AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BY AND AMONG EAST WEST BANCORP, INC., EAST WEST BANK AND STANDARD BANK Effective as of December 23, 2005
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY
AND AMONG
EAST
WEST BANCORP, INC.,
EAST
WEST BANK
AND
STANDARD
BANK
Effective
as of December 23, 2005
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
ICERTAIN
DEFINITIONS2
SECTION
1.01 Certain
Definitions2
ARTICLE
IITHE
MERGER7
SECTION
2.01 The
Merger7
SECTION
2.02 Effective
Date and Effective Time8
ARTICLE
IIICONSIDERATION;
EXCHANGE PROCEDURES8
SECTION
3.01 Effect
on Capital Stock8
SECTION
3.02 Conversion
of SB Common Stock9
SECTION
3.03 No
Fractional Shares12
SECTION
3.04 Exchange
Procedures12
SECTION
3.05 Anti-Dilution
Provisions13
SECTION
3.06 Dissenters’
Rights14
ARTICLE
IVACTIONS
PENDING ACQUISITION14
SECTION
4.01 Forbearances
of SB14
SECTION
4.02 Forbearances
of EWBC17
ARTICLE
VREPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES18
SECTION
5.01 Disclosure
Schedules18
SECTION
5.02 Standard18
SECTION
5.03 Representations
and Warranties of SB18
SECTION
5.04 Representations
and Warranties of EWBC and EWB29
ARTICLE
VICOVENANTS33
SECTION
6.01 Reasonable
Best Efforts33
SECTION
6.02 Shareholders’
Approval33
SECTION
6.03 Registration
of Securities34
SECTION
6.04 Press
Releases35
SECTION
6.05 Access;
Information35
SECTION
6.07 Acquisition
Proposals36
SECTION
6.08 Certain
Policies36
SECTION
6.09 Regulatory
Applications37
SECTION
6.10 Indemnification
by EWBC37
SECTION
6.11 Benefit
Plans39
SECTION
6.12 Future
Employment39
SECTION
6.13 Notification
of Certain Matters40
SECTION
6.14 Human
Resources Issues40
SECTION
6.15 Assistance
with Third-Party Agreements40
SECTION
6.16 Additional
Agreements41
SECTION
6.17 Tax
Treatment
of the Merger41
SECTION
6.18 Non-Solicitation
& Confidentiality Agreements41
SECTION
6.19 Other
Shareholder Agreements41
SECTION
6.20 Minimum
ALL41
SECTION
6.21 Pre-Closing
Adjustments and Minimum Closing Shareholders’ Equity41
SECTION
6.22 FIRPTA
Certificate42
ARTICLE
VIICONDITIONS
TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER42
SECTION
7.01 Conditions
to the Parties’ Obligations to Effect the Merger42
SECTION
7.02 Conditions
to Obligation of SB to Effect the Merger43
SECTION
7.03 Conditions
to Obligation of EWBC43
ARTICLE
VIII TERMINATION44
SECTION
8.01 Termination
by Mutual Consent44
SECTION
8.02 Termination
by Either EWBC, EWB or SB44
SECTION
8.03 Effect
of Termination and Abandonment45
ARTICLE
IXMISCELLANEOUS46
SECTION
9.01 Survival46
SECTION
9.02 Waiver;
Amendment46
SECTION
9.03 Counterparts46
SECTION
9.04 Governing
Law, Jurisdiction and Venue46
SECTION
9.05 Expenses47
SECTION
9.06 Notices47
SECTION
9.07 Entire
Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries48
SECTION
9.08 Effect48
SECTION
9.09 Severability48
SECTION
9.10 Enforcement
of the Agreement48
SECTION
9.11 Interpretation49
[
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
A SHAREHOLDERS
AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
A-1 PERSONS
EXECUTING SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
B NON-SOLICITATION
& CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
B-1 PERSONS
EXECUTING NON-SOLICITATION & CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
C AGREEMENT
OF MERGER
EXHIBIT
D AFFILIATE
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
effective as of December 23, 2005, and as amended (“Agreement”), by and
among East West Bancorp, Inc. (“EWBC”), East West Bank (“EWB”) and Standard Bank
(“SB”).
RECITALS:
A. EWBC.
EWBC is a duly organized and existing corporation under the laws of the State
of
Delaware and registered as a bank holding company pursuant to the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended, having its principal place of business in
San
Marino, California.
B. EWB.
EWB is a duly organized and existing California state-chartered commercial
bank
and a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, having its principal place
of
business in San Marino, California, and all of the outstanding capital stock
of
which is owned by EWBC.
C. SB.
SB is a duly organized and existing federal savings association chartered by
the
Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”), whose deposit accounts are insured to the
extent allowed by law by the Savings Association Insurance Fund of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation.
D. BOARD
DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS.
The respective boards of EWBC, EWB and SB have determined that it is in
the best interests of their respective companies and shareholders to consummate
a strategic business combination of EWB and SB on the terms and subject to
the
conditions provided for in this Agreement based their compatible business plans,
the potential synergies of their business operations, the continuity of
employee, customer and shareholder bases and the prospects for continued
ownership in the combined enterprise.
E. CONTINUITY
OF OWNERSHIP IN COMBINED ENTERPRISE. .
The respective boards of EWBC, EWB and SB have determined that it is in
the best interests of their respective companies and shareholders to realize
the
long term benefits of the combined business enterprise contemplated by this
Agreement and not to seek or accept any proposals contemplating a transaction
that would discontinue ownership by a majority of the shareholders of any party
to this Agreement in their respective businesses or in the business of the
combined enterprise contemplated herein.
F. SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENT. As
condition to, and simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the
beneficial owners of SB Common Stock listed in Exhibit
A-1
hereto, have executed and delivered to EWBC a Shareholder Agreement pursuant
to
which such holders will have agreed, among other actions, to vote their shares
of SB Common Stock in favor of the strategic business combination contemplated
by Agreement and the Merger, to vote against any other transaction, and to
take
all actions to cause the completion of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, in the form of Exhibit
A
hereto (“Shareholder Agreement”).
G. INTENTIONS
OF THE PARTIES.
It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that the business
combination contemplated hereby be accounted for under the purchase accounting
method and be treated as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
H. NON-SOLICITATION
& CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. A
non-solicitation and confidentiality agreement, in the form attached hereto
as
Exhibit
B
(the “Non-Solicitation & Confidentiality Agreement”), shall be executed by
the Persons listed on Exhibit
B-1
hereto.
I. REQUIRED
APPROVALS.
The Merger requires certain shareholder and regulatory approvals and may be
effected only after the necessary approvals have been obtained.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants, representations,
warranties and agreements contained herein the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01 Certain
Definitions.
The following terms are used in this Agreement with the meanings set forth
below:
“Acquisition
Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.07.
“Agreement”
means this Agreement, as amended or modified from time to time in accordance
with Section 9.02.
“Agreement
of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).
“ALL”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(u).
“Average
Share Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).
“Bank
Insurance Fund” means the Bank Insurance Fund maintained by the FDIC.
“Bank
Secrecy Act” means the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act (31 U.S.C.
Section 5311 et seq.) as amended.
“Benefit
Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(n).
“Business
Combination” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05.
“Business
Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except a legal holiday recognized
as such by the U.S. Government or any day on which banking institutions in
the
State of California are authorized or obligated to close.
“California
Secretary” means the California Secretary of State.
“Cash
Portion” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).
“CFC”
means the California Financial Code.
“CGCL”
means the California General Corporation Law.
“Code”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Commissioner”
means the California Commissioner of Financial Institutions.
“Community
Reinvestment Act” means the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended.
“Competing
Proposal” is defined in Recital F.
“Costs”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.
“Derivatives
Contract” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(r).
“Disclosure
Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.
“Dissenters
Set Aside” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).
“Dissenters’
Shares” means shares of SB Common Stock held by a SB shareholder with respect to
which such shareholder, in accordance with the HOLA and 12 C.F.R. Section
552.14, perfects such shareholder’s right to dissent to the Merger.
“Dissenting
Shareholder” means any holder of Dissenters’ Shares.
“Effective
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Effective
Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Environmental
Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(p).
“Equal
Credit Opportunity Act” means the Equal Credit Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1691 et
seq.) as amended.
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA
Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(n).
“EWB”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“EWB
Articles” means the Articles of Incorporation of EWB, as amended.
“EWB
By-Laws” means the by-laws of EWB, as amended.
“EWB
Common Stock” means the common stock of EWB, 100% of which is owned by
EWBC.
“EWB
Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11(c).
“EWBC”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“EWBC
By-Laws” means the by-laws of EWBC, as amended.
“EWBC
Certificate” means the Certificate of Incorporation of EWBC, as
amended.
“EWBC
Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.001 per share, of
EWBC.
“EWBC
Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.
“EWBC
Loan Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(k).
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
“Exchange
Agent” means U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation, as provided in
Section 3.02(a).
“Exchange
Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).
“Fair
Housing Act” means the Fair Housing Act (420 U.S.C. Section 3601, et seq.), as
amended.
“Fairness
Review” is defined in Section 6.03.
“FDIC”
means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“Federal
Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco acting under delegated
authority.
“Former
SB Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental
Authority” means any court, administrative agency or commission or other
federal, state or local governmental authority or instrumentality.
“Hazardous
Substance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(p).
“Home
Mortgage Disclosure Act” means the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (12 U.S.C.
Section 2801 et seq.), as amended.
“HOLA”
means the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended.”
“Indemnified
Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10(a).
“Insurance
Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(t).
“Lien”
means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, restriction, claim,
lien
or encumbrance.
"Liquidated
Damages Amount" means 1%
of Shareholders' Equity multiplied by two (2)
“Material
Adverse Effect” means, with respect to EWBC, EWB or SB, any effect that (i) is
material and adverse to the financial position, results of operations or
business of EWBC and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or SB, as the case may
be, or (ii) would materially impair the ability of any of EWBC, EWB or SB to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially threaten
or
materially impede the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that a Material Adverse
Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of (a) changes in banking
and
similar laws of general applicability or interpretations thereof by Governmental
Authorities, (b) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements
applicable to banks and their holding companies generally, (c) changes in
general economic conditions affecting banks and their holding companies
generally, except to the extent such changes disproportionately affect SB (d)
any modifications or changes to valuation policies and practices in connection
with the Merger or restructuring charges taken in connection with the Merger,
in
each case in accordance with GAAP and (e) with respect to SB, the effects of
any
action or omission taken with the prior consent of EWBC or EWB.
“Merger”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Merger
Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).
“Minimum
Closing Shareholders’ Equity is defined in Section 6.21.
“Nasdaq”
means The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.’s National Market System.
“National
Labor Relations Act” means the National Labor Relations Act, as
amended.
“New
Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(b).
“Non-Solicitation
and Confidentiality Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
“Options”
means options to purchase SB Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2005
issued pursuant to the Standard Savings Bank, FSB Stock Option and Incentive
Plan.
“OTS”
means the Office of Thrift Supervision.
“Pension
Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(n).
“Permit”
is defined in Section 6.03.
“Per
Share Cash Consideration” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.02(a).
“Per
Share Stock Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section
3.02(a).
“Person”
means any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock
company, business trust, limited liability company or unincorporated
organization.
“Pre-Closing
Adjustments” is defined in Section 6.21.
“Registration
Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.
“Regulatory
Authorities” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(j).
“Regulatory
Filings” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(h).
“Rights”
means, with respect to any Person, securities or obligations convertible into
or
exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe
for
or acquire, or any options, calls or commitments relating to, or any stock
appreciation right or other instrument the value of which is determined in
whole
or in part by reference to the market price or value of, shares of capital
stock
of such Person.
“Savings
Association Insurance Fund” means the Savings Association Insurance Fund
maintained by the FDIC.
“SB”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“SB
Charter” means the Charter of SB, as amended.
“SB
By-Laws” means the By-Laws of SB, as amended.
“SB
Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a)
“SB
Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.
“SB
Loan Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(p).
“SEC”
means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SEC
Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(h).
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
“Shareholders'
Equity” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).
“Stock
Portion” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).
“Subsidiary”
has the meaning ascribed to those terms in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the
SEC.
“Surviving
Bank” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).
“Tax”
and “Taxes” mean all federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges, fees,
levies or other assessments, however denominated, including, without limitation,
all net income, gross income, gains, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem,
goods and services, capital, production, transfer, franchise, windfall profits,
license, withholding, payroll, employment, disability, employer health, excise,
estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property, environmental, unemployment
or other taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments or charges of any kind
whatsoever, imposed on the income, properties or operations of SB or its
Subsidiaries by any taxing authority whether arising before, on or after the
Effective Date, together with any interest, additions or penalties thereto
and
any interest in respect of such interest and penalties.
“Tax
Returns” means any return, amended return or other report (including elections,
declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns)
required to be filed on or before the Effective Date with respect to any Taxes
of SB.
“Transaction
Expenses” means all insurance premiums contemplated by the provisions of Section
6.10(a) and accrued or paid by SB prior to the Effective Time and all fees
and
expenses of all attorneys, accountants, investment bankers and other advisors
and agents for SB for services rendered solely in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement accrued or paid by SB prior to
the
Effective Time.
“Treasury
Shares” shall mean any shares of SB Common Stock held by SB or by EWBC or any of
their respective Subsidiaries, in each case other than in a fiduciary (including
custodial or agency) capacity or as a result of debts previously contracted
in
good faith.
“USA
Patriot Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. L. No. 107-56).
“Shareholder
Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
THE
MERGER
SECTION
2.01 The
Merger.
(a) The
Combination.
