, the
regulatory authorities have established guidelines with respect to the
maintenance of appropriate levels of capital by a bank, bank holding company or
savings association under their jurisdiction. Compliance with the standards set
forth in these guidelines could limit the amount of dividends which Fifth Third
and Capital Holdings, and their respective affiliates, may pay in the future.
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
Neither shareholders of Fifth Third nor shareholders of Capital Holdings
have preemptive rights.
RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Fifth Third
or Capital Holdings, so long as Fifth Third has not issued preferred stock, the
holders of Fifth Third common stock and Capital Holdings common stock would be
entitled to receive, after payment or provision for payment of all debts and
liabilities of Fifth Third or Capital Holdings (including the payment of all
fees, taxes and other expenses incidental thereto), the remaining assets of
Fifth Third or Capital Holdings available for distribution. If Fifth Third
preferred stock is issued, the holders of such preferred stock may have priority
over the holders of common stock in the event of liquidation or dissolution.
INDEMNIFICATION AND PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Fifth Third's and Capital Holdings' code of regulations each provide for
the indemnification of each director and officer of the corporation, to the
fullest extent permitted by Ohio law, against all expenses and liabilities
reasonably incurred by or imposed on him or her in connection with any
proceeding or threatened proceeding in which he or she may become involved by
reason of his or her being or having been a director or officer.
51
<PAGE> 56
Neither Fifth Third nor Capital Holdings have any additional
indemnification agreements with their directors or executive officers.
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Special meetings of Fifth Third's shareholders may be called at any time by
the board of directors or by the shareholders of Fifth Third upon the written
application of the holders of at least 25% of all Fifth Third capital stock
entitled to vote on the matters to be considered at the meeting. These
applications must set forth the purpose or purposes of the meeting. Special
meetings of Capital Holdings' shareholders may be called at any time by the
Chairman, President, a majority of the entire board of directors of Capital
Holdings or by any three or more Capital Holdings shareholders owning at least
25% of the stock of Capital Holdings.
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Ohio law provides that the directors may remove any director: (1) if by
order of court he has been found to be of unsound mind, or if he is adjudicated
a bankrupt; or (2) if within sixty days, or within such other period of time as
is prescribed in the articles or the regulations, from the date of his election
he does not qualify by accepting in writing his election to the office or by
acting at a meeting of the directors, and by acquiring the qualifications
specified in the articles or the regulations; or if, for such period as is
prescribed in the articles or the regulations, he ceases to hold the required
qualifications.
Where, as in the case of Fifth Third and Capital Holdings, the shareholders
have a right to vote cumulatively in the election of directors, then, unless the
articles of incorporation or the code of regulations expressly provide that no
director may be removed from office or that removal of directors requires a
greater vote than that specified in this division, all the directors, all the
directors of a particular class, or any individual director may be removed from
office, without assigning any cause, by the vote of the holders of a majority of
the voting power entitling them to elect directors in place of those to be
removed, except that, unless all the directors, or all the directors of a
particular class, are removed, no individual director shall be removed if the
votes of a sufficient number of shares are cast against his removal that, if
cumulatively voted at an election of all the directors, or all the directors of
a particular class, as the case may be, would be sufficient to elect at least
one director.
Fifth Third's and Capital Holdings' code of regulations provide that no
director shall be removed without cause during his term of office and that any
director may be removed for cause at any time by the action of the holders of
record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Fifth Third common stock
entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of the shareholders.
AMENDMENT TO CHARTER DOCUMENTS
Ohio law provides that except in certain circumstances, amendments to a
corporation's articles of incorporation must be adopted by the affirmative vote
of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds of the voting
power of the corporation on the proposal or, if the articles provide or permit,
by the affirmative vote of a greater or lesser proportion, but not less than a
majority, of this voting power, and by such affirmative vote of the holders of
shares of any particular class as is required by the articles.
Except for amendments by the Fifth Third board of directors concerning the
fixing of the terms of any series of Fifth Third preferred stock, Fifth Third's
articles of incorporation contain no other provisions concerning amendments.
Except for amendments repealing certain anti-takeover provisions which may
require the vote of up to 80% of Capital Holdings' outstanding stock, Capital
Holdings' articles of incorporation may be amended by a majority of Capital
Holdings outstanding common stock.
Ohio law provides that the code of regulations of a corporation may be
amended, or new regulations may be adopted, by the shareholders at a meeting
held for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares
entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the corporation on
the proposal, or may be amended, or new regulations may be adopted, without a
meeting by the written consent of the holders of shares entitling them to
exercise two-thirds of the voting power on the proposal, or if the articles or
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regulations so provide or permit, by the affirmative vote or written consent of
the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a greater or lesser proportion
but not less than a majority of the voting power.
Fifth Third's code of regulations provide that, except for certain
provisions regarding the election and removal of directors (which may only be
amended by the vote or consent of two-thirds of the voting power of Fifth
Third), the Fifth Third code of regulations may be altered, amended or repealed
at a meeting held for this purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of
shares of Fifth Third common stock entitling them to exercise a majority of the
voting power or may be adopted without a meeting by the written consent of the
holders of shares of Fifth Third common stock entitling them to exercise
two-thirds of the voting power.
Capital Holdings' code of regulations may be altered, amended or repealed
at a meeting held for this purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of
shares of Capital Holdings common stock entitling them to exercise a majority of
the voting power or may be adopted without a meeting by the written consent of
the holders of shares of Capital Holdings common stock entitling them to
exercise two-thirds of the voting power.
VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ohio law provides that, unless the articles of incorporation or the code of
regulations otherwise provide, the remaining directors, though less than a
majority of the whole authorized number of directors, may, by the vote of a
majority of their number, fill any vacancy in the board for the unexpired term.
A vacancy exists if the shareholders increase the authorized number of directors
but fail at the meeting at which the increase is authorized, or an adjournment
of that meeting, to elect the additional directors provided for, or if the
shareholders fail at any time to elect the whole authorized number of directors.
In case of any removal of a director pursuant to the second paragraph of
" -- Removal of Directors" above, a new director may be elected at the same
meeting for the unexpired term of each director removed. Failure to elect a
director to fill the unexpired term of any director removed is deemed to create
a vacancy in the board.
Fifth Third's code of regulations provide that, except for vacancies
created by the removal of a director (which is filled as stated above in "--
Removal of Directors"), in the case of any increase in the number of directors,
or any vacancy created by the death, resignation or otherwise of a director, the
additional director or directors may be elected, or, as the case may be, the
vacancy or vacancies may be filled either: (1) by the Fifth Third board of
directors at any meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining
directors (though less than a quorum), or (2) by the holders of Fifth Third
common stock entitled to vote thereon, either at an annual meeting of
shareholders or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
Capital Holdings' code of regulations provide that, in case of any vacancy
in the Capital Holdings' board of directors, through death, resignation,
disqualification, or other cause, the remaining directors, by a majority vote
thereof, may elect a successor to hold office for the unexpired term of the
director whose place is vacant until the election and qualification of his
successor.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS AT MEETINGS OF
SHAREHOLDERS
Capital Holdings' code of regulations provide that nominations for election
to the Capital Holdings board of directors may be made only by the board of
directors or by any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Capital Holdings' code of
regulations. Such nominations, other than those made by the board of directors,
must be made by timely notice in writing to the Secretary of Capital Holdings.
To be timely, a shareholder's notice must be delivered or mailed to and received
at the principal office of Capital Holdings not less than 14 and not more than
50 days prior to the date of the meeting; provided, however, that in the event
that less than 21 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the
meeting is first given or made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder must
be received no later than the close of business on the 7th day following the day
on which the notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public announcement
was first made, whichever occurs first, but in no event will such notice be
timely if received by the secretary less than seven days before the meeting.
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The shareholder's notice must set forth, as to each person the shareholder
proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, the name, age
and business address and residence address of such person, the principal
occupation or employment of such person and the class and number of shares of
capital stock of Capital Holdings beneficially owned by such person; as well as
the name and address of the shareholder, as they appear on Capital Holdings'
books, and the class and number of shares Capital Holdings' capital stock that
are beneficially owned by the shareholder.
Fifth Third does not have any similar provisions.
SUBSCRIPTION, CONVERSION, REDEMPTION RIGHTS; STOCK NONASSESSABLE
Neither Fifth Third common stock nor Capital Holdings common stock has
subscription or conversion rights, and there are no mandatory redemption
provisions applicable thereto. Shares of Fifth Third common stock issued to
shareholders of Capital Holdings pursuant to the affiliation agreement will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will not, upon such issuance,
be subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder of Fifth Third.
CHANGE-OF-CONTROL PROVISIONS
The articles of incorporation and code of regulations of Fifth Third and
Capital Holdings contain various provisions which could make more difficult a
change-of-control of Fifth Third or Capital Holdings or discourage a tender
offer or other plan to restructure Fifth Third and Capital Holdings. The ability
of Fifth Third to issue shares of Fifth Third preferred stock may have the
effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change-of- control of Fifth Third.
Fifth Third's and Capital Holdings' classified board of directors may also make
it more difficult for a shareholder to acquire immediate control of Fifth Third
or Capital Holdings. Additionally, Ohio law contains provisions which would also
make more difficult a change-of-control of Fifth Third or Capital Holdings or
discourage a tender offer or other plan to restructure Fifth Third or Capital
Holdings. The discussion of some of these provisions is qualified in its
entirety by reference to those particular statutory or regulatory provisions
and/or charter documents.
In connection with certain "Business Combinations" (as defined below) and
related transactions between Capital Holdings and an "Interested Shareholder"
(which generally includes any person who, together with such person's affiliates
and associates, owns or controls more than 10% of the outstanding voting stock
of Capital Holdings), the Capital Holdings articles of incorporation provides
that any Business Combination involving any Interested Shareholder must be
approved by at least 80% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of voting
stock, voting together as a single class, unless the transaction is authorized
by a majority of the directors of Capital Holdings who are unaffiliated with the
Interested Shareholder and who were directors prior to the time that the
Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder. In addition, any
Business Combination involving any Interested Shareholder must also meet certain
fair price requirements unless the transaction is either authorized by a
majority of the directors of Capital Holdings who are unaffiliated with the
Interested Shareholder and who were directors prior to the time that the
Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder or approved by
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Capital Holdings not owned by the
Interested Shareholder voting together as a single class. If the Capital
Holdings board gives such approval or such fair price requirements are met, only
the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding stock voting as a single
class would be required.
The Capital Holdings articles of incorporation generally defines Business
Combination as:
- any merger or consolidation of Capital Holdings or any of its
subsidiaries with any Interested Shareholder;
- any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, or other disposition to an
Interested Shareholder from Capital Holdings or any subsidiary or from an
Interested Shareholder to Capital Holdings or any subsidiary of any
assets having an aggregate fair market value equal to or exceeding 10% or
more of the shareholders' equity of Capital Holdings;
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- the issuance or transfer by Capital Holdings or any subsidiary of any
securities to any Interested Shareholder, other than an issuance to all
shareholders on a pro rata basis;
- the acquisition by Capital Holdings or any subsidiary of any securities
of an Interested Shareholder;
- the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution
of Capital Holdings proposed by, or on behalf of, an Interested
Shareholder;
- any reclassification or recapitalization of Capital Holdings if the
effect of such transaction is increasing the relative voting power of an
Interested Shareholder; or
- any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for or resulting
in any of the transactions described above.
The procedures required to approve a Business Combination may have the
effect of foreclosing mergers and other business combinations which a majority
of shareholders deem desirable and may place the power to prevent such a merger
or combination in the hands of a minority of shareholders.
REGULATION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Capital Holdings is a one bank holding company and Capital Bank, N.A. is a
national banking association. Fifth Third is a financial holding company
registered under the Bank Holding Company Act and Fifth Third Bank, Western Ohio
is an Ohio chartered banking corporation. In the merger, Fifth Third will
acquire the assets of Capital Holdings and Fifth Third Bank, Western Ohio will
acquire the assets of Capital Bank, N.A. Because each of these different types
of banking organizations is governed under different regulatory schemes, the
assets of Capital Holdings and Capital Bank, N.A. acquired by Fifth Third and
Fifth Third Bank, Western Ohio in the merger will be subject to different
regulations after the merger. The following is a discussion of some of the
regulatory requirements applicable to bank holding companies, financial holding
companies, banks and savings banks. To the extent that the following information
describes statutory and regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provisions. In addition
to being governed by federal and state laws specifically governing bank holding
companies, financial holding companies, banks and savings banks, Fifth Third and
each of its depository subsidiaries that are chartered under state law are also
governed by the corporate law of their state of incorporation (to the extent
these laws do not conflict with the laws specifically governing bank holding
companies, financial holding companies, banks and savings banks) and the banking
laws of their state of incorporation.
HOLDING COMPANY REGULATION
BANK HOLDING COMPANIES IN GENERAL. As a bank holding company, Fifth Third
is registered with and subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board. A
bank holding company is required to file with the Federal Reserve Board an
annual report and such additional information as the Federal Reserve Board may
require pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act. The Federal Reserve Board also
may make examinations of a holding company and each of its subsidiaries.
The Bank Holding Company Act also restricts the types of businesses and
operations in which a bank holding company and its subsidiaries (other than bank
subsidiaries) may engage. Generally, permissible activities are limited to
banking and activities found by the Federal Reserve Board to be so closely
related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto.
FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which became law
on November 12, 1999, establishes a comprehensive framework to permit
affiliations among commercial banks, insurance companies, securities firms and
other financial service providers by revising and expanding the Bank Holding
Company Act framework to permit a holding company system, such as Fifth Third,
to engage in a full range of financial activities through a new entity known as
a financial holding company. Fifth Third has elected to be treated as a
financial holding company. "Financial activities" are broadly defined to include
not only banking, insurance, and securities activities, but also merchant
banking and additional activities that the
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Federal Reserve Board, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury,
determines to be financial in nature, as well as activities that the Federal
Reserve Board determines are complimentary thereto. In sum, the
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act is intended to permit bank holding companies that qualify
and elect to be treated as a financial holding company to engage in a
significantly broader range of activities described above that are not so
treated.
In order to elect to become a financial holding company and engage in the
new activities, a bank holding company must meet certain tests and file an
election form with the Federal Reserve Board, which generally is acted on within
thirty days. To qualify, all of a bank holding company's subsidiary banks must
be well-capitalized and well-managed, as measured by regulatory guidelines. In
addition, to engage in the new activities each of the bank holding company's
banks must have been rated "satisfactory" or better in its most recent Federal
Community Reinvestment Act evaluation. Furthermore a bank holding company that
elects to be treated as a financial holding company may face significant
consequences if its banks fail to maintain the required capital and management
ratings including entering into an agreement with the Federal Reserve Board
which imposes limitations on its operations and may even require divestitures.
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
The Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation maintain guidelines to implement
risk-based capital requirements for bank holding companies, state member banks,
national banks and state non-member banks, respectively.
Under the guidelines, "well capitalized" bank holding companies are
required to have total capital equivalent to 10% of assets, weighted by risk.
One half of this capital must be Tier 1 capital, which consists of core capital
elements including common shareholders' equity, retained earnings and perpetual
preferred stock, to risk weighted assets. The other half of required capital
(Tier 2) can include, among other supplementary capital elements, limited-life
preferred stock and subordinated debt and loan loss reserves up to certain
limits. The banking regulatory authorities also require "well capitalized" bank
holding companies to have a Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 6%.
