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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Reliance Bancorp, Inc.
----------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 11-3187176
- -------- ----------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization) (IRS Employer Identification
No.)
585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
--------------------------
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
-------------------------------
(Title of class)
Copies to:
Thomas J. Haggerty, Esq.
Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette
5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
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Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
On September 18, 1996, the Board of Directors of Reliance Bancorp,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one right
(a "Right") for each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common
Stock"), of the Company held of record at the close of business on October 3,
1996 (the "Record Date"), or issued thereafter and prior to the Separation Time
(as hereinafter defined). The rights will be issued pursuant to a Stockholder
Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of September 18, 1996 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between the Company and Registrar and Transfer Co., as Rights
Agent. The terms of the Rights are summarized herein.
Each Right entitles its registered holder to purchase from the Company,
after the Separation Time, one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"),
for $60.00 (the "Exercise Price"), subject to adjustment. The Rights will be
evidenced by the Common Stock certificates until the close of business on the
earlier of the date (either, the "Separation Time") which is (i) the tenth
business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the Company may
from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Time that
would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person (as defined in
the Rights Agreement) commences a tender or exchange offer which, if
consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person, as
defined below, or (ii) the tenth business day (or such earlier or later date as
the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time fix by resolution
adopted prior to the Flip-in Date (as defined below) that would otherwise have
occurred) after the first date of public announcement by the Company that such
Person has become an Acquiring Person (the "Flip-in Date"); Provided that if a
tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) is cancelled, terminated or
otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time without the purchase of any
shares of stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed never to have been
made. An Acquiring Person is any Person who is the Beneficial Owner (as defined
in the Rights Agreement) of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, Provided, however, such term shall not include (i) the Company, any
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or any employee stock ownership or other
employee benefit plan of the Company, (ii) any person who is the Beneficial
Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock as of the date of the
Rights Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition of Common Stock by
the Company, until such time as such Person acquires additional Common Stock,
other than through a dividend or stock split, (iii) any Person who becomes an
Acquiring Person without any plan or intent to seek or affect control of the
Company if such Person promptly divests sufficient securities such that such 10%
or greater Beneficial Ownership ceases or (iv) any Person who Beneficially Owns
shares of Common Stock consisting solely of (A) shares acquired pursuant to the
grant or exercise of an option granted by the Company in connection with an
agreement to merge with, or acquire, the Company prior to a Flip-in Date, (B)
shares owned by such Person and its Affiliates and Associates at the time of
such grant, (C) shares, amounting to less than 1% of the outstanding Common
Stock, acquired by Affiliates and Associates of such Person after the time of
such grant and (D) shares which are held by such Person in trust accounts,
managed accounts and the like or otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity that are
beneficially owned by third persons who are not Affiliates or Associates of such
Person or acting together with such
<PAGE> 3
Person to hold such shares, or which are held by such Person in respect of a
debt previously contracted. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the
Separation Time, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common
Stock. Common Stock certificates issued prior to the Separation Time shall
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall
contain a legend incorporating by reference the terms of the Rights Agreement
(as such may be amended from time to time). Notwithstanding the absence of the
aforementioned legend, certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock
outstanding on or prior to October 3, 1996 shall also evidence one Right for
each share of Common Stock evidenced thereby. Promptly following the Separation
Time, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will
be mailed to holders of record of Common Stock at the Separation Time.
The Rights will not be exercisable until the Business Day (as defined
in the Rights Agreement) following the Separation Time. The Rights will expire
on the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time (as defined below), (ii) the close of
business on October 3, 2006, (iii) the date on which the Rights are redeemed as
described below and (iv) upon the merger of the Company into another corporation
pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to a Flip-in Date (in any such case,
the "Expiration Time").
The Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding, or in certain
circumstances the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of a
Common Stock dividend on, or a subdivision or a combination into a smaller
number of shares of, Common Stock, or the issuance or distribution of any
securities or assets in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock.
In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Date occurs,
each Right (other than Rights Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person or any
affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights shall become void) shall constitute
the right to purchase from the Company, upon the exercise thereof in accordance
with the terms of the Rights Agreement, that number of shares of Common Stock of
the Company having an aggregate Market Price (as defined in the Rights
Agreement), on the date of the public announcement of an Acquiring Person's
becoming such (the "Stock Acquisition Date") that gave rise to the Flip-in Date,
equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the then
current Exercise Price. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company may,
at its option, at any time after a Flip in Date and prior to the time an
Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, elect to exchange all (but not less than
all) the then outstanding Rights (other than Rights Beneficially Owned by the
Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights become
void) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date of the Separation Time
(the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately upon such action by the Board of Directors
(the "Exchange Time"), the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each
Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive a number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio.
