EXHIBIT 99.2
THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO
CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN AND TO
RESALE RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated March 16, 2008, between The Bear
Xxxxxxx Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Issuer"), and JPMorgan Chase &
Co., a Delaware corporation ("Grantee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and Plan
of Merger of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement"), which agreement has
been executed by the parties hereto in connection with this Stock Option
Agreement (the "Agreement")
WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger
Agreement and in consideration therefor, Issuer has agreed to grant Grantee the
Option (as hereinafter defined); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable
option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up to 29,000,000
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Issuer's Common Stock, par value $1.00
per share ("Common Stock"), at a price of $2.00 per share (the "Option Price");
provided, however, that in no event shall the number of shares of Common Stock
for which this Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the Issuer's issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock without giving effect to any shares subject
to or issued pursuant to the Option. The number of shares of Common Stock that
may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price are subject
to adjustment as herein set forth.
(b) In the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are
either (i) issued or otherwise become outstanding after the date of this
Agreement (other than pursuant to this Agreement) or (ii) redeemed, repurchased,
retired or otherwise cease to be outstanding after the date of this Agreement,
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option shall be increased or
decreased, as appropriate, so that, after such issuance, such number equals
19.9% of the number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding
without giving effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option.
Nothing contained in this Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be
deemed to authorize Issuer or Grantee to breach any provision of the Merger
Agreement.
2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the Option,
in whole or part, and from time to time, if, but only if, both an Initial
Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) and a Subsequent Triggering Event (as
hereinafter defined) shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise
Termination Event (as hereinafter defined), provided that the Holder shall have
sent the written notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (g) of this
Section 2) within 180 days following such Subsequent Triggering Event.
(b) Each of the following shall be an "Exercise Termination Event":
(i) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger; (ii)
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the provisions thereof
(other than a termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.1(d)) (unless the
breach by Issuer giving rise to such right of termination is non-volitional)) if
such termination occurs prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event;
and (iii) the passage of 18 months after termination of the Merger Agreement if
such termination follows the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event or is a
termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.1(d) (unless the breach by Issuer
giving rise to such right of termination is non-volitional) of the Merger
Agreement.
(c) The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the
Option.
(d) The term "Initial Triggering Event" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (each an "Issuer
Subsidiary"), without having received Grantee's prior written consent,
shall have entered into an agreement to engage in an Acquisition
Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the term "person"
for purposes of this Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto in
Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder) other
than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries (each a "Grantee Subsidiary") or
the Board of Directors of Issuer shall have recommended that the
stockholders of Issuer approve or accept any Acquisition Transaction with
any person other than Grantee or a Subsidiary of Grantee. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (w) a merger,
consolidation or share exchange, or any similar transaction, involving
Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (as defined in Rule 1-02 of
Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC")) of Issuer, (x) a purchase, lease or other acquisition or
assumption of all or a substantial portion of the assets or deposits of
Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of Issuer, (y) a purchase or other
acquisition (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or
otherwise) of securities representing 10% or more of the voting power of
Issuer, or (z) any substantially similar transaction; provided, however,
that in no event shall any merger, consolidation, purchase or similar
transaction that is not entered into in violation of the terms of the
Merger Agreement and involves only the Issuer and one or more of its
Subsidiaries or only any two or more of such Subsidiaries, be deemed to be
an Acquisition Transaction;
(ii) Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary, without having received
Grantee's prior written consent, shall have authorized, recommended,
proposed or publicly announced its intention to authorize, recommend or
propose, to engage in an Acquisition
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Transaction with any person other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, or
the Board of Directors of Issuer shall have publicly withdrawn or
modified, or publicly announced its intention to withdraw or modify, in
any manner adverse to Grantee, its recommendation that the stockholders of
Issuer approve the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
(iii) Any person other than Grantee, any Grantee Subsidiary or
any Issuer Subsidiary acting in a fiduciary capacity in the ordinary
course of its business shall have acquired beneficial ownership or the
right to acquire beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for purposes of
this Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of the
1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder);
(iv) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
shall have made a bona fide proposal to Issuer or its stockholders that is
public or becomes the subject of public disclosure to engage in an
Acquisition Transaction;
(v) After the receipt by Issuer or its stockholders of any
bona fide inquiry or proposal (or the bona fide indication of any
intention to propose) from a third party to engage in an Acquisition
Transaction, Issuer shall have breached any covenant or obligation
contained in the Merger Agreement and such breach (x) would entitle
Grantee to terminate the Merger Agreement and (y) shall not have been
cured prior to the Notice Date (as defined below); or
(vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary,
other than in connection with a transaction to which Grantee has given its
prior written consent, shall have filed an application with a federal or
state regulatory authority or self-regulatory organization which
application or notice has been accepted for processing, for approval to
engage in an Acquisition Transaction.