At the Effective Time, SB shall merge with and into EWB, pursuant to CFC Section
4881, the separate existence of SB as a federal savings association shall cease,
and EWB shall survive and continue to exist as a California state-chartered
bank
(EWB, as the surviving bank in the Merger, sometimes being referred to herein
as
the “Surviving Bank”). EWBC may, at any time prior to the Effective Time
(including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, after SB’s shareholders
have approved this Agreement), change the method of effecting the combination
of
EWB with SB (including, without limitation, the provisions of this Article
II)
if and to the extent it deems such change to be necessary, appropriate or
desirable; provided, however, that no such change shall (i) alter or change
the
amount or kind of consideration to be issued to the holders of SB Common Stock
as provided for in this Agreement (the “Merger Consideration”), (ii) adversely
affect the tax treatment of SB’s shareholders as a result of receiving the
Merger Consideration, (iii) impede or unreasonably delay consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iv) otherwise be materially
prejudicial to the interests of the shareholders of SB.
(b) Filings.
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article
VII, the Merger shall become effective upon the Effective Time on the Effective
Date, in accordance with CFC Section 4885 upon the filing of an Agreement of
Merger between SB and EWB as the Surviving Bank, in the form of Exhibit
C
hereto (“Agreement of Merger”), with the Commissioner, after certification by
the California Secretary.
(c) Articles
of Incorporation and By-Laws.
The articles of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Bank immediately
after the Merger shall be those of EWB as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time.
(d) Directors
and Officers of the Surviving Bank.
The directors and officers of EWB immediately after the Merger shall be the
directors and officers of EWB immediately prior to the Effective Time, until
such time as their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
(e) Effect
of the Merger.
At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in CGCL
Section 1107, CFC Sections 4888 and 4889, 12 U.S.C. Section 1464(d)(3) and
12
C.F.R. Section 552.13, including any regulations or rules promulgated
thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject
thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, powers
and
franchises of SB shall vest in the Surviving Bank, all debts, liabilities,
obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of SB shall become the debts,
liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Surviving
Bank and the charter of SB as a federal savings association shall automatically
terminate.
SECTION
2.02 Effective
Date and Effective Time.
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article
VII
(other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
consummation of the Merger, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those
conditions), the parties shall cause the filings contemplated by Section 2.01
to
be made (i) no later than the third Business Day after such satisfaction or
waiver or (ii) such other date to which the parties may agree in writing. The
Merger provided for herein shall become effective upon such filing or filings
and on such date as may be specified therein and in accordance CFC Section
4887.
The date of such effectiveness is herein called the “Effective Date”. The
“Effective Time” of the Merger shall be the time as set forth in such filing.
ARTICLE
III
CONSIDERATION;
EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
SECTION
3.01 Effect
on Capital Stock.
Subject to the other provisions of this Article III, at the Effective Time,
by virtue of the Merger and without any additional action on the part of the
holders of shares of EWBC Common Stock and EWB Common Stock:
(a) EWBC
Common Stock.
Each share of EWBC Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the
Effective Time shall remain an issued and outstanding share of common stock
of
EWBC, and shall not be affected by the Merger;
(b) EWB
Common Stock.
Each share of EWB Common Stock, issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the
Effective Time shall remain an issued and outstanding share of common stock
of
the Surviving Bank, and shall not be affected by the Merger;
(c) SB
Common Stock.
Each share of SB Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than any Dissenters’ Shares and Treasury Shares, as
defined below) shall be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Stock
Consideration or the Per Share Cash Consideration, as provided in Section
3.02;
(d) Dissenters’
Shares.
Any shares of SB Common Stock that are shares subject to appraisal rights within
the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Section 552.14 (“Dissenters’ Shares”) shall not be
converted into or represent a right to receive EWBC Common Stock or cash
hereunder unless and until such shares have lost their status as dissenting
shares under 12 C.F.R. Section 552.14, at which time such shares shall be
converted into cash or EWBC Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.02; and
(e) Cancellation
of Certain Shares.
Any shares of SB Common Stock held by EWBC (or any of its Subsidiaries) or
by
SB, other than those held in a fiduciary capacity or as a result of debts
previously contracted (“Treasury Shares”), shall be cancelled and retired at the
Effective Time and no Per Share Cash Consideration or Per Share Stock
Consideration shall be paid or issued in exchange therefore.
SECTION
3.02 Conversion
of SB Common Stock.
(a) The
Process.
At the Effective Time, the conversion of each outstanding share of SB Common
Stock shall proceed as follows:
(i) The
terms used herein shall have the following meanings:
“Shareholders’
Equity” means the shareholders’ equity of SB as set forth in its September 30,
2005 financial statements.
“Average
Share Price” shall mean the volume weighted average of the closing price of EWBC
Common Stock as reported in The Wall Street Journal (Western Edition) for the
60
trading days of the Nasdaq (“NASDAQ”) ending with the fifth trading day prior to
the Effective Date.
“Cash
Portion” shall mean the dollar amount derived by multiplying the Merger
Consideration by the percentage, expressed to four decimal points and up to
a
maximum of 35%, of the SB Common Stock outstanding at the Effective Time for
which holders have elected to receive the Per Share Cash
Consideration.
“Dissenters
Set Aside” shall mean the combination of the Per Share Cash Consideration and
the Per Share Stock Consideration multiplied by the number of Dissenting Shares.
“Merger
Consideration” shall be an amount equal to the sum of two times Shareholders'
Equity plus
the
amount of the increase in SB’s shareholders’ equity as a result of the exercise
of Options to purchase SB Common Stock exercised after the effective date of
this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time; less:
(a) payments made or accrued by SB prior to the Effective Time under the New
Plan as provided in Section 6.12(b); (b) dividends not accrued by SB as of
September 15, 2005 and paid by SB after September 30, 2005 and prior to the
Effective Time; (c) payments made by SB after September 30, 2005 under its
profit sharing plan to the extent such payments were not accrued by SB on its
September 30, 2005 financial statements; and (d) the amount by which the Minimum
Closing Shareholders’ Equity is less than Shareholders’ Equity as of the
Effective Time.
“Per
Share Cash Consideration” shall mean the amount derived by dividing the Cash
Portion by the total number of shares of SB Common Stock for which holders
have
elected to receive cash.
“Per
Share Stock Consideration” shall mean the number of shares of EWBC Common Stock
derived by dividing the Stock Portion, rounded to the nearest whole share,
by
the sum
of the
total number of shares of SB Common Stock for which holders have either
(i) elected
to receive EWBC Common Stock or
(ii) have failed to make any election.
“Stock
Portion” shall mean the product of (a) the Merger Consideration times
(b) the percentage, expressed to four decimal points, of the SB Common
Stock for which holders have elected to receive the Per Share Stock
Consideration or have failed to make an election to receive either the Per
Share
Stock Consideration or the Per Share Cash Consideration, but in no event less
than 65%, denominated in a number of shares of EWBC Common Stock issuable in
the
Merger derived as follows:
· |
If
the Average Share Price is less than $36.00, then the number of shares
of
EWBC Common Stock shall be derived by dividing the Stock Portion by
$36.00;
|
· |
If
the Average Share Price is at least $36.00 and not greater than $42.00,
the number of shares of EWBC Common Stock shall be derived by dividing
the
Stock Portion by the Average Share Price;
|
· |
If
the Average Share Price is greater than $42.00, the number of shares
of
EWBC Common Stock shall be derived by dividing the Stock Portion by
$42.00.
|
“SB
Common Stock” shall mean all of the 227,400 shares of SB Common Stock now issued
and outstanding, excluding any Treasury Shares, plus any shares of common stock
that are issued by SB prior to the Effective Time.
(ii) The
Merger Consideration shall be allocated as follows: (a) all shares of SB Common
Stock for which the holders have made an election to receive the Per Share
Stock
Consideration will be converted into EWBC Common Stock; (b) all shares of SB
Common Stock (other than Dissenters’ Shares) for which the holders have failed
to make an election to receive either the Per Share Stock Consideration or
the
Per Share Cash Consideration will be converted into the EWBC Common Stock;
and
(c) all shares of SB Common Stock electing to receive Per Share Cash
Consideration shall be converted into the Per Share Cash Consideration. If,
however, after giving effect to (ii)(a) and (ii)(b) of this paragraph, the
35%
maximum cash election is exceeded, those shares of SB Common Stock for which
an
election for the Per Share Cash Consideration has been made will receive an
adjusted Per Share Cash Consideration and additional Per Share Stock
Consideration derived as follows: The dollar amount of the excess cash election
shall be deducted pro-rata from the shares electing the Per Share Cash
Consideration, and a number of additional shares of EWBC Common Stock shall
be
issuable pro-rata with respect to those shares electing the Per Share Cash
Consideration derived by dividing the dollar amount of the excess cash election
by the applicable Average Share Price used to determine the Stock
Portion.
(iii) EWBC
shall set aside cash from the Cash Portion and the Stock Portion an amount
of
cash and EWBC Common Stock equal to the Dissenters Set Aside. EWBC shall deliver
to U. S. Stock Transfer Corporation (the “Exchange Agent”) the remaining Stock
Portion and Cash Portion. Each share of SB Common Stock (except for Dissenters’
Shares) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
the
holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Cash
Consideration and Per Share Stock Consideration.
(iv) At
the Effective Time, each share of SB Common Stock shall be converted into,
and
become exchangeable for the Per Share Stock Consideration or the Per Share
Cash
Consideration and the holders of certificates formerly representing shares
of SB
Common Stock shall cease to have any rights as SB shareholders. Except as
provided above, until such certificates are surrendered for exchange, the
certificates of each holder shall, after the Effective Time, represent for
all
purposes only the right to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration or the
Per
Share Cash Consideration, as applicable.
(v) If,
subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement but prior to the Effective
Time, the outstanding shares of EWBC Common Stock shall, through a
reclassification, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split or reverse
stock
split, have been increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different
number or kind of shares or securities, appropriate adjustment will be made
to
the Stock Portion.
(b) Stock
Transfer Books and Exchange.
At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of SB shall be closed as to
holders of SB Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time and no
transfer of SB Common Stock by any such holder shall thereafter be made or
recognized on the stock transfer books of SB or the Surviving Bank. If, after
the Effective Time, certificates are properly presented in accordance with
Article III of this Agreement to the Exchange Agent, such certificates shall
be
canceled and exchanged for certificates representing the number of whole shares
of EWBC Common Stock and a check representing the amount of cash into which
SB
Common Stock represented thereby was converted in the Merger, plus any payment
for a fractional share of EWBC Common Stock.
(c) Calculations.
Any calculation of a portion of a share of EWBC Common Stock shall be rounded
to
the nearest ten-thousandth of a share, and any cash payment shall be rounded
to
the nearest cent. For purposes of this Section 3.02, the shares of EWBC Common
Stock issued for SB Common Stock as consideration in the Merger shall be deemed
to be “approximately equal” to the Stock Portion if such number is within 1,000
shares of EWBC Common Stock of such amount.
SECTION
3.03 No
Fractional Shares.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no fractional shares of EWBC Common
Stock and no certificates or scrip therefore, or other evidence of ownership
thereof, will be issued in the Merger; instead, EWBC shall pay to each holder
of
SB Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of EWBC
Common Stock (after taking into account all certificates of SB Common Stock
delivered by such holder) an amount in cash (without interest) determined by
multiplying such fraction by the Average Share Price. No holder will be entitled
to dividends, voting rights or any other rights as a shareholder in respect
of
any fractional share of EWBC Common Stock.
SECTION
3.04 Exchange
Procedures.
(a) Exchange
Agent.
No later than the Effective Time, EWBC shall deposit with the Exchange Agent,
the Stock Portion and the Cash Portion of the Merger Consideration (the
“Exchange Fund”). The Exchange Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise
any rights of ownership with respect to EWBC Common Stock held by it from time
to time hereunder, except that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other
distributions paid or distributed with respect to such shares for the account
of
the persons entitled thereto.
(b) Exchange
of Certificates and Cash.
Each holder of a certificate formerly representing SB Common Stock (other than
Dissenters’ Shares or Treasury Shares) who surrenders or has surrendered such
certificate (or customary affidavits and indemnification regarding the loss
or
destruction of such certificate), together with duly executed transmittal
materials, to the Exchange Agent shall, upon acceptance thereof, be entitled
to
a certificate representing EWBC Common Stock and cash into which the shares
of
SB Common Stock shall have been converted pursuant hereto, as well as cash
in
lieu of any fractional shares of EWBC Common Stock to which such holder would
otherwise be entitled. The Exchange Agent shall accept such SB certificate
upon
compliance with such reasonable and customary terms and conditions as the
Exchange Agent may impose to cause an orderly exchange thereof in accordance
with normal practices. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.04,
each certificate representing SB Common Stock shall be deemed from and after
the
Effective Time to evidence only the right to receive cash and EWBC Common Stock
upon such surrender. EWBC shall not be obligated to deliver the consideration
to
which any former holder of SB Common Stock is entitled as a result of the Merger
until such holder surrenders a certificate or certificates representing such
shares of SB Common Stock for exchange as provided herein. If any certificate
for shares of SB Common Stock, or any check representing cash and/or declared
but unpaid dividends, is to be issued in a name other than that in which a
certificate surrendered for exchange is issued, the certificate so surrendered
shall be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and the
person requesting such exchange shall affix any requisite stock transfer tax
stamps to the certificate surrendered or provide funds for their purchase or
establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such taxes are not
payable.
(c) Affiliates.
Certificates surrendered for exchange by any person constituting an “affiliate”
of EWBC for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act, shall not be
exchanged for certificates representing whole shares of EWBC Common Stock until
EWBC has received an Affiliate Agreement from such person.
(d) No
Liability.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party hereto
shall be liable to any former holder of SB Common Stock for any amount properly
delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property,
escheat or similar laws.
(e) Voting
and Dividends.
