Exhibit 2.1
________________________________________________________________________________
PLAN OF CONVERSION
FOR
FIRST FEDERAL LINCOLN BANK
AS ADOPTED ON:
OCTOBER 7, 1997
________________________________________________________________________________
PLAN OF CONVERSION
FOR
FIRST FEDERAL LINCOLN BANK
1. INTRODUCTION
This Plan of Conversion ("Plan") provides for the conversion of First
Federal Lincoln Bank ("BANK") from a federally-chartered mutual savings bank to
a federally-chartered capital stock savings bank. The Board of Directors of the
BANK currently contemplates that all of the stock of the BANK shall be held by a
corporation to be incorporated under Delaware law (the "Holding Company"). The
Board of Directors has carefully considered the alternatives available to the
BANK with respect to its corporate structure and has determined that a mutual to
stock conversion as described in this Plan is in the best interests of the BANK,
its depositors and the community served by the BANK. The Board of Directors
believes that the decline in mutuality is placing mutual savings associations,
such as the BANK, at a disadvantage to the increasing base of stock thrift and
commercial bank institutions. The restructuring of the BANK into the capital
stock form of organization will enable the BANK to compete more effectively with
commercial banks and other financial institutions for new business
opportunities, and as a stock institution, to increase its equity capital base
and access the capital markets when needed and to enhance the BANK'S ability to
expand its franchise and the products it offers. The use of the Holding
Company, if so utilized, would also provide greater organizational and operating
flexibility. Shares of capital stock of the BANK will be sold to the Holding
Company and the Holding Company will offer the Conversion Stock upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein to the Eligible Account Holders, the Employee
Plans established by the BANK or Holding
Company, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members in the
respective priorities set forth in this Plan. Any shares of Conversion Stock not
subscribed for by the foregoing classes of persons will be offered for sale to
certain members of the public either directly by the BANK and the Holding
Company through a Community Offering or a Syndicated Community Offering or
through an underwritten firm commitment public offering or through a combination
thereof. In the event that the BANK decides not to utilize the Holding Company
in the conversion, Conversion Stock of the BANK, in lieu of the Holding Company,
will be sold as set forth above and in the respective priorities set forth in
this Plan. In addition to the foregoing, the BANK and the Holding Company, as
part of this Plan, intend to implement stock option plans and other stock
benefit plans and will provide employment or severance agreements to certain
management employees and certain other compensation to the directors, officers
and employees of the BANK as described in the prospectus for the Conversion
Stock.
In furtherance of the BANK's long term commitment to its community, this
Plan provides for the establishment of a foundation (the "Foundation") as part
of the Conversion. The Foundation is intended to complement the BANK's existing
community reinvestment activities in a manner that will allow the communities in
which the BANK operates to share in the potential growth and profitability of
the Holding Company and the BANK over the long term. Consistent with the BANK's
goal, the Holding Company intends to donate to the Foundation from its
authorized but unissued common stock up to 8% of the number of shares sold in
the Conversion. The establishment of the Foundation is subject to the approval
of the Voting Members of the BANK. In the event the Foundation is not approved,
the BANK may determine to complete the Conversion without the Foundation.
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This Plan, which has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of
the BANK, must also be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
total number of outstanding votes entitled to be cast by Voting Members of the
BANK at a special meeting to be called for that purpose. Prior to the
submission of this Plan to the Voting Members for consideration, the Plan must
be approved by the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS").
2. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Plan, the following terms have the following
meanings:
Account Holder - The term Account Holder means any Person holding a Savings
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Account in the BANK.
Acting in Concert - The term "Acting in Concert" means (i) knowing
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participation in a joint activity or interdependent conscious parallel action
towards a common goal whether or not pursuant to an express agreement; (ii) a
combination or pooling of voting or other interests in the securities of an
issuer for a common purpose pursuant to any contract, understanding,
relationship, agreement or other arrangement, whether written or otherwise; or
(iii) a person or company which acts in concert with another person or company
("other party") shall also be deemed to be acting in concert with any person or
company who is also acting in concert with that other party, except that any
Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan will not be deemed to be acting in
concert with its trustee or a person who serves in a similar capacity solely for
the purpose of determining whether stock held by the trustee and stock held by
the plan will be aggregated.
Actual Purchase Price - The term Actual Purchase Price means the per share
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price at which the Conversion Stock is ultimately sold in accordance with the
terms hereof.
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Associate - The term Associate when used to indicate a relationship with
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any person, means (i) any corporation or organization (other than the BANK or a
majority-owned subsidiary of the BANK) of which such person is an officer or
partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10 percent or
more of any class of equity securities, (ii) any trust or other estate in which
such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such person
serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity except that for the
purposes of Sections 9 and 14 hereof, the term "Associate" does not include any
Non-Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan or any Tax-Qualified Employee
Stock Benefit Plan in which a person has a substantial beneficial interest or
serves as a trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and except that, for
purposes of aggregating total shares that may be held by Officers and Directors
the term "Associate" does not include any Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit
Plan, and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such
spouse, who has the same home as such person or who is a Director or Officer of
the BANK or the Holding Company, if utilized, or any of its parents or
subsidiaries.