(e) The term "Subsequent Triggering Event" shall mean either of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) The acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of
20% or more of the then outstanding Common Stock; or
(ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event described
in paragraph (i) of subsection (d) of this Section 2, except that the
percentage referred to in clause (y) shall be 20%.
(f) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the
occurrence of any Initial Triggering Event or Subsequent Triggering Event of
which it has knowledge, it being understood that the giving of such notice by
Issuer shall not be a condition to the right of the Holder to exercise the
Option.
(g) In the event the Holder is entitled to and wishes to exercise
the Option, it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being
herein referred to as the "Notice
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Date") specifying (i) the total number of shares it will purchase pursuant to
such exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier than three business days nor
later than 60 business days from the Notice Date for the closing of such
purchase (the "Closing Date"); provided that if prior notification to or
approval of any regulatory agency is required in connection with such purchase,
the Holder shall as soon as reasonably practicable file the required notice or
application for approval and shall expeditiously process the same and the period
of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence shall run instead
from the date on which any required notification periods have expired or been
terminated or such approvals have been obtained and any requisite waiting period
or periods shall have passed. Any exercise of the Option shall be deemed to
occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.
(h) At the closing referred to in subsection (g) of this Section 2,
the Holder shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of
Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Issuer,
provided that failure or refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account
shall not preclude the Holder from exercising the Option.
(i) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately
available funds as provided in subsection (h) of this Section 2, Issuer shall
deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the number of
shares of Common Stock purchased by the Holder and, if the Option should be
exercised in part only, a new Option evidencing the rights of the Holder thereof
to purchase the balance of the shares purchasable hereunder, and the Holder
shall deliver to Issuer this Agreement and a letter agreeing that the Holder
will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such shares in violation of
applicable law or the provisions of this Agreement.
(j) Certificates for Common Stock delivered at a closing hereunder
may be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read substantially as
follows:
"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
subject to certain provisions of an agreement between the registered
holder hereof and Issuer and to resale restrictions arising under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A copy of such agreement is
on file at the principal office of Issuer and will be provided to
the holder hereof without charge upon receipt by Issuer of a written
request therefor."
It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale
restrictions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), in the
above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without
such reference if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter
from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such legend is not
required for purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions of
this Agreement in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute
certificate(s) without such reference if the shares have been sold or
transferred in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and under
circumstances that do not require the retention of such reference; and (iii) the
legend shall be removed in its entirety if the conditions in the preceding
clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In addition, such certificates shall
bear any other legend as may be required by law.
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(k) Upon the giving by the Holder to Issuer of the written notice of
exercise of the Option provided for under subsection (g) of this Section 2 and
the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds, the
Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of
Issuer shall then be closed or that certificates representing such shares of
Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to the Holder. Issuer shall
pay all expenses, and any and all United States federal, state and local taxes
and other charges that may be payable in connection with the preparation,
issuance and delivery of stock certificates under this Section 2 in the name of
the Holder or its assignee, transferee or designee.
3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free from
preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock so
that the Option may be exercised without additional authorization of Common
Stock after giving effect to all other options, warrants, convertible securities
and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii) that it will not, by charter
amendment or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution or sale
of assets, or by any other voluntary act, avoid or seek to avoid the observance
or performance of any of the covenants, stipulations or conditions to be
observed or performed hereunder by Issuer; (iii) promptly to take all action as
may from time to time be required (including in the event any state or other
regulatory authority is necessary before the Option may be exercised,
cooperating fully with the Holder in preparing such applications or notices and
providing such information to such regulatory authority as they may require) in
order to permit the Holder to exercise the Option and Issuer duly and
effectively to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant hereto; and (iv) promptly
to take all action provided herein to protect the rights of the Holder against
dilution.