Former shareholders of record of SB shall not be entitled to vote after the
Effective Time at any meeting of EWBC shareholders until such holders have
exchanged their certificates representing SB Common Stock for certificates
representing EWBC Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement. Until surrendered for exchange in accordance with the provisions
of
this Section 3.04, each certificate previously representing shares of SB Common
Stock (other than Dissenters’ Shares and Treasury Shares) shall from and after
the Effective Time represent for all purposes only the right to receive shares
of EWBC Common Stock, cash and cash in lieu of fractional shares, as set forth
in this Agreement. No dividends or other distributions declared or made after
the Effective Time with respect to EWBC Common Stock with a record date after
the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any certificate of SB Common
Stock with respect to the shares of EWBC Common Stock represented thereby,
until
the holder of such certificate of SB Common Stock shall surrender such
certificate. Subject to the effect of applicable laws, following surrender
of
any such certificates of SB Common Stock for which shares of EWBC Common Stock
are to be issued, there shall be paid to the holder of the certificates without
interest, (i) the amount of any cash payable with respect to a fractional share
of EWBC Common Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.03
and the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after
the
Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of EWBC Common
Stock, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to
surrender and a payment date subsequent to surrender payable with respect to
such whole shares of EWBC Common Stock.
(f) Withholding
Rights.
EWBC or the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of
shares of SB Common Stock such amounts as EWBC or the Exchange Agent is required
to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the
Code, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent that
amounts are so withheld by EWBC or the Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts
shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to
the
holder of the shares of SB Common Stock in respect of which such deduction
and
withholding was made by EWBC or the Exchange Agent.
SECTION
3.05 Anti-Dilution
Provisions.
In the event EWBC or SB changes (or establishes a record date for changing)
the
number of shares of EWBC Common Stock or SB Common Stock issued and outstanding
prior to the Effective Date as a result of a stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to the outstanding EWBC
Common Stock or SB Common Stock, as the case may be, and the record date
therefore shall be prior to the Effective Date, the Stock Portion and Per Share
Stock Consideration shall be proportionately adjusted. If, between the date
hereof and the Effective Time, EWBC shall merge, be acquired or consolidate
with, by or into any other corporation (a “Business Combination”) and the terms
thereof shall provide that EWBC Common Stock shall be converted into or
exchanged for the shares of any other corporation or entity, then provision
shall be made as part of the terms of such Business Combination so that
shareholders of SB who would be entitled to receive shares of EWBC Common Stock
pursuant to this Agreement shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of each share
of EWBC Common Stock issuable to such shareholders as provided herein, the
same
kind and amount of securities or assets as shall be distributable upon such
Business Combination with respect to one share of EWBC Common Stock (provided
that nothing herein shall be construed so as to release the acquiring entity
in
any such Business Combination from its obligations under this Agreement as
the
successor to EWBC).
SECTION
3.06 Dissenters’
Rights.
(a) Any
Dissenting Shareholder who shall be entitled to be paid the value of such
shareholder’s shares of SB Common Stock, as provided in 12 C.F.R. Section
552.14, shall not be entitled to the Merger Consideration in respect thereof
provided for under Section 3.02 unless and until such Dissenting Shareholder
shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such
Dissenting Shareholder’s right to dissent from the Merger under HOLA, and shall
be entitled to receive only the payment provided for by 12 C.F.R. Section 552.14
with respect to such Dissenters’ Shares.
(b) If
any Dissenting Shareholder shall fail to perfect or shall have effectively
withdrawn or lost such right to dissent, each share of SB Common Stock of such
Dissenting Shareholder shall be converted at EWBC’s discretion into the right to
receive the Per Share Cash Consideration or the Per Share Stock Consideration
to
be necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Merger as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(c) SB
shall give EWB prompt notice upon receipt by SB of any written demands for
dissenters’ rights, withdrawal of such demands, and any other documents received
or instruments served relating to Dissenting Shares and shall give EWB the
opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such
demands. SB shall not voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands
for dissenters’ rights and shall not, except with the prior written consent of
EWB, settle or offer to settle such demands. Each holder of Dissenting Shares
who becomes entitled to payment for his or her Dissenting Shares shall receive
payment therefore from EWB and such Dissenting Shares shall be
canceled.
ARTICLE
IV
ACTIONS
PENDING ACQUISITION
SECTION
4.01 Forbearances
of SB.
From the date hereof until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated
by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of EWBC, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, SB will not:
(a) Ordinary
Course.
Except as set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 4.01(a), and pursuant to the
terms
of Section 6.21 hereof, conduct the business of SB other than in the ordinary
and usual course or fail to use its best efforts to preserve intact its business
organizations and assets and maintain its rights, franchises and existing
relations with customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, take
any
action that would adversely affect or delay the ability of SB, EWBC or any
Subsidiaries of EWBC to perform any of their obligations on a timely basis
under
this Agreement, or take any action that would be reasonably likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect on SB.
(b) Capital
Stock.
(i) receive any new capital contribution; (ii) issue, sell or otherwise permit
to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional shares
of
stock or any Rights other than the exercise of Options specified on Schedule
5.03(b) of the SB Disclosure Schedule, (iii) enter into any agreement with
respect to the foregoing or (iv) permit any additional shares of stock to become
subject to grants of employee or director stock options, other Rights or similar
stock-based employee rights.
(c) Dividends;
Etc.
(i) except for dividends declared and paid in accordance with the past practices
of SB, make, declare, pay or set aside for payment any dividend on or in respect
of, or declare or make any distribution on any shares of stock or (ii) directly
or indirectly adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, purchase or otherwise
acquire, any shares of its capital stock.
(d) Compensation;
Employment Agreements; Etc.
Enter into or amend or renew any employment, consulting, severance or similar
agreements or arrangements with any director, officer or employee of SB or
grant
any salary or wage increase or increase any employee benefit (including
incentive or bonus payments), except (i) for normal individual increases in
compensation to employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, provided that no such increase shall result in an annual
adjustment of more than 5%, (ii) for other changes that are required by
applicable law, (iii) to satisfy contractual or other obligations existing
as of
the date hereof and set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 4.01(d), or (iv) for
grants of awards to newly hired employees consistent with past
practice.
(e) Hiring
and Terminations.
Hire any person as an employee of SB or promote any employee, except (i) to
satisfy contractual or regulatory obligations existing as of the date hereof
and
set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 4.01(e) and (ii) persons hired to fill
any
vacancies arising after the date hereof and whose employment is terminable
at
the will of SB, other than any person to be hired who would have a base salary,
including any guaranteed bonus or any similar bonus, considered on an annual
basis of more than $50,000.
(f) Benefit
Plans.
Enter into, establish, adopt or amend (except (i) as may be required by
applicable law or (ii) to satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the
date hereof and set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 4.01(f) or (iii) payments
under SB’s profit sharing plan paid in accordance with SB’s past practices) any
pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, savings, profit sharing,
deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group insurance or other employee
benefit, incentive or welfare contract, plan or arrangement, or any trust
agreement (or similar arrangement) related thereto, in respect of any employee,
officer, director, consultant or other service provider of SB or take any action
to accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any stock options, restricted
stock or other compensation or benefits payable thereunder.
(g) Dispositions.
Except as set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 4.01(g), as permitted by Section
4.01(a) and in accordance with Section 6.21, sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber
or otherwise dispose of or discontinue any of its assets, deposits, business
or
properties except in the ordinary course of business and in a transaction that,
together with all other such transactions, is not material to SB.
(h) Acquisitions.
Acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a
bona
fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in
good faith, in each case in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent
with past practice) all or any portion of the assets, business, deposits or
properties of any other entity except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and in a transaction that, together with all
other
such transactions, is not material to SB.
(i) Capital
Expenditures.
Except as set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 4.01(i), make any capital
expenditures other than capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice in amounts not exceeding $25,000 individually
or
$50,000 in the aggregate.
(j) Governing
Documents.
Amend the SB Charter or the SB By-Laws.
(k) Accounting
Methods.
Implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles, practices or
methods, other than as may be required by GAAP.
(l) Contracts.
Except as set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 4.01(l), as permitted under
Section 4.01(a) and Section 6,10(a) with respect to the payment of insurance
premiums or in accordance with Section 6.21, enter into, renew or terminate,
or
make any payment not then required under, any contract or agreement that calls
for aggregate annual payments of $25,000 or more and which is not terminable
at
will or with 60 days or less notice without payment of a premium or penalty,
other than loans and other transactions made in the ordinary course of the
banking business.
(m) Claims.
Enter into any settlement or similar agreement with respect to, or take any
other significant action with respect to the conduct of, any action, suit,
proceeding, order or investigation to which SB is or becomes a party after
the
effective date of this Agreement, which settlement, agreement or action involves
payment by SB of an amount, individually or for all such settlements, that
is
material to SB and/or would impose any material restriction on the business
of
the Surviving Bank or create precedent for claims that are reasonably likely
to
be material to SB.
(n) Adverse
Actions.
Knowingly take any action which could result in (i) any of its representations
and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue at any
time
at or prior to the Effective Time, (ii) any of the conditions to the Merger
set
forth in Article VII not being satisfied or (iii) a material violation of any
provision of this Agreement except as may be required by applicable law or
regulation.
(o) Risk
Management.
Except as required by applicable law or regulation of the OTS, (i) implement
or
adopt any material change in its interest rate and other risk management
policies, procedures or practices, (ii) fail to follow its existing policies
or
practices with respect to managing its exposure to interest rate and other
risk
or (iii) fail to use commercially reasonable means to avoid any material
increase in its aggregate exposure to interest rate risk.
(p) Indebtedness.
Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money (other than deposits, Federal Funds
borrowings and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco)
or
assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible
for the obligations of any other Person.
(q) Loans.
Make any loan, loan commitment or renewal or extension thereof to any Person
which would, when aggregated with all outstanding loans, commitments for loans
or renewals or extensions thereof made to such Person and any affiliate or
immediate family member of such Person, exceed $500,000 (or $1,000,000 in the
case of renewals of existing, passed rated credit) without submitting complete
loan package information to the chief credit officer of EWB for review with
a
right of comment at least two full Business Days prior to taking such action.
(r) Investments.
(i) Other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
in individual amounts not to exceed $1,000,000 or in securities transactions
as
provided in (ii) below, make any investment either by contributions to capital,
property transfers or purchase of any property or assets of any Person or (ii)
other than purchases of direct obligations of the United States of America
or
obligations of U.S. government agencies which are entitled to the full faith
and
credit of the United States of America, in any case with a remaining maturity
at
the time of purchase of two years or less, purchase or acquire securities of
any
type; provided, however, that in the case of investment securities, SB may
purchase investment securities if, within five Business Days after SB requests
in writing (which shall describe in detail the investment securities to be
purchased and the price thereof) that EWB consent to making of any such
purchase, EWB has approved such request in writing or has not responded in
writing to such request.
(s) Taxes.
Take any action which would materially adversely affect the tax position of
SB
or its successor after the Merger.
(t) Commitments.
Agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.
SECTION
4.02 Forbearances
of EWBC.
From the date hereof until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated
by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of SB, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld, EWBC will not, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries not to:
(a) Ordinary
Course.
Take any action reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on EWBC’s ability to
perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Adverse
Actions.
Knowingly take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result
in
(i) any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being
or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time at or prior to the
Effective Time, (ii) any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article
VII not being satisfied or (iii) a material violation of any provision of this
Agreement except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.
(c) Commitments.
Agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
5.01 Disclosure
Schedules.
SB shall deliver a schedule to EWBC (the “SB Disclosure Schedule”) and EWBC
shall deliver a schedule to SB (the “EWBC Disclosure Schedule”), (collectively,
the “Disclosure Schedules”) on or prior to the effective date of this Agreement,
setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary
or
appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained
in
a provision of this Agreement or as an exception to one or more representations
or warranties contained in Section 5.03 or Section 5.04, respectively, or to
one
or more of their respective covenants contained in Article VI. If delivered
after the date hereof, any material adverse disclosure not previously provided
to EWBC shall entitle EWBC to terminate the Agreement in its sole discretion
as
provided in Article VIII. Items listed on the Disclosure Schedules shall only
be
considered exceptions to the specific Sections for which such item is scheduled.
SECTION
5.02 Standard.
No representation or warranty of EWBC, EWB or SB contained in Sections 5.03
or
5.04, respectively, shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and no party hereto
shall be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence
of the existence of any fact, event or circumstance unless such fact,
circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other facts,
events or circumstances inconsistent with any representation or warranty
contained in Section 5.03 or 5.04, has had or is reasonably likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect on the party making such representation or warranty.
SECTION
5.03 Representations
and Warranties of SB.
Subject to Sections 5.01 and 5.02 and except as set forth in the SB Disclosure
Schedule with respect to a particular Section, SB hereby represents and warrants
to EWBC and EWB:
(a) Organization,
Standing and Authority.
SB is a federally chartered savings association duly licensed by and in good
standing with the OTS, and its deposits are insured by the FDIC through the
Bank
Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund in the manner and
to
the fullest extent provided by law.
(b) SB
Capital Stock.
As of the date hereof, the only authorized capital stock of SB consists of
3,500,000 shares of SB Common Stock, of which 227,400 shares are issued and
outstanding. There are 1,500,000 shares of preferred stock authorized with
none
of such preferred stock outstanding. As of the date hereof, no shares of SB
Common Stock were held in treasury by SB or otherwise owned by SB. SB has no
stock option plan nor any stock option issued, granted, outstanding or
exercisable except as provided in Schedule 5.03(b) of the SB Disclosure
Schedule. The outstanding shares of SB Common Stock have been duly authorized
and are validly issued and outstanding, and subject to no preemptive rights
(and
were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights). There are no authorized
shares of SB Common Stock that are reserved for issuance except as provided
in
Schedule 5.03(b) of the SB Disclosure Schedule. SB does not have any other
Rights issued or outstanding with respect to SB Common Stock. SB does not have
any commitment to authorize, issue or sell any SB Common Stock.