Bank - The term BANK means First Federal Lincoln Bank, Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Community Offering - The term Community Offering means the offering for
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sale to certain members of the general public with a preference given to
Preferred Subscribers directly by the BANK or the Holding Company, if utilized,
of any shares of Conversion Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription
Offering.
Conversion Stock - The term Conversion Stock means the $.01 par value
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common stock offered and issued by the Holding Company or the $1.00 par value
Common Stock offered and
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issued by the BANK, if the Holding Company form of organization is not utilized,
upon conversion.
Director - The term Director means a member of the Board of Directors of
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the BANK and, where applicable, a member of the Board of Directors of the
Holding Company.
Eligible Account Holder - The term Eligible Account Holder means any person
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holding a Qualifying Deposit on the Eligibility Record Date.
Eligibility Record Date - The term Eligibility Record Date means the date
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for determining Eligible Account Holders in the BANK and is June 30, 1996.
Employees - The term Employees means all Persons who are employed by the
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BANK but does not include an Officer or Director.
Employee Plans - The term Employee Plans means the Tax Qualified Employee
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Stock Benefit Plans approved by the Board of Directors of the BANK.
Estimated Price Range - The term Estimated Price Range means the range of
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minimum and maximum aggregate values determined by the Board of Directors of the
BANK within which the aggregate amount of Common Stock sold in the Conversion
will fall. The Estimated Price Range will be within the estimated pro forma
market value of the Conversion Stock as determined by the Independent Appraiser
prior to the Subscription Offering and as it may be amended from time to time
thereafter.
FDIC - The term FDIC means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
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Holding Company - The term Holding Company means the Delaware corporation
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formed for the purpose of acquiring all of the shares of capital stock of the
BANK to be issued upon its conversion to stock form unless the Holding Company
form of organization is not utilized.
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Shares of common stock of the Holding Company will be issued in the conversion
to Participants and others in a Subscription, Community, Syndicated Community,
or underwritten firm commitment public offering, or through a combination
thereof.
Independent Appraiser - The term Independent Appraiser means an appraiser
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retained by the BANK to prepare an appraisal of the pro forma market value of
the Conversion Stock.
Local Community - The term Local Community means all counties in the States
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of Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa in which the BANK maintains a banking office.
Member - The term Member means any Person or entity who qualifies as a
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member of the BANK pursuant to its charter and bylaws.
OTS - The term OTS means Office of Thrift Supervision of the Department of
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the Treasury and its successors.
Officer - The term Officer means an executive officer of the BANK which
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includes the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President,
Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents in charge of principal business
functions, Secretary, Treasurer and Controller and any person performing
functions similar to those performed by the foregoing persons.
Order Form - The term Order Form means any form together with attached
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cover letter, sent by the BANK to any Participant or Person containing among
other things a description of the alternatives available to such Person under
the Plan and by which any such Person may make elections regarding subscriptions
for Conversion Stock in the Subscription and Community Offerings.
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Other Member - The term Other Member means any person who is a Member of
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the BANK (other than an Eligible Account Holder or Supplemental Eligible Account
Holder) at the close of business on the Voting Record Date.
Participants - The term Participants means the Eligible Account Holders,
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Employee Plans, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members.
Person - The term Person means an individual, a corporation, a partnership,
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an association, a joint-stock company, a trust (including Individual Retirement
Accounts and XXXXX Accounts), any unincorporated organization, a government or
political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
Plan - The term Plan means this Plan of Conversion of the BANK as it exists
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on the date hereof and as it may hereafter be amended in accordance with its
terms.
Preferred Subscribers - The term Preferred Subscribers means, in the
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following order of preference: first, any person holding a deposit in a Savings
Account in First Federal Lincoln Bank - Iowa with a balance of $50 or more at
the close of business on the Eligibility Record Date and second, those members
of the general public which are natural persons residing in the BANK'S Local
Community.
Qualifying Deposit - The term Qualifying Deposit means the balance of each
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Savings Account of $50 or more in the BANK at the close of business on the
Eligibility Record Date or the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, whichever
may be the case. Savings Accounts with total deposit balances of less than $50
shall not constitute a Qualifying Deposit.
SEC - The term SEC refers to the United States Securities and Exchange
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Commission.
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Savings Account - The term Savings Account has the same meaning as in
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Section 561.42 of the Rules and Regulations of the OTS and includes certificates
of deposit.
Special Meeting of Members - The term Special Meeting of Members means the
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special meeting and any adjournments thereof held to consider and vote upon this
Plan.
Subscription Offering - The term Subscription Offering means the offering
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of Conversion Stock for purchase through Order Forms to Participants.
Subscription Price - The term Subscription Price means the amount per share
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of Conversion Stock to be paid initially by Participants in the Subscription
Offering and persons in the Community Offering.