4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable,
without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender of
this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements providing
for Options of different denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase,
on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are set forth herein, in
the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.
The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include any Stock Option
Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this
Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably
satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of this
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall constitute
an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether or not the
Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall at any time be
enforceable by anyone.
5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of Common
Stock that are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of
this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 5. In the event of any change in, or
distributions in respect of, the Common Stock by reason of stock dividends,
split-ups, mergers, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions, conversions,
exchanges of shares, distributions on or in respect of the Common Stock that
would be prohibited under the
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terms of the Merger Agreement, or the like, the type and number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable upon exercise hereof and the Option Price shall be
appropriately adjusted in such manner as shall fully preserve the economic
benefits provided hereunder and proper provision shall be made in any agreement
governing any such transaction to provide for such proper adjustment and the
full satisfaction of the Issuer's obligations hereunder.
6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that occurs
prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the request of Grantee
delivered within 180 days of such Subsequent Triggering Event (whether on its
own behalf or on behalf of any subsequent holder of this Option (or part
thereof) or any of the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant hereto), promptly
prepare, file and keep current a shelf registration statement under the 1933 Act
covering this Option and any shares issued and issuable pursuant to this Option
and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement
to become effective and remain current in order to permit the sale or other
disposition of this Option and any shares of Common Stock issued upon total or
partial exercise of this Option ("Option Shares") in accordance with any plan of
disposition requested by Grantee. Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such registration statement first to become effective and then to remain
effective for such period not in excess of 180 days from the day such
registration statement first becomes effective or such shorter time as may be
reasonably necessary to effect such sales or other dispositions. Grantee shall
have the right to demand two such registrations. The foregoing notwithstanding,
if, at the time of any request by Grantee for registration of the Option or
Option Shares as provided above, Issuer is in registration with respect to an
underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock, and if in the good faith
judgment of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, or, if none, the
sole underwriter or underwriters, of such offering the inclusion of the Holder's
Option or Option Shares would interfere with the successful marketing of the
shares of Common Stock offered by Issuer, the number of Option Shares otherwise
to be covered in the registration statement contemplated hereby may be reduced;
provided, however, that after any such required reduction the number of Option
Shares to be included in such offering for the account of the Holder shall
constitute at least 25% of the total number of shares to be sold by the Holder
and Issuer in the aggregate; and provided further, however, that if such
reduction occurs, then the Issuer shall file a registration statement for the
balance as promptly as practicable and no reduction shall thereafter occur. Each
such Holder shall provide all information reasonably requested by Issuer for
inclusion in any registration statement to be filed hereunder. If requested by
any such Holder in connection with such registration, Issuer shall become a
party to any underwriting agreement relating to the sale of such shares, but
only to the extent of obligating itself in respect of representations,
warranties, indemnities and other agreements customarily included in secondary
offering underwriting agreements for the Issuer. Upon receiving any request
under this Section 6 from any Holder, Issuer agrees to send a copy thereof to
any other person known to Issuer to be entitled to registration rights under
this Section 6, in each case by promptly mailing the same, postage prepaid, to
the address of record of the persons entitled to receive such copies.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall
Issuer be obligated to effect more than two registrations pursuant to this
Section 6 by reason of the fact that there shall be more than one Grantee as a
result of any assignment or division of this Agreement.
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7. (a) Immediately prior to, or after, the occurrence of a
Repurchase Event (as defined below), (i) following a request of the Holder,
delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer (or any successor
thereto) shall repurchase the Option from the Holder immediately prior to the
Repurchase Event (or, as requested by the Holder, after the Repurchase Event) at
a price (the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to the product of the number of
shares for which this Option may then be exercised multiplied by the amount by
which (A) the Market/Offer Price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option
Price, and (ii) at the request of the owner of Option Shares from time to time
(the "Owner"), delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event and within 90
days of the occurrence of a Repurchase Event, Issuer shall repurchase such
number of the Option Shares from the Owner as the Owner shall designate at a
price (the "Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to the Market/Offer Price
multiplied by the number of Option Shares so designated. The term "Market/Offer
Price" shall mean the highest of (i) the price per share of Common Stock at
which a tender offer or exchange offer therefor has been made, (ii) the price
per share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement
with Issuer, (iii) the highest closing price for shares of Common Stock within
the six-month period immediately preceding the date the Holder gives notice of
the required repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives notice of the required
repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv) in the event of a sale
of all or a substantial portion of Issuer's assets, the sum of the price paid in
such sale for such assets and the current market value of the remaining assets
of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Holder or the Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably
acceptable to the Issuer, divided by the number of shares of Common Stock of
Issuer outstanding at the time of such sale. In determining the Market/Offer
Price, the value of consideration other than cash shall be determined by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder or Owner,
as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to the Issuer.