(c) Subsidiaries;
Equity Investments.
(i) SB
has no Subsidiaries.
(ii) SB
does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or
similar interests of any Person or any interests of any Person or any interest
in a partnership or joint venture of any kind, except as shown on SB Disclosure
Schedule 5.03(c).
(d) Corporate
Power.
SB has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is
now
being conducted and to own all its properties and assets; and SB has the
corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary
to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(e) Corporate
Authority and Approvals.
Subject to approval hereof by the SB shareholders, this Agreement has been
authorized by all necessary corporate action of SB. Subject to receipt of the
required approvals, consents or waivers of Governmental Authorities referred
to
in Section 5.03(g), this Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of SB
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement
in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equity principles.
(i) The
affirmative vote or written consent of at least 66.7% of the outstanding shares
of SB Common Stock is the only shareholder vote or consent required for approval
of this Agreement and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby.
(ii) The
SB Disclosure Schedule lists all directors of SB and all holders of more than
5%
of the SB Common Stock and identifies all SB loans to and deposits from such
persons and, to the knowledge of SB, identifies all SB loans to and deposits
from affiliates or companies controlled by such Persons.
(f) Board
Resolutions.
As of the date hereof, with respect to each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
below, SB’s board of directors, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at
a meeting duly called and held, has duly (i) determined that this Agreement
and
the Merger are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of SB and its
shareholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Merger and (iii) recommended
that its shareholders approve this Agreement and the Merger.
(g) Regulatory
Approvals; No Violations.
(i) No
consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with,
any
Governmental Authority or with any third party are required to be made or
obtained by SB or any Subsidiary of SB in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by SB of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger
except for (A) filings of applications or notices with, and approvals or waivers
by, the Federal Reserve Board, the OTS and any other Regulatory Authority,
as
may be required, (B) filings with state securities authorities and (C) the
approval of this Agreement by the holders of at least 66.67% of the outstanding
shares of SB Common Stock. As of the date hereof, SB is not aware of any reason
why the approvals set forth in Section 7.01(b) will not be received without
the
imposition of a condition, restriction or requirement of the type described
in
Section 7.01(b), except as described on SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(g).
(ii) Subject
to receipt of the approvals referred to in Section 5.03(g)(i), and the
expiration of related waiting periods, and required filings under federal and
state securities laws, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by SB and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
do not and will not (A) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under,
or give rise to any Lien, any acceleration of remedies or any right of
termination under, any law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order,
governmental permit or license, or agreement, indenture or instrument of SB
or
to which SB or any of its respective properties is subject or bound, (B)
constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the SB Charter or
the
SB By-Laws (or similar governing documents), or (C) require any consent or
approval under any such law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, order,
governmental permit or license, agreement, indenture or instrument.
(h) Financial
Reports; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(i) The
consolidated balance sheet of SB as of December 31, 2004, and the related
consolidated statements of income, cash flow and changes in financial position
of SB for the three years then ended, audited by Deloitte & Touche, and the
consolidated balance sheet of SB as of September 30, 2005, and the related
consolidated statements of income, cash flow and changes in financial position
of SB for the nine month period then ended, fairly present the financial
position of SB as of such dates and the results of the operations of SB for
the
periods then ended, all in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (or in
accordance with regulatory accounting principles to the extent different from
GAAP and required by a Regulatory Authority to which SB is subject). The books
and records of SB have been, and are being, maintained in accordance with GAAP
and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.
(ii) SB
has timely filed all reports, registrations and statements, together with any
amendments required to be made with respect thereto, required to be filed since
December 31, 2002 with any Regulatory Authority (collectively, the “Regulatory
Filings”) and all other material reports and statements required to be filed by
it since December 31, 2002, including, without limitation, any report or
statement required to be filed pursuant to the laws of the United States and
the
rules and regulations of the OTS and any other Regulatory Authority, and has
paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith. As of
their respective dates, such reports, registrations and statements complied
in
all material respects with all the laws, rules and regulations of the applicable
Regulatory Agency with which they were filed.
(iii) Since
December 31, 2004, SB has not incurred any liability other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise contemplated
by
this Agreement.
(iv) Since
December 31, 2004, (A) SB has conducted its business in the ordinary and usual
course consistent with past practice (excluding the incurrence of expenses
related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby) and (B)
no
event has occurred or circumstance arisen that, individually or taken together
with all other facts, circumstances and events (described in any paragraph
of
this Section 5.03 or otherwise), has had or could be reasonably likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to SB.
(i) Litigation.
Except as set forth on SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(i), no litigation, claim
or
other proceeding before any court or governmental agency is pending against
SB
and, to SB’s knowledge, no such litigation, claim or other proceeding has been
threatened and there are no facts which could reasonably give rise to such
litigation, claim or other proceeding.
(j) Regulatory
Matters.
Except as set forth on SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(j):
(i) SB
is not, directly or indirectly, party to or subject to any order, decree,
agreement, memorandum of understanding or similar arrangement with, or a
commitment letter or similar submission to, or extraordinary supervisory letter
from, any federal or state governmental agency or authority charged with the
supervision or regulation of financial institutions or issuers of securities
or
engaged in the insurance of deposits (including, without limitation, the OTS)
or
the supervision or regulation of it (collectively, the “Regulatory
Authorities”). SB has paid all assessments made or imposed by any Regulatory
Authority.
(ii) SB
has not been advised by, nor does it have any knowledge of facts which could
give rise to an advisory notice by, any Regulatory Authority that such
Regulatory Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering
the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order, decree, agreement,
memorandum of understanding, commitment letter, supervisory letter or similar
submission.
(k) Compliance
With Laws.
Except as set forth on SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(k), SB:
(i) is
in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes,
laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable
thereto or to the employees conducting such businesses, including, without
limitation, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the
Community Reinvestment Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Bank Secrecy
Act, Title III of the USA Patriot Act and all other applicable fair lending
laws
and other laws relating to discriminatory business practices;
(ii) has
all permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and has made
all
filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental Authorities
that
are required in order to permit it to own or lease its properties and to conduct
its businesses as presently conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates
of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to SB’s
knowledge, no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened; and
(iii) has
received, since December 31, 2004, no notification or communication from any
Governmental Authority (A) asserting that SB is not in compliance with any
of
the statutes, regulations or ordinances which such Governmental Authority
enforces or (B) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or
governmental authorization (nor, to SB’s knowledge, do any grounds for any of
the foregoing exist).
(l) Contracts;
Defaults.
(i) Except
as set forth on SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(l), SB is not a party to, bound
by
or subject to any agreement, contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
(whether written or oral) (i) that is a “material contract” within the meaning
of Item 601(b)(10) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K or (ii) that materially restricts
the conduct of business by SB. Except as set forth on SB Disclosure Schedule
5.03(l), SB is not in default under any contract, agreement, commitment,
arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument to which it is a party,
by which its assets, business, or operations may be bound or affected, or under
which it or its assets, business, or operations receives benefits, and there
has
not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice
or
both, would constitute such a default. No power of attorney or similar
authorization given directly or indirectly by SB is currently outstanding.
SB
Disclosure Schedule 5.03(l) also sets forth a true and complete list of all
third party consents or waivers required to be obtained so as not to be in
default under any contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance
policy or other instrument to which SB is a party as a result of the transaction
contemplated hereby.
(ii) SB
is not party to any oral or written (A) consulting agreement not terminable
on
30 days’ or less notice, (B) agreement with any executive officer or other key
employee of SB the benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which
are
materially altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving SB of the
nature contemplated by this Agreement, (C) agreement with respect to any
employee of SB providing any term of employment or compensation guarantee,
(D)
agreement or plan, including any stock option plan, stock appreciation rights
plan, restricted stock plan or stock purchase plan, any of the benefits of
which
will be increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which will be accelerated,
by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or
the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of
any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (E) agreement which requires
the payment of referral fees or commissions or other fees in connection with
deposits, loans or any other business, (F) agreement containing covenants that
limit the ability of SB to compete in any line of business or with any person,
or that involves any restriction on the geographic area in which, or method
by
which, SB may carry on its business (other than as may be required by law or
any
Regulatory Authorities) or exclusive dealing contract that limits the ability
of
SB to contract with certain persons or to directly engage in certain activities,
or (G) agreement which requires further payments over the remaining term of
the
contract in excess of $100,000.
(m) No
Brokers.
No action has been taken by SB that would give rise to any valid claim against
any party hereto for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(n) Employee
Benefit Plans.
(i) All
benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies or arrangements covering
current or former employees, including officers, of SB and current or former
directors, consultants and other service providers of SB including, but not
limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
ERISA, and deferred compensation, stock option, stock purchase, stock
appreciation rights, stock based, incentive and bonus plans (the “Benefit
Plans”), are set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(n). True and complete
copies of all Benefit Plans and all amendments thereto and all documents related
thereto have been provided or made available to EWBC, including but not limited
to (i) the Form 5500 for each Benefit Plan (if applicable) for each of the
three
most recent plan years for which such forms are required to have been filed,
(ii) the most recent determination letter from the IRS (if applicable) for
such
Benefit Plan, (iii) a copy of the most recent summary plan description required
for such Benefit Plan under ERISA (if applicable), (iv) a copy of the trust
instruments(s), insurance contract(s) and other funding agreement(s) forming
a
part of any Benefit Plan, and (v) the latest financial statements of the Benefit
Plan (if applicable).
(ii) All
Benefits Plans have been operated and administered in accordance with their
terms and applicable law, including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code.
Except as set forth on SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(n)(ii), each Benefit Plan
which is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2)
of ERISA (“Pension Plan”) and which is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code does so qualify, and SB has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such
qualification covering all tax law changes with respect to which Internal
Revenue Service determination letters can be issued, and no circumstances have
occurred that are likely to result in revocation of any such favorable
determination letter or the loss of the qualification of such Pension Plan
under
Section 401(a) of the Code. There is no pending or threatened litigation
relating to any of the Benefits Plans. Neither SB nor any ERISA Affiliate (as
defined below) has engaged in a transaction, taken any action or failed to
take
any action or to meet any requirement with respect to any Benefit Plan or
Pension Plan that, assuming the taxable period of such transaction expired
as of
the date hereof, could subject SB to a tax or penalty imposed by any of Sections
4971, 4972, 4975, 4976, 4977, 4978, 4979, 4980, 4980B, 4980D, 4980E, 4980F,
or
4980G, of the Code or Sections 409 or 502(i) of ERISA.
(iii) No
liability under of Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred
by
SB with respect to any ongoing, frozen or terminated “single-employer plan”,
within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly
maintained by it, or the single-employer plan of any entity which is considered
one employer with SB under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code
(an
“ERISA Affiliate”), and SB is not aware of any condition that presents a
significant risk to SB or any ERISA Affiliate of incurring any liability
thereunder. Neither SB nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever participated in any
“multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA. SB has
not incurred, and it does not expect to incur, any withdrawal liability with
respect to a multiemployer plan under Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA
(regardless of whether based on contributions of an ERISA Affiliate). No notice
of a “reportable event,” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which
the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived, has been required to
be
filed for any Pension Plan or by any ERISA Affiliate within the 12-month period
ending on the date hereof or will be required to be filed in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(iv) All
contributions required to be made under the terms of any Benefit Plan have
been
timely made. All contributions to each Benefit Plan in respect of all current
and prior plan years have been accrued in accordance with GAAP and are reflected
in SB’s financial statements. Neither any Pension Plan nor any single-employer
plan of an ERISA Affiliate has an “accumulated funding deficiency” (whether or
not waived) within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
ERISA, and neither SB nor any ERISA Affiliate has an outstanding funding waiver.
SB has not provided, nor is it required to provide, security to any Pension
Plan
or to any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section
401(a)(29) of the Code.
(v) Under
each Pension Plan which is a single-employer plan, as of the last day of the
most recent plan year ended prior to the date hereof, the actuarially determined
present value of all “benefit liabilities,” within the meaning of Section
4001(a)(16) of ERISA (as determined on the basis of the actuarial assumptions
contained in the Pension Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation and on a
termination basis), did not exceed the lesser of the actuarial value or the
then
current value of the assets of such Pension Plan, and there has been no material
change in the financial condition of such Pension Plan since the last day of
the
most recent plan year.
(vi) SB
has no obligation to provide any current or former employee, officer, director,
consultant or other service provider health, disability or life benefits beyond
his or her retirement or other termination of service under any Benefit Plan,
other than healthcare continuation coverage mandated by applicable law. SB
may
amend or terminate any Benefit Plan at any time without incurring any liability
thereunder.
(vii) Except
as set forth on SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(n)(vii), none of the execution
of
this Agreement, shareholder approval of this Agreement or consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will, either alone or in combination
with any other event, (A) entitle any current or former employee, officer,
director, consultant or other service provider of SB to severance pay or any
other payment or benefit, or any increase in severance pay or any other payment
or benefit upon any termination of employment or other relationship after the
date hereof, (B) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or trigger any
payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of compensation or
benefits under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other material
obligation pursuant to, any of the Benefit Plans, (C) result in any breach
or
violation of, or a default under, any of the Benefit Plans or (D) result in
any
payment that would be a “parachute payment” to a “disqualified individual” as
those terms are defined in Section 280G of the Code, without regard to whether
such payment is reasonable compensation for personal services performed or
to be
performed in the future. SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(n)(vii) categorizes any
such exceptions according to the categories above and sets forth the amounts
of
any such payments to the persons listed thereon.
(viii) No
Benefit Plan that is subject to section 409A of the Code fails to meet any
requirement of Section 409A of the Code that would result in any Benefit Plan
participant having liability for additional interest or the 20% addition to
tax
under such section of the Code.