Supplemental Eligibility Record Date - The term Supplemental Eligibility
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Record Date means the supplemental record date for determining Supplemental
Eligible Account Holders of the BANK. The Supplemental Eligibility Record Date
shall be the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the OTS' approval of the
application for conversion.
Supplemental Eligible Account Holder - The term Supplemental Eligible
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Account Holder means any person (other than an Eligible Account Holder) holding
a Qualifying Deposit, except officers, directors and their associates, as of the
Supplemental Eligibility Record Date.
Syndicated Community Offering - The term Syndicated Community Offering
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means the offering of Conversion Stock following the Subscription and Community
Offerings through a syndicate of broker-dealers.
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Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan - The term Tax-Qualified Employee
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Stock Benefit Plan means any defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan,
such as an employee stock ownership plan, stock bonus plan, profit-sharing plan
or other plan, which, with its related trust, meets the requirements to be
"qualified" under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. A "Non-Tax-
Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan" is any defined benefit plan or defined
contribution plan which is not so qualified.
Voting Members - The term Voting Members means those persons qualifying as
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voting members of the BANK pursuant to its charter and bylaws.
Voting Record Date - The term Voting Record Date means the date fixed by
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the Directors in accordance with OTS regulations for determining eligibility to
vote at the Special Meeting of Members.
3. PROCEDURE FOR CONVERSION
After approval of the Plan by a vote of not less than 2/3 of the Board of
Directors of the BANK, the Plan shall be submitted together with all other
requisite material to the OTS for its approval. Notice of the adoption of the
Plan by the Board of Directors of the BANK and the submission of the Plan to the
OTS for its approval will be published in a newspaper having general circulation
in each community in which an office of the BANK is located and copies of the
Plan will be made available at each office of the BANK for inspection by the
Members. Upon receipt of notice from the OTS to do so, the BANK also will cause
to be published a notice of the filing with the OTS of an application to convert
in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. Following approval by the OTS,
the Plan will be submitted to a vote of the Voting
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Members at the Special Meeting of Members called for that purpose. Upon approval
of the Plan by a majority of the total outstanding votes of the Voting Members,
the BANK will take all other necessary steps pursuant to applicable laws and
regulations to convert the BANK to stock form. The conversion must be completed
within 24 months of the approval of the Plan by the Voting Members, unless a
longer time period is permitted by governing laws and regulations.
The Board of Directors of the BANK intends to take all necessary steps to
form the Holding Company, including the filing of an Application on Form H-(e)1
or H-(e)1-S, if available to the Holding Company, with the OTS. In the event
that the Holding Company is utilized, upon conversion the BANK will issue
capital stock to the Holding Company and the Holding Company will issue and sell
the Conversion Stock in accordance with this Plan.
The Board of Directors of the BANK may determine for any reason at any time
prior to the issuance of the Conversion Stock not to utilize a holding company
form of organization in the Conversion, in which case, the Holding Company's
registration statement on Form S-1 will be withdrawn from the SEC, the BANK will
take all steps necessary to complete the conversion from the mutual to the stock
form of organization, including filing any necessary documents with the OTS, and
will issue and sell the Conversion Stock in accordance with this Plan. In such
event, any subscriptions or orders received for Conversion Stock of the Holding
Company shall be deemed to be subscriptions or orders for Conversion Stock of
the BANK without any further action by the BANK or the subscribers for the
Conversion Stock, unless any such further action is required by the SEC or the
OTS, in which case the BANK shall take such necessary action to complete the
Conversion. Any references to the Holding Company in this Plan shall mean the
BANK in the event the Holding Company is eliminated in the Conversion.
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The Board of Directors of the BANK also intend to take all necessary steps
to establish the Foundation, and to fund such Foundation in the manner set forth
in Section 7A hereof, subject to the approval of the Voting Members.
The Conversion Stock will not be insured by the FDIC. The BANK will not
knowingly lend funds or otherwise extend credit to any Person to purchase shares
of the Conversion Stock.
4. HOLDING COMPANY APPLICATIONS AND APPROVALS
The Holding Company shall make timely applications for any requisite
regulatory approvals, including an Application on Form H-(e)1 or an H-(e)1-S, if
available to the Holding Company, to be filed with the OTS and a Registration
Statement on Form S-1 to be filed with the SEC. The BANK shall be a wholly-
owned subsidiary of the Holding Company unless the Holding Company is eliminated
in the Conversion.
5. SALE OF CONVERSION STOCK
The Conversion Stock will be offered simultaneously in the Subscription
Offering to the Eligible Account Holders, Employee Plans, Supplemental Eligible
Account Holders and Other Members in the respective priorities set forth in
Sections 8 through 11 of this Plan. The Subscription Offering may be commenced
as early as the mailing of the Proxy Statement for the Special Meeting of
Members and must be commenced in time to complete the Conversion within the time
period specified in Section 3.
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Any shares of Conversion Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription
Offering will be offered for sale in the Community Offering as provided in
Section 12 of this Plan. The Subscription Offering may be commenced prior to
the Special Meeting of Members and, in that event, the Community Offering may
also be commenced prior to the Special Meeting of Members. The offer and sale
of Conversion Stock prior to the Special Meeting of Members shall, however, be
conditioned upon approval of the Plan by the Voting Members.
