EXHIBIT 99.2
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of May 19, 1999, between U.S. BANCORP, a
Delaware corporation ("Grantee"), and WESTERN BANCORP, a California corporation
("Issuer").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement") immediately prior to the execution and delivery
hereof;
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's execution of the
Merger Agreement and pursuit of the transactions contemplated thereby and in
consideration therefor, Issuer has agreed to grant Grantee the Option (as
hereinafter defined); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Issuer has approved the grant of the
Option and the Merger Agreement on or prior to the date hereof:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional,
irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up
to an aggregate of 4,201,049 fully paid and non-assessable shares of the common
stock, no par value, of Issuer ("Common Stock") at a price per share equal to
the last reported sale price per share of Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
National Market System on May 17, 1999; provided, however, that in the event
Issuer issues or agrees to issue any shares of Common Stock at a price less than
such last reported sale price per share (as adjusted pursuant to subsection (b)
of Section 5) other than as permitted by the Merger Agreement, such price shall
be equal to such lesser price (such price, as adjusted if applicable, the
"Option Price"); provided, further, however, that in no event shall the number
of shares for which this Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock that
may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price are subject
to adjustment as herein set forth.
(b) In the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are
issued or otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement (other
than pursuant to this Agreement and other than pursuant to an event described in
Section 5(a)), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option shall
be increased so that, after such issuance, such number together with any shares
of Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, equals 19.9% of the number of
shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding without giving effect to any
shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained in this
Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize Issuer
or Grantee to breach any provision of the Merger Agreement.
2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the
Option, in whole or part, if, but only if, both an Initial Triggering Event (as
hereinafter defined) and a Subsequent Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined)
shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as
hereinafter defined), provided that the Holder shall have sent the written
notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2) within
six months following the occurrence of the Subsequent Triggering Event (or such
later period as provided in Section 10). Each of the following shall be an
Exercise Termination Event: (i) the Effective Time of the Merger; (ii)
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the provisions thereof if
such termination occurs prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event
except a termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.01(b) of the Merger
Agreement (unless the breach by Issuer giving rise to such right of termination
is non-volitional); or (iii) the
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passage of 18 months (or such longer period as provided in Section 10) after
termination of the Merger Agreement if such termination is concurrent with or
follows the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event or is a termination by
Grantee pursuant to Section 8.01(b) of the Merger Agreement (unless the breach
by Issuer giving rise to such right of termination is non-volitional). The term
"Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the Option. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Option may not be exercised
at any time when Grantee shall be in material breach of any of its covenants or
agreements contained in the Merger Agreement such that Issuer shall be entitled
to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b) thereof and (ii)
this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the termination of the Merger
Agreement by Issuer pursuant to Section 8.01(b) thereof as a result of the
breach by Grantee of its covenants or agreements contained in the Merger
Agreement.
(b) The term "Initial Triggering Event" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring on or after the date hereof:
(i) Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (as hereinafter
defined) (each an "Issuer Subsidiary"), without having received Grantee's
prior written consent, shall have entered into an agreement to engage in
an Acquisition Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the
term "person" for purposes of this Agreement having the meaning assigned
thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations
thereunder) other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries (each a
"Grantee Subsidiary") or the Board of Directors of Issuer (the "Issuer
Board") shall have recommended that the shareholders of Issuer approve or
accept any Acquisition Transaction other than as contemplated by the
Merger Agreement or this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, (a)
"Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (x) a merger or consolidation, or
any similar transaction, involving Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary
(as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")) of Issuer (other than mergers,
consolidations or similar transactions involving solely Issuer and/or one
or more wholly owned Issuer Subsidiaries, provided, that any such
transaction is not entered into in violation of the terms of the Merger
Agreement), (y) a purchase, lease or other acquisition of all or
substantially all of the assets or deposits of Issuer or any Significant
Subsidiary of Issuer, or (z) a purchase or other acquisition (including
by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or otherwise) of
securities representing 10% or more of the voting power of Issuer or any
Significant Subsidiary of Issuer and (b) "Subsidiary" shall have the
meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the 1934 Act;
(ii) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary shall have acquired beneficial ownership or the right to