"Well capitalized" state member banks are required to have a total capital to
risk-based assets ratio of 10%, a Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of
6% and a leverage ratio of 5%.
Under Federal Reserve Board policy, a holding company is expected to act as
a source of financial strength to each subsidiary bank and to commit resources
to support each of its subsidiaries. This support may be required at times when
the holding company may not find itself able to provide it.
Fifth Third and each of its subsidiary depository institutions are in
compliance with all applicable standards for well capitalized banking
organizations. As of September 30, 2000, Fifth Third had a leverage ratio of
9.99%, its Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 12.88% and its total risk-based
capital ratio was 14.71%.
REGULATION OF DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS
The operations of the subsidiary depository institutions of Fifth Third are
subject to requirements and restrictions under federal and state law, including
requirements to maintain reserves against deposits, restrictions on the types
and amounts of loans that may be granted and the interest that may be charged
thereon, and limitations on the types of investments that may be made and the
types of services which may be offered. Various consumer laws and regulations
also affect the operations of these subsidiary depository institutions.
National banks are subject to the supervision of and are regularly examined
by the Comptroller of the Currency. In addition, national banks must be members
of the Federal Reserve System and their deposits are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation and, as such, are subject to regulation and
examination by each agency. Federal Savings Banks are subject to the supervision
and regulation of the Office of Thrift Supervision. State-chartered banking
corporations are subject to federal and state regulation of their business and
activities, including the Federal Reserve Board and: in the case of banks
chartered in Ohio, by the Ohio
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Division of Financial Institutions, in the case of banks chartered in Kentucky,
by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, in the case of banks
chartered in Michigan, by the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance
Services and in the case of banks chartered in Florida, the Florida Department
of Banking and Finance.
LEGAL MATTERS
Counsel employed by Fifth Third Bank has rendered his opinion that the
shares of Fifth Third common stock to be issued to the shareholders of Capital
Holdings in connection with the merger have been duly authorized and, if issued
pursuant to the affiliation agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable under the current laws of the State of Ohio. Graydon Head &
Ritchey LLP, Cincinnati, Ohio, will render opinions to Fifth Third and Capital
Holdings with respect to certain federal income tax consequences of the merger.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this document by
reference from Fifth Third Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1999, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference,
and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Capital Holdings, Inc.
incorporated by reference in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors,
as set forth in their report incorporated by reference in this document. Such
consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Fifth Third and Capital Holdings file annual, quarterly and current
reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Shareholders may
read and copy reports, proxy statements and other information filed by Fifth
Third and Capital Holdings at the SEC's public reference rooms at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New
York, New York 10048; or Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330
for further information about the public reference rooms. Fifth Third's and
Capital Holdings' reports, proxy statements and other information are also
available from commercial document retrieval services and at the SEC's website
located at http://www.sec.gov.
Fifth Third has filed a registration statement to register with the SEC the
shares of Fifth Third common stock to be issued to Capital Holdings'
shareholders in the merger. This document is part of that registration statement
and constitutes a prospectus of Fifth Third as well as a proxy statement of
Capital Holdings for the special meeting.
As allowed by SEC rules, this document does not contain all the information
that shareholders can find in the Fifth Third registration statement or the
exhibits to the Fifth Third registration statement.
The SEC allows Fifth Third and Capital Holdings to "incorporate by
reference" information into this document, which means that they can disclose
important information to shareholders by referring them to another document
filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is
deemed to be part of this document, except for any information superseded by
information contained directly in the other document.
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This document incorporates by reference the documents set forth below:
Fifth Third SEC Filings:
- Fifth Third's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1999;
- Fifth Third's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March
31, June 30 and September 30, 2000;
- Fifth Third's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 21,
July 17 and November 20, 2000; and
- Fifth Third's Proxy Statement dated February 9, 2000.
Capital Holdings SEC Filings:
- Capital Holdings' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999;
- Capital Holdings' Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2000;
- Capital Holdings' Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
November 7, 2000; and
- Capital Holdings' Proxy Statement dated April 14, 2000.
Additional documents that Fifth Third and Capital Holdings may file with
the SEC between the date of this document and the date of the special meeting of
Capital Holdings' shareholders are also incorporated by reference. These include
periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements.
Copies of any of the documents incorporated by reference into this document
(excluding exhibits unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated into this
document) are available without charge upon written or oral request from Paul L.
Reynolds, Assistant Secretary, Fifth Third Bancorp, Fifth Third Center,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263 (telephone number: (513) 579-5300), as relates to Fifth
Third, and from Stephen J. Kovatch, Senior Vice President, or David L. Mead,
Chief Financial Officer, of Capital Holdings, 5520 Monroe Street, Sylvania, Ohio
43560 (telephone number: (419) 885-7379) as relates to Capital Holdings. IN
ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE DOCUMENTS, ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE BY
FEBRUARY 15, 2001.
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS DOCUMENT TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. NO ONE
HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS
CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. THIS DOCUMENT IS DATED JANUARY 17, 2001.
SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT
IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THAT DATE, AND NEITHER THE MAILING OF THIS
DOCUMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS NOR THE ISSUANCE OF FIFTH THIRD COMMON STOCK IN THE
MERGER WILL CREATE ANY IMPLICATION TO THE CONTRARY.
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ANNEX A
AFFILIATION AGREEMENT
This Affiliation Agreement ("Affiliation Agreement") dated as of October
24, 2000 is entered into by and between FIFTH THIRD BANCORP, a corporation
organized and existing under the corporation laws of the State of Ohio with its
principal office located in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio ("Fifth Third"),
and CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC., an Ohio corporation, with its principal office
located in Sylvania, Ohio ("Capital").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, Fifth Third is a registered financial services holding company
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended ("BHCA"), and Capital is
a bank holding company under BHCA, and Fifth Third and Capital desire to effect
a merger under the authority and provisions of the corporation laws of the State
of Ohio pursuant to which at the Effective Time (as herein defined in Section
IX) Capital will be merged with and into Fifth Third, with Fifth Third to be the
surviving corporation (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, Capital owns all of the outstanding stock of Capital Bank, N.A., a
national association ("Capital Bank") which, at the Effective Time, will be
merged with and into Fifth Third's wholly-owned subsidiary Fifth Third Bank,
Western Ohio, an Ohio banking corporation ("Fifth Third Bank, Western Ohio")
with Fifth Third Bank, Western Ohio to be the surviving corporation (the
"Subsidiary Merger");
WHEREAS, under the terms of this Agreement each of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Common Stock, no par value per share, of Capital
("Capital Common Stock") which are issued and outstanding (excluding treasury
shares and shares as to which dissenters' rights have been asserted and duly
perfected in accordance with Sections 1701.84 and 1701.85 of the Ohio General
Corporate Law ("OGCL")("Dissenting Shares") immediately prior to the Effective
Time will at the Effective Time be canceled and extinguished and in substitution
therefor such shares of Capital Common Stock will, at the Effective Time, be
converted into shares of the Common Stock, without par value, of Fifth Third
("Fifth Third Common Stock"), plus cash in lieu thereof for fractional shares,
all as more fully provided in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement intend that the Merger qualify as a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) and related
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
Fifth Third and Capital agree together as follows:
I. MODE OF EFFECTUATING CONVERSION OF SHARES
A. Upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Capital shall
be merged into Fifth Third.
B. At the Effective Time all of the shares of Fifth Third Common Stock that
are issued and outstanding or held by Fifth Third as treasury shares immediately
prior to the Effective Time will remain unchanged and will remain outstanding or
as treasury shares, as the case may be, of the Surviving Corporation. Any stock
options, subscription rights, warrants or other securities outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time, entitling the holders to subscribe for
the purchase of any shares of the capital stock of any class of Fifth Third, and
any securities outstanding at such time that are convertible into shares of the
capital stock of any class of Fifth Third will remain unchanged and will remain
outstanding, with the holders thereof entitled to subscribe for, purchase or
convert their securities into the number of shares of the class of capital stock
of Fifth Third to which they are entitled under the terms of the governing
documents.
C. 1. (a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder of any shares of Capital Common Stock, subject
to this Section I.C.1. and Section I.F., each share of
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Capital Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time (excluding treasury shares) shall be converted by virtue of the Merger into
.638 shares of duly authorized, validly issued and non-assessable shares of
Fifth Third Common Stock (the "Exchange Ratio"). As of the Effective Time, all
such shares of Capital Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a certificate or a certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented outstanding shares of Capital Common stock shall cease to have any
rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive that number of whole
shares of Fifth Third Common Stock into which such shares of Capital Common
Stock shall have been converted by the Merger pursuant to the Exchange Ratio,
plus cash for fractional shares pursuant to Section I.D. At the Effective Time,
all shares of Capital Common Stock held in treasury will be canceled and
terminated and will not be converted into shares of Fifth Third Common Stock.
2. At the Effective Time, each award, option, or other right to purchase or
acquire shares of Capital Common Stock pursuant to stock options ("Capital
Rights") granted by Capital under its 1988 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1996
Incentive Stock Option Plan, Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan and 1999
Long-Term Incentive Plan, hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Stock
Plan," which are outstanding at the Effective Time, whether or not exercisable,
shall be converted into and become options with respect to Fifth Third Common
Stock, and Fifth Third shall assume each Capital Right, in accordance with the
terms of the Stock Plan and stock option agreement by which it is evidenced,
except from and after the Effective Time, (i) Fifth Third and its Compensation
Committee shall be substituted for the Committee of Capital's Board of Directors
(including, if applicable, the entire Board of Directors of Capital)
administering such Stock Plan, (ii) each Capital Right assumed by Fifth Third
may be exercised solely for shares of Fifth Third Common Stock, (iii) the number
of shares of Fifth Third Common Stock subject to such Capital Right shall be
equal to the number of shares of Capital Common Stock subject to such Capital
Right immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio,
however, such number of Capital Rights shall not exceed 915,415 shares in the
aggregate, which amount equals the number of Capital Rights in existence prior
to October 1, 2000, plus the Permitted Option Grants, as defined in IV.B.2
hereof, and (iv) the per share exercise price under each such Capital Right
shall be adjusted by dividing the per share exercise price under each such
Capital Right by the Exchange Ratio and rounding up to the nearest four decimal
places. Notwithstanding, the provisions of clause (iii) of the preceding
sentence, Fifth Third shall not be obligated to issue any fraction of a share of
Fifth Third Common Stock upon exercise of Capital Rights and any fraction of a
share of Fifth Third Common Stock that otherwise would be subject to a converted
Capital Right shall represent the right to receive a cash payment equal to the
product of such fraction and the difference between the market value of one
share of Fifth Third Common Stock and the adjusted per share exercise price of
such Capital Right. The market value of one share of Fifth Third Common Stock
shall be equal in amount to the Average Closing Price. As used herein, "Average
Closing Price" means the average of the closing prices for a share of Fifth
Third Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market (as reported in The Wall Street
Journal, or, if not reported thereby, any other authoritative source) for the
twenty (20) consecutive trading days ending on the fifth trading day prior to
the Effective Time. Each grant of a converted or substituted option to any
individual who subsequent to the effective Time will be a director or officer of
Fifth Third as construed under Rule 16b-3 shall, as a condition to such
conversion or substitution, be approved in accordance with the provisions of
Rule 16b-3. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, each Capital Right which
is an "incentive stock option" shall be adjusted as required by Section 424 of
the Code so as not to constitute a modification, extension, or renewal of the
option, within the meaning of Section 424(h) of the Code. Fifth Third agrees to
take all reasonable steps which are necessary to effectuate the foregoing
provisions of this Section.
3. The grants pursuant to the Stock Plan shall continue in effect on the
terms and conditions (subject to the adjustments required by Section I.C.2 after
giving effect to the Merger), and Fifth Third shall take all reasonable steps to
comply with the terms of the Stock Plan to ensure, to the extent reasonably
required by, and subject to the provisions of, the Stock Plan, the Capital
Rights which qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time
continue to qualify as incentive stock options after the Effective Time. At or
prior to the Effective Time, Fifth Third shall take all corporate action
necessary to reserve for issuance sufficient shares of Fifth Third Common Stock
for delivery upon exercise of Capital Rights assumed by it in
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accordance with this Section. Within 60 days after the Effective Time, Fifth
Third shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the case
may be (or any successor or appropriate forms), with respect to shares of Fifth
Third Common Stock subject to the Capital Rights assumed by Fifth Third in
accordance with this Section and shall use its reasonable efforts to maintain
the effectiveness of such registration statements and maintain the current
status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein), as well as comply
with any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws, for so long as such
options remain outstanding.
D. After the Effective Time, each holder of a certificate or certificates
for shares of Capital Common Stock, upon surrender of the same duly transmitted
to Fifth Third Trust Department, as Exchange Agent (or in lieu of surrendering
such certificates in the case of lost, stolen, destroyed or mislaid
certificates, upon execution of such documentation as may be reasonably required
by Fifth Third), shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a certificate
or certificates representing the number of whole shares of Fifth Third Common
Stock into which such holder's shares of Capital Common Stock shall have been
converted by the Merger pursuant to the Exchange Ratio, plus a cash payment for
any fraction of a share to which the holder is entitled, in lieu of such
fraction of a share, without interest thereon, equal in amount to the Average
Closing Price, as defined above.
Within fifteen (15) business days after the Effective Time, the Exchange
Agent will send a notice and transmittal form to each Capital shareholder of
record at the Effective Time advising such shareholder of the effectiveness of
the Merger and the procedures for surrendering to the Exchange Agent outstanding
certificates formerly evidencing Capital Common Stock in exchange for new
certificates of Fifth Third Common Stock. Until so surrendered, each outstanding
certificate that prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Capital
Common Stock shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of
the number of full shares of Fifth Third Common Stock into which the same shall
have been converted; provided, however, that dividends or distributions
otherwise payable with respect to shares of Fifth Third Common Stock into which
Capital Common Stock shall have been so converted shall be paid with respect to
such shares only when the certificate or certificates evidencing shares of
Capital Common Stock shall have been so surrendered (or in lieu of surrendering
such certificates in the case of lost, stolen, destroyed or mislaid
certificates, upon execution of such documentation as may be reasonably required
by Fifth Third) and thereupon any such dividends and distributions shall be
paid, without interest, to the holder entitled thereto subject, however, to the
operation of any applicable escheat or similar laws relating to unclaimed funds.
E. The Exchange Ratio referred to in Paragraph C of this Article I shall be
adjusted so as to give the Capital shareholders the economic benefit of any
stock dividends, reclassifications, recapitalizations, split-ups, exchanges of
shares, distributions or combinations or subdivisions of Fifth Third Common
Stock effected between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time. In the
event between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, Fifth Third has
engaged in either the distribution of any of its assets (other than a cash
dividend), or caused the distribution of capital stock in a company which holds
any asset(s) previously held by Fifth Third or in any affiliate thereof, to the
Fifth Third shareholders, then the Exchange Ratio shall be increased in such
amount so that the equivalent fair market value of such transaction shall also
be distributed to the Capital shareholders, as of the Effective Time.
F. When all necessary documents have been filed and recorded in accordance
with the laws of the State of Ohio, and the Merger becomes effective, the
separate existence of Capital shall cease and Capital shall be merged into Fifth
Third (which will be the "Surviving Corporation"), and which shall continue its
corporate existence under the laws of the State of Ohio under the name "Fifth
Third Bancorp".
G. The Second Amended Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of Fifth Third
of record with the Secretary of State of Ohio as of the Effective Time shall be
the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until further
amended as provided by law.
