1
EXHIBIT 99.7
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of April 27, 1999 by and between FIRST LIBERTY FINANCIAL CORP., a Georgia
corporation ("First Liberty" or "Issuer"), and BB&T CORPORATION, a North
Carolina corporation ("Grantee").
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into that certain Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization, dated this date (the "Merger Agreement"), providing for,
among other things, the merger of Issuer with and into Grantee; and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's execution of the
Merger Agreement, Grantee has required that Issuer agree, and Issuer has agreed,
to grant to Grantee the Option (as defined below);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger
Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Issuer and Grantee agree as
follows:
1. DEFINED TERMS. Capitalized terms which are used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
2. GRANT OF OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to
purchase up to 2,838,708 shares (as adjusted as set forth herein, the "Option
Shares," which term shall refer to the Option Shares before and after any
transfer of such Option Shares), of the common stock of Issuer, par value $1.00
per share ("Issuer Common Stock"), at a purchase price per Option Share (subject
to adjustment as set forth herein, the "Purchase Price") equal to $25.00.
3. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) Provided that (i) Grantee or Holder (as hereinafter defined),
as applicable, shall not be in material breach of its agreements or covenants
contained in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, and (ii) no preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order against the delivery of shares covered by
the Option issued by any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
shall be in effect, Holder may exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any
time and from time to time following the occurrence of a Purchase Event (as
hereinafter defined); provided, that the Option shall terminate and be of no
further force and effect upon the earliest to occur of (A) the Effective Time,
(B) subject to clause (E) below, termination of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with the terms thereof prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event or
a Preliminary Purchase Event (as hereinafter defined) (other than a termination
of the Merger
2
Agreement by Grantee pursuant to Section 7.1(b) thereof (a "Default
Termination")), (C) 12 months after a Default Termination, (D) 12 months after
any termination of the Merger Agreement (other than a Default Termination)
following the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a Preliminary Purchase Event,
and (E) subject to clause (D) above, 12 months after termination of the Merger
Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(e) thereof; provided further, that any
purchase of shares upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance
with applicable law, including, without limitation, the Bank Holding Company Act
of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"). Subject to compliance with Section 12(h)
hereof, the term "Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the Option from
time to time, including initially Grantee. The rights set forth in Section 8
hereof shall terminate when the right to exercise the Option terminates (other
than as a result of a complete exercise of the Option) as set forth herein.
(b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means any of the
following events subsequent to the date of this Agreement:
(i) without Grantee's prior written consent, Issuer shall
have authorized, recommended, publicly proposed or publicly announced an
intention to authorize, recommend or propose, or entered into an
agreement with any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) to effect an Acquisition Transaction (as defined below). As used
herein, the term "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (A) a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction involving Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than transactions solely between Issuer's
Subsidiaries or between Issuer's Subsidiaries and Issuer), (B) the
disposition, by sale, lease, exchange or otherwise, of assets of Issuer
or any of its Subsidiaries representing in either case 15% or more of the
consolidated assets of Issuer and its Subsidiaries (other than a sale of
loan receivables in a financing transaction in the normal course of
business consistent with past practices), or (C) the issuance, sale or
other disposition (including by way of merger, consolidation, share
exchange or any similar transaction) of securities representing 15% or
more of the voting power of Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries; or
(ii) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (as such term is
defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of or the right
to acquire beneficial ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is
defined under the Exchange Act), other than a group of which Grantee or
any of the Subsidiaries of Grantee is a member, shall have been formed
which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership
of, 15% or more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock.
(c) As used herein, a "Preliminary Purchase Event" means any of
the following events:
3
(i) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) shall have commenced (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2
under the Exchange Act), or shall have filed a registration statement
under the Securities Act with respect to, a tender offer or exchange
offer to purchase any shares of Issuer Common Stock such that, upon
consummation of such offer, such person would own or control 15% or more
of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock (such an offer
being referred to herein as a "Tender Offer" or an "Exchange Offer,"
respectively); or
(ii) the holders of Issuer Common Stock shall not have
approved the Merger Agreement at the meeting of such shareholders held
for the purpose of voting on the Merger Agreement, such meeting shall not
have been held or shall have been canceled prior to termination of the
Merger Agreement, or Issuer's Board of Directors shall have withdrawn or
modified in a manner adverse to Grantee the recommendation of Issuer's
Board of Directors with respect to the Merger Agreement, in each case
after any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) shall
have (A) made, or disclosed an intention to make, a proposal to engage in
an Acquisition Transaction, (B) commenced a Tender Offer or filed a
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an
Exchange Offer, or (C) filed an application (or given a notice), whether
in draft or final form, under any federal or state statute or regulation
(including an application or notice filed under the BHC Act, the Bank
Merger Act, the Home Owners' Loan Act or the Change in Bank Control Act
of 1978) seeking the consent to an Acquisition Transaction from any
federal or state governmental or regulatory authority or agency.