(b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may exercise its
right to require Issuer to repurchase the Option and any Option Shares pursuant
to this Section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at its principal
office, this Agreement or certificates for Option Shares, as applicable,
accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the Holder or the Owner,
as the case may be, elects to require Issuer to repurchase this Option and/or
the Option Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7. Within
the latter to occur of (i) five business days after the surrender of the Option
and/or certificates representing Option Shares and the receipt of such notice or
notices relating thereto and (ii) the time that is immediately prior to the
occurrence of a Repurchase Event, Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered
to the Holder the Option Repurchase Price and/or to the Owner the Option Share
Repurchase Price therefor or the portion thereof, if any, that Issuer is not
then prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so delivering.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation from repurchasing the Option and/or the Option Shares in full, Issuer
shall immediately so notify the Holder and/or the Owner and thereafter deliver
or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the Holder and/or the Owner, as
appropriate, the portion of the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, that it is no longer prohibited from delivering,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so
prohibited; provided, however, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
notice of repurchase pursuant to paragraph
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(b) of this Section 7 is prohibited under applicable law or regulation from
delivering to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the Option Repurchase
Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and Issuer
hereby undertakes to use its best efforts to obtain all required regulatory and
legal approvals and to file any required notices, in each case as promptly as
practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Holder or Owner may
revoke its notice of repurchase of the Option or the Option Shares either in
whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer
shall promptly (i) deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, that
portion of the Option Repurchase Price or the Option Share Repurchase Price that
Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate,
either (A) to the Holder, a new Stock Option Agreement evidencing the right of
the Holder to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock obtained by
multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock for which the surrendered Stock
Option Agreement was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of
repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Option Repurchase Price
less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the Holder and the denominator
of which is the Option Repurchase Price, or (B) to the Owner, a certificate for
the Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.
(d) For purposes of this Section 7, a "Repurchase Event" shall be
deemed to have occurred (i) upon the consummation of an Acquisition Transaction
with respect to Issuer (and not solely involving Issuer and/or one or more
subsidiaries of Issuer) (except that the percentage referred to in clause (y) of
the definition thereof shall be 50%) or (ii) upon the acquisition by any person
of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common
Stock.
8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event,
Issuer shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any
person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, and shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (ii) to
permit any person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, to merge into
Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but, in
connection with such merger, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall
be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person
or cash or any other property or the then outstanding shares of Common Stock
shall after such merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting shares
and voting share equivalents of the merged company, or (iii) to sell or
otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any person, other
than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the
agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provision so that the
Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged for, an option
(the "Substitute Option"), at the election of the Holder, of either (x) the
Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) or (y) any person that controls
the Acquiring Corporation.
(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(A) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the
continuing or surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger
with Issuer (if other than Issuer), (ii) Issuer in a merger in which
Issuer is the continuing or surviving person, and (iii) the
transferee of all or substantially all of Issuer's assets.
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(B) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common
stock issued by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of
the Substitute Option.
(C) "Assigned Value" shall mean the Market/Offer Price,
as defined in Section 7.
(D) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price
of a share of the Substitute Common Stock for the one year
immediately preceding the consolidation, merger or sale in question,
but in no event higher than the closing price of the shares of
Substitute Common Stock on the day preceding such consolidation,
merger or sale; provided that if Issuer is the issuer of the
Substitute Option, the Average Price shall be computed with respect
to a share of common stock issued by the person merging into Issuer
or by any company which controls or is controlled by such person, as
the Holder may elect.
(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option,
provided, that if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons,
be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no
event less advantageous to the Holder. The issuer of the Substitute Option shall
also enter into an agreement with the then Holder or Holders of the Substitute
Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement, which shall be
applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of
shares of Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned Value multiplied
by the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option is then
exercisable, divided by the Average Price. The exercise price of the Substitute
Option per share of Substitute Common Stock shall then be equal to the Option
Price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock for which the Option is then exercisable and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock
for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall
the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of
Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of the Substitute Option.