H. The Directors of Fifth Third who are in office at the Effective Time
shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, each of whom shall continue
to serve as a Director for the term for which he was elected, subject to the
Regulations of the Surviving Corporation and in accordance with law. The
officers of
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Fifth Third who are in office at the time the Merger becomes effective shall be
the officers of the Surviving Corporation, subject to the Regulations of the
Surviving Corporation and in accordance with law.
I. The Regulations of Fifth Third at the Effective Time shall be the
Regulations of the Surviving Corporation, until amended as provided therein and
in accordance with law.
J. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided by
the applicable provisions of the OGCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time: the separate existence of
Capital shall cease; Fifth Third shall possess all assets and property of every
description, and every interest therein, wherever located, and the rights,
privileges, immunities, powers, franchises and authority, of a public as well as
a private nature, of each of Fifth Third and Capital, and all obligations owing
by or due each of Fifth Third and Capital shall be vested in, and become the
obligations of, Fifth Third, without further act or deed; and all rights of
creditors of each Fifth Third and Capital shall be preserved unimpaired, and all
liens upon the property of each of Fifth Third and Capital shall be preserved
unimpaired, on only the property affected by such liens immediately prior to the
Effective Time.
K. From time to time as and when requested by the Surviving Corporation, or
by its successors or assigns, the officers and Directors of Capital in office at
the Effective Time shall execute and deliver such instruments and shall take or
cause to be taken such further or other action as shall be necessary in order to
vest or perfect in the Surviving Corporation or to confirm of record or
otherwise, title to, and possession of, all the assets, property, interests,
rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises and authority of Capital and
otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
L. This Agreement shall be filed (only if necessary) and recorded along
with Articles or a Certificate of Merger in accordance with the requirements of
the OGCL. If necessary, this Agreement shall not be filed with the Secretary of
the State of Ohio until, but shall be filed promptly after, all of the
conditions precedent to consummating the Merger as contained in Article VI of
this Agreement shall have been fully met or effectively waived.
M. The Merger is intended to be a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Agreement is intended to be a "plan of
reorganization" within the meaning of the regulations promulgated under the Code
and for purposes of Section 354 and 361 of the Code.
N. No holder of Fifth Third Common Stock shall be entitled to relief as
dissenting shareholder pursuant to Sections 1701.84 or 1701.85 of the OGCL or
otherwise.
II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CAPITAL.
Capital represents and warrants to Fifth Third that as of the date hereof
or as of the indicated date, as appropriate, and except as otherwise disclosed
in Schedule 1 hereto delivered by Capital to Fifth Third in connection with the
execution of this Agreement by Fifth Third:
A. Capital: (i) is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
as a corporation under the corporation laws of the State of Ohio and is a
registered bank holding company under the BHCA; (ii) is duly authorized to
conduct the business in which it is engaged; (iii) has 20,000,000 shares, no par
value per share, of Capital Common Stock authorized pursuant to its Articles of
Incorporation, which are the total number of shares Capital is authorized to
have outstanding; (iv) has no outstanding securities of any kind, nor any
outstanding options, warrants or other rights entitling another person to
acquire any securities of Capital of any kind, other than (a) 7,047,556 shares
of Capital Common Stock, which presently are authorized, duly issued and
outstanding and fully paid and non-assessable, (b) 4,053 shares held in treasury
and (c) options to purchase a total of 805,415 shares of Capital Common Stock
which were granted to and are currently held by the employees, officers and
Directors of Capital and/or Capital Bank, subject to adjustment after the date
hereof for the grant of additional Permitted Option Grants as defined in Section
IV.B.2 of this Agreement; (v) has no direct or indirect active subsidiaries
other than Capital Bank, and CBNA Building Company, an Ohio corporation ("CBNA
Building Company"); and (vi) owns of record and beneficially free and clear of
all liens and encumbrances, (w) all of the 873,125 outstanding shares of the
capital stock $10 par value per
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share of Capital Bank, (x) the one (1) outstanding share of the capital stock no
par value per share of CBNA Building Company.
B. Capital Bank is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing as a
national association under the laws of the United States, and has all the
requisite power and authority to conduct the banking business as now conducted
by it; and Capital Bank does not have any outstanding securities of any kind,
nor any outstanding options, warrants or other rights entitling another person
to acquire any securities of Capital Bank of any kind, other than 873,125 shares
of the capital stock, $10 par value per share, of Capital Bank owned of record
and beneficially by Capital.
C. CBNA Building Company is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio, and has all the
requisite power and authority to conduct the business as now conducted by it;
and CBNA Building Company does not have any outstanding securities of any kind,
nor any outstanding options, warrants or other rights entitling another person
to acquire any securities of CBNA Building Company of any kind, other than one
(1) share of the capital stock, no par value per share, of CBNA Building Company
owned of record and beneficially by Capital.
D. Capital has previously furnished to Fifth Third its audited,
consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of
stockholders' equity and cash flows as at December 31, 1999, and for the year
then ended, together with the opinions of its independent certified public
accountants associated therewith. Capital also has previously furnished to Fifth
Third the Call Reports as filed with OCC of Capital Bank as at December 31,
1997, 1998 and 1999, for the years then ended. Capital also has furnished to
Fifth Third (i) its unaudited, consolidated financial statements as at June 30,
2000, and for the three months and six months then ended, and (ii) the Call
Reports as filed with the OCC of Capital Bank for the quarter ended June 30,
2000. Such consolidated financial statements of Capital fairly present the
consolidated financial condition of Capital as of the date thereof, and for the
years or periods covered thereby in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP"), consistently applied (except as stated therein
and except for the omission of notes to unaudited statements and year-end
adjustments to interim results). There are no material liabilities, obligations
or indebtedness of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company required to be
disclosed in the financial statements so furnished other than the liabilities,
obligations or indebtedness disclosed in such financial statements (including
footnotes). Capital shall continue to furnish such financial information for
subsequent monthly and quarterly periods to Fifth Third as soon as practicable
until the Closing Date. In the event that the Closing Date does not occur before
December 31, 2000, Capital shall furnish Fifth Third with its audited or
unaudited, consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2000 and
December 31, 2000 for the periods then ended as soon as they are reasonably
available.
E. Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company have good and marketable
title to all of the material properties and assets reflected in their separate
statements of financial condition as at June 30, 2000, and which are still owned
by each and each has good and marketable title all material properties and
assets acquired by each of them after such date and still owned by each of them,
subject to (i) any liens and encumbrances that do not materially adversely
impair the use of the property, (ii) statutory liens for taxes not yet due and
payable, and (iii) minor defects and irregularities in title that do not
materially adversely impair the use of the property.
F. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1: (i) since June 30, 2000, to the date
hereof there have been no material adverse changes in the financial condition,
operations or business of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company; (ii)
Capital is not aware of any events which have occurred since June 30, 2000 to
the date hereof or which as of the date hereof are reasonably certain to occur
in the future and which reasonably can be expected to result in any material
adverse change in the financial condition, operations or business of Capital,
Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company, excluding in each instance matters (which
shall include but not be limited to changes in general economic condition,
changes in interest rates, changes in laws or regulations or changes in GAAP) of
general application to the banking industry; and (iii) since June 30, 2000, to
the date hereof there have been no material changes in the methods of business
operations of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company.
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G. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, there are no actions, suits,
proceedings, investigations or assessments of any kind pending, or to the best
knowledge of Capital, threatened against Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building
Company which reasonably can be expected to result in any material adverse
change in the financial condition, operations or business of Capital, Capital
Bank or CBNA Building Company on a consolidated basis.
H. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, since June 30, 2000, to the date
hereof Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company each has been operated in
the ordinary course of business, has not made any changes in its respective
capital or corporate structures, nor any material changes in its methods of
business operations and has not provided any increases in employee salaries or
benefits other than in the ordinary course of business. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 1, since June 30, 2000, to the date hereof Capital has not declared or
paid any dividends nor made any distributions of any other kind to its
shareholders.
I. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA
Building Company have timely filed all federal, state and local tax returns
required to be filed (after giving effect to all extensions) by them,
respectively, and have paid or provided for all tax liabilities shown to be due
thereon or which have been assessed against them, respectively. All tax returns
filed by Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company through the date hereof
constitute complete and accurate representations of the tax liabilities of
Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company for such years and accurately
set forth all items (to the extent required to be included or reflected in such
returns) relevant to its future tax liabilities, including the tax basis of its
properties and assets in all material respects. Neither Capital, Capital Bank
nor CBNA Building Company is currently under audit nor have either of them been
contacted for an audit. Neither Capital, Capital Bank nor CBNA Building Company
is engaged in any appeal proceeding in connection with any return.
J. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, neither Capital, Capital Bank nor
CBNA Building Company is a party to (i) any written employment contracts or
written contracts of any other kind with any of its officers, directors or
employees or (ii) any material contract, lease or agreement of any other kind
which is not assignable as a result of the merger provided for herein without
the consent of another party, except for contracts, leases or agreements which
do not have terms extending beyond six months from the date of this Agreement or
contracts, leases or agreements (excluding contracts, leases and agreements
pursuant to which credit has been extended by Capital Bank) which do not require
the annual expenditure of more than $50,000 thereunder.
K. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, since June 30, 2000, to the date
hereof neither Capital Bank nor CBNA Building Company has incurred any unusual
or extraordinary loan losses which are material to Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA
Building Company; to the best knowledge of Capital, in light of historical loan
loss experience of Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company and Capital's
management's analysis of the quality and performance of their loan portfolios,
as of June 30, 2000, the reserves for loan losses was, in the opinion of
Capital, adequate to absorb all known and reasonably anticipated losses as of
the date hereof.
L. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, neither Capital, Capital Bank nor
CBNA Building Company has, directly or indirectly, dealt with any broker or
finder in connection with this transaction and neither has incurred or will
incur any obligation for any broker's or finder's fee or commission in
connection with the transactions provided for in this Agreement.
M. 1. The Directors of Capital, by resolution adopted by the unanimous vote
of all Directors present at a meeting duly called and held in accordance with
applicable law, have duly approved this Agreement, and have directed that this
Agreement be submitted to a vote of Capital's shareholders at the annual or a
special meeting of the shareholders to be called for that purpose, all in
accordance with and as required by law and in accordance with the Articles of
Incorporation and Code of Regulations of Capital.
2. Capital has the corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder subject to required
regulatory and shareholder approvals. The Agreement, when executed and
delivered, will have been duly authorized and will constitute a valid and
binding obligation of Capital, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
to the extent that (i) enforceability thereof may be
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limited by insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, bankruptcy, readjustment of
debt or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii) the availability of certain
remedies may be precluded by general principles of equity, subject, however, to
the receipt of requisite regulatory approvals and the approval of Capital's
shareholders.
3. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, neither the execution of the
Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (i)
conflicts with, results in a breach of, violates or constitutes a default under,
Capital's Articles of Incorporation or Code of Regulations or, to the best
knowledge of Capital, any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation or court or administrative order, or any agreement, arrangement, or
commitment, to which Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company is subject
or bound; (ii) to the best knowledge of Capital, results in the creation of or
gives any person the right to create any material lien, charge, encumbrance, or
security agreement or any other material rights of others or other material
adverse interest upon any material right, property or asset belonging to
Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company; (iii) conflicts with, results in
a breach of, violates or constitutes a default under, terminates or gives any
person the right to terminate, amend, abandon, or refuse to perform any material
agreement, arrangement or commitment to which Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA
Building Company is a party or by which the rights, properties or assets of
Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company is subject or bound; or (iv) to
the best knowledge of Capital, accelerates or modifies, or gives any party
thereto the right to accelerate or modify, the time within which, or the terms
according to which, Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company is to perform
any duties or obligations or receive any rights or benefits under any material
agreements, arrangements or commitments. For purposes of subparagraphs (iii) and
(iv) immediately preceding, material agreements, arrangements or commitments
exclude agreements, arrangements or commitments having a term expiring less than
six months from the date of this Agreement or which do not require the
expenditure of more than $50,000 (but shall include all agreements, arrangements
or commitments pursuant to which credit has been extended by Capital Bank or
CBNA Building Company).
4. Neither this Agreement nor any report, statement, list, certificate or
other information furnished or to be furnished by Capital to Fifth Third or its
agents in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby (including, without limitation, any information which has been or shall
be supplied with respect to its business operations and financial condition for
inclusion in the proxy statement/prospectus and registration statement relating
to the Merger) contains or shall contain (in the case of information relating to
the proxy statement/prospectus, at the time it is mailed, and, in the case of
the registration statement, at the time it becomes effective and, in the case of
the proxy statement/prospectus and the registration statement, at the time the
annual or special meeting of shareholder's of Capital is held to consider the
adoption of this Agreement) an untrue statement of a material fact or omits or
shall omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not
misleading.
5. Capital has furnished to Fifth Third or its agents true and complete
copies (including all exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference) of
the following documents as filed by Capital with the SEC:
a. Capital's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1999, and reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, and
June 30, 2000;
b. any Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to any event occurring
after June 30, 2000 and prior to the date of this Agreement;
c. any report filed by Capital to amend or modify any of the reports
described above; and
d. all proxy statements prepared in connection with meetings of
Capital's shareholders held or to be held subsequent to June 30,
2000.
The information set forth in the documents described in this subsection 2
(including all exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated therein by
reference) did not, as of the dates on which such reports were filed with the
SEC, (a) contain any untrue statement of a material fact, (b) omit any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein, in light of the circumstances under
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which they were made, not misleading, or (c) omit any material exhibit required
to be filed therewith. Prior to the date hereof no event has occurred subsequent
to June 30, 2000 which Capital is required to describe in a Current Report on
Form 8-K other than the Current Reports heretofore furnished by Capital to Fifth
Third.
N. Complete and accurate copies of the (i) Articles of Incorporation and
Code of Regulations of Capital, and (ii) Charter and Code of Regulations of
Capital Bank, and (iii) Articles and Code of Regulations of CBNA Building
Company, in force as of the date hereof have been delivered to Fifth Third.
O. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, neither Capital, Capital Bank nor
CBNA Building Company, nor any officer, employee or director of any of them, has
engaged in any activity or omitted to take any action which has resulted or
could result in the violation of (i) any local, state or federal law (including
without limitation the Bank Secrecy Act, the Community Reinvestment Act,
applicable consumer protection and disclosure laws and regulations, including
without limitation, Truth in Lending, Truth in Savings and similar disclosure
laws and regulations, and equal employment and employment discrimination laws
and regulations) or (ii) any regulation, order, injunction or decree of any
court or governmental body, the violation of either of which could reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of
Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company. Except as disclosed in Schedule
1, Capital, Capital Bank and each of CBNA Building Company possess all licenses,
franchises, permits and other governmental authorizations necessary for the
continued conduct of its business without material interference or interruption.
P. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, there are no actions, proceedings or
investigations pending before any environmental regulatory body, with respect to
or, to the best knowledge of Capital, threatened against or affecting Capital,
Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company in respect to any "facility" owned, leased
or operated by either of them (but excluding any "facility" as to which the sole
interest of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company is that of a
lienholder or mortgagee, but including any "facility" to which title has been
taken pursuant to mortgage foreclosure or similar proceedings and including any
"facility" in which Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company ever
participated in the financial management of such facility to a degree sufficient
to influence, or have the ability to influence, the facility's treatment of
hazardous waste) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), or under any Federal, state,
local or municipal statute, ordinance or regulation in respect thereof, in
connection with any release of any toxic or "hazardous substance", pollutant or
contaminant into the "environment" which, if adversely determined, (a) would
require the payment by Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company and/or
require Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company to incur expenses of more
than $50,000 (whether or not covered by insurance) or (b) would otherwise have a
material adverse effect on Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company, nor
are there any such actions or proceedings or investigations in which Capital,
Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company is a plaintiff or complainant. Neither
Capital, Capital Bank nor CBNA Building Company is liable in any material
respect under any applicable law for any release by either of them or, for any
release by any other "person" of a hazardous substance caused by the spilling,
leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping,
leaching, dumping or disposing of hazardous wastes or other chemical substances,
pollutants or contaminants into the environment, nor is Capital, Capital Bank
nor CBNA Building Company liable for any material costs (as a result of the acts
or omissions of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company or, as a result
of the acts or omissions of any other "person") of any remedial action
including, without limitation, costs arising out of security fencing,
alternative water supplies, temporary evacuation and housing and other emergency
assistance undertaken by any environmental regulatory body having jurisdiction
over Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company to prevent or minimize any
actual or threatened release by Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company
of any hazardous wastes or other chemical substances, pollutants and
contaminants into the environment which would endanger the public health or the
environment. All terms contained in quotation marks in this paragraph and the
paragraph immediately following shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms,
and defined in, CERCLA.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, each "facility" owned, leased or
operated by Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company (but excluding any
"facility" as to which the sole interest of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA
Building Company is that of a lienholder or mortgagee, but including any
"facility" to which title
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has been taken pursuant to mortgage foreclosure or similar proceedings and
including any "facility" in which Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company
ever participated in the financial management of such facility to a degree
sufficient to influence, or have the ability to influence, the facility's
treatment of hazardous waste) is, in all material respects, in compliance with
all applicable Federal, state, local or municipal statutes, ordinances, laws and
regulations and all orders, rulings or other decisions of any court,
administrative agency or other governmental authority relating to the protection
of the environment, except to the extent a failure to comply would not have a
material adverse effect on the business, operations and financial condition of
Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company.
Q. 1. Benefit Plans. Schedule 1 lists the name and a short description of
each Benefit Plan (as herein defined), together with an indication of its
funding status (e.g., trust, insured or general company assets). For purposes
hereof, the term "Benefit Plan" shall mean any plan, program, arrangement or
system of employee or director benefits which is or was contributed to or
maintained presently or at any time in the last five (5) years by Capital,
Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company for the benefit of employees, former
employees or directors of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company and
shall include (a) any qualified retirement plan such as a pension, profit
sharing, stock bonus plan or employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP"), (b) any
plan, program or arrangement providing deferred compensation, bonus deferral or
incentive benefits, whether funded through trust or otherwise, and (c) any
welfare plan, program or policy providing vacation, severance, salary
continuation, supplemental unemployment, disability, life, health coverage,
retiree health, Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association, medical expense
reimbursement or dependent care assistance benefits, in any such foregoing case
without regard to whether the Benefit Plan constitutes an employee benefit plan
under Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA"), or the number of employees covered under such Benefit Plan.
Through the date of this Agreement, neither Capital, Capital Bank nor CBNA
Building Company has made or has committed to make any contributions to any
Benefit Plan outside the ordinary course of business and inconsistent with past
practice with regard to amounts.
2. Predecessor Plan. The term "Benefit Plan" for all purposes of this
Agreement shall include each Predecessor Plan (as herein defined). For purposes
hereof, "Predecessor Plan" shall mean any plan, program, policy, practice,
arrangement or system as otherwise described in Section II.Q.1. but was
maintained, contributed to or resulted in liability to any predecessor employer
of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company since January 1, 1996. For
purposes hereof, "predecessor employer" shall mean any employer, entity or
business operation acquired by Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company in
any type of acquisition (including, without limitation, mergers, stock
acquisitions and asset acquisitions).
3. Plan Documents, Reports and Filings. Except as disclosed on Schedule 1,
Capital, Capital Bank and each of CBNA Building Company have provided true,
complete and correct copies of all plan documents, if any, comprising each
Benefit Plan, together with, when applicable, (a) the most recent summary plan
description, (b) the most recent actuarial and financial reports and the most
recent annual reports filed with any governmental agency and (c) all Internal
Revenue Service ("IRS") or other governmental agency rulings and determination
letters or any open requests for IRS rulings or letters with respect to Benefit
Plans.
4. Qualified Retirement Plan Compliance. With respect to each Benefit Plan
which is an employee pension benefit plan (as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA)
other than any such plan that meets the "top-hat" exception under section 201(1)
of ERISA (a "Qualified Benefit Plan"), except as disclosed on Schedule 1: (a)
the IRS has issued a determination letter which determined that such Qualified
Benefit Plan (as amended by any and all amendments) satisfied the requirements
of section 401(a) of the Code, as amended by all of the laws referred to in
Section 1 of Revenue Procedure 93-39, such determination letter has not been
revoked or threatened to be revoked by the IRS, and the scope of such
determination letter is complete and does not exclude consideration of any of
the requirements or matters referred to in sections 4.02 through 4.04 of Revenue
Procedure 93-39; (b) such Qualified Benefit Plan is in material compliance with
all qualification requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code; (c) such Qualified
Benefit Plan is in substantial compliance with all notice, reporting and
disclosure requirements of ERISA and the Code; (d) any Qualified Benefit Plan
which is an ESOP as defined in Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code (an "ESOP
Qualified Benefit Plan") is in material compliance with the applicable
qualification requirements of Section 409 of the Code; (e) any
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previously terminated Qualified Benefit Plan was terminated in material
compliance with the requirements of ERISA and the Code, has received a favorable
determination letter therefor, and the liabilities of such Qualified Benefit
Plan and the requirements of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC")
were fully satisfied; and (f) any and all amendments to the Qualified Benefit
Plans not covered by an IRS determination letter do not adversely affect the
qualified and tax exempt status of such plans.
5. General Plan Compliance. With respect to each Benefit Plan, except as
noted on the Disclosure Schedule: (a) such Benefit Plan, if it is intended to
provide favorable tax benefits to plan participants, has been in material
compliance with applicable Code provisions; and (b) such Benefit Plan has been,
to the best knowledge of Capital, operated in substantial compliance with its
terms and all applicable laws, including, without limitation, ERISA and the
Code, and to the extent such Benefit Plan is a group health plan subject to the
requirements of Section 4980B of the Code ("COBRA") and/or the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended ("HIPAA"), has been, to
the best knowledge of Capital, operated in substantial compliance with such
COBRA and HIPAA requirements.
6. Prohibited Transactions. No prohibited transaction under Section 406 of
ERISA and not exempt under Section 408 of ERISA has occurred with respect to any
Benefit Plan which would result, with respect to any person, in (a) the
imposition, directly or indirectly, of a material excise tax under Section 4975
of the Code or (b) material fiduciary liability under Section 409 of ERISA.
7. Lawsuits or Claims. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, no material
actions, suits or claims (other than routine claims of benefits) are pending or,
to the best knowledge of Capital, threatened against any Benefit Plan or against
Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company with respect to any Benefit Plan.
8. Disclosure of Unfunded Liabilities. All material Unfunded Liabilities
with respect to each Benefit Plan have been recorded and disclosed on the most
recent financial statements of Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company
or, if not, in Schedule 1. For purposes hereof, the term "Unfunded Liabilities"
shall mean any amounts properly accrued to date under generally accepted
accounting principles in effect as of the date of this Agreement (GAAP), or
amounts not yet accrued for GAAP purposes but for which an obligation (which has
legally accrued and cannot legally be eliminated and which is subject to
reasonable estimate) exists for payment in the future which is attributable to
any Benefit Plan, including but not limited to (a) severance pay benefits, (b)
deferred compensation or unpaid bonuses, (c) any liabilities on account of the
change in control which will result from this Agreement, including any potential
20% excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code relating to excess parachute
payments under Section 280G of the Code, (d) any unpaid pension contributions
for the current plan year or any accumulated funding deficiency under Section
412 of the Code and related penalties under Section 4971 of the Code, including
unpaid pension contributions or funding deficiencies owed by members of a
controlled group of corporations which includes Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA
Building Company and for which Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company is
liable under applicable law, (e) any authorized but unpaid profit sharing
contributions or contributions under Section 401(k) and Section 401(m) of the
Code, (f) retiree health benefit coverage and (g) unpaid premiums for
contributions required under any group health plan to maintain such plan's
coverage through the Effective Time.
9. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities. Neither Capital, Capital Bank
nor CBNA Building Company (or any pension plan maintained by any of them) have
incurred any material liability to the PBGC or the IRS with respect to any
Benefit Plan which is a defined benefit pension plan, except for the payment of
PBGC premiums pursuant to Section 4007 of ERISA, all of which if due prior to
the date of this Agreement have been fully paid, and no PBGC reportable event
under Section 4043 of ERISA has occurred with respect to any such pension plan.
Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1, the benefit liabilities, as defined
in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, of each Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of
ERISA, using the actuarial assumptions that would be used by the PBGC in the
event of termination of such plan, do not exceed the fair market value of the
assets of such plan. Neither Capital, Capital Bank, CBNA Building Company nor
any controlled group member of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company
participates in, or has incurred any liability under Sections 4201, 4063 or 4064
of ERISA for a complete or partial withdrawal from a multiple employer plan or a
multi-employer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of
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ERISA). No employee, former employee, plan participant or any other party (other
than Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company) has any entitlement (under
the terms of any plan document or otherwise) to any surplus assets in any
Qualified Benefit Plan which is a defined benefit plan as defined in Section
414(j) of the Code.
10. Independent Trustee. Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company
(a) have not incurred any asserted or unasserted material liability for breach
of duties assumed in connection with acting as an independent trustee of any
employee pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) which is intended to
be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and which is maintained by an
employer unrelated in ownership to Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building
Company, (b) have not authorized nor knowingly participated in a material
prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and not exempt under Section
408 of ERISA and (c) have not received notice of any material actions, suits or
claims (other than routine claims for benefits) pending or threatened against
the unrelated employer or against them.
11. Retiree Benefits. Except as listed on Schedule 1 and identified as
"Retiree Liability", neither Capital, Capital Bank nor CBNA Building Company
have any obligation to provide medical benefits, or life insurance benefits to
or with respect to retirees, former employees or any of their relatives.
12. Right to Amend and Terminate. Except as listed on Schedule 1, Capital,
Capital Bank and each of CBNA Building Company have all power and authority
necessary to amend or terminate each Benefit Plan without incurring any material
penalty or liability provided that, in the case of an employee pension benefit
plan (as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA), benefits accrued as of the date of
amendment or termination are not reduced.
13. Material. For purposes of this Paragraph Q as a whole, the term
"material" in connection with a liability shall mean a liability or loss, taxes,
penalties, interest and related legal fees in the total amount of $50,000 or
more, with such determination being made on the basis of the aggregate affected
participants of a Benefit Plan and not with respect to any single participant.
R. The investment portfolios of Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building
Company consist of securities in marketable form. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 1, since June 30, 2000 to the date hereof neither Capital, Capital Bank
nor CBNA Building Company has incurred any unusual or extraordinary losses in
its investment portfolio, and, except for matters of general application to the
banking industry (including, but not limited to, changes in laws or regulations
or generally accepted accounting principles) or for events relating to the
business environment in general, including market fluctuations and changes in
interest rates, Capital is not aware of any events which may be expected to
result in any material adverse change in the quality or performance of the
investment portfolios of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company.
S. Except as disclosed in Schedule 1, there are no actions, suits, claims,
proceedings, investigations or assessments of any kind pending, or to the best
knowledge of Capital, threatened against any of the Directors or officers of
Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company in their capacities as such, and
no Director or officer of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company
currently is being indemnified or seeking to be indemnified by Capital, Capital
Bank or CBNA Building Company pursuant to applicable law or the Articles of
Incorporation, Charter or Code of Regulations of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA
Building Company.
T. There is no agreement to which Capital is a party which (i) prohibits or
restricts Capital's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or
its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) would have
the effect of invalidating or voiding this Agreement, or any provisions hereof,
or (iii) would subject Fifth Third to any impediment or condition in connection
with the exercise of any of its rights under this Agreement.
U. All interest rate swaps, caps, floors and option agreements and other
interest rate risk management arrangements, whether entered into for Capital's
own account, or for the account of one or more of its subsidiaries or their
customers, were entered into (i) in accordance with prudent banking practices
and all material applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory policies and
(ii) with counter-parties reasonably believed to be financially responsible at
the time; and each of them constitutes the valid and legally binding
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obligation of it or one of its subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance with its
terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general
equity principles), and are in full force and effect (except to the extent that
they have been fully performed or terminated) in all respects material to
Capital. Neither Capital, Capital Bank nor CBNA Building Company, nor any other
party thereto is in breach of any of its obligations under any such agreement or
arrangement.
V. 1. Neither Capital, Capital Bank nor CBNA Building Company has any
reason to believe that any conditions exist that might prevent or impede the
Merger from qualifying as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code.
2. Since December 31, 1999, except insofar as required by a change in GAAP,
there has been no change in accounting methods, principles or practices of
Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company.
W. Schedule 1 lists all options to acquire Capital Common Stock, the
holders thereof, the dates of issuance, the vesting schedules and the price per
share of such options which are outstanding as of the date hereof.
X. All representations and warranties contained in this Section II shall
expire at the Effective Time, and thereafter, neither Capital nor any officer or
Director of Capital shall have any further liability or obligation with respect
thereto, except for any misrepresentations, breaches of warranties or violations
of covenants that were made with intent to defraud.
III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIFTH THIRD
Fifth Third represents and warrants to Capital that as of the date hereof
or as of the indicated date, as appropriate:
A. Fifth Third is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
as a corporation under the corporation laws of the State of Ohio, is a
registered financial services holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act
of 1956, as amended, and is duly authorized to conduct the business in which it
is engaged, and Fifth Third Bank, Western Ohio is duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the State of
Ohio and is duly authorized to conduct the business in which it is engaged. The
outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of each direct
subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable, and are directly owned by Fifth Third free and clear of all
liens and encumbrances. All of such subsidiaries are duly authorized to conduct
the business in which they are engaged, unless such failure to obtain or
maintain such authorization will not have a material adverse effect on Fifth
Third, as a whole.
B. Pursuant to Fifth Third's Second Amended Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, the total number of shares of capital stock it is authorized to have
outstanding is 650,500,000 of which 650,000,000 shares are Fifth Third Common
Stock and 500,000 shares are classified as Preferred Stock without par value. As
of the close of business on September 30, 2000, 461,799,811 shares of Fifth
Third Common Stock were issued and outstanding and 3,600,000 shares were held in
its treasury. As of the date of this Agreement, no shares of its Preferred Stock
have been issued. Fifth Third does not have outstanding any stock options,
subscription rights, warrants or other securities entitling the holders to
subscribe for or purchase any shares of its capital stock other than options
granted and to be granted to employees and Directors under its stock option
plans. At September 30, 2000, 28,788,016 shares of Fifth Third Common Stock were
reserved for issuance in connection with outstanding options granted under its
stock option plans and 5,684,112 shares were reserved for issuance under options
to be granted in the future.
C. All shares of Fifth Third Common Stock to be received by the
shareholders of Capital as a result of the merger pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement shall be, upon transfer or issuance, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and will not, upon such transfer or issuance, be subject to the
preemptive rights of any shareholder of Fifth Third.