acquire beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for purposes of this
Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of the
1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder);
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(iii) The shareholders of Issuer shall have voted and
failed to approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger at a meeting which
has been held for that purpose or any adjournment or postponement
thereof, or such meeting shall not have been held in violation of the
Merger Agreement or shall have been cancelled prior to termination of the
Merger Agreement if, in each such case, prior to such meeting (or if such
meeting shall not have been held or shall have been cancelled, prior to
such termination), it shall have been publicly announced that any person
(other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries) shall have made, or
disclosed an intention to make, a proposal to engage in an Acquisition
Transaction;
(iv) The Issuer Board shall have withdrawn or modified
(or publicly announced its intention to withdraw or modify) in any manner
adverse to Grantee its recommendation that the shareholders of Issuer
approve the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or Issuer
or any Issuer Subsidiary, without having received Grantee's prior written
consent, shall have authorized, recommended, proposed (or publicly
announced its intention to authorize, recommend or propose) an agreement
to engage in an Acquisition Transaction with any person other than
Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary;
(v) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary shall have made a non-frivolous proposal to Issuer or its
shareholders to engage in an Acquisition Transaction and such proposal
shall have been publicly announced;
(vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary shall have filed with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to a potential exchange offer that would constitute an
Acquisition Transaction (or filed a preliminary proxy statement with the
SEC with respect to a potential vote by its shareholders to approve the
issuance of shares to be offered in such an exchange offer);
(vii) Issuer shall have breached any covenant or
obligation contained in the Merger Agreement in anticipation of engaging
in an Acquisition Transaction, and following such breach Grantee would be
entitled to terminate the Merger Agreement (whether immediately or after
the giving of notice or passage of time or both); or
(viii) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary, other than in connection with a transaction to which Grantee
has given its prior written consent, shall have filed an application or
notice with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
"Federal Reserve Board") or other federal or state bank regulatory or
antitrust authority, which application or notice has been accepted for
processing, for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.
(c) The term "Subsequent Triggering Event" shall mean any of
the following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) The acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or
any Grantee Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the
then outstanding Common Stock; or
(ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event
described in clause (i) of subsection (b) of this Section 2, except that
the percentage referred to in clause (z) of the second sentence thereof
shall be 25%.
(d) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the
occurrence of any Initial Triggering Event or Subsequent Triggering Event
(together, a "Triggering Event"), it being understood that the giving of such
notice by Issuer shall not be a condition to the right of the Holder to exercise
the Option.
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(e) In the event the Holder is entitled to and wishes to
exercise the Option (or any portion thereof), it shall send to Issuer a written
notice (the date of which being herein referred to as the "Notice Date")
specifying (i) the total number of shares it will purchase pursuant to such
exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier than three business days nor
later than 60 business days from the Notice Date for the closing of such
purchase (the "Closing Date"); provided, however, that if prior notification to
or approval of the Federal Reserve Board or any other regulatory or antitrust
agency is required in connection with such purchase, the Holder shall promptly
file the required notice or application for approval, shall promptly notify
Issuer of such filing, and shall expeditiously process the same and the period
of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence shall run instead
from the date on which any required notification periods have expired or been
terminated or such approvals have been obtained and any requisite waiting period
or periods shall have passed. Any exercise of the Option shall be deemed to
occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.
(f) At the closing referred to in subsection (e) of this
Section 2, the Holder shall (i) pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for
the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by
Issuer, provided that failure or refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank
account shall not preclude the Holder from exercising the Option and (ii)
present and surrender this Agreement to Issuer at its principal executive
offices.
(g) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of
immediately available funds as provided in subsection (f) of this Section 2,
Issuer shall deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing
the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by the Holder and, if the Option
should be exercised in part only, a new Stock Option Agreement evidencing the
rights of the Holder thereof to purchase the balance of the shares purchasable
hereunder.
(h) Certificates for Common Stock delivered at a closing
hereunder may be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read
substantially as follows:
"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
subject to certain provisions of an agreement between the registered
holder hereof and Issuer and to resale restrictions arising under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A copy of such agreement is on file
at the principal office of Issuer and will be provided to the holder
hereof without charge upon receipt by Issuer of a written request
therefor."