(o) Labor
Matters.
SB is not a party to nor bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract
or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization,
nor is it the subject of a proceeding asserting that it has committed an unfair
labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or
seeking to compel SB to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or
conditions of employment, nor is there any strike or other labor dispute
involving it or, to SB’s knowledge, threatened, nor is SB aware of any activity
involving its employees seeking to certify a collective bargaining unit or
engaging in other organizational activity.
(p) Environmental
Matters.
(i) SB has complied at all times with applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) no
real property (including buildings or other structures) currently or formerly
owned or operated by SB, or any property in which SB has held a security
interest, Lien or a fiduciary or management role (“SB Loan Property”), has been
contaminated with, or has had any release of, any Hazardous Substance that
could
reasonably be expected to result in liability to SB arising out of any
Environmental Law; (iii) neither SB nor any Subsidiary of SB could be deemed
the
owner or operator of any SB Loan Property under any Environmental Law which
such
SB Loan Property has been contaminated with, or has had any release of, any
Hazardous Substance; (iv) SB is not subject to liability for any Hazardous
Substance disposal or contamination on any third party property; (v) SB has
not
received any notice, demand letter, claim or request for information alleging
any violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Law; (vi) SB is not
subject to any order, decree, injunction or other agreement with any
Governmental Authority or any third party relating to any Environmental Law;
(vii) there are no circumstances or conditions (including the presence of
asbestos, underground storage tanks, lead products, polychlorinated biphenyls,
prior manufacturing operations, dry-cleaning, or automotive services) involving
SB, any currently or formerly owned or operated property, or any SB Loan
Property, that could reasonably be expected to result in any claims, liability
or investigations against SB, result in any restrictions on the ownership,
use,
or transfer of any property pursuant to any Environmental Law, or adversely
affect the value of any SB Loan Property and (viii) SB has made available to
EWBC copies of all environmental reports, studies, sampling data,
correspondence, filings and other environmental information in its possession
or
reasonably available to it relating to SB, and any currently or formerly owned
or operated property or any SB Loan Property.
As
used herein, the term “Environmental Laws” means any federal, state or local
law, regulation, order, decree, permit, authorization, opinion, common law
or
agency requirement relating to: (A) the protection or restoration of the
environment, health, safety, or natural resources, (B) the handling, use,
presence, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance
or
(C) noise, odor, wetlands, indoor air, pollution, contamination or any injury
or
threat of injury to persons or property in connection with any Hazardous
Substance and the term “Hazardous Substance” means any substance in any
concentration that is: (A) listed, classified or regulated pursuant to any
Environmental Law, (B) any petroleum product or by-product, asbestos-containing
material, lead-containing paint or plumbing, polychlorinated biphenyls,
radioactive materials or radon or (C) any other substance which is or may be
the
subject of regulatory action by any Governmental Authority in connection with
any Environmental Law.
(q) Tax
Matters.
(i) Except
as set forth SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(q)(i), SB has:
(A) duly
and timely filed (including applicable extensions granted without penalty)
all
Tax Returns required to be filed by it, and such Tax Returns are true, correct
and complete;
(B) timely
paid in full all Taxes required to be paid by it; and
(C) made
adequate provision in the financial statements of SB (in accordance with GAAP)
for all Taxes not yet due.
(ii) Except
as set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(q)(ii), no deficiencies for any
Taxes have been proposed, asserted, assessed or, threatened in writing against
or with respect to SB.
(iii) Except
as set forth in SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(q)(iii) of the:
(A) there
are no Liens for Taxes upon the assets of SB except for statutory Liens for
current Taxes not yet due;
(B) SB
has not requested any extension of time within which to file any Tax Returns
in
respect of any fiscal year which have not since been filed and no request for
waivers of the time to assess any Taxes are pending or outstanding;
(C) no
federal, state, local or foreign audits or other administrative proceedings
or
court proceedings are presently pending with regard to any Taxes (other than
federal or state income Taxes) of SB, and SB has not received a written notice
of any claims, audits or proceedings with respect to such Taxes;
(D) with
respect to each taxable period of SB, the federal and state income Tax Returns
of SB have not been audited by the Internal Revenue Service or appropriate
state
tax authorities or the time for assessing and collecting income Tax with respect
to such taxable period has closed and such taxable period is not subject to
review;
(E) SB
has not filed or been included in a combined, consolidated or unitary income
Tax
Return other than one in which SB was the parent of the group filing such Tax
Return;
(F) SB
is not a party to any agreement providing for the allocation, sharing, or
indemnification of Taxes;
(G) SB
is not required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a)
of the Code (or any similar or corresponding provision or requirement of state,
local or foreign income Tax law), by reason of the voluntary change in
accounting method (nor has any taxing authority proposed any such adjustment
or
change of accounting method);
(H) no
closing agreements, private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or
similar agreement or ruling have been entered into or issued by any taxing
authority with respect to SB within five years of the effective date of this
Agreement, and no such agreement or ruling has been applied for and is currently
pending;
(I) SB
has not amended any Tax Returns or entered into any settlement or compromise
of
any income tax liability of SB;
(J) SB
has not granted in writing any power of attorney which is currently in force
with respect to any Taxes or Tax Returns;
(K) SB
has not constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled
corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a
distribution of stock to which Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section
356 of the Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code) applies and which
occurred within two years of the effective date of this Agreement;
(L) no
claim has been made in writing in any jurisdiction where SB does not file Tax
Returns that any such entity is, or may be, subject to Tax by that
jurisdiction;
(M) SB
has not filed a consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to
have
Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f)
asset
(as such term is defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by SB;
(N) SB
has not executed or entered into a closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121
of
the Code or any predecessor provision thereof or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign law;
(O) SB
has not been a “United States real property holding corporation” within the
meaning of Section 897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in
897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code;
(P) SB
has not engaged in a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury
Regulations Section 1.6011-4; and
(Q) as
of the date hereof, SB has no reason to believe that any conditions exist or
will exist that might prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(r) Risk
Management Instruments.
SB is not a party to nor has it agreed to enter into an exchange traded or
over-the-counter equity, interest rate, foreign exchange or other swap, forward,
future, option, cap, floor or collar or any other contract that is not included
on the balance sheet and is a derivatives contract (including various
combinations thereof) (each, a “Derivatives Contract”) or owns securities that
(i) are referred to generically as “structured notes,” “high risk mortgage
derivatives,” “capped floating rate notes” or “capped floating rate mortgage
derivatives” or (ii) are likely to have changes in value as a result of interest
or exchange rate changes that significantly exceed normal changes in value
attributable to interest or exchange rate changes, except for those Derivatives
Contracts and other instruments legally purchased or entered into in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with safe and sound banking practices
and regulatory guidance. All of such Derivatives Contracts or other instruments,
are legal, valid and binding obligations of SB, as the case may be, enforceable
in accordance with their terms (except as enforcement may be limited by general
principles of equity whether applied in a court of law or a court of equity
and
by bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and
remedies generally), and are in full force and effect. SB has duly performed
in
all material respects all of their material obligations thereunder to the extent
that such obligations to perform have accrued; and, to SB’s knowledge, there are
no breaches, violations or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by
any
party thereunder which have had or could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on SB.
(s) Books
and Records.
The books and records of SB have been fully, properly and accurately maintained
in all material respects, and there are no material inaccuracies or
discrepancies of any kind contained or reflected therein, and they fairly
present the financial position of SB.
(t) Insurance.
SB Disclosure Schedule 5.03(t) sets forth a true and complete list of all of
the
insurance policies, binders, or bonds maintained by SB (“Insurance Policies”).
SB is insured with reputable insurers against such risks and in such amounts
as
the management of SB reasonably has determined to be prudent in accordance
with
industry practices against such risks as companies engaged in a similar business
would customarily be insured. Insurance applications for policies that are
currently in force are complete and accurate. All the Insurance Policies are
in
full force and effect; SB is not in material default thereunder; and all claims
thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion.
(u) Allowance
For Loan Losses.
SB’s Allowance for Loan Losses (“ALL”) is, and shall be as of the Effective
Date, in compliance with SB’s existing methodology for determining the adequacy
of its ALL as well as the standards established by applicable Governmental
Authorities and the Financial Accounting Standards Board and is and shall be
adequate under all such standards.
(v) Trust
Business.
SB does not have trust powers.
(w) Real
Property.
(i) SB
Disclosure Schedule 5.03(w) contains a complete and correct list of (A) all
real
property or premises owned on the date hereof, in whole or in part by SB and
all
indebtedness secured by any encumbrance thereon, and (B) all real property
or
premises leased in whole or in part by SB and together with a list of all
applicable leases and the name of the lessor. None of such premises or
properties have been condemned or otherwise taken by any public authority and
no
condemnation or taking is threatened or contemplated and none thereof is subject
to any claim, contract or law which might affect its use or value for the
purposes now made of it. None of the premises or properties of SB is subject
to
any current or potential interests of third parties or other restrictions or
limitations that would impair or be inconsistent in any material respect with
the current use of such property by SB, as the case may be.
(ii) Each
of the leases referred to in the SB Disclosure Schedule is valid and existing
and in full force and effect, and no party thereto is in default and no notice
of a claim of default by any party has been delivered to SB or is now pending,
and there does not exist any event that with notice or the passing of time,
or
both, would constitute a default or excuse performance by any party thereto,
provided that with respect to matters relating to any party other than SB,
the
foregoing representation is based on the knowledge of SB.
(x) Title.
SB has good title to its properties and assets (other than (i) property as
to which it is lessee and (ii) real estate owned as a result of foreclosure,
transfer in lieu of foreclosure or other transfer in satisfaction of a debtor’s
obligation previously contracted) except (1) statutory Liens not yet delinquent
which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and Liens
for taxes not yet due, (2) pledges of assets in the ordinary course of business
to secure public deposits, (3) for those assets and properties disposed of
for
fair value in the ordinary course of business since the date of SB’s call report
dated as of and for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 and (4) defects and
irregularities of title and encumbrances that do not materially impair the
use
thereof for the purposes for which they are held.
(y) Intellectual
Property.
SB owns or possesses valid and binding licenses and other rights to use (without
payment) all material trade secrets, trade names, trademarks, service marks,
inventions and processes used in its businesses; and SB has received no notice
of conflict with respect thereto that asserts a right of others. SB has in
all
material respects performed all the obligations required to be performed by
it
and is not in default in any material respect under any contract, agreement,
arrangement or commitment relating to any of the foregoing.
(z) Past
Actions.
SB has not extended or renewed any extension of credit in material violation
of
its applicable policies, applicable laws, regulations or administrative orders
or interpretations. Since December 31, 2003, there have not been any acts of
dishonesty, self-dealing or any breach of any statutory, contractual or
fiduciary duties, or duty of loyalty on the part of any of the directors, or
officers of SB in connection with their duties and responsibilities at
SB.
SECTION
5.04 Representations
and Warranties of EWBC and EWB.
Subject to Sections 5.01 and Section 5.02, EWBC hereby represent and
warrant to SB as follows:
(a) Organization,
Standing and Authority of EWBC.
EWBC is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of
the State of Delaware. EWBC is duly qualified to do business and is in good
standing in the states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where
its
ownership or leasing of property or assets or the conduct of its business
requires it to be so qualified. EWBC has in effect all federal, state, local,
and foreign governmental authorizations necessary for it to own or lease its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now conducted.
(b) Organization,
Standing and Authority of EWB.
EWB is duly licensed by and in good standing with the Commissioner, and its
deposits are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association
Insurance Fund in the manner and to the fullest extent provided by law. EWB
is
duly authorized to conduct a general banking business and is qualified and
in
good standing in the states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions
where
its ownership or leasing of property or assets or the conduct of its business
requires it to be so qualified. EWB has in effect all federal, state, local,
and
foreign governmental authorizations necessary for it to own or lease its
properties and assets and to carry on its banking business as it is now
conducted.
(c) EWBC
Stock.
(i) As
of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of EWBC consists solely of
200,000,000 shares of EWBC Common Stock, of which, as of December 19, 2005,
56,519,891 shares are issued and outstanding, and 5,000,000 shares of EWBC
Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and outstanding.
(ii) As
of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of EWB consists of 50,000,000
shares of EWB Common Stock, of which 23,775,000 are issued and outstanding.
(iii) The
shares of EWBC Common Stock to be issued in exchange for shares of SB Common
Stock in the Merger, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the
issuance thereof is not subject to any preemptive right.
(d) Subsidiaries.
Each of EWBC’s Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and is
duly qualified to do business and in good standing in the jurisdictions where
its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires
it
to be so qualified and it owns, directly or indirectly, all the issued and
outstanding equity securities of each of its Significant Subsidiaries.
(e) Corporate
Power.
EWBC and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate power and authority to
carry
on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all its properties
and
assets; each of EWBC and EWB has the corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform their obligations under this Agreement and to consummate
the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(f) Corporate
Authority.
This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized
by
all necessary corporate action of the boards of directors of EWBC and EWB.
This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of EWBC and EWB and
this
Agreement is a valid and legally binding agreement of EWBC and EWB enforceable
in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights or by general equity principles).
(g) Regulatory
Approvals; No Violations.
(i) No
consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with,
any
Governmental Authority or with any third party are required to be made or
obtained by EWBC or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by EWBC or EWB of this Agreement or to consummate the
Merger except for (A) filings of applications or notices with and approvals
or waivers by the Federal Reserve Board, the OTS, the California Secretary
and
the Commissioner, as may be required, (B) filings with the SEC and state
securities authorities, as may be required, (C) the approval of the listing
on
Nasdaq of the EWBC Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, (D) such filings
as
are required to be made or approvals as are required to be obtained under the
securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection with the issuance
of EWBC Common Stock in the Merger, and (E) the filing of the executed Agreement
of Merger with the Commissioner. As of the date hereof, EWBC is not aware of
any
reason why the approvals set forth in Section 7.01(b) will not be received
in a timely manner and without the imposition of a condition, restriction or
requirement of the type described in Section 7.01(b).