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D. Fifth Third has furnished to Capital its audited consolidated financial
statements as of December 31, 1999, December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997 and
for the respective years then ended together with the opinions of its
independent public accountants associated therewith. Fifth Third has also
furnished to Capital its unaudited, consolidated financial statements as of
September 30, 2000 and for the three and nine month periods then ended. Such
consolidated financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial
condition of Fifth Third as of their respective dates and for the respective
periods covered thereby in conformity with GAAP consistently followed throughout
the periods covered thereby. Neither Fifth Third nor any significant
subsidiaries of Fifth Third have any material liabilities, obligations or
indebtedness required to be disclosed in such financial statements other than
the liabilities, obligations and indebtedness disclosed in such financial
statements (including footnotes). Fifth Third will continue to furnish
information for subsequent calendar quarter periods to Capital as soon as such
becomes publicly available until the Effective Time.
E. Except for events relating to the business environment in general: (i)
since September 30, 2000 to the date hereof, there have been no material adverse
changes in the consolidated financial condition, operations or business of Fifth
Third; (ii) the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Fifth
Third are not aware of any events which have occurred since September 30, 2000,
or which are reasonably certain to occur in the future and which reasonably can
be expected to result in any material adverse change in the consolidated
financial condition, operations or business of Fifth Third; and (iii) since
September 30, 2000 to the date hereof there have been no material changes in the
methods of business operations of Fifth Third and its subsidiaries.
F. 1. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Fifth Third, by
resolution adopted by the members present at a meeting duly called and held, at
which meeting a quorum was at all times present and acting, has approved this
Agreement, including reserving for issuance to Capital shareholders in
accordance with this Agreement, a sufficient number of shares of Fifth Third
Common Stock. Approval and adoption of this Agreement by the shareholders of
Fifth Third is not required under Ohio law, the regulations of the NASDAQ Stock
Market or under the Second Amended Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or
Code of Regulations of Fifth Third.
2. Fifth Third has corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder subject to certain required
regulatory approvals. This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will have
been duly authorized and will constitute a valid and binding obligation of Fifth
Third, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i)
enforceability thereof may be limited by insolvency, reorganization,
liquidation, bankruptcy, readjustment of debt or other laws of general
application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and (ii) the availability of certain remedies may be precluded by
general principles of equity, subject, however, to the receipt of requisite
regulatory approvals.
3. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, does or will: (i) conflict with, result in a
breach of, violate or constitute a default, under Fifth Third's Second Amended
Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or Code of Regulations or, to the best
knowledge of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, any
federal, foreign, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation or
court or administrative order, or any agreement, arrangement, or commitment to
which Fifth Third is subject or bound; (ii) to the best knowledge of the chief
executive officer and chief financial officer of Fifth Third, result in the
creation of or give any person the right to create any material lien, charge,
encumbrance, security agreement or any other material rights of others or other
material adverse interest upon any material right, property or asset belonging
to Fifth Third or any of its subsidiaries other than such rights as may be given
the shareholders of Capital pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1701.84 and
1701.85 of the Ohio Revised Code; (iii) terminate or give any person the right
to terminate, amend, abandon, or refuse to perform any material agreement,
arrangement or commitment to which Fifth Third is a party or by which Fifth
Third's rights, properties or assets are subject or bound; or (iv) accelerate or
modify, or give any party thereto the right to accelerate or modify, the time
within which, or the terms according to which, Fifth Third is to perform any
duties or obligations or receive any rights or benefits under any material
agreement, arrangements or commitments.
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G. Complete and accurate copies of (i) the Second Amended Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and (ii) the Code of Regulations of Fifth Third in
force as of the date hereof have been delivered to Capital.
H. To the best knowledge of the chief executive officer and chief financial
officer of Fifth Third, neither Fifth Third nor any of its subsidiaries has
knowingly engaged in any activity or omitted to take any action which, in any
material way, has resulted or could result in the violation of (i) any local,
state or federal law or (ii) any regulation, order, injunction or decree of any
court or governmental body, the violation of either of which could reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition Fifth
Third and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. To the best knowledge of the chief
executive officer and chief financial officer of Fifth Third, Fifth Third and
its subsidiaries possess all licenses, franchise, permits and other governmental
authorizations necessary for the continued conduct of their businesses without
material interference or interruption.
I. 1. To the best knowledge of the chief executive officer and chief
financial officer of Fifth Third, neither this Agreement nor any report,
statement, list, certificate or other information furnished or to be furnished
by Fifth Third to Capital or its agents in connection with this Agreement or any
of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, any
information which has been or shall be supplied with respect to its business
operations and financial condition for inclusion in the proxy
statement/prospectus and registration statement relating to the merger) contains
or shall contain (in the case of information relating to the proxy
statement/prospectus, at the time it is mailed, and, in the case of the
registration statement, at the time it becomes effective and, in the case of the
proxy statement/prospectus and the registration statement, at the time the
annual or special meeting of shareholders of Capital is held to consider the
adoption of this Agreement) an untrue statement of a material fact or omits or
shall omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not
misleading.
2. Fifth Third has furnished to Capital or its agents true and complete
copies (including all exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference) of
the following documents as filed by Fifth Third with the SEC:
a. Fifth Third's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999, and reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March
31, June 30 and September 30, 2000;
b. any Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to any event occurring
after September 30, 2000 and prior to the date of this Agreement;
c. any report filed by Fifth Third to amend or modify any of the
reports described above; and
d. all proxy statements prepared in connection with meetings of Fifth
Third's shareholders held or to be held subsequent to September 30, 2000.
The information set forth in the documents described in this subsection 2
(including all exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated therein by
reference) did not, as of the dates on which such reports were filed with the
SEC, (a) contain any untrue statement of a material fact, (b) omit any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, or (c) omit any material exhibit required to be filed therewith.
Prior to the date hereof no event has occurred subsequent to September 30, 2000
which Fifth Third is required to describe in a Current Report on Form 8-K other
than the Current Reports heretofore furnished by Fifth Third to Capital.
J. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, investigations or assessments
of any kind pending or, to the best knowledge of the chief executive officer and
chief financial officer of Fifth Third, threatened against Fifth Third or any
Fifth Third subsidiary, which reasonably can be expected to result in any
material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition, operations or
business of Fifth Third.
K. Since September 30, 2000 to the date hereof, none of Fifth Third's
banking subsidiaries and thrift subsidiaries has incurred any unusual or
extraordinary loan losses which would be material to Fifth Third on a
consolidated basis; and to the best knowledge of the chief executive officer and
chief financial officer of Fifth Third, and in the light of Fifth Third's
historical loan loss experience and their managements' analysis
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of the quality and performance of their respective loan portfolios, as of
September 30, 2000, their consolidated reserves for loan losses are adequate to
absorb all known and reasonably anticipated losses as of such date.
L. Fifth Third and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and local
tax returns required to be filed (after giving effect to all extensions) by
them, respectively, and have paid or provided for all tax liabilities shown to
be due thereon or which have been assessed against them, respectively.
M. Fifth Third has not, directly or indirectly, dealt with any broker or
finder in connection with this transaction and has not incurred and will not
incur any obligation for any broker's or finder's fee or commission in
connection with the transactions provided for in this Agreement.
N. Fifth Third has no unfunded liabilities with respect to any Benefit Plan
(as such term is defined in subparagraph Q.1. of Section II hereof, but applied
to Fifth Third, its subsidiaries and affiliates) that are material, either
individually or in the aggregate, to Fifth Third on a consolidated basis and
that have not been recorded and disclosed as required by GAAP in the most recent
year-end, audited financial statements of Fifth Third supplied to Capital
pursuant to Paragraph D of Section III hereof.
O. The investment portfolios of Fifth Third and its subsidiaries and
affiliates consist of securities in marketable form. Since September 30, 2000,
to the date hereof Fifth Third and its affiliates, on a consolidated basis, have
not incurred any unusual or extraordinary losses in their respective investment
portfolios, and, except for events relating to the business environment in
general, including market fluctuations, the management of Fifth Third is not
aware of any events which are reasonably certain to occur in the future and
which reasonably can be expected to result in any material adverse change in the
quality or performance of the investment portfolios of Fifth Third and its
affiliates on a consolidated basis.
P. As of the date hereof, Fifth Third is not aware of the existence of any
factor that would materially delay or materially hinder issuance of any of the
required regulatory approvals necessary to consummate the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated hereby.
Q. All representations and warranties contained in this Section III shall
expire at the Effective Time, and thereafter, neither Fifth Third nor any
officer or Director of Fifth Third shall have any further liability or
obligation with respect thereto, except for any misrepresentations, breaches of
warranties or violations of covenants that were made with intent to defraud.
IV. OBLIGATIONS OF CAPITAL BETWEEN THE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE EFFECTIVE
TIME.
A. Capital, in consultation with Fifth Third, will take all actions
necessary to call and hold its annual or a special meeting of its shareholders
as soon as practicable after the Fifth Third registration statement relating to
this transaction has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and under all applicable state securities laws for the
purpose of approving and adopting this Agreement and any other documents or
actions necessary to the consummation of the Merger provided for herein pursuant
to law. Capital agrees to mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its
shareholders in accordance with the directions and under the supervision of
Fifth Third as promptly as possible after the registration statement is declared
effective. The Board of Directors of Capital intends to inform the shareholders
of Capital in the proxy materials relating to the annual or special meeting that
all directors of Capital intend to vote all shares of Capital Common Stock which
they own of record in favor of approving this Agreement and any such other
necessary documents or actions, and all directors will recommend approval of
this Agreement to the other shareholders of Capital, subject only to such
directors' fiduciary obligations.
B. 1. Consistent with GAAP, Capital agrees that on or before the Effective
Time based on a review of the loan losses, current classified assets and
commercial, multi-family and residential mortgage loans and investment
portfolios of Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company, Capital will work with
Fifth Third with the goal of establishing collection procedures, internal
valuation reviews, credit policies and practices and general valuation
allowances which are consistent with the guidelines used within the Fifth Third
holding company system, provided that no adjustment to general valuation
allowances or reserves shall be made until immediately prior to the Effective
Time and all conditions precedent to the obligations of the parties hereto
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have either been satisfied or waived as confirmed by such parties in writing.
Fifth Third shall provide such assistance and direction to Capital as is
necessary in conforming to such policies, practices, procedures and asset
dispositions which are mutually agreeable between the date of this Agreement
until the Effective Time.
2. From the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, Capital,
Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company each will be operated in the ordinary
course of business, and none of them will, without the prior written consent of
Fifth Third, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld: make any changes
in its capital or corporate structures; issue any additional shares of their
Common Stock other than pursuant to the exercise of options granted prior to the
date hereof; issue any other equity securities, other than pursuant to the
exercise of options granted prior to the date hereof and the grant of Permitted
Option Grants; or, issue as borrower any long term debt or convertible or other
securities of any kind, or right to acquire any of its securities; make any
material changes in its method of business operations; make, enter into any
agreement to make, or become obligated to make, any capital expenditures in
excess of $50,000; make, enter into or renew any agreement for services to be
provided to Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company or permit the
automatic renewal of any such agreement, except any agreement for services
having a term of not more than three months or requiring the expenditure of not
more than $50,000 (for this purpose the phrase "permit the automatic renewal"
includes the failure to send a notice of termination of such contract if such
failure would constitute a renewal), and, except as disclosed in Schedule 1;
open for business any branch office which has been approved by the appropriate
regulatory authorities but not yet opened or apply to the appropriate regulatory
authorities to establish a new branch office or expand any existing branch
office; acquire, become obligated to acquire, or enter into any agreement to
acquire, any banking or non-banking company or any branch offices of any such
companies, other than such agreements existing on the date hereof and disclosed
to Fifth Third; declare or pay any cash dividends on its own stock other than
normal and customary cash dividends per quarter paid in such amounts and at such
times as Capital historically has done on its Common Stock; pay any stock
dividends or make any other distributions on its stock other than cash dividends
as described in the immediately preceding clause; change or otherwise amend any
Benefit Plans other than as required by law or as contemplated herein; and
provide any increases in employee salaries or benefits other than in the
ordinary course of business. It is specifically acknowledged that Capital may
(i) pay its year-end cash bonuses in accordance with its past practice, the
aggregate amount of which shall not exceed its accrued cash bonus amounts,
including additional normal monthly accrual amounts through the month of
December 2000, and (ii) grant additional options in accordance with its past
practice to its senior officers which options shall not exceed options to
purchase 110,000 shares of Capital Common Stock (the "Permitted Option Grants").
It is acknowledged and agreed that the employees of Capital who are awarded
Permitted Option Grants shall not be eligible to receive option grants under any
option plan of Fifth Third during the 2001 in connection with or in recognition
of performance by such employee during the year 2000.
C. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, except for actions
taken with the consent of Fifth Third, neither Capital, Capital Bank nor CBNA
Building Company shall (a) implement or adopt any material change in their
interest rate risk management policies, procedures, or practices; (b) fail to
follow its existing policies or practices with respect to managing their
exposure to interest rate risk; or (c) fail to use commercially reasonable means
to avoid any material increase in their aggregate exposure to interest rate
risk.
D. Not later than the 15th day prior to the mailing of Capital's proxy
statement with respect to the Merger, Capital shall deliver to Fifth Third a
list of each person that, to the best of its knowledge, is or is reasonably
likely to be, as of the date of the annual or special meeting called to approve
the Merger, deemed an "affiliate" of it as that term is used in Rule 145 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Capital Affiliates"). Capital
shall use its best efforts to cause each Capital Affiliate to execute and
deliver to Fifth Third on or before the mailing of such proxy statement an
agreement in the form of Appendix D hereto.
E. Capital shall furnish Fifth Third with copies of all reports filed by
Capital with the SEC subsequent to the date of this Agreement.
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V. COOPERATION AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COVENANTS
A. Fifth Third will prepare and cause to be filed at its expense such
applications and other documents with the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC"), the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Department of the Treasury, the Ohio
Division of Financial Institutions, and any other governmental agencies as are
required to secure the requisite approval of such agencies to the consummation
of the transactions provided for in this Agreement, and the parties shall
cooperate in the preparation of an appropriate registration statement, including
the prospectus, proxy statement, and such other documents necessary to comply
with all federal and state securities laws relating to the registration and
issuance of the shares of Fifth Third Common Stock to be issued to the
shareholders of Capital in this transaction (the expenses thereof, other than
accounting, legal, investment banking, financial consulting and associated
expenses of Capital and its affiliates, to be paid by Fifth Third), and any
other laws applicable to the transactions provided for in this Agreement. Fifth
Third shall use all reasonable efforts to file all such applications within
sixty (60) days of the date of this Agreement and to secure all such approvals.
Capital agrees that it will, as promptly as practicable after request and at its
own expense, provide Fifth Third with all information and documents concerning
Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company, as shall be required in
connection with preparing such applications, registration statements and other
documents and in connection with securing such approvals. Prior to filing any
such applications or other documents with the applicable governmental agencies,
Fifth Third shall provide copies thereof to Capital. Fifth Third agrees that it
will, as promptly as practicable after request and at its own expense, provide
Capital with all information and documents concerning Fifth Third and its
subsidiaries as shall be required in connection with preparing such
applications, registration statements and other documents which are to be
prepared and filed by Capital and in connection with approvals required to be
obtained by Capital hereunder. Prior to filing any such applications, statements
or other documents with the applicable governmental agency, Capital shall
provide, at least ten (10) days prior to the filing date, copies thereof to
Fifth Third.