2
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Whenever the Company shall become obligated under the preceding
paragraph to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for
Rights, the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred
Stock, at a ratio of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock for each
share of Common Stock so issuable.
In the event that prior to the Expiration Time the Company enters into,
consummates or permits to occur a transaction or series of transactions after
the time an Acquiring Person has become such in which, directly or indirectly,
(i) the Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a binding share
exchange with any other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or
share exchange or at the time the Company enters into an agreement with respect
to such consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person Controls
the Board of Directors of the Company (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and
either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning the treatment of shares of
capital stock in such merger, consolidation or share exchange relating to the
Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and arrangements relating to
other holders of Common Stock or (B) the Person with whom the transaction or
series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer)
assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book
value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating
income or cash flow, of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to
any other Person (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned
subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are affiliated or otherwise
acting in concert, if, at the time of such sale or transfer of assets or at the
time the Company (or any such subsidiary) enters into an agreement with respect
to such sale or transfer, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board of Directors
of the Company (a "Flip-over Transaction or Event"), the Company shall take such
action as shall be necessary to ensure, and shall not enter into, consummate or
permit to occur such Flip-over Transaction or Event until it shall have entered
into a supplemental agreement with the Person engaging in such Flip-over
Transaction or Event or the parent corporation thereof (the "Flip-over Entity"),
for the benefit of the holders of the Rights, providing, that upon consummation
or occurrence of the Flip-over Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall
thereafter constitute the right to purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon
exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, that
number of shares of common stock of the Flip-over Entity having an aggregate
Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-over
Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash
equal to the then-current Exercise Price and (ii) the Flip-over Entity shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-over
Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to the Rights Agreement. For purposes of the
foregoing description, the term "Acquiring Person" shall include any Acquiring
Person and its Affiliates and Associates counted together as a single Person.
The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, redeem all (but not less
than all) the then-outstanding Rights at a price of $.01 per Right (the
"Redemption Price"), as provided in the Rights Agreement. Immediately upon the
action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing
3
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to redeem the Rights, without any further action and without any notice, the
right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will thereafter
represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash for each Right
so held.
The holders of Rights will, solely by reason of their ownership of
Rights, have no rights as stockholders of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights Agreement (which includes as Exhibit A the forms of Rights
Certificate and Election to Exercise) is attached hereto as an exhibit and is
incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Restated Rights Agreement and such
exhibit thereto.
Item 2. Exhibits.
1. Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated January 16,
1996 between Reliance Bancorp, Inc. and Registrar and Transfer
Co., as Rights Agent
2. Form of Rights Certificate and of Election to Exercise,
included in Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement
3. Form of Certificate of Designation with respect to the Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, included in Exhibit B
to the Rights Agreement
4
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. Description
- ----------- -----------
1. Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated September 18, 1996
between Reliance Bancorp, Inc. and Registrar and Transfer Co., as
Rights Agent.
2. Form of Rights Certificate and of Election to Exercise, included
in Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement
3. Form of Certificate of Designation with respect to the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, included in Exhibit B to
the Rights Agreement
5
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CONFORMED
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly
authorized.
RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
----------------------
(Registrant)
Date: September 25, 1996
By: /s/ Raymond A. Nielsen
-------------------------------------
Raymond A. Nielsen
President and Chief Executive Officer
6
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT A.
STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of
September 18, 1996
between
RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
and
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER CO.