If feasible, any shares of Conversion Stock remaining after the
Subscription and Community Offerings may be sold in a Syndicated Community
Offering, as provided in Section 13 of this Plan in a manner that will achieve
the widest distribution of the Conversion Stock as determined by the BANK. The
sale of all Conversion Stock subscribed for in the Subscription and Community
Offerings will be consummated simultaneously on the date the sale of Conversion
Stock in the Syndicated Community Offering is consummated and only if all
unsubscribed for Conversion Stock is sold.
The BANK may elect to offer to pay fees on a per share basis to brokers who
assist Persons in determining to purchase shares in the Subscription and
Community Offerings.
6. NUMBER OF SHARES AND PURCHASE PRICE OF CONVERSION STOCK
The total number of shares (or a range thereof) of Conversion Stock to be
issued and offered for sale will be determined jointly by the Board of Directors
of the BANK and the Board of Directors of the Holding Company, if the holding
company form of organization is utilized, immediately prior to the commencement
of the Subscription and Community Offerings, subject to adjustment thereafter if
necessitated by market or financial conditions, with the approval of the
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OTS, if necessary. In particular, the total number of shares may be increased
by up to 15% of the number of shares offered in the Subscription and Community
Offering if the Estimated Price Range is increased subsequent to the
commencement of the Subscription and Community Offering to reflect changes in
market and financial conditions.
All shares sold in the Conversion will be sold at a uniform price per share
referred to in this Plan as the Actual Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase
price for all shares of Conversion Stock will not be inconsistent with the
estimated consolidated pro forma market value of the BANK or the Holding
Company, if utilized. The estimated consolidated pro forma market value of the
BANK or the Holding Company, if utilized, will be determined for such purpose by
the Independent Appraiser. Prior to the commencement of the Subscription and
Community Offerings, an Estimated Price Range will be established, which range
will vary within 15% above to 15% below the midpoint of such range. The number
of shares of Conversion Stock to be issued and the purchase price per share may
be increased or decreased by the BANK. In the event that the aggregate purchase
price of the Conversion Stock is below the minimum of the Estimated Price Range,
or materially above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, resolicitation of
purchasers may be required provided that up to a 15% increase above the maximum
of the Estimated Price Range will not be deemed material so as to require a
resolicitation. Up to a 15% increase in the number of shares to be issued which
is supported by an appropriate change in the estimated pro forma market value of
the BANK or the Holding Company, if utilized, will not be deemed to be material
so as to require a resolicitation of subscriptions. In the event that the
aggregate purchase price of the Conversion Stock is below the minimum of the
Estimated Price Range or in excess of 15% above the maximum of the
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Estimated Price Range, and a resolicitation is required, such resolicitation
shall be effected in such manner and within such time as the BANK shall
establish, with the approval of the OTS, if required.
Based upon the independent valuation as updated prior to the commencement
of the Subscription and Community Offerings, the Board of Directors of the
Holding Company, (if a holding company form of organization is utilized) and the
Board of Directors of the BANK will fix the Subscription Price and the range of
the number of shares to be offered. If upon completion of the Subscription and
Community Offerings all of the Conversion Stock is subscribed for, or if because
of a limited number of unsubscribed shares or otherwise a Syndicated Community
Offering cannot be effected, the total number of shares of Conversion Stock to
be issued and sold will be jointly determined by the BANK and Holding Company
(if a holding company form of organization is utilized) as follows: (a) the
estimated aggregate pro forma market value of the BANK or the Holding Company,
as the case may be, immediately after conversion as determined by the
Independent Appraiser, expressed in terms of a specific aggregate dollar amount
rather than as a range, upon completion of the Subscription and Community
Offerings or other sale of all of the Conversion Stock shall be divided by (b)
the Actual Purchase Price.
If there is a Syndicated Community Offering of shares of Conversion Stock
not subscribed for in the Subscription and Community Offerings, the price per
share at which the Conversion Stock is sold in such Syndicated Community
Offering shall be the Subscription Price.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, no sale of Conversion Stock may be
consummated unless, prior to such consummation, the Independent Appraiser
confirms to the BANK and Holding Company, if utilized, and to the OTS that, to
the best knowledge of the Independent Appraiser, nothing of a material nature
has occurred which, taking into account all relevant factors, would cause the
Independent Appraiser to conclude that the aggregate value of the Conversion
Stock at the Actual Purchase Price is incompatible with its estimate of the
aggregate consolidated pro forma market value of the Holding Company or the BANK
if no Holding Company is utilized. If such confirmation is not received, the
BANK may cancel the Subscription and Community Offerings and/or the Syndicated
Community Offering, extend the Conversion, establish a new Subscription Price
Range and/or Estimated Price Range, extend, reopen or hold new Subscription and
Community Offerings and/or Syndicated Community Offering or take such other
action as the OTS may permit.