B. Each of the parties hereto agrees to use its best efforts and to
cooperate with the other party in all reasonable respects in order to carry out
and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement at the earliest
practicable time including, without limitation, the filing of applications,
notices and other documents with, and obtaining approval from, appropriate
governmental regulatory agencies.
C. Capital agrees to permit Fifth Third, its officers, employees,
accountants, agents and attorneys, and Fifth Third agrees to permit Capital, its
officers, employees, accountants, agents and attorneys, to have reasonable
access during business hours to their respective books, records and properties,
and those of Capital Bank, CBNA Building Company and Fifth Third Bank, Western
Ohio as well, for the purpose of making a detailed examination, or updating and
amplifying prior examinations, of the financial condition, assets, liabilities,
legal compliance, affairs and the conduct of the business of Capital, Capital
Bank and CBNA Building Company or Fifth Third or Fifth Third Bank, Western Ohio,
as the case may be, prior to the Effective Time, and also to permit the
monitoring of the foregoing on an ongoing basis (such rights of examination and
monitoring to be subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in such
Paragraph VII.D. hereof); provided, however, that any such examination by Fifth
Third or Capital shall not relieve Fifth Third or Capital from any
responsibility or liability for any material misrepresentation or material
breach of warranty hereunder discovered in the course of or subsequently to such
examination and prior to the Effective Time.
D. If all options have not been exercised prior to the Effective Time, such
options shall be converted to options to purchase Fifth Third Common Stock based
on the exchange ratio with the option exercise price adjusted accordingly to
take into account the change in the number of options.
E. 1. Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company, without the advance
written consent of Fifth Third, shall not take any action which would reduce or
restrict the availability of surplus (excess of plan assets over plan
liabilities) under any defined benefit plan as defined in Section 414(j) of the
Code.
2. If Fifth Third so requests, Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building
Company shall develop a plan and timetable for amending or terminating any or
all of the Qualified Benefit Plans, and, with the advance
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written approval of Fifth Third, shall proceed with the implementation of said
amendment or termination plan and timetable.
3. Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company shall provide to Fifth
Third at least sixty (60) days prior to the Effective Time, documentation
reasonably satisfactory to Fifth Third demonstrating that the requirements of
Sections 401(a)(4), 404, 410(b), 412, 415, 416, 401(k) and (m) of the Code have
been satisfied by all of its Qualified Benefit Plans for the 1997, 1998 and 1999
plan years.
4. With respect to any Benefit Plan that provides for vesting of benefits,
there shall be no discretionary acceleration of vesting (except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement) without Fifth Third's consent whether or not such
discretionary acceleration of vesting is provided under the terms of the Benefit
Plan; provided that a Benefit Plan which pursuant to its terms provides for an
acceleration of vesting upon a change of control of Capital shall not be deemed
to involve a discretionary acceleration of vesting and vesting thereunder shall
accelerate as of the Effective Time or any later date as provided therein.
5. If requested by Fifth Third, Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building
Company shall take all actions necessary to freeze any Qualified Benefit Plan as
of a date at least thirty (30) days prior to the Effective Time such that no
further contributions (including employee 401(k) contributions) shall be made
under the Qualified Benefit Plan after the Effective Time.
6. Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company, without the advance
written consent of Fifth Third, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed, shall not (a) adopt any amendments to the Qualified Benefit Plans after
the date of this Agreement (except as expressly permitted in this Agreement); or
(b) make any distributions from the Qualified Benefit Plans after the date of
this Agreement; or (c) make any contributions to the Qualified Benefit Plans
(except 401(k) employee contributions) after the date of this Agreement, except
contributions for: (i) the presently authorized employer matching contribution,
and (ii) an annual profit sharing contribution for calendar year 2000 not to
exceed that made in the prior year as a percentage of total employee
compensation, consistent with past practice and not otherwise in violation of
the limits imposed by Sections 404 and 415 of the Code. After Capital has
satisfied the requirements of Section E (3) above, consent of Fifth Third shall
not be required for distributions permitted pursuant to the terms of the
Qualified Benefit Plans as currently in effect.
7. Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company shall provide to Fifth
Third at least sixty (60) days prior to the Effective Time, documentation
reasonably satisfactory to Fifth Third demonstrating that they have all power
and authority necessary to amend and/or terminate any plan providing retiree
medical or life insurance coverage, thereby reducing or eliminating future
liability.
F. Assuming that Capital delivers to Fifth Third the Section 16 Information
in a timely fashion prior to the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of Fifth
Third, or a committee of Non-Employee Directors thereof (as such term is defined
for purposes of Rule 16b-3(d) under the Exchange Act), shall reasonably promptly
thereafter and in any event prior to the Effective time adopt a resolution,
expressly relying on Capital's representation that any such options or other
grants were upon their issuance exempt from liability pursuant to Section 16(b)
under the Exchange Act, providing that the receipt by the Capital Insiders of
Fifth Third Common Stock in exchange for shares of Capital Common Stock, and of
options to purchase shares of Fifth Third Common Stock upon conversion of
options to purchase shares of Capital Common Stock, in each case pursuant to the
transactions contemplated hereby and to the extent such securities are listed in
the Section 16 Information, are intended to be exempt from liability pursuant to
Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the Board of
Directors of Fifth Third will be under no obligation to adopt such a resolution
unless it may expressly rely on a written representation by Capital that any
such options or other grants were, upon their issuance, exempt from liability
pursuant to Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act. "Section 16 Information" shall
mean information accurate in all respects regarding the Capital Insiders, the
number of shares of Capital Common Stock held by each such Capital Insider and
expected to be exchanged for Fifth Third Common Stock in the Merger, and the
number and description of the options to purchase shares of Capital Common Stock
held by each such Capital Insider and expected to be converted into options to
purchase shares of Fifth Third Common Stock in connection with the Merger.
"Capital Insiders" shall
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mean those officers and directors of Capital who are subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and who are listed in the
Section 16 Information.
G. A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of Capital
approving the execution of this Agreement, specifically referring to the oral
fairness opinion rendered by Austin Associates, Inc. shall be delivered to Fifth
Third on the date of execution of this Agreement. A copy of the executed written
opinion of Austin Associates, Inc. dated effective as of the date of the board
action will be delivered to Fifth Third as soon as practicable after the date of
this Agreement.
H. On or before the Closing, Capital may amend its Retirement Savings Plan
to provide for the immediate full vesting of all participant account balances,
including employer matching contributions and employer profit sharing
contributions.
I. Fifth Third shall: (i) execute the Employment Agreements with John S.
Szuch, Robert A. Sullivan and Bruce K. Lee, respectively, and (ii) shall execute
Severance Agreements with Stephen J. Kovatch, Michael P. Killian, and David L.
Mead. The form of the employment agreements and severance agreements shall be
that set for in the Confidential Employee Matters Schedule and in each case the
obligations of Fifth Third thereunder shall be conditioned upon the acceptance
of and execution by the respective employee.
VI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING.
A. Conditions to the Obligations of Each of the Parties:
The obligation of each of the parties hereto to consummate the transactions
provided for herein is subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the Effective
Time of each of the following conditions:
1. The shareholders of Capital shall have duly approved and adopted this
Agreement in accordance with and as required by law and in accordance with its
Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations.
2. All necessary governmental and regulatory orders, consents, clearances
and approvals and requirements shall have been secured and satisfied for the
consummation of such transactions, including without limitation, those of the
Federal Reserve System, the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, the OCC,
the Department of the Treasury, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to
the extent required.
3. Prior to or at the Effective Time, no material investigation by any
state or federal agency shall have been threatened or instituted seeking to
enjoin or prohibit, or enjoining or prohibiting, the transactions contemplated
hereby and no material governmental action or proceeding shall have been
threatened or instituted before any court or government body or authority,
seeking to enjoin or prohibit, or enjoining or prohibiting, the transactions
contemplated hereby other than investigations, actions and proceedings which
have been withdrawn prior to or at the Effective Time without material adverse
effect to Fifth Third or Capital and other than regularly-scheduled regulatory
examinations.
4. Any waiting period mandated by law in respect of the final approval by
any applicable Federal or State regulator(s) of the transaction contemplated
herein shall have expired.
5. Fifth Third shall have registered its shares of Common Stock to be
issued to the Capital shareholders hereunder with the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and with all applicable state securities
authorities. The registration statement with respect thereto shall have been
declared effective by the SEC and all applicable state securities authorities
and no stop order shall have been issued. The shares of Fifth Third Common Stock
to be issued to the Capital shareholders hereunder shall have been authorized
for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market upon official notice of issuance.
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B. Conditions to the Obligations of Fifth Third:
The obligation of Fifth Third to consummate the transactions provided for
herein is subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of each
of the following conditions unless waived by Fifth Third in a writing delivered
to Capital which specifically refers to the condition or conditions being
waived:
1. All of the representations and warranties of Capital set forth in
Section II of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date (as
hereinafter defined) as if each such representation and warranty was given on
and as of the Closing Date, except for any such representations and warranties
made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of such date, and except for changes permitted pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement after the date hereof.
2. Capital shall have performed all of the obligations required of it under
the terms of this Agreement in all material respects.
3. Werner & Blank, Co., LPA counsel for Capital, shall have delivered an
opinion addressed to Fifth Third in substantially the form appended hereto as
Appendix A.
4. The aggregate amount of consolidated shareholders' equity (including
Common Stock, Additional Paid-In Capital and Retained Earnings and excluding
Treasury Stock) of Capital immediately prior to the Effective Time, as shown by
and reflected in its books and records of accounts on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, shall not be less than $90,500,000.
For purposes of this subparagraph 4 to Section VI.B., (A) any expenses or
accruals after the date hereof relating to (i) the adjustments contemplated by
Section IV.B.(1) herein, (ii) termination or funding of any of Benefit Plans of
Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company as contemplated herein, (iii)
adjustments made to reflect expenses and losses in the market value of
investments held by Capital or Capital Bank, as required by GAAP, including SFAS
115, and (iv) expenses associated with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated herein, shall be excluded for purposes of calculation of Capital's
shareholders' equity as contemplated herein.
5. Fifth Third's independent certified public accountants shall have
reviewed the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Capital as at the
end of the month immediately preceding the Effective Time, as well as the
unaudited separate financial statements of Capital Bank and CBNA Building
Company as of the same date, performed such other auditing procedures as may be
requested by Fifth Third and reported in good faith that they are not aware of
any material modifications which would have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company, on a
consolidated basis, that should be made in order for such financial statements
to (i) be in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied, excluding the
presentation of footnotes, and (ii) accurately state the financial condition and
results of operations of Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company, on a
consolidated basis.
6. The receipt of a certificate from Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA
Building Company, executed by the chief executive officer and chief financial
officer of each, dated the Closing Date, certifying to their best knowledge and
belief that: (i) all of the representations and warranties set forth in Section
II hereof were true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
Effective Time in all material respects, except for any such representations and
warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of such date; and (ii) it has met and fully complied in all
material respects with all of the obligations required of it under the terms of
this Agreement.
7. The total issued and outstanding shares of Capital Common Stock shall
not exceed 7,047,556 shares, and the total number of options to purchase Capital
Common Stock shall not exceed 805,415, in each case adjusted for the exercise of
any options which were outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and
otherwise properly exercised, and for the grant and exercise of any Permitted
Option Grants after the date of this Agreement. Schedule 1 lists of all
presently outstanding options to acquire Capital Common Stock, the holders
thereof, the dates of issuance, the vesting schedules and the price per share of
such options.
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8. With respect to each non-employee director of Capital, Fifth Third shall
have either (i) received an executed noncompetition agreement in the form
attached as Appendix E, or (ii) waived the requirement hereof.
9. Fifth Third shall have received an opinion of counsel to Fifth Third,
dated the Effective Date, to the effect that, on the basis of facts,
representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, (i) the Merger
constitutes a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code. In
rendering its opinion, counsel to Fifth Third may require and rely upon
representations contained in letters from Capital and Fifth Third.
10. There shall have been no exercises of options to purchase Capital
Common Stock between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time."
C. Conditions to the Obligations of Capital:
The obligation of Capital to consummate the transactions provided for
herein and in the Agreement of Merger is subject to the fulfillment at or prior
to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions unless waived by
Capital in a writing delivered to Fifth Third which specifically refers to the
condition or conditions being waived:
1. All of the representations and warranties of Fifth Third set forth in
Section III of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date as if each
such representation and warranty was given on and as of the Closing Date, except
for any such representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which
shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date.
2. Fifth Third shall have performed all of the obligations required of it
under the terms of this Agreement and the Agreement of Merger in all material
respects.
3. Paul L. Reynolds, counsel for Fifth Third, shall have delivered an
opinion addressed to Capital in substantially the form appended hereto as
Appendix B.
4. The receipt of a certificate from Fifth Third, executed by its chief
executive officer and chief financial officer, dated the Closing Date,
certifying to their best knowledge and belief that: (i) all of the
representations and warranties set forth in Section III were true and correct as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, except for any such
representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of such date; and, (ii) Fifth Third has
met and fully complied in all material respects with all of the obligations
required of it under the terms of this Agreement.
5. Fifth Third Bank's Trust Department (Fifth Third's Cincinnati, Ohio
affiliate), as the Exchange Agent, will acknowledge in writing to Capital that
it is in receipt of certificates representing a whole number of shares of Fifth
Third Common Stock to be issued to the shareholders of Capital pursuant to this
Agreement, and (ii) sufficient cash to be paid to the Capital shareholders for
fractional shares.
6. Capital shall have received an opinion of counsel to Fifth Third, dated
the Effective Date, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations
and assumptions set forth in such opinion, (i) the Merger constitutes a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and (ii) no gain
or loss will be recognized by shareholders of Capital who receive shares of
Fifth Third Common Stock in exchange for shares of Capital Common Stock, except
to the extent of any cash received for any fractional share interest in Fifth
Third common Stock to which the shareholders may be entitled. In rendering its
opinion, counsel to Fifth Third may require and rely upon representations
contained in letters from Capital and Fifth Third.
7. Fifth Third shall have: (i) entered into Employment Agreements, with
John S. Szuch, Robert A. Sullivan and Bruce K. Lee, in the form delivered
contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement as Exhibits A, B, and C
to the confidential employee matters schedule, respectively (ii) entered into
Severance Agreements with Stephen J. Kovatch, Michael P. Killian, and David L.
Mead in the form delivered contemporaneously with the execution of this
Agreement as Exhibits D, E, and F to the confidential employee matters schedule.
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VII. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
A. Capital Bank shall be merged with and into Fifth Third Bank, Western
Ohio, to be effective on the Effective Time. The parties hereto agree to
cooperate with one another to effect such merger. Upon consummation of any
merger of Capital Bank, the separate corporate existence of Capital Bank shall
cease by operation of law.