as RIGHTS AGENT
<PAGE> 2
STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Table of Contents
PAGE
----
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Certain Definitions......................................... 2
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
Section 2.1 Summary of Rights........................................... 9
Section 2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates......................... 10
Section 2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights.................... 10
Section 2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights............. 13
Section 2.5 Date on which Exercise is Effective......................... 15
Section 2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
of Rights Certificates................................... 16
Section 2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange......... 16
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates... 18
Section 2.9 Persons Deemed Owners....................................... 19
Section 2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates................... 19
Section 2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders................................. 20
ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Section 3.1 Flip-in..................................................... 21
Section 3.2 Flip-over................................................... 24
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ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
Section 4.1 General..................................................... 25
Section 4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name
of Rights Agent.......................................... 26
Section 4.3 Duties of Rights Agent...................................... 27
Section 4.4 Change of Rights Agent...................................... 30
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 5.1 Redemption.................................................. 31
Section 5.2 Expiration.................................................. 32
Section 5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates......................... 32
Section 5.4 Supplements and Amendments.................................. 33
Section 5.5 Fractional Shares........................................... 33
Section 5.6 Rights of Action............................................ 34
Section 5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder................... 34
Section 5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions.................................. 35
Section 5.9 Notices..................................................... 35
Section 5.10 Suspension of Exercisability................................ 36
Section 5.11 Costs of Enforcement........................................ 36
Section 5.12 Successors.................................................. 37
Section 5.13 Benefits of this Agreement.................................. 37
Section 5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.... 37
Section 5.15 Descriptive Headings........................................ 38
Section 5.16 Governing Law............................................... 38
Section 5.17 Counterparts................................................ 38
Section 5.18 Severability................................................ 38
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Rights Certificate
(Together with Form of Election to Exercise)
Exhibit B Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Right of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Reliance
Bancorp, Inc.
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STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
---------------------------------------
STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time,
this "Agreement"), dated as of September 18, 1996, between Reliance Bancorp,
Inc., A Delaware Corporation (the "Company"), and Registrar and Transfer Co., as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term shall include any successor Rights
Agent hereunder).
WITNESSETH:
-----------
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has (a) authorized and
declared a dividend of one right ("Right") in respect of each share of Common
Stock (as hereinafter defined) held of record as of the close of business on
October 3, 1996 (the "Record Time") and (b) as provided in Section 2.4,
authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock
issued after the Record Time and prior to the Separation Time (as hereinafter
defined) and, to the extent provided in Section 5.3, each share of Common Stock
issued after the Separation Time;
WHEREAS, subject to Sections 3.1, 3.2, 5.1 and 5.10, each Right
entitles the holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities
of the Company (or, in certain cases, of certain other entities) pursuant to the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on
behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection
with the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as
hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
-------------------
terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial Owner of
10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that
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the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person (i) who is the
Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the
date of this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition
by the Company of shares of Common Stock, until such time hereafter or
thereafter as any of such Persons shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than
by means of a stock dividend or stock split) of any additional shares of Common
Stock, (ii) who is the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock
without any plan or intention to seek or affect control of the Company, if such
Person promptly enters into an irrevocable commitment promptly to divest, and
thereafter promptly divests (without exercising or retaining any power,
including voting, with respect to such shares), sufficient shares of Common
Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for
Common Stock) so that such Person ceases to be the Beneficial Owner of 10% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) who Beneficially Owns
shares of Common Stock consisting solely of one or more of (A) shares of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned pursuant to the grant or exercise of an option granted
to such Person by the Company in connection with an agreement to merge with, or
acquire, the Company entered into prior to a
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Flip-in Date, (B) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into,
exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock), Beneficially Owned by such
Person or its Affiliates or Associates at the time of grant of such option, (C)
shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or
exercisable for Common Stock) acquired by Affiliates or Associates of such
Person after the time of such grant which, in the aggregate, amount to less than
1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and (D) shares of Common Stock (or
securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock)
which are held by such Person in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like
or otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity, that are beneficially owned by third
persons who are not Affiliates or Associates of such Person or acting together
with such Person to hold such shares, or which are held by such Person in
respect of a debt previously contracted. In addition, the Company, any
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and any employee stock ownership or other
employee benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
shall not be an Acquiring Person.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such
Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner," and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own," any securities as to which
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed
to be the beneficial owner of pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
Securities Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this
Agreement, as well as any securities as to which such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has the right to become Beneficial Owner
(whether such right is
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exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
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deemed the "Beneficial Owner", or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to
"Beneficially Own," any security (i) solely because such security has been
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted
for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the
voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of
a class of stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except if such
power (or the arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of
Schedule 13D under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any similar provision
of a comparable or successor report). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer
or director of the Company shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of
any other Person by virtue of any actions such officer or director takes in such
capacity. For purposes of this Agreement, in determining the percentage of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the
Beneficial Owner, all shares as to which such Person is deemed the Beneficial
Owner shall be deemed outstanding.
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<PAGE> 8
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. New York
time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m. New York
time on the next succeeding Business Day).
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Company.
"Exchange Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.
"Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a
holder may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right.
Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price
shall equal $60.00.
"Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time,
(ii) the Redemption Time, (iii) October 3, 2006 and (iv) upon the merger of the
Company into another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to
a Flip-in Date.