The Conversion Stock to be issued in the Conversion shall be fully paid and
nonassessable.
7. PURCHASE BY THE HOLDING COMPANY OF THE STOCK OF THE BANK
Upon the consummation of the sale of all of the Conversion Stock, and in
the event that a holding company form of organization is utilized, the Holding
Company will purchase from the BANK all of the capital stock of the BANK to be
issued by the BANK in the Conversion in exchange for the Conversion proceeds
that are not permitted to be retained by the Holding Company.
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The Holding Company will apply to the OTS to retain up to 50% of the
proceeds of the Conversion. Assuming the Holding Company is not eliminated, a
lesser percentage may be acceptable. The BANK believes that the Conversion
proceeds will provide economic strength to the Holding Company and the BANK for
the future in a highly competitive and regulated environment and would
facilitate expansion through acquisitions, diversification into other related
businesses and for other business and investment purposes, including the payment
of dividends and future repurchases of Conversion Stock as permitted by the OTS.
If during the Conversion process the Board of Directors of the BANK determines
not to complete the Conversion utilizing a holding company form of organization,
capital stock of the BANK will be issued and sold in accordance with the Plan.
The above activities may also be engaged in by the BANK if the Holding Company
is eliminated.
7A. ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNDING OF FOUNDATION
As part of the Conversion, the Holding Company and the BANK intend to
establish a Foundation that will qualify as an exempt organization under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and to donate to the Foundation up to 8%
of the number of shares of Common Stock sold in the Conversion. The Foundation
is being formed in connection with the Conversion in order to complement the
BANK's existing community reinvestment activities and to share with the
communities in which the BANK operates a part of the BANK's financial success as
a community-minded, financial services institution. The funding of the
Foundation with Common Stock of the Holding Company accomplishes this goal as it
enables such
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communities to share in the potential growth and profitability of the Holding
Company and the BANK over the long-term.
The Foundation will be dedicated to the promotion of charitable purposes
within the communities in which the BANK operates, including, but not limited
to, grants or donations to support housing assistance, scholarships, local
education, not-for-profit medical facilities, not-for-profit community groups
and other types of organizations or civic minded projects. The board of
directors of the Foundation will be responsible for establishing the polices of
the Foundation with respect to grants or donations, consistent with the stated
purposes of the Foundation. The Foundation will annually distribute total grants
to assist charitable organizations or to fund projects within its local
community of not less than 5% of the average fair value of Foundation assets
each year. In order to serve the purposes for which it was formed and maintain
its 501(c)(3) qualification, the Foundation may sell, on an annual basis, a
limited portion of the Common Stock contributed to it by the Holding Company.
The establishment and funding of the Foundation as part of the Conversion
is subject to the approval of the Voting Members by an affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes eligible to be cast by Voting Members in person or by
proxy at the Special Meeting. In the event that the BANK's Members approve this
Plan, but not the Foundation, the BANK may determine to complete the Conversion
without the establishment of the Foundation and may do so without amending this
Plan or obtaining any further vote of the BANK's Members. Failure of the Voting
Members to approve the Foundation may materially affect the pro forma market
value of the BANK. In such an event, the BANK may establish a new Estimated
Price Range and commence a resolicitation of subscribers. For comparison
purposes, Voting Members will be provided with
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a projection of the pro forma market value of the Conversion Stock, an Estimated
Price Range and certain selected pro forma financial data that would result if
the Conversion were consummated without establishment of the Foundation.
8. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS (FIRST PRIORITY)
A. Each Eligible Account Holder shall receive, as first priority and
without payment, nontransferable subscription rights to subscribe for shares of
Conversion Stock equal to an amount up to the greater of: the amount permitted
to be subscribed for in the Community Offering which amount, pursuant to Section
12, currently is $500,000 of the Conversion Stock offered, but which may be
increased to 5% or decreased to less than $500,000 without the further approval
of members or resolicitation of subscribers; one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of
the total offering of shares of Conversion Stock; or fifteen times the product
(rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number
of shares of Conversion Stock to be issued by a fraction of which the numerator
is the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of the Eligible Account Holder and the
denominator is the total amount of Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account
Holders, in each case on the Eligibility Record Date, subject to the maximum
purchase limitation specified in Section 14A and the minimum purchase limitation
specified in Section 14C and exclusive of an increase in the total number of
shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%.
B. In the event that Eligible Account Holders exercise subscription
rights for a number of shares of Conversion Stock in excess of the total number
of shares eligible for
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subscription, the shares of Conversion Stock shall be allocated among the
subscribing Eligible Account Holders so as to permit each subscribing Eligible
Account Holder, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares
sufficient to make his or her total allocation of Conversion Stock equal to the
lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for by the Eligible
Account Holders. Any shares remaining after that allocation will be allocated
among the subscribing Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain
unsatisfied in the proportion that the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of each
Eligible Account Holder whose subscription remains unsatisfied bears to the
total amount of the Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account Holders whose
subscriptions remain unsatisfied. If the amount so allocated exceeds the amount
subscribed for by any one or more Eligible Account Holders, the excess shall be
reallocated (one or more times as necessary) among those Eligible Account
Holders whose subscriptions are still not fully satisfied on the same principle
until all available shares have been allocated or all subscriptions satisfied.