It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale restrictions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), in the above legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff
of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such legend is not required for
purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions of this Agreement
in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s)
without such reference if the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance
with the provisions of this Agreement and under circumstances that do not
require the retention of such reference in the opinion of counsel to the Holder;
and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its entirety if the conditions in the
preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In addition, such
certificates shall bear any other legend as may be required by law.
(i) Upon the giving by the Holder to Issuer of the written
notice of exercise of the Option provided for under subsection (e) of this
Section 2 and the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately
available funds, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding that the
stock transfer books of Issuer shall then be closed or that certificates
representing such shares of Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to
the Holder. Issuer shall pay all
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expenses, and any and all United States federal, state and local taxes and other
charges that may be payable in connection with the preparation, issue and
delivery of stock certificates under this Section 2 in the name of the Holder or
As assignee, transferee or designee.
3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free from
preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock so
that the Option may be exercised without additional authorization of Common
Stock after giving effect to all other options, warrants, convertible securities
and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii) that it will not, by charter
amendment or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution or sale
of assets, or by any other voluntary act, avoid or seek to avoid the observance
or performance of any of the covenants, stipulations or conditions to be
observed or performed hereunder by Issuer; (iii) promptly to take all action as
may from time to time be required (including (x) complying with all applicable
premerger notification, reporting and waiting period requirements specified in
15 U.S.C. Section 18a and regulations promulgated thereunder and (y) in the
event, under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHCA"), or
any state or other federal banking law, prior approval of or notice to the
Federal Reserve Board or to any state or other federal regulatory authority is
necessary before the Option may be exercised, cooperating fully with the Holder
in preparing such applications or notices and providing such information to the
Federal Reserve Board or such state or other federal regulatory authority as
they may require) in order to permit the Holder to exercise the Option and
Issuer duly and effectively to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant hereto; and
(iv) promptly to take all action provided herein to protect the rights of the
Holder against dilution.
4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) is exchangeable,
without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender of
this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements providing
for Options of different denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase,
on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are set forth herein, in
the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.
The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include any Agreements and
related Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) may be
exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of
the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case
of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and
upon surrender and cancellation of this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will
execute and deliver a new Agreement of like tenor and date. Any such new
Agreement executed and delivered shall constitute an additional contractual
obligation on the part of Issuer, whether or not the Agreement so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated shall at any time be enforceable by anyone.
5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of Common
Stock that are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of
this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 5.
(a) In the event of any change in, or distributions in respect
of, the Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, split-ups, mergers,
recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions, conversions, exchanges of shares
or the like, the type and number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise hereof shall be appropriately adjusted and proper provision shall be
made so that, in the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are to be
issued or otherwise become outstanding as a result of any such change (other
than pursuant to an exercise of the Option), the number of shares of Common
Stock that remain subject to the Option shall be increased so that, after such
issuance and together with shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant to
the exercise of the Option (as adjusted on account of any of the foregoing
changes in the Common Stock), it equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Common
Stock then issued and outstanding without giving effect to any shares subject or
issued pursuant to the Option.
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(b) Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable
upon exercise hereof is adjusted as provided in this Section 5, the Option Price
shall be adjusted by multiplying the Option Price by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable
prior to the adjustment and the denominator of which shall be equal to the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable after the adjustment.
6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that occurs
prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the request of Grantee
delivered within 12 months (or such later period as provided in Section 10) of
such Subsequent Triggering Event (whether on its own behalf or on behalf of any
subsequent holder of this Option (or part thereof) or any of the shares of
Common Stock issued pursuant hereto), promptly prepare, file and keep current a
registration statement under the 1933 Act covering any shares issued and
issuable pursuant to this Option and shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective and remain effective in
order to permit the sale or other disposition of any shares of Common Stock
issued upon total or partial exercise of this Option ("Option Shares") in
accordance with any plan of disposition requested by Grantee. Issuer will use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement promptly to
become effective and then to remain effective for such period not in excess of
180 days from the day such registration statement first becomes effective or
such shorter time as may be reasonably necessary to effect such sales or other
dispositions. Grantee shall have the right to demand two such registrations.