In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than 19.9%
of the shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise but for
this clause (e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option
Issuer") shall make a cash payment to Holder equal to the excess of (i) the
value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the limitation in this
clause (e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving effect to
the limitation in this clause (e). This difference in value shall be determined
by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder or the
Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to the Acquiring
Corporation.
(f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder.
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9. (a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Holder"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute Option from the Substitute Option Holder at a price (the "Substitute
Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by which (i) the Highest Closing
Price (as hereinafter defined) exceeds (ii) the exercise price of the Substitute
Option, multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which
the Substitute Option may then be exercised, and at the request of the owner
(the "Substitute Share Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Stock (the
"Substitute Shares"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute Shares at a price (the "Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to
the Highest Closing Price multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so
designated. The term "Highest Closing Price" shall mean the highest closing
price for shares of Substitute Common Stock within the six-month period
immediately preceding the date the Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the
required repurchase of the Substitute Option or the Substitute Share Owner gives
notice of the required repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as applicable.
(b) The Substitute Option Holder and the Substitute Share Owner, as
the case may be, may exercise its respective right to require the Substitute
Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute Shares
pursuant to this Section 9 by surrendering for such purpose to the Substitute
Option Issuer, at its principal office, the agreement for such Substitute Option
(or, in the absence of such an agreement, a copy of this Agreement) and
certificates for Substitute Shares accompanied by a written notice or notices
stating that the Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the
case may be, elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the
Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 9. As promptly as practicable, and in any event within five
business days after the surrender of the Substitute Option and/or certificates
representing Substitute Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices
relating thereto, the Substitute Option Issuer shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the Substitute Share Owner the Substitute Share Repurchase Price
therefor or, in either case, the portion thereof which the Substitute Option
Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so
delivering.
(c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation from repurchasing the Substitute Option
and/or the Substitute Shares in part or in full, the Substitute Option Issuer
following a request for repurchase pursuant to this Section 9 shall immediately
so notify the Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner and
thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the
portion of the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively, which it is no
longer prohibited from delivering, within five business days after the date on
which the Substitute Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided,
however, that if the Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after delivery of a
notice of repurchase pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9 prohibited
under applicable law or regulation from delivering to the Substitute Option
Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price and the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in
full (and the Substitute Option Issuer shall use its best efforts to obtain all
required regulatory and legal approvals, in each case as promptly as
practicable, in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Substitute Option
Holder or Substitute Share Owner may
10
revoke its notice of repurchase of the Substitute Option or the Substitute
Shares either in whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the
latter case, the Substitute Option Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the
Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, that portion
of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price or the Substitute Share Repurchase
Price that the Substitute Option Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and
(ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the Substitute Option Holder, a new
Substitute Option evidencing the right of the Substitute Option Holder to
purchase that number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock obtained by
multiplying the number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock for which the
surrendered Substitute Option was exercisable at the time of delivery of the
notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Substitute
Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the
Substitute Option Holder and the denominator of which is the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price, or (B) to the Substitute Share Owner, a certificate for the
Substitute Common Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.
10. The 90-day or 180-day periods for exercise of certain rights
under Sections 2, 6, 7 and 13 shall be extended: (i) to the extent necessary to
obtain all regulatory approvals for the exercise of such rights and for the
expiration of all statutory waiting periods; and (ii) to the extent necessary to
avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise.
11. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the
Board of Directors of Issuer and no other corporate proceedings on the part of
Issuer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and
reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from the date hereof through
the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms will have
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Option, that number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock at any time
and from time to time issuable hereunder, and all such shares, upon issuance
pursuant hereto, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable, and will be delivered free and clear of all claims, liens,
encumbrance and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.
(c) The Board of Directors of Issuer has unanimously approved this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including by reserving
shares for issuance of shares of Common Stock on exercise of the Option) and
taken any other action as required to render inapplicable to such agreement and
transactions Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and, to the
knowledge of Issuer, any similar Takeover Statutes.
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12. Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer that:
(a) Grantee has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals or consents referred to
herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of Grantee. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
(b) The Option is not being, and any shares of Common Stock or other
securities acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be, acquired
with a view to the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or
otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from
registration under the 1933 Act.
13. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any other
person, without the express written consent of the other party, except that in
the event a Subsequent Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an Exercise
Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express provisions hereof, may assign
in whole or in part its rights and obligations hereunder within 180 days
following such Subsequent Triggering Event.
14. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its best efforts to make all
filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and governmental
authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including without limitation making application to list the
shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder on the New York Stock Exchange upon
official notice of issuance.
15. (a) Grantee may, at any time during which Issuer would be
required to repurchase the Option or any Option Shares pursuant to Section 7
upon proper request or notice, surrender the Option (together with any Option
Shares issued to and then owned by Grantee) to Issuer in exchange for a cash fee
equal to the Surrender Price (as defined below); provided, however, that Grantee
may not exercise its rights pursuant to this Section 15 if Issuer has
repurchased the Option (or any portion thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to
Section 7. The "Surrender Price" shall be equal to (i) $14.633 million, plus
(ii) if applicable, the aggregate purchase price previously paid pursuant hereto
by Grantee with respect to any Option Shares, minus (iii) if applicable, the sum
of (A) the excess of (1) the net cash amounts, if any, received by Grantee
pursuant to the arms' length sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into
which such Option Shares were converted or exchanged) to any party not
affiliated with Grantee, over (2) the aggregate purchase price previously paid
pursuant hereto by Grantee with respect to such Option Shares and (B) the net
cash amounts, if any, received by Grantee pursuant to an arms' length sale of a
portion of the Option to any party not affiliated with Grantee.
(b) Grantee may exercise its right to surrender the Option and any
Option Shares pursuant to this Section 15 by surrendering to Issuer, at its
principal office, this Agreement together with certificates for Option Shares,
if any, accompanied by a written notice stating (i) that Grantee elects to
surrender the Option and Option Shares, if any, in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 15 and (ii) the Surrender Price. The Surrender Price
shall be
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payable in immediately available funds on or before the second business day
following receipt of such notice by Issuer.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation from paying the Surrender Price to Grantee in full, Issuer shall
immediately so notify Grantee and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered,
from time to time, to Grantee, the portion of the Surrender Price that Issuer is
no longer prohibited from paying, within five business days after the date on
which Issuer is no longer so prohibited, provided, however, that if Issuer at
any time after delivery of a notice of surrender pursuant to paragraph (b) of
this Section 15 is prohibited under applicable law or regulation from paying to
Grantee the Surrender Price in full (i) Issuer shall (A) use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file any
required notices as promptly as practicable in order to make such payments, (B)
within five days of the submission or receipt of any documents relating to any
such regulatory and legal approvals, provide Grantee with copies of the same,
and (C) keep Grantee advised of both the status of any such request for
regulatory and legal approvals, as well as any discussions with any relevant
regulatory or other third party reasonably related to the same and (ii) Grantee
may revoke such notice of surrender by delivery of a notice of revocation to
Issuer and, upon delivery of such notice of revocation, the Exercise Termination
Date shall be extended to a date six months from the date on which the Exercise
Termination Date would have occurred if not for the provisions of this Section
15(c) (during which period Grantee may exercise any of its rights hereunder,
including any and all rights pursuant to this Section 15).
(d) Grantee shall have rights substantially identical to those set
forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 15 with respect to the
Substitute Option and the Substitute Option Issuer during any period in which
the Substitute Option Issuer would be required to repurchase the Substitute
Option pursuant to Section 9.
16. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an
inadequate remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that
the obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party
hereto through injunctive or other equitable relief.
17. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in
this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that the Holder is not permitted to acquire, or Issuer is not permitted to
repurchase pursuant to Section 7, the full number of shares of Common Stock
provided in Section 1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section 1(b) or 5
hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire or
to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.
18. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
cable, telegram, telecopy or telex, or by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid, return receipt requested) at the respective addresses of the parties
set forth in the Merger Agreement.
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19. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to any applicable
conflicts of law principles (except to the extent that mandatory provisions of
federal or state law apply).
20. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement.
21. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the
parties hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on
its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including
fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers,
accountants and counsel.
22. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Merger
Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereof, written or oral. The terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors and
permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by
reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
23. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to
be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of
the date first above written.
The Bear Xxxxxxx Companies Inc.
(Issuer)
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
(Grantee)
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Signature Page to Stock Option Agreement