As used in this Agreement, "person" shall have the meaning specified in Sections
3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of First
Liberty to issue Option Shares upon exercise of the Option shall be deferred
(but shall not terminate): (i) until the receipt of all required governmental or
regulatory approvals or consents necessary for First Liberty to issue the Option
Shares or Holder to exercise the Option, or until the expiration or termination
of any waiting period required by law, or (ii) so long as any injunction or
other order, decree or ruling issued by any federal or state court of competent
jurisdiction is in effect which prohibits the sale or delivery of the Option
Shares.
(e) In the event Holder wishes to exercise the Option, it
shall send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein referred
to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of Option Shares it
intends to purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not
earlier than three business days nor later than 15 business days from the Notice
Date for the closing (the "Closing") of such purchase (the "Closing Date"). If
prior consent of any governmental or regulatory agency or authority is required
in connection with such purchase, Issuer shall cooperate with Holder in the
filing of the required notice or application for such consent and the obtaining
of such consent at Holder's expense, and the Closing shall occur not earlier
than three business days nor later than 15 business days following receipt of
such consents (and expiration of any mandatory waiting periods).
4
4. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES.
(a) On each Closing Date, Holder shall (i) pay to Issuer, in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by
Issuer, an amount equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Option
Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date, and (ii) present and surrender this
Agreement to the Issuer at the address of the Issuer referenced in Section 12(f)
hereof.
(b) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of
immediately available funds and surrender of this Agreement as provided in
Section 4(a) hereof, (i) Issuer shall deliver to Holder (A) a certificate or
certificates representing the Option Shares to be purchased at such Closing,
which Option Shares shall be free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and
encumbrances of any kind whatsoever and subject to no preemptive rights, and (B)
if the Option is exercised in part only, an executed new agreement with the same
terms as this Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the balance of the
shares of Issuer Common Stock purchasable hereunder, and (ii) Holder shall
deliver to Issuer a letter evidencing Holder's agreement not to offer, sell or
otherwise dispose of such Option Shares in violation of applicable federal and
state law or of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) In addition to any other legend that is required by applicable
law, certificates for the Option Shares delivered at each Closing shall be
endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS
SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED, AND PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF APRIL 27, 1999. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE
PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT BY THE
ISSUER OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR.
It is understood and agreed that the above legend shall be removed by delivery
of substitute certificate(s) without such legend if Holder shall have delivered
to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the Commission, or an opinion of
counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and its counsel,
to the effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the Securities
Act.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ISSUER. Issuer hereby represents
and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to its obtaining any approvals or
consents referred to herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution and delivery of this
5
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Issuer. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other action to
authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue and, at all times from the date
hereof until the obligation to deliver Issuer Common Stock upon the exercise of
the Option terminates, will have reserved for issuance, upon exercise of the
Option, the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock necessary for Holder to
exercise the Option, and Issuer will take all necessary corporate action to
authorize and reserve for issuance all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities which may be issued pursuant to Section 7 hereof upon
exercise of the Option. The shares of Issuer Common Stock to be issued upon due
exercise of the Option, including all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities which may be issuable pursuant to Section 7 hereof, upon
issuance pursuant hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable, and shall be delivered free and clear of all liens, claims,
charges, and encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any
preemptive rights of any shareholder of Issuer.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GRANTEE. 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 its obtaining 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) Grantee represents that it is acquiring the Option for
Grantee's own account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with,
any distribution of the Option or the Option Shares. Grantee represents that it
is aware that neither the Option nor the Option Shares is the subject of a
registration statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission
pursuant to Section 5 of the Securities Act, but instead each is being offered
in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirement provided by
Section 4(2) thereof and the representations and warranties made by Grantee in
connection therewith. Grantee represents that neither the Option nor the Option
Shares will be transferred or otherwise disposed of except in a transaction
registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Laws, and that with
respect to any transfer or other disposition proposed to be made in reliance
upon an exemption from registration, such transfer or other disposition shall
not be made unless First Liberty first receives an opinion of counsel in form
and substance reasonably acceptable to it regarding the availability of such
exemption.