C. Subscription rights as Eligible Account Holders received by Directors
and Officers and their Associates which are based on deposits made by such
persons during the twelve (12) months preceding the Eligibility Record Date
shall be subordinated to the Subscription Rights of all other Eligible Account
Holders.
9. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF THE EMPLOYEE PLANS (SECOND PRIORITY)
The Employee Plans shall receive, without payment, as a second priority
after the filling of subscriptions of Eligible Account Holders, nontransferable
subscription rights to purchase in the Subscription Offering the number of
shares of Conversion Stock requested by such Employee
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Plans. If, after the filling of subscriptions of Eligible Account Holders, a
sufficient number of shares are not available to fill the subscriptions by such
Employee Plans, the subscription by such Employee Plans shall be filled to the
maximum extent possible; provided, however, that in the event of an increase in
the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price
Range of up to 15%, the additional shares may be sold to the Employee Plans
subject to the provisions of Section 14.
The Employee Plans shall not be deemed to be an associate or affiliate of
or Person Acting in Concert with any Director or Officer of the Holding Company
or the BANK.
10. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS (THIRD
PRIORITY)
A. Each Supplemental Eligible Account Holder shall receive, as third
priority and without payment, nontransferable subscription rights to subscribe
for shares of Conversion Stock equal to an amount up to the greater of: the
amount permitted to be subscribed for in the Community Offering which amount,
pursuant to Section 12, currently is $500,000 of the Conversion Stock offered,
but which may be increased to 5% or decreased to less than $500,000 without the
further approval of members or resolicitation of subscribers; one-tenth of one
percent (.10%) of the total offering of Conversion Stock; or fifteen times the
product (rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the
total number of shares of Conversion Stock to be issued by a fraction of which
the numerator is the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of the Supplemental
Eligible Account Holder and the denominator is the total amount of the
Qualifying Deposits of all Supplemental Eligible Account Holders in the BANK on
the Supplemental
20
Eligibility Record Date, subject to the maximum purchase limitation specified in
Section 14A and the minimum purchase limitation specified in Section 14C and
exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase
in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%.
B. In the event that Supplemental Eligible Account Holders exercise
subscription rights for a number of shares of Conversion Stock in excess of the
total number of shares eligible for subscription, the remaining shares of
Conversion Stock shall be allocated among the subscribing Supplemental Eligible
Account Holders so as to permit each subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account
Holder, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares sufficient to
make his or her total allocation of Conversion Stock equal to the lesser of 100
shares or the number of shares subscribed for by the Supplemental Eligible
Account Holder. Any shares remaining after that allocation will be allocated
among the subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions
remain unsatisfied in the proportion that the amount of the Qualifying Deposit
of each Supplemental Eligible Account Holder whose subscription remains
unsatisfied bears to the total amount of the Qualifying Deposits of all
Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied. If
the amount so allocated exceeds the amount subscribed for by any one or more
Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, the excess shall be reallocated (one or
more times as necessary) among those Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose
subscriptions are still not fully satisfied on the same principle until all
available shares have been allocated or all subscriptions satisfied.
C. Subscription rights received by an Eligible Account Holder pursuant to
Section 8 shall be applied in partial satisfaction of the subscription rights to
be received as a Supplemental Eligible Account Holder pursuant to this Section
10.
21
11. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF OTHER MEMBERS (FOURTH PRIORITY)
A. Each Other Member shall receive, without payment, as a fourth priority
after the filling of subscriptions of the Eligible Account Holders, the Employee
Plans, and the Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, nontransferable
subscription rights to subscribe for shares of Conversion Stock equal to an
amount up to the greater of: the amount permitted to be subscribed for in the
Community Offering which amount, pursuant to Section 12, currently is $500,000
of the Conversion Stock offered, but which may be increased to 5% or decreased
to less than $500,000 without the further approval of members or resolicitation
of subscribers; or one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the total offering of
shares of Conversion Stock, subject to the maximum purchase limitation specified
in Section 14A and the minimum purchase limitation specified in Section 14C and
exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase
in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%.
B. In the event that Other Members exercise subscription rights for a
number of shares of Conversion Stock in excess of the total number of shares
eligible for subscription, the remaining shares of Conversion Stock shall be
allocated among the subscribing Other Members so as to permit each subscribing
Other Member, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares sufficient
to make his or her total allocation of Conversion Stock equal to the lesser of
100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for by the Other Member. Any
shares remaining after that allocation will be allocated among the subscribing
Other Members whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied pro rata in the same
proportion that the number of votes of a subscribing Other Member on the Voting
Record Date bears to the total votes on the Voting Record Date of
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all subscribing Other Members. If the amount so allocated exceeds the amount
subscribed for by any one or more remaining Other Members, the excess shall be
reallocated (one or more times as necessary) among those remaining Other Members
whose subscriptions are still not fully satisfied on the same principle until
all available shares have been allocated or all subscriptions satisfied.