"Flip-in Date" shall mean the tenth business day after any Stock
Acquisition Date or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Flip-in
Date that would otherwise have occurred.
"Flip-over Entity," for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the
case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the
definition thereof, the Person issuing any securities into which shares of
Common Stock are being converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are
being issued, the other party to such Flip over Transaction or
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<PAGE> 9
Event and (ii) in the case of a Flip over Transaction or Event referred to in
clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion
of the assets or earning power being transferred in such Flip-over Transaction
or Event, provided in all cases if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation,
the parent corporation shall be the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity
interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors
(or other persons similarly responsible for direction of the business and
affairs) of the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions after a Flip-in Date in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the
Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a share exchange with any
other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or share exchange or
at the time the Company enters into any agreement with respect to any such
consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board
of Directors of the Company and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning
the treatment of shares of capital stock in such consolidation, merger or share
exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and
arrangements relating to other holders of the Common Stock or (B) the Person
with whom the transaction or series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company
shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets
(measured by either book value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than
50% of the operating income or cash flow, of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its
wholly owned Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates
or Associates or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time
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<PAGE> 10
of the entry by the Company (or any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with
respect to such sale or transfer of assets, the Acquiring Person Controls the
Board of Directors of the Company. An Acquiring Person shall be deemed to
Control the Company's Board of Directors when, following a Flip-in Date, the
persons who were directors of the Company before the Flip-in Date shall cease to
constitute a majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as
described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however,
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that if an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section
2.4 hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market
Price on any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully
comparable with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the
closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any
date shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the securities are listed or admitted to trading
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
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securities exchange, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system
then in use, or, if on any such date the securities are not listed or admitted
to trading on any national securities exchange or quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the securities selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if on any such date
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the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange or traded in the over-the counter market, the closing price per share
of such securities on such date shall mean the fair value per share of
securities on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking
firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association,
group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or
other entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean the series of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company created
by the Certificate of Designation in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit
B hereto appropriately completed.
"Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to one cent, $0.01.
"Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.
"Separation Time" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of
(i) the tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation
Time that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person
commences a tender or exchange offer which, if
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consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and (ii)
the Flip-in Date; provided, that if the foregoing results in the Separation Time
--------
being prior to the Record Time, the Separation Time shall be the Record Time and
provided further, that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i)
- -------- -------
of this paragraph is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the
Separation Time without the purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant
thereto, such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to
have been made.
"Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has become
such.
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or
a majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person.
"Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a
day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the transaction of
business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted to trading is open for
the transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
2.1 Summary of Rights. As soon as practicable after the Record
-----------------
Time, the Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each
holder of record of
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<PAGE> 13
Common Stock as of the Record Time, at such holder's address as shown by the
records of the Company.
2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates. Certificates for the
--------------------------------------
Common Stock issued after the Record Time but prior to the Separation Time
shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and
shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them
the following legend:
Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred
to below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as
of September 18, 1996 (as such may be amended from time to time, the
"Rights Agreement"), between Reliance Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and
Registrar and Transfer Co., as Rights Agent, the terms of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
at the principal executive offices of the Company. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be
redeemed, may become exercisable for securities or assets of the
Company or of another entity, may be exchanged for shares of Common
Stock or other securities or assets of the Company, may expire, may
become void (if they are "Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person"
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof, as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement, or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may
be evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. The Company will mail or arrange for the mailing of a
copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate without
charge promptly after the receipt of a written request therefor.
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
at the Record Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock
evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights.(a) Subject to Sections
----------------------------------------
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will
entitle the holder thereof,
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<PAGE> 14
after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase, for the
Exercise Price, one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock.
(b) Until the Separation Time, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii)
each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of
Common Stock (together, in the case of certificates issued prior to the Record
Time, with the letter mailed to the record holder thereof pursuant to Section
2.1) and will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a
transfer (whether with or without such letter) of, such associated share.
(c) Subject to this Section 2.3 and to Sections 3.l, 5.1 and 5.10,
after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may
be exercised and (ii) may be transferred independent of shares of Common Stock.
Promptly following the Separation Time, the Rights Agent will mail to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Separation Time (other than any
Person whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such
holder's address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby
agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this
purpose), (x) a certificate (a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form
of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights
held by such holder at the Separation Time and having such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and
(y) a disclosure statement describing the Rights.