Issuer shall bear the costs of such registrations (including, but not limited
to, Issuer's attorneys' fees, printing costs and filing fees, except for
underwriting discounts or commissions, brokers' fees and the fees and
disbursements of Grantee's counsel related thereto). The foregoing
notwithstanding, if, at the time of any request by Grantee for registration of
Option Shares as provided above, Issuer is in registration with respect to an
underwritten public offering by Issuer of shares of Common Stock, and if in the
good faith judgment of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, or, if
none, the sole underwriter or underwriters, of such offering the sale of the
Option Shares would interfere with the successful marketing of the shares of
Common Stock offered by Issuer, Grantee agrees to delay the sale of such Option
Shares for such period as may be reasonably requested by such managing or sole
underwriter(s); provided, however, that if such a delay occurs, then Issuer
shall maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement or file a new
registration statement as promptly as practicable thereafter covering such
Option Shares as to which no further delay pursuant to this Section 6 shall be
permitted or occur and the Holder shall thereafter be entitled to one additional
registration and the 12 month period referred to in the first sentence of this
section shall be increased to 24 months. Each such Holder shall provide all
information reasonably requested by Issuer for inclusion in any registration
statement to be filed hereunder. If requested by any such Holder in connection
with such registration, Issuer shall become a party to any underwriting
agreement relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the extent of
obligating itself in respect of representations, warranties, indemnities and
other agreements customarily included in such underwriting agreements for
Issuer. Upon receiving any request under this Section 6 from any Holder, Issuer
agrees to send a copy thereof to any other person known to Issuer to be entitled
to registration rights under this Section 6, in each case by promptly mailing
the same, postage prepaid, to the address of record of the persons entitled to
receive such copies. Notwithstanding anything to the conrary contained herein,
in no event shall the number of registrations that Issuer is obligated to effect
be more than two registrations pursuant to this Section 8 by reason of the fact
that there shall be more than one Holder as a result of any assignment or
division of this Agreement.
7. (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as
defined below) (i) at the request of the Holder, delivered prior to an Exercise
Termination Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10), Issuer (or
any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option from the Holder at a price
(the AOption Repurchase Price') equal to the amount by which (A) the
market/offer price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option Price, multiplied
by the number of shares for which this Option may then be exercised and (ii) at
the request of the owner of Option Shares from time to time (the "Owner"),
delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period as
provided in Section 10), Issuer (or any successor
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thereto) shall repurchase such number of the Option Shares from the Owner as the
Owner shall designate at a price (the "Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to
the market/offer price multiplied by the number of Option Shares so designated.
The term "market/offer price" shall mean the highest of (i) the price per share
of Common Stock at which a tender or exchange offer therefor has been made, (ii)
the price per share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to an
agreement with Issuer, (iii) the highest last sale for shares of Common Stock
within the six-month period immediately preceding the date the Holder gives
notice of the required repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives notice of
the required repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv) in the
event of a sale of all or substantially all of Issuer's assets or deposits, the
sum of the net price paid in such sale for such assets or deposits and the
current market value of the remaining net assets of Issuer as determined by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder or the
Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to Issuer, divided by the
number of shares of Common Stock of Issuer outstanding at the time of such sale.
In determining the market/offer price, the value of consideration other than
cash shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Holder or Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable
to Issuer.