6
7. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, ETC.
(a) In the event of any change in Issuer Common Stock by reason of
a stock dividend, stock split, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange
of shares or similar transaction, the type and number of shares or securities
subject to the Option and the Purchase Price therefor shall be adjusted
appropriately, and proper provision shall be made in the agreements governing
such transaction so that Holder shall receive, upon exercise of the Option, the
number and class of shares or other securities or property that Holder would
have received in respect of Issuer Common Stock if the Option had been exercised
immediately prior to such event, or the record date therefor, as applicable. If
any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock are issued after the date of this
Agreement (other than pursuant to an event described in the first sentence of
this Section 7(a)), the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to the
Option shall be adjusted so that, after such issuance, it, when added to the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto,
equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock then issued and
outstanding, without giving effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant
to the Option.
(b) In the event that Issuer shall enter into an agreement (prior
to termination of the Option pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof): (i) to
consolidate with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries, and Issuer 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 Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of Issuer or any other person or cash or
any other property or the outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock immediately
prior to such merger shall after such merger represent less than 50% of the
outstanding shares and share equivalents of the merged company; (iii) to permit
any person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, to acquire all of the
outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock pursuant to a statutory share
exchange; or (iv) 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
provisions 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
Grantee, deemed granted by either (x) the Acquiring Corporation (as defined
below), (y) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation, or (z) in the
case of a merger described in clause (ii), the Issuer (in each case, such person
being referred to as the "Substitute Option Issuer").
(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 identical to those of the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible
and in no event less advantageous to Grantee. The Substitute Option Issuer 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 agreement shall
be applicable to the Substitute Option.
7
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of
shares of the Substitute Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as is equal to
the Assigned Value (as hereinafter defined) multiplied by the number of shares
of the Issuer Common Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable,
divided by the Average Price (as hereinafter defined). The exercise price of the
Substitute Option per share of the Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute
Purchase Price") shall then be equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by a
fraction in which the numerator is the number of shares of the Issuer Common
Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is
the number of shares for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean the continuing or
surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other
than Issuer), Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the continuing or
surviving person, the corporation that shall acquire all of the
outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock pursuant to a statutory share
exchange, or the transferee of all or substantially all of the Issuer's
assets (or the assets of its Subsidiaries).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock
issued by the Substitute Option Issuer upon exercise of the Substitute
Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (x) the
price per share of the Issuer Common Stock at which a Tender Offer or
Exchange Offer therefor has been made by any person (other than Grantee),
(y) the price per share of the Issuer Common Stock to be paid by any
person (other than the Grantee) pursuant to an agreement with Issuer, and
(z) the highest closing sales price per share of Issuer Common Stock
quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System within the six-month period
immediately preceding the agreement; provided, that in the event of a
sale of less than all of Issuer's assets, the Assigned Value shall be 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 Grantee (or by a majority
in interest of the Grantees if there shall be more than one Grantee (a
"Grantee Majority")), divided by the number of shares of the Issuer
Common Stock outstanding at the time of such sale. In the event that an
exchange offer is made for the Issuer Common Stock or an agreement is
entered into for a merger or consolidation involving consideration other
than cash, the value of the securities or other property issuable or
deliverable in exchange for the Issuer Common Stock shall be determined
by a nationally recognized investment banking firm mutually selected by
Grantee and Issuer (or if applicable, Acquiring Corporation). (If there
shall be more than one Grantee, any such selection shall be made by a
Grantee Majority.)
8
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of
a share of the Substitute Common Stock for the one-year period
immediately preceding effectiveness of the consolidation, merger, share
exchange or sale in question, but in no event higher than the closing
price of the shares of the Substitute Common Stock on the day preceding
the effectiveness of such consolidation, merger, share exchange 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 Issuer, the person merging into Issuer or by any company which
controls or is controlled by such merger person, as Grantee may elect.