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<PAGE> 15
(d) Subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, Rights may be exercised on
any Business Day after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by
submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights
with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise") substantially in the
form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment
in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money order payable to the
order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the
number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax
or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name other than
that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise
accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d), and subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition
from a transfer agent stock certificates evidencing such number of shares or
other securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing its
transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if the Company
elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates representing fractional
shares, requisition from the depositary selected by the Company depositary
receipts representing the fractional shares to be purchased or requisition from
the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such certificates,
depositary receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of
certificates or depositary receipts) in such name or names as may be designated
by such holder.
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<PAGE> 16
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent
to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized,
executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all
such action as may be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in
connection with the issuance of any shares upon exercise of Rights; and (iii)
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of
the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights,
provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or
charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer
or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates
for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being
transferred or exercised.
2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights. (a) In the event
-----------------------------------------------
the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Separation
Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise Price in
effect after such adjustment
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<PAGE> 17
will be equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment divided by the number of shares of Common Stock (the "Expansion
Factor") that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such
dividend, subdivision or combination would hold thereafter as a result thereof
and (y) each Right held prior to such adjustment will become that number of
Rights equal to the Expansion Factor, and the adjusted number of Rights will be
deemed to be distributed among the shares of Common Stock with respect to which
the original Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding) and the shares
issued in respect of such dividend, subdivision or combination, so that each
such share of Common Stock will have exactly one Right associated with it. Each
adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be made as of the payment or
effective date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination.
In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in
a transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common
Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which
Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such share. To the
extent provided in Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect
of shares of Common Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the
Separation Time.
(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time
and prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in
respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
regular periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock)
whether by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including any
such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share
-14-
<PAGE> 18
exchange), or otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the
Exercise Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable
upon exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the circumstances in order to
adequately protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally, and the
Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as necessary to provide
for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section
2.4 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the
Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i)
promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment and (ii) promptly file
with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy
of such certificate.
(d) Rights certificates shall represent the securities purchasable
under the terms of this Agreement, including any adjustment or change in the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, even though such
certificates may continue to express the securities purchasable at the time of
issuance of the initial Rights Certificates.
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective.Each person in whose name any
-----------------------------------
certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented
thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any
applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder
hereunder) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are
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<PAGE> 19
closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day
on which the stock transfer books of the Company are open.
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
- ------------
Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or one of its Vice Presidents,
under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of
its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights
Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights
Certificates.
Promptly after the Separation Time, the Company will notify the Rights
Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights Certificates executed by
the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature, and, subject to Section
3.1(b), the Rights Agent shall manually countersign and deliver such Rights
Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 2.3(c) hereof. No
Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless manually counter signed
by the Rights Agent.
(b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
2.7. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) After
---------------------------------------------------
the Separation Time, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights
Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The Rights
Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar"
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<PAGE> 20
for the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Company and
registering Rights and transfers of Rights after the Separation Time as herein
provided. In the event that the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights
Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the Rights Register
at all reasonable times after the Separation Time.
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon
surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate,
and subject to the provisions of Section 2.7(c) and (d), the Company will
execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the
holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the
holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the same
aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued
upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be
the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the
same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights
Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto.
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<PAGE> 21
(d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or
exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b),
been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed or terminated under Section
5.1.
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates. (a)
----------------------------------------------------------
If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to
the Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1, the
Company shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in
exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights
as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent
prior to the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the
absence of notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights
Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall
execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in
lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate
so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under
this Section 2.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights
Agent) connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual
-18-
<PAGE> 22
obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Rights
Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and, subject to Section
3.1(b), shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and
proportionately with any and all other Rights duly issued hereunder.
2.9 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Rights
-----------------------
Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock
certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any
agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose
name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, such Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, including the payment of the
Redemption Price and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary. As used in this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the registered
holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated shares
of Common Stock).
2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights Certificates
-----------------------------------------
surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if
surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the
Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent.
The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any
Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered here under which the
Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates
so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights
Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificates
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<PAGE> 23
cancelled as provided in this Section 2.10, except as expressly permitted by
this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall return all cancelled Rights Certificates
to the Company.