B. 1. Fifth Third shall consider employing at Fifth Third or other Fifth
Third subsidiaries or affiliates as many of the employees of Capital, Capital
Bank and CBNA Building Company who desire employment within the Fifth Third
holding company system as possible, to the extent of available positions and
consistent with Fifth Third's standard staffing levels and personnel policies;
provided that such continuing employees will not be subject to any exclusion or
penalty for pre-existing conditions that were covered under the medical plans of
Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company immediately prior to the
Effective Time or any waiting period relating to coverage under Fifth Third's
medical plan, provided further that to the extent that the initial period of
coverage for employees of Capital, under any plan of Capital that is an
"employee welfare benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA is not a
full 12 month period of coverage, employees of Capital shall be given credit
under the applicable welfare plan for any deductibles and co-insurance payments
made by such employees of Capital or under the corresponding welfare plan during
the balance of such twelve (12) month period of coverage. As promptly as
practicable following the Effective Time as Fifth Third shall reasonably
determine (and until then in accordance with any comparable benefit plan that
Capital maintained immediately before the Closing Date), Fifth Third shall
provide the full-time employees (in the aggregate and not individually) of
Capital and Capital subsidiaries ("Transferred Employees") who become employees
of Fifth Third or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates at or immediately
subsequent to the Merger as a group with employee benefit plans that in the
aggregate are of comparable value to the benefit plans provided to similarly
situated employees of Fifth Third (excluding from consideration the Fifth Third
Bancorp Master Retirement Plan which has been frozen to new participants). Under
each employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by Fifth Third or its
subsidiaries or affiliates in which Transferred Employees participate, prior
service with Capital or any Capital subsidiary shall be taken into account for
purposes of eligibility, vesting and benefits accruals.
2. Those employees (other than temporary and/or co-operative employees) of
Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company who do not have an employment or
severance agreement and who are not to be employed by Fifth Third or who are
terminated or voluntarily resign after being notified that, as a condition of
employment, such employee must work at a location more than thirty (30) miles
from such employee's former location of employment or that such employee's
salary will be decreased, in any case and in both cases, within thirty (60) days
after the Effective Time, and who sign and deliver a termination and release
agreement in the form attached as Appendix C hereto, shall be entitled to
severance pay equal to two (2) weeks of pay for each year of service, subject to
a minimum of 8 weeks of pay in the case of any officer of Capital and 4 weeks of
pay as to all other employees, subject to a maximum of 22 weeks. If there has
been a break in an employee's period of employment, the prior period shall be
added to the current period of employment. Any employee employed by more than
one corporation shall be entitled to payment under only one severance plan.
Fifth Third shall provide notification to Capital of those employees it will or
will not be hiring at least 30 days prior to the Effective Time in order that
such employees terminated by Capital can be given appropriate notice of
termination in advance of the effectiveness thereof. The severance pay shall be
under Capital's (or its subsidiaries') current severance pay plan if any, or a
new severance pay plan but in no event shall there be any duplication of
severance pay. Nothing contained in this Paragraph VII.B.2 shall be construed or
interpreted to limit or modify in any way Fifth Third's at will employment
policy. In no event shall severance pay be taken into account in determining the
amount of any other benefit (including but not limited to, an individual's
benefit under any pension plan). If, by reason of the controlling plan document,
controlling law or otherwise, severance pay is taken into account in determining
any other benefit, the severance pay otherwise payable shall be reduced by the
present value of the additional benefit determined under other benefit plans
attributable to the severance pay period.
3. Any officer of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company who enters
into a employment or severance agreement with Capital or Fifth Third after the
date of this Agreement (each "Contract Officer")
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shall not receive any severance payments from Capital and Fifth Third in
connection with the Merger, pursuant to Section VII. B.2. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, or any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall any
Contract Officer receive any payment pursuant to the terms of a severance
agreement or employment agreement that would be considered an "Excess Parachute
Payment" pursuant to Section 280(G) of the Code.
C. (i) From and after the Effective Time, Fifth Third shall assume the
obligations of Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company arising under
applicable Ohio and Federal law in existence as of the date hereof or as amended
prior to the Effective Time and under the Articles of Incorporation, Charter and
Code of Regulations, as applicable, of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building
Company as in effect on the date hereof to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who
become, prior to the Effective Time, an officer or director of Capital, Capital
Bank, or CBNA Building Company (the "Indemnified Parties") against losses,
claims, damages, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees),
liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement (which
settlement shall require the prior written consent of Fifth Third) of or in
connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (a "Claim")
in which an Indemnified Party is, or is threatened to be made, a party or a
witness based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out of the
fact that such person is or was a director or officer of Capital, Capital Bank
or CBNA Building Company if such Claim pertains to any matter or fact arising,
existing or occurring prior to the Effective Time (including, without
limitation, the merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement),
regardless of whether such Claim is asserted or claimed prior to, at or after
the Effective Time. Fifth Third shall pay expenses in advance of the final
disposition of any such action or proceeding to each Indemnified Party to the
full extent permitted by law and under the Articles of Incorporation, Charter or
Code of Regulations, as applicable, of Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building
Company. Fifth Third's assumption of the indemnification obligations of Capital,
Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company as provided herein shall continue for a
period of three (3) years after the Effective Time or, in the case of claims
asserted prior to the third (3) anniversary of the Effective Time until such
matters are finally resolved. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim
indemnification under this provision, upon learning of any Claim shall notify
Fifth Third (but the failure to so notify Fifth Third shall not relieve Fifth
Third from any liability which Fifth Third may have under this section except to
the extent Fifth Third is materially prejudiced thereby). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law firm to
represent them with respect to each matter under this section unless there is,
under applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any one
significant issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified parties.
(ii) From and after the Effective Time, the directors, officers and
employees of Capital and its subsidiaries who become directors, officers or
employees of Fifth Third or any of its subsidiaries, except for the
indemnification rights set forth in subparagraph (i) above, shall have
indemnification rights with prospective application only. The prospective
indemnification rights shall consist of such rights to which directors, officers
or employees of Fifth Third or the subsidiary by which such person is employed
are entitled under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of Fifth
Third or similar governing documents of Fifth Third or its applicable
subsidiaries, as in effect from time to time after the Effective Time, as
applicable, and provisions of applicable law as in effect from time to time
after the Effective Time.
(iii) The obligations of Fifth Third provided under this Section VII.C. are
intended to benefit, and be enforceable against Fifth Third directly by, the
Indemnified Parties, and shall be binding on all respective successors of Fifth
Third.
(iv) Fifth Third shall also purchase and keep in force for a two (2) year
period, a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance to provide
coverage for acts or omissions of the type currently covered by Capital's
existing directors' and officers' liability insurance for acts or omissions
occurring on or prior to the Effective Time, but only to the extent such
insurance may be purchased or kept in full force on commercially reasonable
terms taking into account the cost thereof and the benefits provided thereby. It
is agreed that such costs shall be commercially reasonable so long as they do
not exceed 125% of the annual costs currently paid for such coverage by Capital.
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D. Fifth Third will not disclose to others, shall not use in respect of its
(or any of its subsidiaries) business operations, and will hold in confidence
any non-public, confidential information disclosed to it by Capital concerning
Capital, Capital Bank and CBNA Building Company. Capital will not disclose to
others, shall not use in respect of its (or any of its subsidiaries) business
operations, and will hold in confidence any non-public, confidential information
disclosed to it concerning Fifth Third or any of its affiliates. In the event
the Merger is not completed, all non-public financial statements, documents and
materials, and all copies thereof, shall be returned to Capital or Fifth Third,
as the case may be, and shall not be used by Fifth Third or Capital, as the case
may be, in any way detrimental to Capital or Fifth Third.
E. All notices under this Agreement or under the Agreement of Merger shall
be in writing and shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered in person or
mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid and
addressed, if to Capital to: Mr. John S. Szuch, Chairman, Capital Holdings,
Inc., 5520 Monroe Street, Sylvania, Ohio 43560, with a copy to: Martin D.
Werner, Esq., Werner & Blank, Co., LPA, 7205 W. Central Ave., Toledo, Ohio
43617; if to Fifth Third, to Mr. George A. Schaefer, Jr., President and Chief
Executive Officer, Fifth Third Bancorp, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45263, with a copy to Paul L. Reynolds, Esq., Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, Fifth Third Bank, Legal Department, 38 Fountain Square Plaza,
M.D. 10AT76, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263. Such notices shall be deemed to be received
when delivered in person or when deposited in the mail by certified mail, return
receipt requested with postage prepaid.
F. This Agreement, together with the written instruments specifically
referred to herein and such other written agreements delivered by Fifth Third or
Capital to each other pursuant hereto constitute the entire agreement between
the parties with regard to the transactions contemplated herein and supersede
any prior agreements, whether oral or in writing. This Agreement may be
hereafter amended only by a written instrument executed by each of the parties
pursuant to Section X hereof.
G. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time,
except with the prior approval of Fifth Third, Capital shall not, and shall not
permit its representatives to, directly or indirectly, subject to the exercise
by the Directors of Capital of their fiduciary duties, initiate, solicit,
negotiate with, encourage discussions with, provide information to, or agree to
a transaction with, any corporation, partnership, person or other entity or
group concerning any merger of either Capital or Capital Bank or any sale of
substantial assets, sale of shares of capital stock (or securities convertible
or exchangeable into or otherwise evidencing, or any agreement or instrument
evidencing, the right to acquire capital stock) or similar transaction involving
Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company (any such transaction being
referred to herein as an "Acquisition Transaction"). Subject to the exercise by
the Directors of Capital of their fiduciary duties, Capital promptly shall
communicate to Fifth Third the terms of any proposal which it may receive in
respect of an Acquisition Transaction and any request by or indication of
interest on the part of any third party with respect to initiation of any
Acquisition Transaction or discussions with respect thereto.
H. Fifth Third and Capital shall each indemnify and hold the other harmless
for any claim, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees)
arising from a misstatement or omission in the applications submitted to
regulatory agencies for approval of the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement relating to the indemnifying party which is based or made in reliance
upon any representation, warranty, or covenant of such party in this Agreement
or any certification, document, or other information furnished or to be
furnished by such party pursuant to this Agreement. From and after Closing Date,
this subsection shall be of no further force or effect.
I. Following the satisfaction of all conditions to closing the Merger,
other than the expiration of any waiting period required by any regulatory
agency after its approval of the Merger is issued, and conditions which are only
capable of being satisfied at closing, upon the request of Fifth Third and at
the sole option of Fifth Third, Capital and Capital Bank shall execute and
deliver to Midwest Payment Systems, Inc. ("MPS") an agreement to convert all
electronic funds transfer ("EFT") related services to MPS and the Jeanie(R)
system. Such Agreement shall provide that MPS will be the exclusive provider of
such services to Capital and Capital Bank for a period of five (5) years from
the date such agreements are executed. Fifth Third agrees that the cost of the
conversion of Capital and Capital Bank to EFT provided by MPS and conversion
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to the Jeanie(R) system (including, without limitation, the cost of all card
reissue, signage and penalties relating to terminating its current EFT
relationships) will be paid by Fifth Third. Fifth Third further agrees that the
costs and fees to Capital and Capital Bank for the Jeanie(R) service shall not
exceed those charged by the current EFT service provider of Capital and Capital
Bank, subject to any increases in such costs and fees which would otherwise be
permitted under their current EFT processing agreements. In the event this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section VIII hereof for any reason except a
material breach or default by Capital, and if, in such instance, Capital desires
to convert to another provider of EFT services, Fifth Third shall pay all costs
and expenses associated with such conversion, provided, however, such costs and
expenses are reasonable when compared to costs and expenses ordinarily charged
in the EFT services industry. In no event shall Capital or Capital Bank be
required to take any actions pursuant to this Paragraph I or otherwise under
this Agreement or the Agreement of merger that are contrary to any applicable
law, regulation, rule or order or which constitute a breach of the fiduciary
duties of the directors of Capital or Capital Bank.
J. Fifth Third and Capital 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 thereby, and shall consult with each other as to the
form and substance of other public disclosures related thereto, provided,
however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit either party from making
any disclosure which its counsel deems required by law, and provided, further,
however, that Fifth Third shall not be required to incorporate any comments from
Capital into such releases or public filings unless determined to be appropriate
by Fifth Third in good faith.
K. Each party hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by
it in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, fees, costs and expenses of its own financial
consultants, investment bankers, accountants and counsel, without reduction or
modification in the number of shares of Fifth Third Common Stock to be issued
hereunder. The expenses of printing and mailing the prospectus/proxy statement
shall be paid by Fifth Third.
L. 1. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, Capital shall promptly
advise Fifth Third in writing of any fact that, if existing or known at the date
hereof, would have been required to be set forth or disclosed in or pursuant to
this Agreement or of any fact that, if existing or known at the date hereof,
would have made any of the representations contained herein untrue to any
material extent, and which in each case, would be likely to have a material
adverse effect on Capital, Capital Bank or CBNA Building Company, provided,
however, that no such information so disclosed to Fifth Third shall be deemed an
exception to any representation, warranty or covenant made by Capital unless
Fifth Third, in its sole discretion, agrees in writing to accept such exception.
2. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, Fifth Third shall promptly
advise Capital in writing of any fact that, if existing or known at the date
hereof, would have been required to be set forth or disclosed in or pursuant to
this Agreement or of any fact that, if existing or known at the date hereof,
would have made any of the representations contained herein untrue to any
material extent, and which in each case, would be likely to have a material
adverse effect on Capital and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, provided,
however, that no such information so disclosed to Capital shall be deemed an
exception to any representation, warranty or covenant made by Fifth Third unless
Capital, in its sole discretion, agrees in writing to accept such exception.
VIII. TERMINATION
A. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time
by written notice delivered by Fifth Third to Capital or by Capital to Fifth
Third in the following instances:
1. By Fifth Third or Capital, if there has been to the extent contemplated
in Section VI.B.1. and 2. and Section VI.C.1. and 2. herein, a material
misrepresentation, a material breach of warranty or a material failure to comply
with any covenant on the part of the other party with respect to the
representations, warranties, and covenants set forth herein and such
misrepresentations, breach or failure to comply has not been cured (if capable
of cure) within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice, provided, the
party in default shall have no right to terminate for its own default.
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2. By Fifth Third or Capital, in each case taken as a whole, if the
business or assets or financial condition of the other party shall have
materially and adversely changed from that in existence at June 30, 2000, other
than any such change attributable to or resulting from any change in law,
regulation or GAAP, changes in interest rates, economic, financial or market
conditions affecting the banking industry generally or changes that may occur as
a consequence of actions or inactions that either party hereto is expressly
obligated to take under this Agreement.
3. By Fifth Third or Capital, if the merger transaction contemplated herein
has not been consummated by June 30, 2001, provided the terminating party is not
in material breach or default of any representations, warranty or covenant
contained herein on the date of such termination.
4. By the mutual written consent of Fifth Third and Capital.
5. By Fifth Third if any event occurs which renders impossible of
satisfaction in any material respect one or more of the conditions to the
obligations of Fifth Third to effect the Merger set forth in Sections VI.A. and
B. herein and non-compliance is not waived by Fifth Third.
6. By Capital if any event occurs which renders impossible of satisfaction
in any material respect one or more of the conditions of the obligations of
Capital to effect the Merger as set forth in Sections VI.A. and C. herein and
non-compliance is not waived by Capital.
B. If Capital shareholders, acting at a meeting held for the purpose of
voting upon this Agreement and the Agreement of Merger, fail to approve such
agreements in the manner required by law, then this Agreement and the Agreement
of Merger shall be deemed to be automatically terminated, provided that Capital
must be in compliance with Section IV, Paragraph A hereof.
C. Upon termination as provided in this Section, this Agreement and the
Agreement of Merger, except for the provisions of Paragraphs D, H, J and K of
Section VII hereof shall be void and of no further force or effect, and, except
as provided in Paragraph H of Section VII hereof, neither party hereto not in
material breach or default of its representations, warranties and covenants
hereunder shall have any liability of any kind to the other party including but
not limited to liability for expenses incurred by the other party in connection
with this transaction; provided that no such termination shall relieve a
breaching party from liability for any uncured willful breach of a covenant,
undertaking, representation or warranty giving rise to such termination.