(f) In no event pursuant to any of the foregoing sections shall
the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the
shares of the 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 aggregate of the shares of Substitute Common Stock
but for this clause (f), the Substitute Option Issuer shall make a cash payment
to Grantee equal to the excess of (i) the value of the Substitute Option without
giving effect to the limitation in this clause (f) over (ii) the value of the
Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in this clause (f). This
difference in value shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by Grantee (or a Grantee Majority).
(g) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (b) of this Section 7 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder and take all other actions that may be necessary so that the
provisions of this Section 7 are given full force and effect (including, without
limitation, any action that may be necessary so that the shares of Substitute
Common Stock are in no way distinguishable from or have lesser economic value
than other shares of common stock issued by the Substitute Option Issuer).
(h) The provisions of Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof shall apply,
with appropriate adjustments, to any securities for which the Option becomes
exercisable pursuant to this Section 7 and, as applicable, references in such
sections to "Issuer," "Option," "Purchase Price" and "Issuer Common Stock" shall
be deemed to be references to "Substitute Option Issuer," "Substitute Option,"
"Substitute Purchase Price" and "Substitute Common Stock," respectively.
8. REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3(a) hereof, at the
request of Holder at any time commencing upon the first occurrence of a
Repurchase Event (as defined in Section 8(d)) and ending 12 months immediately
thereafter, Issuer shall repurchase from Holder the Option and all shares of
Issuer Common Stock purchased by Holder pursuant hereto with respect to which
Holder then has beneficial ownership. The date on which Holder exercises its
rights under this Section 8 is referred to as the "Request Date." Such
repurchase shall be at an aggregate price (the "Section 8 Repurchase
Consideration") equal to the sum of:
9
(i) the aggregate Purchase Price paid by Holder for any
shares of Issuer Common Stock acquired by Holder pursuant to the Option
with respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership;
(ii) the excess, if any, of (x) the Applicable Price (as
defined below) for each share of Issuer Common Stock over (y) the
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7), multiplied
by the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the
Option has not been exercised; and
(iii) the excess, if any, of the Applicable Price over the
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7) paid (or, in
the case of Option Shares with respect to which the Option has been
exercised but the Closing Date has not occurred, payable) by Holder for
each share of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the Option has
been exercised and with respect to which Holder then has beneficial
ownership, multiplied by the number of such shares.
(b) If Holder exercises its rights under this Section 8, Issuer
shall, within ten business days after the Request Date, pay the Section 8
Repurchase Consideration to Holder in immediately available funds, and
contemporaneously with such payment Holder shall surrender to Issuer the Option
and the certificates evidencing the shares of Issuer Common Stock purchased
thereunder with respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership, and
Holder shall warrant that it has sole record and beneficial ownership of such
shares and that the same are then free and clear of all liens, claims, charges
and encumbrances of any kind whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the
extent that prior notification to or the consent or approval of any governmental
or regulatory agency or authority is required in connection with the payment of
all or any portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration, Holder shall have
the ongoing option to revoke its request for repurchase pursuant to Section 8,
in whole or in part, or to require that Issuer deliver from time to time that
portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration that it is not then so
prohibited from paying and promptly file the required notice or application for
approval and expeditiously process the same (and each party shall cooperate with
the other in the filing of any such notice or application and the obtaining of
any such approval), in which case the ten business day period of time that would
otherwise run pursuant to the preceding sentence for the payment of the portion
of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration shall run instead from the date on
which, as the case may be, any required notification period has expired or been
terminated or such approval has been obtained and, in either event, any
requisite waiting period shall have passed. If any governmental or regulatory
agency or authority disapproves of any part of Issuer's proposed repurchase
pursuant to this Section 8, Issuer shall promptly give notice of such fact to
Holder. If any governmental or regulatory agency or authority prohibits the
repurchase in part but not in whole, then Holder shall have the right (i) to
revoke the repurchase request or (ii) to the extent permitted by such agency or
authority, determine whether the repurchase should apply to the Option and/or
Option Shares and to what extent to each, and Holder shall thereupon have the
right to exercise the Option as to the number of Option Shares for which the
Option was exercisable at the Request Date less the sum of the
10
number of shares covered by the Option in respect of which payment has been made
pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) and the number of shares covered by the portion of
the Option (if any) that has been repurchased. Holder shall notify Issuer of its
determination under the preceding sentence within five business days of receipt
of notice of disapproval of the repurchase.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all of
Holder's rights under this Section 8 shall terminate on the date of termination
of this Option pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the "Applicable Price" means
the highest of (i) the highest price per share of Issuer Common Stock paid for
any such share by the person or groups described in Section 8(d)(i) hereof, (ii)
the price per share of Issuer Common Stock received by holders of Issuer Common
Stock in connection with any merger or other business combination transaction
described in Sections 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii), 7(b)(iii) or 7(b)(iv) hereof, or (iii)
the highest closing sales price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market (or if Issuer Common Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq
National Market, the highest bid price per share as quoted on the principal
trading market or securities exchange on which such shares are traded as
reported by a recognized source chosen by Holder) during the 60 business days
preceding the Request Date; provided, however, that in the event of a sale of
less than all of Issuer's assets, the Applicable Price shall be 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 an independent nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by Holder and reasonably acceptable to Issuer
(which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement),
divided by the number of shares of the Issuer Common Stock outstanding at the
time of such sale. If the consideration to be offered, paid or received pursuant
to either of the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall be other than in cash, the
value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith by an independent
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Holder and reasonably
acceptable to Issuer, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes
of this Agreement.
(d) As used herein, "Repurchase Event" shall occur if (i) any
person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) shall have acquired
actual ownership or control, or any "group" (as such term is defined under the
Exchange Act) shall have been formed which shall have acquired actual ownership
or control, of 50% or more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common
Stock, or (ii) any of the transactions described in Section 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii),
7(b)(iii) or 7(b)(iv) shall be consummated.
9. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) For a period of 24 months following termination of the Merger
Agreement, Issuer shall, subject to the conditions of subsection (c) below, if
requested by any Holder, including Grantee and any permitted transferee of the
Option Shares ("Selling Holder"), as expeditiously as possible prepare and file
a registration statement under the Securities Laws if
11
necessary in order to permit the sale or other disposition of any or all shares
of Issuer Common Stock or other securities that have been acquired by or are
issuable to Selling Holder upon exercise of the Option in accordance with the
intended method of sale or other disposition stated by the Selling Holder in
such request, including, without limitation, a "shelf" registration statement
under Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor provision, and Issuer
shall use its best efforts to qualify such shares or other securities for sale
under any applicable state securities laws.
(b) If Issuer at any time after the exercise of the Option
proposes to register any shares of Issuer Common Stock under the Securities Laws
in connection with an underwritten public offering of such Issuer Common Stock,
Issuer will promptly give written notice to Holder of its intention to do so
and, upon the written request of Holder given within 30 days after receipt of
any such notice (which request shall specify the number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock intended to be included in such underwritten public offering by
Selling Holder), Issuer will cause all such shares, the holders of which shall
have requested participation in such registration, to be so registered and
included in such underwritten public offering; provided, that Issuer may elect
to cause any such shares not to be so registered (i) if the underwriters in good
faith object for a valid business reason, or (ii) in the case of a registration
solely to implement a dividend reinvestment or similar plan, an employee benefit
plan or a registration filed on Form S-4 or any successor form, or a
registration filed on a form which does not permit registration of resales;
provided, further, that such election pursuant to clause (i) may be made only
one time. If some but not all the shares of Issuer Common Stock, with respect to
which Issuer shall have received requests for registration pursuant to this
subsection (b), shall be excluded from such registration, Issuer shall make
appropriate allocation of shares to be registered among Selling Holders and any
other person (other than Issuer or any person exercising demand registration
rights in connection with such registration) who or which is permitted to
register their shares of Issuer Common Stock in connection with such
registration pro rata in the proportion that the number of shares requested to
be registered by each Selling Holder bears to the total number of shares
requested to be registered by all persons then desiring to have Issuer Common
Stock registered for sale.