2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of Rights by accepting
---------------------------
the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of Rights that:
(a) prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of
Common Stock;
(b) after the Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
(c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and
(e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4 hereof
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<PAGE> 24
ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 Flip-in. (a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a
-------
Flip-in Date shall occur, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each Right
shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof
in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10), that number
of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Price on the Stock
Acquisition Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal
to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in order to
protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or
after such Stock Acquisition Date an event of a type analogous to any of the
events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to
the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect,
of any of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such Rights
(including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer
such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is
presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not
complete the certification set forth at the end of the form of assignment or
notice of election to exercise and provide such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner and its Affiliates and Associates (or former
Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and Associates) as the Company shall
reasonably request, then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the
Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof or
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<PAGE> 25
a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
elect to exchange all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights
(which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share
of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect the
interests of holders of Rights generally in the event that after the Separation
Time an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section
2.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock (such
exchange ratio, as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as
the "Exchange Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) will thereafter
represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing
to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof (specifying the
steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange for Rights) to
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior thereto by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
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<PAGE> 26
Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the
exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment
of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the holder was
made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a
date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person
shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock
transfer books of the Company are open.
(d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a) or
(c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights,
the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock,
at a ratio of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock for each share of
Common Stock so issuable.
(e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company
to permit the exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(a) or (c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of
stockholders seeking approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be
authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained the Company will take
the action specified in clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action
as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect on the Stock
Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall there after
constitute the right to receive, (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in
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<PAGE> 27
return for the Exercise Price, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise Price, or
(B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable
law), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof)
having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of
Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market Price of a share
of Common Stock on the Flip-in Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on the
Flip-in Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of
such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a
nationally recognized investment banking firm.
3.2 Flip-over. (a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not
---------
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-over Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a
supplemental agreement with the Flip-over Entity, for the benefit of the holders
of the Rights, providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-over
Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to
purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the
terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over Entity
having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of
such Flip-over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an
amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
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<PAGE> 28
occurred with respect to the Flip-over Stock) and (ii) the Flip-over Entity
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-over
Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this Section
3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-over Transactions or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Time, unless the Rights will be redeemed
pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in connection therewith, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-over Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are any rights,
warrants or securities outstanding or any other arrangements, agreements or
instruments that would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any material respect
the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of
Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General. (a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act
-------
as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and
the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company agrees to pay to
the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done
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<PAGE> 29
or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending
against any claim of liability.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate
for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power
of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper person or persons.
4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent is a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder
services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will be
the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor
Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof. In case at the time
such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any
of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such
successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates have not been
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<PAGE> 30
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates
will have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at
such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent
may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
----------------------
obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions,
by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their
acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel will be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved
or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be
-27-
<PAGE> 31
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by a person believed
by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and
such certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for securities
purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 2.4, 3.1 or 3.2 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that
-28-
<PAGE> 32
would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
after receipt of the certificate contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such
adjustment); nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or any Rights or as to whether
any securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly
and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or
the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such person.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
-29-
<PAGE> 33
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent will not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
4.4 Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may resign and be
------------------------
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days' notice (or such
lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company
and to each transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the
Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company
fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or
after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the
resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights (which
holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or of New York or any other State of the United States, in good standing,
which is authorized under such laws to
-30-
<PAGE> 34
exercise the powers of the Rights Agent contemplated by this Agreement and is
subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent will be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment, the Company will file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the holders of the Rights. Failure to give any
notice provided for in this Section 4.4, however, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
----------
option, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, elect to
redeem all (but not less than all) of the then-outstanding Rights at the
Redemption Price, and the Company, at its option, may pay the Redemption Price
either in cash or shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company
deemed by the Board of Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be
at least equivalent in value to the Redemption Price.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of
Directors electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be
effective until the occurrence of a specified
-31-
<PAGE> 35
future time or event, upon the occurrence of such future time or event), without
any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will
terminate and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive the
Redemption Price in cash or securities, as determined by the Board of Directors.
Promptly after the Rights are redeemed, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then-outstanding Rights by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
5.2 Expiration. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the
----------
Expiration Time and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right after the Expiration Time, except, if the Rights are exchanged or
redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1 hereof
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
------------------------------------
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of
Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company
following the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time pursuant to the
terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares of Common Stock or to
options, in each case issued or granted prior to, and outstanding at, the
Separation Time, the Company shall issue to the holders of such shares of Common
Stock, Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in
connection with the issuance or sale of such shares of Common Stock; provided,
--------
however, in each case, (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued, if, and
- -------
to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance
-32-
<PAGE> 36
would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or to the Person to whom such Rights Certificates would be issued, (ii)
no such Rights Certificates shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall have otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof, and (iii) the Company shall have no obligation to distribute Rights
Certificates to any Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person or any transferee of any of the foregoing.