(ii) Subject
to receipt, or the making, of the consents, approvals and filings referred
to in
the preceding paragraph and expiration of the related waiting periods, the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by EWBC and EWB and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (A)
constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, or give rise to any
Lien, any acceleration of remedies or any right of termination under, any law,
rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or
license, or Agreement, indenture or instrument of EWBC or of any of its
Subsidiaries or to which EWBC or any of its Subsidiaries or properties is
subject or bound, (B) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default
under, the EWBC Certificate or EWBC By-Laws (or similar governing documents)
or
any of its Subsidiaries or (C) require any consent or approval under any such
law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or license,
agreement, indenture or instrument.
(h) Financial
Reports and SEC Documents; Material Adverse Effect.
(i) EWBC’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and
all
other reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements or
information statements filed or to be filed by it subsequent to December 31,
2004 under the Securities Act, or under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the
Exchange Act in the form filed or to be filed (collectively, “SEC Documents”)
with the SEC, as of the date filed or to be filed, (A) complied or will comply
in all material respects as to form with the applicable requirements under
the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be and (B) did not and
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and each of the balance sheets contained in or incorporated by
reference into any such SEC Document (including the related notes and schedules
thereto) fairly presents, or will fairly present, the financial position of
EWBC
and its Subsidiaries as of its date, and each of the statements of income and
changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows or equivalent statements in such
SEC Documents (including any related notes and schedules thereto) fairly
presents, or will fairly present, the results of operations, changes in
shareholders’ equity and changes in cash flows, as the case may be, of EWBC and
its Subsidiaries for the periods to which they relate, in each case in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except
in
each case as may be noted therein.
(ii) Since
December 31, 2004, EWBC and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective
businesses in the ordinary and usual course consistent with past practice
(excluding the incurrence of expenses related to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby) and no event has occurred or circumstance
arisen that, individually or taken together with all other facts, circumstances
and events (described in any paragraph of this Section 5.04 or otherwise),
is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to EWBC or
its
Subsidiaries.
(iii) Except
as disclosed on EWBC Disclosure Schedule 5.04(h), since December 31, 2004,
neither EWBC nor any of its Subsidiaries have incurred any liability other
than
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement.
(i) Litigation.
Except as set forth on EWBC Disclosure Schedule 5.04(i), no litigation, claim
or
other proceeding before any court or governmental agency is pending against
EWBC
or its Subsidiaries, and to EWBC and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, no such
litigation, claim or other proceeding has been threatened and there are no
facts
which could reasonably give rise to such litigation, claim or other proceeding.
(j) No
Brokers.
No action has been taken by EWBC or its Subsidiaries that would give rise to
any
valid claim against any party hereto for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or
other like payment with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(k) Environmental
Matters.
(i) EWBC and its Subsidiaries have complied at all times with applicable
Environmental Laws; (ii) no real property (including buildings or other
structures) currently or formerly owned or operated by EWBC or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any property in which EWBC or any of its Subsidiaries has
held
a security interest, Lien or a fiduciary or management role (collectively,
“EWBC
Loan Property”), has been contaminated with, or has had any release of, any
Hazardous Substance; (iii) neither EWBC nor any of its Subsidiaries could be
deemed the owner or operator of any EWBC Loan Property under any Environmental
Law which such EWBC Loan Property has been contaminated with, or has had any
release of, any Hazardous Substance; (iv) neither EWBC nor any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to liability for any Hazardous Substance disposal or
contamination on any third party property; (v) neither EWBC nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received any notice, demand letter, claim or request for
information alleging any violation of, or liability under, any Environmental
Law; (vi) neither EWBC nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any order,
decree, injunction or other agreement with any Governmental Authority or any
third party relating to any Environmental Law; and (vii) to EWBC’s
knowledge, there are no circumstances or conditions (including the presence
of
asbestos, underground storage tanks, lead products, polychlorinated biphenyls,
prior manufacturing operations, dry-cleaning, or automotive services) involving
EWBC or its Subsidiaries, any currently or formerly owned or operated property,
or any EWBC Loan Property, that could reasonably be expected to result in any
claims, liability or investigations against EWBC or its Subsidiaries, result
in
any restrictions on the ownership, use, or transfer of any property pursuant
to
any Environmental Law, or adversely affect the value of any EWBC Loan Property.
(l) Insurance.
EWBC and its Subsidiaries are insured with reputable insurers against such
risks
and in such amounts as the management of EWBC and its Subsidiaries reasonably
has determined to be prudent in accordance with industry practices.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
SECTION
6.01 Reasonable
Best Efforts.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of EWBC, EWB and
SB
agrees to use their reasonable best efforts in good faith to take, or cause
to
be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary,
proper or desirable, or advisable under applicable laws, so as to permit
consummation of the Merger as promptly as practicable and otherwise to enable
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, including
the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article VII hereof, and shall
cooperate fully with the other parties hereto to that end.
SECTION
6.02 Shareholders’
Approval.
(a) SB
and EWB shall prepare a joint prospectus and proxy statement to be mailed as
promptly as possible to SB shareholders in connection with the required approval
of the SB shareholders of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby (referred to together hereafter as the “Information Statement”). SB shall
(i) duly call, give notice of, convene, and hold a meeting of its shareholders
to be held as soon as practicable following the date hereof for the purpose
of
obtaining the requisite shareholder approvals required in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; and (ii) through its board
of directors, unanimously recommend to its shareholders approval of such
matters. The Information Statement shall include such information as is required
in connection with the registration of the EWBC Common Stock to be issued at
the
Effective Time or such information as is required in connection with a permit
application pursuant to Section 25121 of the CGCL, as determined by the mutual
agreement of the parties. The Information Statement shall include the
recommendation of the board of directors of SB in favor of the Agreement and
the
Merger and the conclusion of the board of directors of SB that the terms and
conditions of the Merger are fair and reasonable to the SB. Anything to the
contrary contained herein notwithstanding, SB shall not include in the
Information Statement any information with respect to EWB or its affiliates
or
associates, the form and content of which information shall not have been
approved by EWB prior to such inclusion. SB represents and covenants that the
Information Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the date
of
mailing to shareholders of SB and the date of the meeting of SB’s shareholders
to be held in connection with the Agreement and the Merger will not contain
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that SB makes no representations or covenants with respect to information
provided to SB in writing by EWB specifically for inclusion in the Information
Statement and EWB hereby represents that any such information so provided by
EWB
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The parties shall cooperate with each other in the preparation
of
the Information Statement and SB shall provide EWB an opportunity to review
and
comment upon a final draft of the Information Statement prior to its mailing
to
SB’s shareholders.
(b) Certain
SB shareholders have executed the Shareholder Agreement attached hereto as
Exhibit
A
providing that they shall vote all SB Common Stock in which they have a
beneficial interest in favor of the Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
SECTION
6.03 Registration
of Securities.
The EWBC Common Stock to be exchanged for the SB Common Stock shall, as mutually
agreed upon by the parties, either be: (i) registered with the SEC pursuant
to a
form of registration (the “Registration Statement”) mutually agreed upon by the
parties; or (ii) exempt from registration with the SEC as a result of a fairness
review (“Fairness Review”) under Section 25142 of the CGCL, as amended. As
expeditiously as practicable after the Effective Time the parties shall make
a
determination of whether to register the securities or seek a fairness review,
and in any event within thirty (30) days of such determination, EWBC
shall:
(a) As
applicable, either: (i) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement
and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become and
remain effective for one year from the Effective Time and shall use its best
efforts to comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC in preparing and
filing such Registration Statement or; (ii) prepare and file a permit
application with the California Department of Corporations pursuant to Section
25121 of the CGCL, including exhibits and a request for a hearing before the
California Commissioner of Corporations, and shall use its best efforts to
comply with the rules and regulations of the California Commissioner of
Corporations in preparing and filing such permit application;
(b) As
applicable, either; (i) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary
to
keep the Registration Statement effective for a period of not less than one
year
from the date of issuance of the EWBC Common covered by such Registration
Statement or; (ii) take any action requested by the California Commissioner
of
Corporations in connection with the required hearing and thereafter to obtain
the permit to be issued pursuant to Section 25121 of the CDCL (“Permit”);
(c) As
applicable, make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the Permit at
the
earliest practicable time;
(d) As
applicable, either on or prior to the date on which the Registration Statement
is declared effective or on or prior to obtaining the Permit, use its best
efforts to register or qualify the EWBC Common Stock covered by such
Registration Statement or Permit under all applicable state laws;
(e) Use
its reasonable best efforts to list, on the Nasdaq the shares of EWBC Common
Stock to be issued to the shareholders in the Merger.
All
of the costs and expenses of each registration or permit hereunder will be
borne
by EWBC, including all registration and filing fees and the fees and expenses
of
EWBC’s counsel and accountants.
SECTION
6.04 Press
Releases.
EWBC and SB shall consult with each other before issuing any press release
with
respect to the Merger or this Agreement and shall not issue any such press
release or make any such public statements without the prior consent of the
other party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that
a
party may, without the prior consent of the other party (but after such
consultation, to the extent practicable in the circumstances), issue such press
release or make such public statements as may upon the advice of outside counsel
be required by law or the rules or regulations of Nasdaq. EWBC and SB shall
cooperate to develop all public announcement materials and make appropriate
management available at presentations related to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement as reasonably requested by the other party.
SECTION
6.05 Access;
Information.
(a) SB
agrees that upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws relating
to
the exchange of information, it shall afford EWBC and EWBC’s officers,
employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives such access
during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time
to the books, records (including, without limitation, Tax Returns and work
papers of independent auditors), properties and personnel and to such other
information as EWBC may reasonably request and, during such period, it shall
furnish promptly to EWBC all information concerning its business, properties
and
personnel as EWBC may reasonably request.
(b) Without
limiting the generality of Section 6.05(a), prior to the Effective Time, EWBC
and its respective representatives shall have the right to conduct a review
to
determine (i) that the assets, books, records and operations of SB are in
satisfactory condition and will not in a material way adversely impact EWBC
after consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) the accuracy
of the representations and warranties and the satisfaction of the conditions
to
closing as provided hereunder.
(c) SB
agrees that, subject to applicable laws, it shall cooperate in good faith with
EWBC on mutually agreed operating issues which the parties agree have priority.
(d) EWBC
agrees that, upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws relating
to
the exchange of information, it shall afford SB and its authorized
representatives such access to EWBC’s books and records as SB may reasonably
request.
SECTION
6.06 Confidential
Information.
Each party agrees that it will not, and will cause its representatives not
to,
use any information obtained pursuant to Section 6.05 (as well as any other
information obtained prior to the date hereof in connection with the entering
into of this Agreement) for any purpose unrelated to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of
law,
each party shall keep confidential, and shall cause its representatives to
keep
confidential, all information and documents obtained pursuant to Section 6.05
(as well as any other information obtained prior to the date hereof in
connection with the entering into of this Agreement) unless such information
(i)
was already known to such party, (ii) becomes available to such party from
other
sources not known by such party to be bound by a confidentiality obligation,
(iii) is disclosed with the prior written approval of the party to which such
information pertains or (iv) is or becomes readily ascertainable from publicly
available sources. In the event that this Agreement is terminated or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall otherwise fail to be
consummated, (A) each party shall promptly cause all copies of documents or
extracts thereof containing information and data as to another party hereto
to
be returned to the party which furnished the same; (B) SB shall not, on the
one
hand, nor shall EWBC or EWB, on the other hand, and each of the parties shall
cause its respective representatives not to, use any confidential information
to
solicit customers of the other party; and (C) for one year after such
termination, SB shall not, on the one hand, nor shall EWBC or EWB, on the other
hand, and each of the parties shall cause its respective representatives not
to,
solicit the services of any employee of such other party for purposes of
engaging them as an employee, agent, consultant or independent contractor of
such soliciting party, provided, however, that neither party will be barred
from
retaining the services, in any capacity, of any current employee of the other
party in the event such employee approaches such party with the intent of
securing employment with such party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein shall prevent the parties hereto from any general advertising or
recruitment activities not directed specifically at the employees of the other
party hereto. No investigation by any party of the business and affairs of
any
other party shall affect or be deemed to modify or waive any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement, or the conditions to any
party’s obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
SECTION
6.07 Acquisition
Proposals.
SB agrees that its officers, directors and affiliates shall not, and it shall
direct and use its reasonable best efforts to cause its employees, agents and
representatives not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit or otherwise
encourage any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer with respect
to a
merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation or similar transaction
involving, or any purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of SB
or
more than 10% of the outstanding equity securities, of SB (any such proposal
or
offer being hereinafter referred to as an “Acquisition Proposal”). SB further
agrees that it and none of its officers, directors and affiliates shall, and
it
shall direct and use its reasonable best efforts to cause its employees, agents
and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, engage in any negotiations
concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or have any
discussions with, any Person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise
facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal.
SB
agrees that it will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore
with respect to any Acquisition Proposals. SB agrees that it will take the
necessary steps to promptly inform the individuals referred to in the foregoing
sentence of the obligations undertaken in this Section 6.07. SB
agrees that it will notify EWBC promptly, but in no event later than the second
succeeding Business Day, if any such inquiries, proposals or offers are received
by, any such information is requested from, or any such discussions or
negotiations are sought to be initiated or continued with, any of its
representatives, indicating, in connection with such notice, the name of such
Person and the material terms and conditions of any proposal or
offer.
SECTION
6.08 Certain
Policies.