12. COMMUNITY OFFERING (FIFTH PRIORITY)
If less than the total number of shares of Conversion Stock to be
subscribed for in the Conversion are sold in the Subscription Offering, it is
expected that shares remaining unsubscribed for will be made available for
purchase in the Community Offering to certain members of the general public,
which may subscribe together with any Associate or group of persons Acting in
Concert for up to $500,000 of the shares of Conversion Stock offered subject to
the Maximum Overall Purchase Limitation as specified in Section 14A and the
minimum purchase limitation specified in Section 14C and exclusive of an
increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the
Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; provided, however, that the amount permitted
to be purchased in the Community Offering may be increased to 5% of the
Conversion Stock; or decreased to less than $500,000 without the further
approval of members or resolicitation of subscribers. The shares may be made
available in the Community Offering through a direct community marketing program
which may provide for utilization of a broker, dealer, consultant or investment
banking firm, experienced and expert in the sale of savings institution
securities. Such entities may be compensated on a fixed fee basis or on a
commission basis, or a combination thereof. The BANK shall make distribution of
the
23
Conversion Stock to be sold in the Community Offering in such a manner as to
promote the widest distribution of Conversion Stock. The BANK reserves the right
to reject any or all orders, in whole or in part, which are received in the
Community Offering.
If the Preferred Subscribers in the Community Offering, whose orders would
otherwise be accepted, subscribe for more shares than are available for
purchase, the shares available to them will be allocated among the Preferred
Subscribers in the manner which permits each such person to the extent possible,
to purchase the number of shares necessary to make his total allocation of
Conversion Stock equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares
subscribed for by such persons with preference given to Preferred Subscribers.
Thereafter, unallocated shares will be allocated among the Preferred Subscribers
whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied on a 100 shares per order basis until all
such orders have been filled or the remaining shares have been allocated. To
the extent that there are shares remaining after all subscriptions by Preferred
Subscribers, any remaining shares will be allocated among members of the general
public using the foregoing allocation as applied to Preferred Subscribers. The
BANK may establish all other terms and conditions of such offer. It is expected
that the Community Offering will commence concurrently with the Subscription
Offering. The Community Offering must be completed within 45 days after the
completion of the Subscription Offering unless otherwise extended by the OTS.
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13. SYNDICATED COMMUNITY OFFERING
If feasible, all shares of Conversion Stock not subscribed for in the
Subscription and Community Offerings may be sold in a Syndicated Community
Offering, subject to such terms, conditions and procedures as may be determined
by the BANK, in a manner that will achieve the widest distribution of the
Conversion Stock subject to the right of the BANK to accept or reject in whole
or in part all subscriptions in the Syndicated Community Offering. In the
Syndicated Community Offering, any person together with any Associate or group
of persons Acting in Concert may purchase up to $500,000 of the total number of
shares of Conversion Stock offered subject to the maximum purchase limitation
specified in Section 14A and the minimum purchase limitation specified in
Section 14C and exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued
due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; provided, however,
that this amount may be increased to 5% or decreased to less than $500,000
without the further approval of members or resolicitation of subscribers. The
shares purchased by any Person together with any Associate or group of persons
Acting in Concert pursuant to Section 12 shall be counted toward meeting the
maximum percentage of shares permitted to be purchased pursuant to this Section.
Provided that the Subscription Offering has commenced, the BANK may commence the
Syndicated Community Offering at any time after the mailing to the Members of
the Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the Special Meeting of
Members, provided that the completion of the offer and sale of the Conversion
Stock shall be conditioned upon the approval of this Plan by the Voting Members.
If the Syndicated Community Offering is not sooner commenced pursuant to the
provisions of the preceding sentence, the Syndicated Community
25
Offering will be commenced as soon as practicable following the date upon which
the Subscription and Community Offerings terminate.
Alternatively, if a Syndicated Community Offering is not held, the BANK
shall have the right to sell any shares of Conversion Stock remaining following
the Subscription and Community Offerings in an underwritten firm commitment
public offering. The provisions of Section 14 hereof shall not be applicable to
sales to underwriters for purposes of such an offering but shall be applicable
to the sales by the underwriters to the public. The price to be paid by the
underwriters in such an offering shall be equal to the Actual Purchase Price
less an underwriting discount to be negotiated among such underwriters and the
BANK, which will in no event exceed an amount deemed to be acceptable by the
OTS.
If for any reason a Syndicated Community Offering or an underwritten firm
commitment public offering of shares of Conversion Stock not sold in the
Subscription and Community Offerings can not be effected, or in the event that
any insignificant residue of shares of Conversion Stock is not sold in the
Subscription and Community Offerings or in the Syndicated Community Offering or
an underwritten firm commitment public offering, other purchase arrangements
will be made for the sale of unsubscribed shares by the BANK, if possible. Such
other purchase arrangements will be subject to the approval of the OTS.