5.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company and the Rights Agent may
----------------------------
from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights (i) prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, in any
respect and (ii) after the close of business on the Flip-in Date, to make any
changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally or
in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein which may be inconsistent with any other provisions herein or
otherwise defective. The Rights Agent will duly execute and deliver any
supplement or amendment hereto requested by the Company which satisfies the
terms of the preceding sentence.
5.5 Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
-----------------
representing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the
Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by depositary receipts
issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it, providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have
all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which such holder would be
entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares
on behalf of the
-33-
<PAGE> 37
holders of Right and pay to the registered holder of such Rights the appropriate
fraction of price per share received upon such sale.
5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
----------------
Section 3.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than
rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective
holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of
Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's
right to exercise such holder's Rights in the manner provided in such holder's
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of
-----------------------------------------
any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any
purpose the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or
in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights,
as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote
for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at
any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or
to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 5.8
-34-
<PAGE> 38
hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
such Rights shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after
--------------------------
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit
occurrence of any Flip-over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the date on which
such Flip-over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is
to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior
to the date of the taking of such proposed action.
5.9 Notices. Notices or demands authorized or required by this
-------
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Reliance Bancorp, Inc.
585 Stewart Avenue
Garden City, New York 11530
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
-35-
<PAGE> 39
Registrar and Transfer Co.
10 Commerce Drive
Cranford, NJ 07016
Attention: Vice President - Transfer Department
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it appears
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives the notice.
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability. To the extent that the Company
------------------------------
determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to
Section 3.1 or to comply with federal or state securities laws, the Company may
suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a reasonable period in order to
take such action or comply with such laws. In the event of any such suspension,
the Company shall issue as promptly as practicable a public announcement stating
that the exercisability or exchangeability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended. Notice thereof pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required.
Failure to give a notice pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder.
5.11 Costs of Enforcement. The Company agrees that if the Company or
---------------------
any other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights
fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the
Company or such Person will reimburse
-36-
<PAGE> 40
the holder of any Rights for the costs and expenses (including legal fees)
incurred by such holder in actions to enforce such holder's rights pursuant to
any Rights or this Agreement.
5.12 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by
----------
or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
5.13 Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
---------------------------
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. (a) The
---------------------------------------------------------
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of
the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
-37-
<PAGE> 41
(b) In taking any action referred to in Section 5.14 (a), the Board of
Directors shall be entitled to consider, without limitation, the financial and
managerial resources and future prospects of an Acquiring Person, the possible
effects of the action on the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and on
the employees, customers, suppliers and creditors of the Company and its
subsidiaries and the effects on the communities in which the Company's and its
subsidiaries facilities are located.
5.15 Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings appear herein for
--------------------
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
5.16 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER
--------------
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF SUCH STATE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY
WITHIN SUCH STATE.
5.17 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
5.18 Severability. If any term or provision hereof or the application
------------
thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such
jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions
hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than
those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.
-38-
<PAGE> 42
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the date first above written.
RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ Raymond A. Nielsen
-------------------------------------
Name: Raymond A. Nielsen
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ Robert F. Pelosi
-------------------------------------
Name: Robert F. Pelosi
Title: Senior Vice President and
Corporate Secretary
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER CO.
By: /s/ William P. Tatler
-------------------------------------
Name: William P. Tatler
Title: Vice President
-39-
<PAGE> 43
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. W- ___________Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS
ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL
BE VOID.