Prior to the Effective Date, SB shall, consistent with GAAP and applicable
banking laws and regulations, modify or change its loan, OREO, accrual, reserve,
tax, litigation and real estate valuation policies and practices (including
loan
classifications and levels of reserves) so as to be applied on a basis that
is
consistent with that of EWBC.
SECTION
6.09 Regulatory
Applications.
(a) Each
of EWBC and SB shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable best efforts
to prepare and file, or cause to be filed, all documentation, to effect all
necessary notices, reports and other filings and to obtain all permits,
consents, approvals and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained
from any third parties and/or Governmental Authorities in order to consummate
the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
and
any initial filings with Governmental Authorities (other than the Registration
Statement) shall be made by EWBC as soon as reasonably practicable after the
execution hereof but, provided that SB has cooperated as described above, in
no
event later than 45 days after the date hereof. Each of EWBC and SB shall
have the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each shall
consult with the other, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to
the
exchange of information, with respect to all material written information
submitted to any third party and/or any Governmental Authority in connection
with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
In exercising the foregoing right, each of such parties agrees to act reasonably
and as promptly as practicable. Each party hereto agrees that it shall
consult with the other parties hereto with respect to the obtaining of all
material permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties
and/or Governmental Authorities necessary or advisable to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each party shall keep the other
parties apprised of the status of material matters relating to completion of
the
transactions contemplated hereby (including promptly furnishing the other with
copies of notices or other communications received by EWBC or SB, as the case
may be, from any third party and/or Governmental Authority with respect to
the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
(b) Each
party agrees, upon request, to furnish the other parties with all information
known to it (which knowledge shall be deemed to include knowledge which could
be
acquired after reasonable due inquiry) concerning itself, its Subsidiaries,
directors, advisory directors, officers and shareholders and such other matters
as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with any filing,
notice or application made by or on behalf of such other parties to any third
party or Governmental Authority.
SECTION
6.10 Indemnification
by EWBC.
(a) Following
the Effective Time, EWBC or EWB shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each
present and former director and officer of SB (each, an “Indemnified Party”)
against all costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments,
fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities (collectively, “Costs”) incurred
in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of actions or
omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including, without
limitation, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any related
agreement, but excluding any Costs arising out of any violation or alleged
violation of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder) to the
same extent as directors or officers under the EWB Articles and the EWB By-Laws,
as in effect on the date hereof; provided that any determination required to
be
made with respect to whether an officer’s or director’s conduct complies with
the standards set forth in the EWB Articles or the EWB By-Laws shall be made
by
independent counsel selected by EWBC and reasonably acceptable to the
Indemnified Party; and provided, further, that in the absence of judicial
precedent to the contrary, such counsel, in making such determination, shall
presume such officer’s or director’s conduct complied with such standard and
EWBC shall have the burden to demonstrate that such officer’s or director’s
conduct failed to comply with such standard.
For
a period of one to three years (as the parties may reasonably agree prior to
the
Effective Time) from the Effective Time, EWBC shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to provide that portion of director’s and officer’s liability
insurance that serves to reimburse the present and former officers and directors
(determined as of the Effective Time) of SB (as opposed to the portion that
serves to reimburse SB) with respect to claims against such directors and
officers arising from facts or events which occurred before the Effective Time,
which insurance shall contain at least the same coverage and amounts, and
contain terms and conditions no less advantageous, as that coverage currently
provided by SB; provided,
however,
that officers and directors of SB may be required to make application and
provide customary representations and warranties to EWBC’s insurance carrier for
the purpose of obtaining such insurance.
(b) Any
Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under Section 6.10(a), upon
learning of any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation described
above, shall promptly notify EWBC thereof; provided that the failure so to
notify shall not affect the obligations of EWBC under Section 6.10(a) unless
and
to the extent that EWBC is actually prejudiced as a result of such failure.
In
the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether
arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) EWBC shall have the right
to assume the defense thereof and EWBC shall not be liable to such Indemnified
Party for any legal expenses or other counsel or any other expenses subsequently
incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense
thereof,
provided,
however,
that any Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent
such Indemnified Party if (A) the Indemnified Party and EWBC shall have so
mutually agreed; (B) EWBC has failed within a reasonable time to retain
counsel; (C) the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in
addition to those available to EWBC; or (D) the named parties in any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnified Party,
on the one hand, and EWBC or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, and
representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them,
and
in any such events the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be
paid
by EWBC; (ii) the Indemnified Party will cooperate in the defense of any
such matter and (iii) EWBC shall not be liable for any settlement effected
without its prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, further, that EWBC shall not have
any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party if and when a court of
competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine, and such determination shall
have become final, that the indemnification of such Indemnified Party in the
manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law.
(c) If
EWBC or any of its successors or assigns shall (i) consolidate with or merge
into any other entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving entity of
such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfer all or substantially all of its
assets to any other entity, then and in each case, proper provision shall be
made so that the successors and assigns of EWBC shall assume the obligations
set
forth in this Section 6.10.
SECTION
6.11 Benefit
Plans.
(a) Prior
to the Effective Time, SB shall take all action necessary to terminate any
and
all 401(k) Plans SB maintains and any other Benefit Plan that EWB may
specify.
(b) EWB
agrees that as of and following the Effective Time, the employees of SB as
of
the Effective Time who are offered and who accept employment with EWBC or EWB
(the “Former SB Employees”) shall be eligible to participate in EWBC’s or EWB’s
employee benefit plans in which the similarly situated employees of EWBC or
EWB
participate, to the same extent as such similarly situated employees of EWBC
or
EWB participate.
(c) With
respect to each employee benefit plan, program, policy or arrangement maintained
by EWBC or EWB for the benefit of current employees of EWBC or EWB (each such
plan, program, policy or arrangement, an “EWB Plan”), EWBC and EWB agrees that
for purposes of determining eligibility to participate and vesting (but not
for
benefit accrual purposes), service with SB shall be treated as service with
EWBC
or with EWB; provided, however, that such service shall not be recognized to
the
extent that such recognition would result in a duplication of benefits. To
the
extent permitted by any insurer of an EWB Plan, EWB shall cause such EWB Plan
to
waive (i) any pre-existing condition restriction that did not apply under the
terms of any analogous Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time
and
(ii) any waiting period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement
which
would otherwise be applicable to a Former SB Employee on or after the Effective
Time to the extent such Former SB Employee had satisfied any similar limitation
or requirement under an analogous Benefit Plan prior to the Effective Time
and
shall cause such EWB Plan to give each Former SB Employee credit for amounts
paid under any analogous Benefit Plan for purposes of applying deductibles,
co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums as though such amounts had been paid
in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the EWB Plan.
SECTION
6.12 Future
Employment.
(a) EWB
shall have the right but not the obligation to offer employment immediately
following the Effective Time to any and all persons who are expected to be
officers and employees of SB immediately before the Effective Time. SB will
provide EWBC and EWB with information regarding such persons’ current employment
arrangements with SB and will otherwise assist EWBC and EWB in making such
offers.
(b) SB
shall establish an employee severance and retention plan (the "New Plan") that
is acceptable to EWB for SB employees whose positions are eliminated and who
do
not accept other mutually agreeable employment with EWB and for retention
payments payable to some or all SB employees who are offered employment with
EWB. The New Plan shall replace and be in lieu of any existing employee
severance and retention policies of SB. All severance payments under the New
Plan shall provide for the execution of a severance agreement satisfactory
to
EWB as a condition to receipt of payments, which shall provide for (i) release
of claims, (ii) confidentiality of information, and (iii) no solicitation of
EWB
customers or employees for a period of one year after the Effective Time.
All
retention bonus payments under the New Plan provide for the execution of a
retention receipt agreement satisfactory to EWB as a condition to receipt of
payments, which shall provide for (x) release of claims, (y) confidentiality
of
information, and (z) no solicitation of the Surviving Bank’s customers or
employees for a period of one year after the Effective Time.
SECTION
6.13 Notification
of Certain Matters.
Each of SB and EWBC shall give prompt notice to the other of any fact, event
or
circumstance known to it that (i) is reasonably likely, individually or taken
together with all other facts, events and circumstances known to it, to result
in any Material Adverse Effect with respect to it or (ii) would cause or
constitute a material breach of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements contained herein.
SECTION
6.14 Human
Resources Issues.
SB agrees to cooperate with EWB with respect to any formal meetings or
interviews with one or more employees called or arranged by SB and held for
the
purpose of discussing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or their
effect on such employees, with EWB given the opportunity to participate in
such
meetings or interviews. This section is not intended to apply to casual
conversations about the transaction or informal meetings initiated by employees,
or to prohibit discussion in general, but rather to allow EWB a role in the
formal presentation of the transaction to employees, and an opportunity to
participate in the significant, formal meetings at which the transaction is
explained and discussed.
SECTION
6.15 Assistance
with Third-Party Agreements.
(a) SB
shall cooperate with and use all commercially reasonable efforts to assist
EWB
in (i) gaining access to and obtaining any required consents from all of its
third-party vendors, landlords of all of their leased properties and other
parties to material agreements, promptly after the effective date of this
Agreement, and (ii) obtaining the cooperation of such third parties in a smooth
transition in accordance with EWB’s timetable at or after the Effective Time. SB
shall cooperate with EWB in minimizing the extent to which any contracts will
continue in effect following the Effective Time, in addition to complying with
the prohibition of Section 4.01(l) hereof.
(b) Without
limiting Section 6.15(a), SB shall use all reasonable efforts to provide data
processing and other processing support to assist EWB in performing all tasks
reasonably required to result in a successful conversion of SB data and other
files and records to EWB’s production environment at such time as EWB requests
or after the Effective Time. Among other things, SB shall:
(i) cooperate
with EWB to establish a mutually agreeable project plan to effectuate the
conversion;
(ii) use
its commercially reasonable efforts to have SB’s outside contractors continue to
support both the conversion effort and its needs until the conversion can be
established;
(iii) provide,
or use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from any outside
contractors, all data or other files and layouts requested by EWB for use in
planning the conversion, as soon as reasonably practicable;
(iv) provide
reasonable access to personnel at corporate headquarters, data and other
processing centers, all branches and, with the consent of outside contractors,
at outside contractors, to enable the conversion effort to be completed on
schedule; and
(v) to
the extent reasonably practicable, give notice of termination, conditioned
upon
the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby, of the contracts of
outside data and other processing contractors or other third-party vendors
when
directed to do so by EWB.
(vi) EWB
agrees that all actions taken pursuant to this Section 6.15 shall be taken
in a manner intended to minimize disruption to the customary business activities
of SB.
SECTION
6.16 Additional
Agreements.
In case at any time after the Effective Time any further action is necessary
or
desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest EWBC or EWB
with full title to all properties, assets, rights, approvals, immunities and
franchises of SB, the proper officers and directors of each party to this
Agreement shall take all necessary or appropriate action.
SECTION
6.17 Tax
Treatment of the Merger.
The parties intend the Agreement to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for
all
U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each party will (and EWBC will cause each
of
its Subsidiaries to) both before and after the Effective Time (i) use
reasonable efforts to cause the Agreement to so qualify; and (ii) refrain from
taking any action that would reasonably be expected to cause the Agreement
to
fail to so qualify.
SECTION
6.18 Non-Solicitation
& Confidentiality Agreements.
SB shall deliver to EWBC Non-Solicitation & Confidentiality Agreements,
substantially in the form of Exhibit
B
hereto, executed by each of the Persons listed on Exhibit
B-1,
on or before the Effective Date.
SECTION
6.19 Other
Shareholder Agreements.
(a) SB
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each person who is,
at
the time this Agreement is submitted to the SB shareholders for approval or
consent, an “affiliate” of SB for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act
to execute and deliver to EWB a written agreement (the “Affiliate Agreement”),
in the form of Exhibit
D
hereto, providing that such person shall dispose of the EWB Common Stock to
be
received by such person in the Merger only in accordance with applicable law.
SECTION
6.20 Minimum
ALL.
As of the Effective Date, SB’s ALL shall not be less than 100% of the amount of
its ALL as of September 30, 2005.
SECTION
6.21 Pre-Closing
Adjustments and Minimum Closing Shareholders’ Equity.
At or before the Effective Time, as determined by SB and EWBC, SB shall make
such accounting entries or adjustments, including additions to its ALL and
charge-offs of loans (collectively, “Pre-Closing Adjustments”) as EWBC shall
direct as a result of its on-going review of SB (including its review of the
information provided to it pursuant to Sections 6.05 and 6.15) or in order
to
implement its plans following the Effective Time or to reflect expenses and
costs related to the Merger; provided, however, that unless the adjustment
would
otherwise be required by applicable law, rule or regulation, or by regulatory
accounting principles and GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the financial
statements of SB, no such adjustment shall (i) violate any law, rule or
regulation applicable to EWBC, or (ii) otherwise materially disadvantage SB
if
the Merger was not consummated. As of the Effective Time, “Minimum Closing
Shareholders’ Equity”, as calculated below, shall not be less than 100% of
Shareholders’ Equity. “Minimum Closing Shareholders’ Equity” shall be calculated
as follows: SB’s shareholders’ equity as of the Effective Time, calculated
according to GAAP, shall be adjusted by: adding
(a) payments made or accrued by SB prior to the Effective Time under the New
Plan as provided in Section 6.12(b); (b) Transaction Expenses paid or accrued
by
SB prior to the Effective Time; and (c) Pre-Closing Adjustments; and by
subtracting
the amount of the increase in SB’s shareholders’ equity as a result of the
exercise of Options.
SECTION
6.22 FIRPTA
Certificate.
SB shall have furnished to EWB and EWBC a certification that SB is not a United
States real property holding corporation, dated not more than 30 days prior
to
the Effective Date, in compliance with Treasury Regulations Sections
1.1445-2(c)(3) and 1.897-2(h), in a form reasonably satisfactory to EWB.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
SECTION
7.01 Conditions
to the Parties’ Obligations to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of the parties hereto to consummate the Merger is
subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by the parties hereto prior to
the
Effective Time of each of the following conditions:
(a) Shareholder
Approvals.