(c) Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to cause each
registration statement referred to in subsection (a) above to become effective
and to obtain all consents or waivers of other parties which are required
therefor and to keep such registration statement effective, provided,, that
Issuer may delay any registration of Option Shares required pursuant to
subsection (a) above for a period not exceeding 90 days in the event that Issuer
shall in good faith determine that any such registration would adversely affect
an offering or contemplated offering of other securities by Issuer, and Issuer
shall not be required to register Option Shares under the Securities Laws
pursuant to subsection (a) above:
(i) prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event;
(ii) on more than two occasions;
12
(iii) more than once during any calendar year;
(iv) within 90 days after the effective date of a
registration referred to in subsection (b) above pursuant to which the
Selling Holders concerned were afforded the opportunity to register such
shares under the Securities Laws and such shares were registered as
requested; and
(v) unless a request therefor is made to Issuer by Selling
Holders holding at least 25% or more of the aggregate number of Option
Shares then outstanding.
In addition to the foregoing, Issuer shall not be required
to maintain the effectiveness of any registration statement after the expiration
of nine months from the effective date of such registration statement. Issuer
shall use all reasonable efforts to make any filings, and take all steps, under
all applicable state securities laws to the extent necessary to permit the sale
or other disposition of the Option Shares so registered in accordance with the
intended method of distribution for such shares, provided, that Issuer shall
not be required to consent to general jurisdiction or qualify to do business in
any state where it is not otherwise required to so consent to such jurisdiction
or to so qualify to do business.
(d) Except where applicable state law prohibits such payments,
Issuer will pay all expenses (including without limitation registration fees,
qualification fees, blue sky fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses
of counsel), accounting expenses, legal expenses, including reasonable fees and
expenses of one counsel to the Selling Holders whose Option Shares are being
registered, printing expenses, reasonable expenses of underwriters, excluding
discounts and commissions but including liability insurance if Issuer so desires
or the underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any
necessary special experts) in connection with each registration pursuant to
subsection (a) or (b) above (including the related offerings and sales by
Selling Holders) and all other qualifications, notifications or exemptions
pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) above. Underwriting discounts and commissions
relating to Option Shares and any other expenses incurred by such Selling
Holders in connection with any such registration shall be borne by such Selling
Holders.
(e) In connection with any registration under subsection (a) or
(b) above Issuer hereby indemnifies the Selling Holders, and each underwriter
thereof, including each person, if any, who controls such holder or underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all expenses,
losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any registration statement or prospectus or
notification or offering circular (including any amendments or supplements
thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such expenses, losses,
claims, damages or liabilities of such indemnified party are caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
that was included by Issuer in any such registration statement or prospectus or
notification or offering circular (including any
13
amendments or supplements thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with,
information furnished in writing to Issuer by such indemnified party expressly
for use therein, and Issuer and each officer, director and controlling person of
Issuer shall be indemnified by such Selling Holder, or by such underwriter, as
the case may be, for all such expenses, losses, claims, damages and liabilities
caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
that was included by Issuer in any such registration statement or prospectus or
notification or offering circular (including any amendments or supplements
thereto) in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished in
writing to Issuer by such holder or such underwriter, as the case may be,
expressly for such use.
Promptly upon receipt by a party indemnified under this
subsection (e) of notice of the commencement of any action against such
indemnified party in respect of which indemnity or reimbursement may be sought
against any indemnifying party under this subsection (e), such indemnified party
shall notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such
action, but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it
of any liability which it may otherwise have to any indemnified party under this
subsection (e). In case notice of commencement of any such action shall be given
to the indemnifying party as above provided, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate in and, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of such
action at its own expense, with counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to such
indemnified party. The indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation)
shall be paid by the indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party agrees
to pay them, (ii) the indemnifying party fails to assume the defense of such
action with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (iii) the
indemnified party has been advised by counsel that one or more legal defenses
may be available to the indemnifying party that may be contrary to the interest
of the indemnified party, in which case the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to assume the defense of such action notwithstanding its obligation to bear fees
and expenses of such counsel. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement entered into without its consent, which consent may not be
unreasonably withheld.
If the indemnification provided, for in this subsection (e)
is unavailable to a party otherwise entitled to be indemnified in respect of any
expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, then the
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such party otherwise entitled to be
indemnified, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such party to be
indemnified as a result of such expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by Issuer, all Selling Holders and the underwriters from the offering of the
securities and also the relative fault of Issuer, all Selling Holders and the
underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the expenses, losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to
above shall be deemed to include any legal or
14
other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim; provided, that in no case shall
any Selling Holder be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of
the net offering proceeds attributable to its Option Shares included in the
offering. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any
obligation by any holder to indemnify shall be several and not joint with other
holders.