Rights Certificate
RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
This certifies that__________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of September
18, 1996 (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between
Reliance Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Registrar
and Transfer Co., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term shall include
any successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from the
Company at any time after the Separation Time (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) and prior to the close of business on October 3, 2006, one
one-hundredth of a fully paid share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company
(subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) at the Exercise
Price referred to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed at the principal
office of the Rights Agent in New York. The Exercise Price shall initially be
$60.00 per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain events as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
<PAGE> 44
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase
securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the
Company other than Preferred Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder
shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right
evidenced by this Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain
circumstances, at its option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (b)
exchanged by the Company under certain circumstances, at its option, for one
share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth of a share
-2-
<PAGE> 45
of Preferred Stock per Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or assets
of the Company), subject in each case to adjustment in certain events as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any
securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall
any thing contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer
upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter
submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions
affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been counter signed by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Date:
-----------------------
ATTEST: RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
By:
- ------------------------------ -----------------------------
Robert F. Pelosi Raymond A. Nielsen
Secretary President and
Chief Executive Officer
Countersigned:
- ------------------------------
By:
--------------------------
Authorized Signature
-3-
<PAGE> 46
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE]
--------------------------------------------
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer this
Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby sells,
----------------------------------
assigns and transfers unto
----------------------------------------------------
(Please print name
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-
named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: , 19
---------- --
Signature Guaranteed:
-------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as
written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or
any change whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution
(banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee Medallion program), pursuant to
SEC Rule 17Ad-15.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
<PAGE> 47
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
-------------------------
Signature
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTICE
------
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial
Owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
-2-
<PAGE> 48
[To be attached to each Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the whole Rights
represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be,
issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for
such shares be issued in the name of:
----------------------------
Address:
----------------------------
----------------------------
Social Security or Other taxpayer
Identification Number:
---------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
----------------------------
Address:
----------------------------
----------------------------
Social Security or Other taxpayer
Identification Number:
---------------------------------
Dated: , 19
------------ --
Signature Guaranteed:
--------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as
written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or
any change whatsoever)
<PAGE> 49
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of
Rights and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by the attached
Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
-------------------------
Signature
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTICE
------
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported exercise, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the
Rights evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a
transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
-2-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT B
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
-----------------------------
We, Raymond A. Nielsen and Robert F. Pelosi, being the President and
Chief Executive Officer and the Corporate Secretary, respectively, of Reliance
Bancorp, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("Company"), in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 103 and 151 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the Board of Directors of the
Company at the meeting duly called and held on September 18, 1996, at which a
quorum was present and acting throughout, duly adopted the following resolution
creating a series of 150,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
share, designated "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock":
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board
of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of its
Certificate of Incorporation, a series of preferred stock of the
Company to be designated "Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock", par value $.01 per share ("Preferred Stock"), be, and it hereby
is, created, and the designations and amount thereof and the voting
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other
special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, are as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
---------------------------------------------
Section 1. Designation and Amount.
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The shares of such series shall be designated as "Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock," par value $.01 per share, and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 150,000. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company
("Board of Directors"); provided that, no decrease shall reduce the number of
--------------
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than
the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Company convertible
into Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
<PAGE> 2
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
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(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
preferred stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the
holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of the
Company, and of any other stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June,
September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded
to the nearest Cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 or (b) subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the
Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or,
with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock. In the event the Company shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event
under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(b) The Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of this
Section immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that,
in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on
such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Data.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of
issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to
accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before
<PAGE> 3
such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends
shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on
the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in amount less than
the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such
shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such
shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights.
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The holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
share of Series A Junior participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of
the Company. In the event the Company shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other resolution creating a
series of preferred stock or any similar stock, in any amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company or by law, the holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Company having general voting
rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Company.
(c) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting
rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are
entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking
any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain restrictions.
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(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Company shall not:
<PAGE> 4
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any
shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in
arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of
any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
provided that the Company may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
shares of any such stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Company
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking
on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such
terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective
series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and
equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(b) The Company shall not permit any subsidiary of the Company to purchase
or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Company unless
the Company could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise
acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares.
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Any shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon
their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and
may be reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in a resolution of the
Board of Directors, in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, or in
any other Certificate of Amendment creating a series of preferred stock or any
similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
<PAGE> 5
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
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Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, no
distribution shall be made (a) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received
the greater of (i) $60 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment, or (ii) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to
be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (b) to the
holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Company shall at any
time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (a) of the preceding
sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc.
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In case the Company shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination
or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or
changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in
any such case each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100
times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property
(payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of
Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Company shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the
preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
<PAGE> 6
Section 8. No Redemption.
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The shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall not be
redeemable, except as otherwise provided herein.
Section 9. Rank.
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The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series
of any other class of the Company's preferred stock.
Section 10. Amendment.
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The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company shall not be amended in any
manner, nor shall the Board of Directors take any action, which would materially
alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting together as a single
class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares.
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Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of
a share, which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's
fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in
distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Reliance Bancorp, Inc. has caused this certificate to
be executed by its President and Chief Executive Officer and attested by its
Corporate Secretary this 18 day of September, 1996.
RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
Attest:
By: /s/ Robert F. Pelosi By: /s/ Raymond A. Nielsen
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Robert F. Pelosi Raymond A. Nielsen
Secretary President and Chief Executive Officer