IX. CLOSING AND EFFECTIVE TIME
The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
take place at a closing to be held at the offices of Fifth Third in Cincinnati,
Ohio on a Friday which is as soon as is reasonably possible following the date
that all of the conditions precedent to closing set forth in Section VI hereof,
including the waiting period required by any banking or bank holding company
regulatory agency after its approval of the Merger is issued before the
transaction may be consummated, have been fully met or effectively waived (the
"Closing Date"). Pursuant to the filing of articles or a certificate of merger
(which shall be acceptable to Capital and Fifth Third) with the Secretary of the
State of Ohio in accordance with law and this Agreement, the Merger provided for
herein shall become effective at the close of business on said day (the
"Effective Time"). By mutual agreement of the parties, the closing may be held
at any other time or place or on any other date and the effectiveness of the
Merger (and the Effective Time) may be changed by such mutual agreement. None of
the representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective
Time, except for agreements of the parties which by their terms are intended to
be performed after the Effective Time.
X. AMENDMENT
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by the written
agreement of Capital and Fifth Third upon the authorization of each company's
respective Board of Directors at any time before or after approval of the Merger
and this Agreement by the shareholders of Capital, but after any such approval
by the shareholders of Capital no amendment shall be made (without further
shareholder approval) which
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changes in any manner adverse to such shareholders the consideration to be
provided to such shareholders pursuant to this Agreement and the Agreement of
Merger.
XI. GENERAL
This Agreement was made in the State of Ohio and shall be interpreted under
the laws of the United States and the State of Ohio. This Agreement and all of
the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns but except
as specifically set forth herein none of the provisions hereof shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of any other person, firm or corporation
whomsoever. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations hereunder shall be assigned or transferred by operation of law or
otherwise by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other
party hereto; provided, however, that the merger or consolidation of Fifth Third
shall not be deemed an assignment hereunder if Fifth Third is the surviving
corporation in such merger or consolidation and Fifth Third Common Stock shall
thereafter continue to be publicly traded and issuable to Capital shareholders
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
XII. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original for all purposes but such counterparts taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Affiliation
Agreement as of the date hereinabove set forth.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
(SEAL) By: /s/ ROBERT P. NIEHAUS
-----------------------------------------
Robert P. Niehaus
Executive Vice President
Attest: /s/ PAUL L. REYNOLDS
-----------------------------------------
Paul L. Reynolds
Assistant Secretary
CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
(SEAL) By: /s/ ROBERT A. SULLIVAN
-----------------------------------------
Robert A. Sullivan
President and Secretary
Attest: /s/ JOHN S. SZUCH
-----------------------------------------
John S. Szuch
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
</TABLE>
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ANNEX B
October 24, 2000
Board of Directors
Capital Holdings, Inc.
5520 Monroe Street
Sylvania, OH 43560
Members of the Board:
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point
of view, to Capital Holdings, Inc. ("Capital") and its shareholders of the terms
of the Affiliation Agreement dated as of October 24, 2000 ("Agreement") between
Capital and Fifth Third Bancorp, Cincinnati, Ohio ("Fifth Third"). The terms of
the Agreement provide for the acquisition of Capital by Fifth Third (the
"Acquisition"). The Acquisition will be completed through a merger of Capital
with and into Fifth Third, with Fifth Third to be the surviving corporation.
The terms of the Agreement provide for each outstanding share of Capital
common stock to be converted into 0.638 shares of Fifth Third common stock.
Fifth Third will not issue fractional shares in connection with the Acquisition;
instead, fractional shares shall be settled in cash. The Agreement further
provides for options granted by Capital with respect to its common stock to be
converted into and become options with respect to Fifth Third common stock.
In carrying out our engagement, we have reviewed and analyzed material
bearing upon the financial and operating condition of Capital and Fifth Third,
including but not limited to the following: (i) the Agreement; (ii) the audited
financial statements of Capital and Fifth Third for the period 1995 through 1999
and interim financial statements for the period ending September 30, 2000; (iii)
certain other publicly available information regarding Capital and Fifth Third;
(iv) publicly available information regarding the performance of certain other
companies whose business activities were believed by Austin Associates, Inc. to
be generally comparable to those of Capital and Fifth Third; (v) the financial
terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain comparable transactions; and
(vi) such other analysis and information as we deemed relevant.
In our review and analysis, we relied upon and assumed the accuracy and
completeness of the financial and other information provided to us or publicly
available, and have not attempted to verify the same. We have made no
independent verification as to the status of individual loans made by Capital or
Fifth Third, and have instead relied upon representations and information
concerning loans of Capital and Fifth Third in the aggregate. In rendering our
opinion, we have assumed that the transaction will be a tax-free reorganization
with no material adverse tax consequences to Capital or Fifth Third, or to
Capital shareholders receiving Fifth Third stock. In addition, we have assumed
in the course of obtaining the necessary approvals for the transaction, no
condition will be imposed that will have a material adverse effect on the
contemplated benefits of the transaction to Capital and its shareholders.
Based upon our analysis and subject to the qualifications described herein,
we believe that as of the date of this letter, the terms of the Agreement are
fair, from a financial point of view, to Capital and its shareholders.
For our services in rendering this opinion, Capital will pay us a fee and
indemnify us against certain liabilities.
AUSTIN ASSOCIATES, INC.
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ANNEX C
OHIO REVISED CODE
TITLE XVII CORPORATIONS -- PARTNERSHIPS
CHAPTER 1701: GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
SEC. 1701.85 QUALIFICATIONS OF AND PROCEDURES FOR DISSENTING SHAREHOLDERS
(A) (1) A shareholder of a domestic corporation is entitled to relief as a
dissenting shareholder in respect of the proposals described in sections
1701.74, 1701.76, and 1701.84 of the Revised Code, only in compliance with this
section.
(2) If the proposal must be submitted to the shareholders of the
corporation involved, the dissenting shareholder shall be a record holder of the
shares of the corporation as to which he seeks relief as of the date fixed for
the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of a meeting of the
shareholders at which the proposal is to be submitted, and such shares shall not
have been voted in favor of the proposal. Not later than ten days after the date
on which the vote on the proposal was taken at the meeting of the shareholders,
the dissenting shareholder shall deliver to the corporation a written demand for
payment to him of the fair cash value of the shares as to which he seeks relief,
which demand shall state his address, the number and class of such shares, and
the amount claimed by him as the fair cash value of the shares.
(3) The dissenting shareholder entitled to relief under division (C) of
section 1701.84 of the Revised Code in the case of a merger pursuant to section
1701.80 of the Revised Code and a dissenting shareholder entitled to relief
under division (E) of section 1701.84 of the Revised Code in the case of a
merger pursuant to section 1701.801 of the Revised Code shall be a record holder
of the shares of the corporation as to which he seeks relief as of the date on
which the agreement of merger was adopted by the directors of that corporation.
Within twenty days after he has been sent the notice provided in section 1701.80
or 1701.801 of the Revised Code, the dissenting shareholder shall deliver to the
corporation a written demand for payment with the same information as that
provided for in division (A)(2) of this section.
(4) In the case of a merger or consolidation, a demand served on the
constituent corporation involved constitutes service on the surviving or the new
entity, whether the demand is served before, on, or after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation.
(5) If the corporation sends to the dissenting shareholder, at the address
specified in his demand, a request for the certificates representing the shares
as to which he seeks relief, the dissenting shareholder, within fifteen days
from the date of the sending of such request, shall deliver to the corporation
the certificates requested so that the corporation may forthwith endorse on them
a legend to the effect that demand for the fair cash value of such shares has
been made. The corporation promptly shall return such endorsed certificates to
the dissenting shareholder. A dissenting shareholder's failure to deliver such
certificates terminates his rights as a dissenting shareholder, at the option of
the corporation, exercised by written notice sent to the dissenting shareholder
within twenty days after the lapse of the fifteen-day period, unless a court for
good cause shown otherwise directs. If shares represented by a certificate on
which such a legend has been endorsed are transferred, each new certificate
issued for them shall bear a similar legend, together with the name of the
original dissenting holder of such shares. Upon receiving a demand for payment
from a dissenting shareholder who is the record holder of uncertificated
securities, the corporation shall make an appropriate notation of the demand for
payment in its shareholder records. If uncertificated shares for which payment
has been demanded are to be transferred, any new certificate issued for the
shares shall bear the legend required for certificated securities as provided in
this paragraph. A transferee of the shares so endorsed, or of uncertificated
securities where such notation has been made, acquires only such rights in the
corporation as the original dissenting holder of such shares had immediately
after the service of a demand for payment of the fair cash value of the shares.
A request under this paragraph by the corporation is not an admission by the
corporation that the shareholder is entitled to relief under this section.
(B) Unless the corporation and the dissenting shareholder have come to an
agreement on the fair cash value per share of the shares as to which the
dissenting shareholder seeks relief, the dissenting shareholder or
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the corporation, which in case of a merger or consolidation may be the surviving
or new entity, within three months after the service of the demand by the
dissenting shareholder, may file a complaint in the court of common pleas of the
county in which the principal office of the corporation that issued the shares
is located or was located when the proposal was adopted by the shareholders of
the corporation, or, if the proposal was not required to be submitted to the
shareholders, was approved by the directors. Other dissenting shareholders,
within that three-month period, may join as plaintiffs or may be joined as
defendants in any such proceeding, and any two or more such proceedings may be
consolidated. The complaint shall contain a brief statement of the facts,
including the vote and the facts entitling the dissenting shareholder to the
relief demanded. No answer to such a complaint is required. Upon the filing of
such a complaint, the court, on motion of the petitioner, shall enter an order
fixing a date for a hearing on the complaint and requiring that a copy of the
complaint and a notice of the filing and of the date for hearing be given to the
respondent or defendant in the manner in which summons is required to be served
or substituted service is required to be made in other cases. On the day fixed
for the hearing on the complaint or any adjournment of it, the court shall
determine from the complaint and from such evidence as is submitted by either
party whether the dissenting shareholder is entitled to be paid the fair cash
value of any shares and, if so, the number and class of such shares. If the
court finds that the dissenting shareholder is so entitled, the court may
appoint one or more persons as appraisers to receive evidence and to recommend a
decision on the amount of the fair cash value. The appraisers have such power
and authority as is specified in the order of their appointment. The court
thereupon shall make a finding as to the fair cash value of a share and shall
render judgment against the corporation for the payment of it, with interest at
such rate and from such date as the court considers equitable. The costs of the
proceeding, including reasonable compensation to the appraisers to be fixed by
the court, shall be assessed or apportioned as the court considers equitable.
The proceeding is a special proceeding and final orders in it may be vacated,
modified, or reversed on appeal pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure
and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the
Revised Code. If, during the pendency of any proceeding instituted under this
section, a suit or proceeding is or has been instituted to enjoin or otherwise
to prevent the carrying out of the action as to which the shareholder has
dissented, the proceeding instituted under this section shall be stayed until
the final determination of the other suit or proceeding. Unless any provision in
division (D) of this section is applicable, the fair cash value of the shares
that is agreed upon by the parties or fixed under this section shall be paid
within thirty days after the date of final determination of such value under
this division, the effective date of the amendment to the articles, or the
consummation of the other action involved, whichever occurs last. Upon the
occurrence of the last such event, payment shall be made immediately to a holder
of uncertificated securities entitled to such payment. In the case of holders of
shares represented by certificates, payment shall be made only upon and
simultaneously with the surrender to the corporation of the certificates
representing the shares for which the payment is made.
(C) If the proposal was required to be submitted to the shareholders of the
corporation, fair cash value as to those shareholders shall be determined as of
the day prior to the day on which the vote by the shareholders was taken and, in
the case of a merger pursuant to section 1701.80 or 1701.801 of the Revised
Code, fair cash value as to shareholders of a constituent subsidiary corporation
shall be determined as of the day before the adoption of the agreement of merger
by the directors of the particular subsidiary corporation. The fair cash value
of a share for the purposes of this section is the amount that a willing seller
who is under no compulsion to sell would be willing to accept and that a willing
buyer who is under no compulsion to purchase would be willing to pay, but in no
event shall the fair cash value of a share exceed the amount specified in the
demand of the particular shareholder. In computing such fair cash value, any
appreciation or depreciation in market value resulting from the proposal
submitted to the directors or to the shareholders shall be excluded.
(D) (1) The right and obligation of a dissenting shareholder to receive
such fair cash value and to sell such shares as to which he seeks relief, and
the right and obligation of the corporation to purchase such shares and to pay
the fair cash value of them terminates if any of the following applies:
(a) The dissenting shareholder has not complied with this section, unless
the corporation by its directors waives such failure;
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(b) The corporation abandons the action involved or is finally enjoined or
prevented from carrying it out, or the shareholders rescind their
adoption of the action involved;
(c) The dissenting shareholder withdraws his demand, with the consent of
the corporation by its directors;
(d) The corporation and the dissenting shareholder have not come to an
agreement as to the fair cash value per share, and neither the
shareholder nor the corporation has filed or joined in a complaint
under division (B) of this section within the period provided in that
division.
(2) For purposes of division (D)(1) of this section, if the merger or
consolidation has become effective and the surviving or new entity is not a
corporation, action required to be taken by the directors of the corporation
shall be taken by the general partners of a surviving or new partnership or the
comparable representatives of any other surviving or new entity.
(E) From the time of the dissenting shareholder's giving of the demand
until either the termination of the rights and obligations arising from it or
the purchase of the shares by the corporation, all other rights accruing from
such shares, including voting and dividend or distribution rights, are
suspended. If during the suspension, any dividend or distribution is paid in
money upon shares of such class or any dividend, distribution, or interest is
paid in money upon any securities issued in extinguishment of or in substitution
for such shares, an amount equal to the dividend, distribution, or interest
which, except for the suspension, would have been payable upon such shares or
securities, shall be paid to the holder of record as a credit upon the fair cash
value of the shares. If the right to receive fair cash value is terminated other
than by the purchase of the shares by the corporation, all rights of the holder
shall be restored and all distributions which, except for the suspension, would
have been made shall be made to the holder of record of the shares at the time
of termination.
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ANNEX D
ACQUIRING PERSON STATEMENT
1. The identity of the "Acquiring Person" is: Fifth Third Bancorp, a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio and
registered as a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956, as amended (the "Acquiring Person").
2. This Acquiring Person Statement is being given by the Acquiring Person
pursuant to Section 1701.831 of the Ohio Revised Code.
3. The number of common shares, no par value per share, of Capital
Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State
of Ohio and registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956, as amended, owned, directly or indirectly, by the Acquiring Person
on the date of this statement is: None.
4. The range of voting power, described in division (Z)(1) of Section
1701.01 of the Ohio Revised Code, under which the proposed control share
acquisition will, if and on the date it is consummated, fall is: (c) a majority
or more of such voting power.
5. The proposed control share acquisition is to be consummated on the terms
contained in the affiliation agreement dated as of October 24, 2000 between the
Acquiring Person and Capital Holdings, Inc. (the "Affiliation Agreement"), a
copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A.
6. The acquiring Person hereby represents that the proposed control share
acquisition, if consummated in accordance with the terms of the Affiliation
Agreement, will not be contrary to law and hereby further represents that the
Acquiring Person has the financial capacity to make the proposed control share
acquisition.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Acquiring Person
Statement to be executed and delivered to Capital Holdings, Inc. this 10th day
of January, 2001.
FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
By: /s/ PAUL L. REYNOLDS
------------------------------------
Name: Paul L. Reynolds
Title: Assistant Secretary
D-1