This Agreement and the Merger have been duly approved by the affirmative written
consents or the affirmative votes of the shareholders and the boards of
directors of SB, EWB and EWBC in accordance with applicable law. Said approvals,
including the Shareholder Agreement, shall continue in effect and shall not
have
been revoked.
(b) Regulatory
Approvals.
All regulatory approvals required to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Merger, shall have been obtained and shall remain in
full
force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof shall
have
expired and no such approvals shall contain any conditions, restrictions or
requirements which the board of directors of EWBC reasonably determines in
good
faith would (i) following the Effective Time, have a Material Adverse Effect
on
EWBC and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) reduce the benefits of the
transactions contemplated hereby to such a degree that EWBC would not have
entered into this Agreement had such conditions, restrictions or requirements
been known at the date hereof.
(c) No
Injunction; No Litigation.
No Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued,
promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation, judgment,
decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent)
which is in effect and prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(f) Tax
Opinion.
SB and EWBC shall have received the opinion of Manatt, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx,
LLP, dated the Effective Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to
SB and EWBC, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and
assumptions set forth in such opinion, which are assumed in the opinion to
be
consistent with the state of facts existing at the Effective Time, the Merger
more likely than not will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a
reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering its opinion,
Manatt, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, LLP, may require and rely upon representations
contained in letters from EWBC, EWB or SB and/or their officers or principal
shareholders as are customary for such opinions.
SECTION
7.02 Conditions
to Obligation of SB to Effect the Merger.
The obligation of SB to consummate the Merger is also subject to the fulfillment
or written waiver prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties; Agreements and Covenants.
The representations and warranties of EWBC set forth in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct as of the effective date of this Agreement and as of the
Effective Date as though made on and as of the Effective Date (except that
representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of the effective
date of this Agreement or some other date shall be true and correct as of such
date). For purposes of this paragraph, such representations and warranties
shall
be deemed to be true and correct in all material respects unless the failure
or
failures of such representations and warranties to be true and correct in all
material respects, either individually or in the aggregate, and without giving
effect to any materiality, material adverse effect or similar qualifications
set
forth in such representations and warranties, will have or would reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on EWBC. EWBC shall have performed,
in all material respects, each of its covenants and agreements contained in
this
Agreement. SB shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date,
signed on behalf of EWBC and EWB by authorized executive officers of EWBC and
EWB to such effect.
SECTION
7.03 Conditions
to Obligation of EWBC.
The obligation of EWBC and EWB to consummate the Merger is also subject to
the
fulfillment or written waiver prior to the Effective Time of each of the
following conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties; Agreements and Covenants.
The representations and warranties of SB set forth in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct as of the effective date of this Agreement and as of the
Effective Date as though made on and as of the Effective Date (except that
representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of the effective
date of this Agreement or some other date shall be true and correct as of such
date). For purposes of this paragraph, such representations and warranties
shall
be deemed to be true and correct in all material respects unless the failure
or
failures of such representations and warranties to be true and correct in all
material respects, either individually or in the aggregate, and without giving
effect to any materiality, material adverse effect or similar qualifications
set
forth in such representations and warranties, will have or would reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SB. SB shall have performed,
in
all material respects, each of its covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement.
(b) SB
Disclosure Schedule.
The SB Disclosure Schedule shall be updated and made current as of the day
prior
to the Effective Date and a draft of the updated SB Disclosure Schedule shall
have been delivered to EWBC no later than 72 hours prior to the Effective Time;
such update of the SB Disclosure Schedule shall not in any way affect the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.03 and
7.03(a).
(c) Performance
of Obligations of SB.
SB shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to
be
performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.
(d) Consents.
SB shall have obtained each of the material consents listed in SB Disclosure
Schedule 5.03(l).
(e) Affiliate
Agreements.
All Affiliate Agreements required pursuant to Section 6.19 shall have been
executed and delivered to EWB.
(f) Officers’
Certificate.
EWBC and EWB shall have received a certificate from SB, dated the Effective
Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
of
SB verifying that SB is in compliance with all of the requirements of Sections
7.03(a), (b), (c) and (d).
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
SECTION
8.01 Termination
by Mutual Consent.
This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time
prior to the Effective Time by the mutual written consent of EWBC, EWB, and
SB
by action of their respective boards of directors.
SECTION
8.02 Termination
by Either EWBC, EWB or SB.
(a) This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior
to
the Effective Time by action of the board of directors of either EWBC or EWB,
on
the one hand, or SB, on the other hand, in the event:
(i) The
SB Disclosure Schedule delivered after the date hereof contains a material
adverse disclosure as determined in the sole discretion of the receiving party.
(ii) The
Merger is not consummated by June 30, 2006 except to the extent that the failure
of the Merger then to be consummated arises out of or results from the knowing
action or inaction of (A) the party seeking to terminate pursuant to this
Section 8.02(a), or (B) any
of SB shareholders that are parties to the Shareholder Agreement (if SB is
the
party seeking to terminate), which action or inaction is in violation of their
obligations under this Agreement.
(iii) The
approval of any Governmental Authority required for consummation of the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been denied
by final and nonappealable action of such Governmental Authority or an
application therefor shall have been permanently withdrawn at the invitation,
request or suggestion of a Governmental Authority.
(b) This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior
to
the Effective Time:
(i) by
action of the EWBC board of directors: in the event of (A) a breach by SB
of any representation or warranty contained herein, which breach cannot be
or
has not been cured within 30 days after the giving of written notice to SB
of
such breach, (B) a material breach by SB of any of the covenants or
agreements contained herein, which breach cannot be or has not been cured within
30 days after the giving of written notice to SB of such breach, (C) SB or
any
of the other Persons described in Section 6.07 as affiliates,
representatives or agents of SB shall take any of the actions that would be
proscribed by Section 6.07, (D) SB shall have breached Section 6.07 or
the SB board of directors shall have adopted any resolution inconsistent with
its approval of this Agreement or the Merger, or failed to reconfirm its
recommendation of this Agreement within five (5) Business Days after a
written request by EWBC to do so or any SB shareholder that is a party to the
Shareholder Agreement has taken any action inconsistent with the execution
of
the Shareholder Agreement, (E) the holders of at least 66.67% of the outstanding
SB Common Stock fail to approve this Agreement and the Merger.
(ii) by
action of the SB board of directors: in the event of (A) a breach by EWBC
or EWB of any representation or warranty contained herein, which breach cannot
be or has not been cured within 30 days after the giving of written notice
to
EWB of such breach, or (B) a material breach by EWBC or EWB of any of the
covenants or agreements contained herein, which breach cannot be or has not
been
cured within 30 days after the giving of written notice to EWBC and EWB of
such
breach, or (C) in order to pursue an acquisition target other than, and instead
of, SB, the
EWBC board of directors shall have adopted any resolution inconsistent with
its
approval of this Agreement or the Merger, or failed to reconfirm its
recommendation of this Agreement within five (5) Business Days after a
written request by SB to do so.
(c) For
purposes of Section 8.02(b), the representations and warranties contained
herein shall be deemed to have been breached by any of SB, EWBC or EWB only
if
the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct,
either individually or in the aggregate, and without giving effect to any
materiality, material adverse effect or similar qualifications set forth in
such
representations and warranties, will have or would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the breaching party.
SECTION
8.03 Effect
of Termination and Abandonment.
(a) In
the event of termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger
pursuant to this Article VIII, this Agreement (other than as set forth in
Section 9.01) shall become void and of no effect with no liability or
further obligation on the part of any party hereto (or of any of its directors,
officers, employees, agents, legal and financial advisors or other
representatives); provided, however, except as otherwise provided herein, no
party shall otherwise be relieved of any liability or damages resulting from
any
breach of this Agreement.
(b) In
the event that this Agreement is terminated by EWBC pursuant to
Section 8.02(b)(i) (A) or (B), then, no later
than two (2) Business Days following
such termination, SB shall pay
the Liquidated Damaged Amount to EWB by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an EWB account specified by EWB.
(c) In
the event that this Agreement is terminated by SB pursuant to
Section 8.02(b)(ii) (A) or (B), then, no later
than two (2) Business Days following
the termination, EWB shall pay
the Liquidated Damages Amount
to SB by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an SB
account specified by SB.
(d) SB
and EWBC
agree that the agreements contained in paragraphs (b) and (c) above
are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, that
without such agreements EWBC and SB would not have entered into this Agreement,
and that such amounts specified therein do not constitute a penalty. If
the applicable party fails to promptly pay to the other party the amounts due
under paragraph (b) or (c) above within the time period specified
therein, the party required to make payment thereunder shall pay all costs
and
expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the other party in connection
with any action, including the filing of any lawsuit, taken to collect payment
of such amounts, together with interest on the amount of any such unpaid amounts
at the publicly announced prime rate of EWB from the date such amounts were
required to be paid.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
9.01 Survival.
All representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained in this
Agreement shall survive for one year following the Effective Time (other than
Sections 6.06, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.16, 6.19, as specifically provided in Article
VIII, this Article IX which shall survive the Effective Time indefinitely unless
otherwise specifically provided therein) or the termination of this Agreement
if
this Agreement is terminated prior to the Effective Time.
SECTION
9.02 Waiver;
Amendment.
Prior to the Effective Time, any provision of this Agreement may be (i) waived
in whole or in part by the party benefited by the provision or by all parties
or
(ii) amended or modified at any time, by an agreement in writing among the
parties hereto executed in the same manner as this Agreement.
SECTION
9.03 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to constitute an original but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
SECTION
9.04 Governing
Law, Jurisdiction and Venue.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the
laws of the State of California (however, not to the exclusion of any applicable
Federal law), without regard to California statutes or judicial decisions
regarding choice of law questions. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to
the
jurisdiction of the courts of the State of California and the federal courts
of
the United States of America located in the Southern District of the State
of
California solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the
provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to in this Agreement,
and in respect of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, and hereby
waive, and agree to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding
for
the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such documents, that it
is
not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought
or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be
appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced
in
or by such courts, and the parties hereto irrevocably agree that all claims
with
respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such
California state or federal court. The parties hereby consent to and grant
any
such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties and over the subject
matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in
connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section
9.06 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and
sufficient service thereof.
SECTION
9.05 Expenses.
Each party hereto will bear all expenses incurred by it in connection with
this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby except as otherwise
specifically provided.
SECTION
9.06 Notices.
All notices, requests and other communications hereunder to a party shall be
in
writing and shall be deemed given if personally delivered, telecopied (with
confirmation) or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested) to such party at its address set forth below or such other address
as
such party may specify by notice to the parties hereto.
If
to SB:
ARTICLE
II. Standard
Bank
ARTICLE
III. 000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
ARTICLE
IV. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
ARTICLE
V. Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxx, Chairman of the Board,
President
and Chief Executive Officer
ARTICLE
VI. Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
ARTICLE
VII. Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
With
a copy to:
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq. and
X.
X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Manatt,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, LLP
00000
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
(000)
000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
If
to EWBC or EWB to:
ARTICLE
VIII. Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
ARTICLE
IX. Executive
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
ARTICLE
X. East
West Bancorp, Inc.
ARTICLE
XI. 000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
ARTICLE
XII. Xxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE
XIII. Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
ARTICLE
XIV. Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
With
a copy to:
ARTICLE
XV. Xxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx, Esq.
XxXxxxxxx,
Xxxxx & Xxxxxx
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
ARTICLE
XVI. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE
XVII. Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
ARTICLE
XVIII. Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
ARTICLE
XIX.
SECTION
9.07 Entire
Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Agreement, the Disclosure Schedules attached hereto and incorporated
herein, and the exhibits to the Agreement represent the entire understanding
of
the parties hereto and thereto with reference to the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby and this Agreement, the Disclosure Schedules attached hereto
and incorporated herein, and the exhibits to the Agreement, supersede any and
all other oral or written agreements heretofore made. Except for
Sections 6.10, nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended
to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto or their respective
successors, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason
of this Agreement.
SECTION
9.08 Effect.
No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to require SB, EWBC, EWB
or
any Subsidiaries, affiliates or directors of any of them to take any action
or
omit to take any action which action or omission would violate applicable law
(whether statutory or common law), rule or regulation.
SECTION
9.09 Severability.
Except to the extent that application of this Section 9.09 would have a Material
Adverse Effect on SB, EWBC or EWB, any term or provision of this Agreement
which
is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of
this
Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted
to be only so broad as is enforceable.
SECTION
9.10 Enforcement
of the Agreement.
The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that
any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with
their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that
the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction,
this
being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or
in
equity.
SECTION
9.11 Interpretation.
When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections, Exhibits or Disclosure
Schedules, such reference shall be to a Section of, or Exhibit or Disclosure
Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents
and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
are
not part of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or
“including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words “without limitation”.
[Signature
page follows this page]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
in
counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year
first
above written.
EAST
WEST BANCORP, INC.
|
EAST
WEST BANK
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
|
By:
|
/s/
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
|
|
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Title: Executive
Vice President
|
Title: Executive
Vice President
|
|||
STANDARD
BANK
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXX X. XXX
|
|||
Name: Xxxx
X. Xxx
|
||||
Title: Chairman
of the Board, President and Chief Financial Officer
|
||||
EXHIBIT
A
SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
A-1
PERSONS
EXECUTING SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
B
NON-SOLICITATION
& CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
B-1
PERSONS
EXECUTING NON-SOLICITATION & CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
Xxxx
X. Xxx
EXHIBIT
C
AGREEMENT
OF MERGER
EXHIBIT
D
AFFILIATE
AGREEMENT
40959084.2