(b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may exercise
its right to require Issuer to repurchase the Option and any Option Shares
pursuant to this Section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at its
principal office, a copy of this Agreement or certificates for Option Shares, as
applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the Holder
or the Owner, as the case may be, elects to require Issuer to repurchase this
Option and/or the Option Shares in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7. As promptly as practicable, and in any event within ten business
days after the surrender of the Option and/or certificates representing Option
Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto, Issuer shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder the Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the Owner the Option Share Repurchase Price therefor or the portion
thereof that Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation
from so delivering.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable
law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from
repurchasing the Option and/or the Option Shares in full, Issuer shall
immediately so notify the Holder and/or the Owner and thereafter deliver or
cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the Holder and/or the Owner, as
appropriate, the portion of the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, that it is no longer prohibited from delivering,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so
prohibited; provided, however, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
notice of repurchase pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 7 is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative
policy, from delivering to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the
Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in
full (and Issuer hereby undertakes to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required notices as
promptly as practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Holder or
Owner may revoke its notice of repurchase of the Option and/or the Option Shares
whether in whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter
case, Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner, as
appropriate, that portion of the Option Repurchase Price and/or the Option Share
Repurchase Price that Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and (ii)
deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the Holder, a new Agreement evidencing
the right of the Holder to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock
obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock for which the
surrendered Agreement was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of
repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Option Repurchase Price
less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the Holder and he denominator
of which is the Option Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to the Owner, a certificate
for the Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing. If an
Exercise Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the date of the notice
by Issuer described in the first sentence of this subsection (c), or shall be
scheduled to occur at any time before the
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expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such date, the Holder
shall nonetheless have the right to exercise the Option until the expiration of
such 30-day period.
(d) For purposes of this Section 7, a "Repurchase Event" shall
be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following events or
transactions after the date hereof:
(i) the acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or
any Grantee Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the
then outstanding Common Stock; or
(ii) the consummation of any Acquisition Transaction
described in Section 2(b)(i) hereof, except that the percentage referred
to in clause (z) shall be 50%.
8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event,
Issuer shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any
person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, or engage in a plan of
exchange with any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary and Issuer
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or
merger or the acquiror in such plan of exchange, (ii) to permit any person,
other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, to merge into Issuer or be acquired
by Issuer in a plan of exchange and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving
or acquiring corporation, but, in connection with such merger or plan of
exchange, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other
property, or the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall after such merger
or plan of exchange represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares and share
equivalents of the merged or acquiring company, or (iii) to sell or otherwise
transfer all or substantially all of its or any Significant Subsidiary's assets
or deposits to any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, then, and
in each such case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make proper
provision so that the Option shall, upon the consummation of any such
transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, be converted
into, or exchanged for, an option (the "Substitute Option"), at the election of
the Holder, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) or
(y) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation.
(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the
continuing or surviving person of a consolidation or merger with Issuer
(if other than Issuer), (ii) the acquiring person in a plan of exchange
in which Issuer is acquired, (iii) Issuer in a merger or plan of exchange
in which Issuer is the continuing or surviving or acquiring person, and
(iv) the transferee of all or substantially all of Issuer's assets or
deposits (or the assets or deposits of a Significant Subsidiary of
Issuer).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common
stock issued by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the
Substitute Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the market/offer price,
as defined in Section 7.
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price
of a share of the Substitute Common Stock for one year immediately
preceding the consolidation, merger or sale in question, but in no event
higher than the closing price of the shares of Substitute Common Stock on
the day preceding such consolidation, merger or sale; provided that if
Issuer is the issuer of the Substitute Option, the Average Price shall be
computed with respect to a share of common stock issued by the person
merging into Issuer or by any company which controls or is controlled by
such person, as the Holder may elect.
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(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the
Option, provided that if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal
reasons, be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible
and in no event less advantageous to the Holder. The issuer of the Substitute
Option shall also enter into an agreement with the then Holder or Holders of the
Substitute Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement (after giving
effect for such purpose to the provisions of Section 9), which agreement shall
be applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number
of shares of Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned Value
multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option was
exercisable immediately prior to the event described in the first sentence of
Section 8(a), divided by the Average Price. The exercise price of the
Substitute Option per share of Substitute Common Stock shall then be equal to
the Option Price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercisable
immediately prior to the event described in the first sentence of Section 8(a)
and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Substitute Common
Stock for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs,
shall the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of
Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of the Substitute Option.
In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than 19.9%
of the shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise but for
this clause (e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option
Issuer") shall make a cash payment to Holder equal to the excess of (i) the
value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the limitation in this
clause (e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving effect to
the limitation in this clause (e). This difference in value shall be determined
by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder and
reasonably acceptable to the Substitute Option Holder.
(f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder.