In connection with any registration pursuant to subsection
(a) or (b) above, Issuer and each Selling Holder (other than Grantee) shall
enter into an agreement containing the indemnification provisions of this
subsection (e).
(f) Issuer shall comply with all reporting requirements and will
do all such other things as may be necessary to permit the expeditious sale at
any time of any Option Shares by the Selling Holders in accordance with and to
the extent permitted by any rule or regulation promulgated by the Commission
from time to time, including, without limitation, Rules 144 and 144A. Issuer
shall at its expense provide the Selling Holders with any information necessary
in connection with the completion and filing of any reports or forms required to
be filed by them under the Securities Laws, or required pursuant to any state
securities laws or the rules of any stock exchange.
(g) Issuer will pay all stamp taxes in connection with the
issuance and the sale of the Option Shares and in connection with the exercise
of the Option, and will save Holder harmless, without limitation as to time,
against any and all liabilities, with respect to all such taxes.
10. QUOTATION; LISTING. If Issuer Common Stock or any other securities
to be acquired upon exercise of the Option are then authorized for quotation or
trading or listing on the Nasdaq National Market or any other securities
exchange or any automated quotations system maintained by a self-regulatory
organization, Issuer will promptly file an application, if required, to
authorize for quotation or trading or listing the shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option on the Nasdaq
National Market or any other securities exchange or any automated quotations
system maintained by a self-regulatory organization and will use its best
efforts to obtain approval, if required, of such quotation or listing as soon as
practicable.
11. DIVISION OF OPTION. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby)
is exchangeable, without expense, at the option of 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 in the aggregate the same number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein
include any other Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and
the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of
15
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.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
(A) EXPENSES. Except as otherwise 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.
(B) WAIVER AND AMENDMENT. Any provision of this Agreement may be
waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such
provision. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto.
(C) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY; SEVERABILITY.
This Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement and the other documents and
instruments referred to herein and therein, between Grantee and Issuer (a)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any person other
than the parties hereto (other than any transferees of the Option Shares or any
permitted transferee of this Agreement pursuant to Section 12(h) hereof) any
rights or remedies hereunder. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or
state governmental or regulatory agency or authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of 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 Option does not permit Holder to acquire,
or does not require Issuer to repurchase, the full number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock as provided, in Sections 3 and 8 hereof (as adjusted pursuant to
Section 7 hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow Holder to
acquire or to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may
be permissible without any amendment or modification hereof.
(D) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of North
Carolina without regard to any applicable conflicts of law rules, except to the
extent that the federal laws of the United States shall govern.
16
(E) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings contained
herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(F) NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied
(with confirmation) or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested) to the parties at the addresses set forth in the Merger Agreement (or
at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice).
(G) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may be
executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been signed, it
being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.
(H) ASSIGNMENT; TRANSFER. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder or under the Option shall be assigned
or transferred by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party, except that
Grantee may assign this Agreement to a wholly owned subsidiary of Grantee and
Grantee may assign or transfer its rights hereunder in whole or in part after
the occurrence of a Purchase Event. In the case of any permitted assignment or
transfer of the Option, Issuer shall do all things necessary to facilitate the
same, and the Holder to whom the Option is assigned or transferred shall make
the representations contained in Section 6 hereof (with Holder substituted for
Grantee) and shall agree in writing to the terms and conditions hereof. Subject
to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.
(I) FURTHER ASSURANCES. In the event of any exercise of the Option
by Holder, Issuer and Holder shall execute and deliver all other documents and
instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably necessary in order
to consummate the transactions provided, for by such exercise.
(J) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that this
Agreement may be enforced by either party through specific performance,
injunctive relief and other equitable relief. Both parties further agree to
waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with
the obtaining of any such equitable relief and that this provision is without
prejudice to any other rights that the parties hereto may have for any failure
to perform this Agreement.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Issuer and Grantee have caused this Stock Option
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the day and year first written above.
FIRST LIBERTY FINANCIAL CORP. BB&T CORPORATION
By: /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx By: /s/Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, XX
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