9. (a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Holder"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute Option from the Substitute Option Holder at a price (the "Substitute
Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by which (i) the Highest Closing
Price (as hereinafter defined) exceeds (ii) the exercise price of the Substitute
Option, multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which
the Substitute Option may then be exercised, and at the request of the owner
(the "Substitute Share Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Stock (the
"Substitute Shares"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase such number
of the Substitute Shares as the Substitute Share Owner shall designate at a
price (the "Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to (x) the Highest Closing
Price multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so designated plus
(y) Grantee's Out-of-Pocket Expense. The term "Highest Closing Price" shall
mean the highest closing price for shares of Substitute Common Stock within the
six-month period immediately preceding the date the Substitute Option Holder
gives notice of the required repurchase of the Substitute Option or the
Substitute Share Owner gives notice of the required repurchase of the Substitute
Shares, as applicable.
(b) The Substitute Option Holder and the Substitute Share
Owner, as the case may be, may exercise its respective rights to require the
Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute
Shares pursuant to this Section 9 by surrendering for such purpose to the
Substitute Option Issuer, at its principal office, the agreement for such
Substitute Option (or, in the absence of such an agreement, a copy of this
Agreement) and/or certificates for Substitute Shares accompanied by a written
notice or notices stating that the Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute
Share Owner, as the case
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may be, elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the
Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 9. As promptly as practicable and in any event within ten
business days after the surrender of the Substitute Option and/or certificates
representing Substitute Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices
relating thereto, the Substitute Option Issuer shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the Substitute Share Owner the Substitute Share Repurchase Price
therefor or the portion thereof which the Substitute Option Issuer is not then
prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so delivering.
(c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is
prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of
administrative policy, from repurchasing the Substitute Option and/or the
Substitute Shares in part or in full, the Substitute Option Issuer shall
immediately so notify the Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share
Owner and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the
portion of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price and/or the Substitute Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, which it is no longer prohibited from
delivering, within five (5) business days after the date on which the Substitute
Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided, however, that if the
Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9 prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the
Substitute Option Repurchase Price and the Substitute Share Repurchase Price,
respectively, in full (and the Substitute Option Issuer shall use its reasonable
best efforts to receive all required regulatory and legal approvals as promptly
as practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Substitute Option
Holder and/or Substitute Share Owner may revoke its notice of repurchase of the
Substitute Option or the Substitute Shares either in whole or to the extent of
prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, the Substitute Option Issuer shall
promptly (i) deliver to the Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner,
as appropriate, that portion of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price or the
Substitute Share Repurchase Price that the Substitute Option Issuer is not
prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the
Substitute Option Holder, a new Substitute Optio evidencing the right of the
Substitute Option Holder to purchase that number of shares of the Substitute
Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of the Substitute
Common Stock for which the surrendered Substitute Option was exercisable at the
time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the Substitute Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof
theretofore delivered to the Substitute Option Holder and the denominator of
which is the Substitute Option Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to the Substitute
Share Owner, a certificate for the Substitute Option Shares it is then so
prohibited from repurchasing. If an Exercise Termination Event shall have
occurred prior to the date of the notice by the Substitute Option Issuer
described in the first sentence of this subsection (c) or shall be scheduled to
occur at any time before the expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day
after such date, the Substitute Option Holder it shall nevertheless have the
right to exercise the Substitute Option until the expiration of such 30-day
period.
10. The 30-day, 6-month, 12-month, 18-month or 24-month periods for
exercise of certain rights under Sections 2, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 14 shall be
extended: (i) to the extent necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for
the exercise of such rights (for so long as the Holder, Owner, Substitute Option
Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as the case may be, is using reasonable best
efforts to obtain such regulatory approvals), and for the expiration of all
statutory waiting periods; and (ii) to the extent necessary to avoid liability
under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise.
11. Issuer represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:
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(a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute
and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by
the Issuer Board prior to the date hereof and no other corporate proceedings on
the part of Issuer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate
the transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from the date
hereof through the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms
will have reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Option, that number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock at
any time and from time to time issuable hereunder, and all such shares, upon
issuance pursuant thereto, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
and non-assessable, and will be delivered free and clear of all claims, liens,
encumbrance and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.
12. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any other
person, without the express written consent of the other party, except that in
the event a Subsequent Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an Exercise
Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express provisions hereof, may assign
in whole or in part its rights and obligations hereunder within 12 months
following such Subsequent Triggering Event (or such later period as provided in
Section 10); provided, however, that until the date 15 days following the date
on which the Federal Reserve Board has approved an application by Grantee to
acquire the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option, Grantee may not assign
its rights under the Option except in (i) a widely dispersed public
distribution, (ii) a private placement in which no one party acquires the right
to purchase in excess of 2% of the voting shares of Issuer, (iii) an assignment
to a single party (E.G., a broker or investment banker) for the purpose of
conducting a widely dispersed public distribution on Grantee's behalf or (iv)
any other manner approved by the Federal Reserve Board.
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13. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its best efforts to make all
filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and governmental
authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including, without limitation, applying to the Federal Reserve
Board under the BHCA for approval to acquire the shares issuable hereunder, but
Grantee shall not be obligated to apply to state banking authorities for
approval to acquire the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder until such
time, if ever, as it deems appropriate to do so.
14. (a) Grantee may, at any time following a Repurchase Event and
prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period
as provided in Section 10), relinquish the Option (together with any Option
Shares issued to and then owned by Grantee) to Issuer in exchange for a cash fee
equal to the Surrender Price; provided, however, that Grantee may not exercise
its rights pursuant to this Section 14 if Issuer has repurchased the Option (or
any portion thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to Section 7. The "Surrender
Price" shall be equal to $35,000,000 (i) plus, if applicable, Grantee's purchase
price with respect to any Option Shares then held by it and (ii) minus, if
applicable, the excess of (A) the net cash amounts, if any, received by Grantee
pursuant to any sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such
Option Shares were converted or exchanged) to any party, over (B) Grantee's
purchase price of such Option Shares.
(b) Grantee may exercise its right to relinquish the Option and
any Option Shares pursuant to this Section 14 by surrendering to Issuer, at its
principal office, a copy of this Agreement together with certificates for Option
Shares, if any, accompanied by a written notice stating (i) that Grantee elects
to relinquish the Option and Option Shares, if any, in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 14 and (ii) the Surrender Price. The Surrender Price
shall be payable in immediately available funds on or before the fifth business
day following receipt of such notice by Issuer.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable
law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from paying the
Surrender Price to Grantee in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify Grantee
and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to Grantee,
the portion of the Surrender Price that it is no longer prohibited from paying,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so
prohibited; provided, however, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
notice of surrender pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 14 is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative
policy, from paying to Grantee the Surrender Price in full, (i) Issuer shall (A)
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal
approvals and to file any required notices as promptly as practicable in order
to make such payments, (B) within five days of the submission or receipt of any
documents relating to any such regulatory and legal approvals, provide Grantee
with copies of the same, and (c) keep Grantee advised of both the status of any
such request for regulatory and legal approvals, as well as any discussions with
any relevant regulatory or other third party reasonably related to the same and
(ii) Grantee may revoke such notice of surrender by delivery of a notice of
revocation to Issuer and, upon delivery of such notice of revocation, the
Exercise Termination Date shall be extended to a date six months from the date
on which the Exercise Termination Date would have occurred if not for the
provisions of this Section 14(c) (during which period Grantee may exercise any
of its rights hereunder, including any and all rights pursuant to this Section
14).
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(d) Grantee shall have rights substantially identical to those
set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 14 with respect to the
Substitute Option and the Substitute Option Issuer during any period in which
the Substitute Option Issuer would be required to repurchase the Substitute
Option pursuant to Section 9.
15. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an inadequate
remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that the
obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief.
16. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this
Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that the Holder is not permitted to acquire, or Issuer is not permitted to
repurchase pursuant to Section 7, the full number of shares of Common Stock
provided in Section 1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section 1(b) or Section
5 hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire
or to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.
17. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
fax, telecopy, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) at the respective addresses of the parties set forth in the
Merger Agreement.
18. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law
principles thereof.
19. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute
one and the same agreement.
20. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants and
counsel.
21. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Merger
Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereof, written or oral. The terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assignees.
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors except as
assignees, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason
of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
22. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the
date first above written.
U.S. BANCORP
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
WESTERN BANCORP
By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
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