14. LIMITATION ON PURCHASES
In addition to the maximum amount of Conversion Stock that may be
subscribed for as set forth in Sections 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13, the following
limitations shall apply to all purchases of shares of Conversion Stock:
26
A. The maximum number of shares of Conversion Stock which may be
subscribed for or purchased in all categories in the conversion by any Person or
Participant together with any Associate or group or persons Acting in Concert
shall not exceed 1.0% of the Conversion Stock offered (the "Maximum Overall
Purchase Limitation"), except for the Employee Plans which may subscribe for up
to 10% of the Conversion Stock issued and except for certain Eligible Account
Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders which may subscribe for or
purchase shares in accordance with Sections 8 and 10 herein, respectively;
provided, however, in the event that the Maximum Overall Purchase Limitation is
increased to more than 2.0% of the shares of Conversion Stock offered, orders
for Conversion Stock in the Community Offering and in the Syndicated Community
Offering (or, alternatively an underwritten firm commitment public offering), if
any, shall, as determined by the BANK, first be filled to a maximum of 2.0% of
the total number of shares of Conversion Stock offered and thereafter remaining
shares shall be allocated on an equal number of shares basis per order until all
orders have been filled.
B. The maximum number of shares of Conversion Stock which may be
purchased in all categories in the Conversion by Officers and Directors of the
BANK and their Associates in the aggregate shall not exceed 25% of the total
number of shares of Conversion Stock issued.
C. A minimum of 25 shares of Conversion Stock must be purchased by each
Person purchasing shares in the Conversion to the extent those shares are
available; provided, however, that in the event the minimum number of shares of
Conversion Stock purchased times the price per share exceeds $500, then such
minimum purchase requirement shall be reduced to such number of shares of
Conversion Stock which when multiplied by the price per share shall not exceed
$500, as determined by the Board.
27
If the number of shares of Conversion Stock otherwise allocable pursuant to
Sections 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13, to any Person or that Person's Associates would
be in excess of the maximum number of shares permitted as set forth above, the
number of shares of Conversion Stock allocated to each such person shall be
reduced to the lowest limitation applicable to that Person, and then the number
of shares allocated to each group consisting of a Person and that Person's
Associates shall be reduced so that the aggregate allocation to that Person and
his or her Associates complies with the above maximums, and such maximum number
of shares shall be reallocated among that Person and his or her Associates as
they may agree, or in the absence of an agreement, in proportion to the shares
subscribed by each (after first applying the maximums applicable to each Person,
separately).
Depending upon market or financial conditions, the Board of Directors of
the BANK and the Holding Company, without further approval of the Members, may
decrease or increase the purchase limitations in this Plan, provided that the
maximum purchase limitations may not be increased to a percentage in excess of
5%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Maximum Overall Purchase Limitation may
be increased up to 9.99% provided that orders for Conversion Stock exceeding 5%
of the shares being offered shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 10% of the total
offering. If the BANK or the Holding Company, as the case may be, increases the
maximum purchase limitations, the BANK or the Holding Company, as the case may
be, is only required to resolicit Persons who subscribed for the maximum
purchase amount and may, in the sole discretion of the BANK or the Holding
Company, as the case may be, resolicit certain other large subscribers.
28
In the event shares of Conversion stock are sold in excess of the maximum
of the Estimated Price Range, (the "Adjusted Maximum") such shares will be
allocated in the following order of priority: (i) to fill the Employee Plans'
subscription to the Adjusted Maximum; (ii) in the event that there is an over
subscription at the Eligible Account Holder level, to fill unfulfilled
subscriptions of Eligible Account Holders exclusive of the Adjusted Maximum in
accordance with Section 8; (iii) in the event there is an over subscription at
the Supplemental Eligible Account Holder level, to fill unfulfilled
subscriptions of Supplemental Eligible Account Holders exclusive of the Adjusted
Maximum in accordance with Section 10; (iv) in the event that there is an over
subscription at the Other Member level, to fill unfulfilled subscriptions of
Other Members exclusive of the Adjusted Maximum in accordance with Section 11;
and (v) to fill unfulfilled Subscriptions in the Community Offering exclusive of
the Adjusted Maximum in accordance with Section 12.
For purposes of this Section 14, the Directors and Officers of the BANK and
the Holding Company shall not be deemed to be Associates or a group affiliated
with each other or otherwise Acting in Concert solely as a result of their being
Directors or Officers of the BANK or the Holding Company.
Each Person purchasing Conversion Stock in the Conversion shall be deemed
to confirm that such purchase does not conflict with the above purchase
limitations contained in this Plan.
For a period of three years following the Conversion, no Officer, Director
or their Associates shall purchase, without the prior written approval of the
OTS, any outstanding shares of common stock of the BANK or the Holding Company,
as the case may be, except from a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. This
provision shall not apply to negotiated transactions
29
involving more than one percent of the outstanding shares of common stock of the
BANK or the Holding Company, as the case may be, the exercise of any options
pursuant to a stock option plan or purchases of common stock of the BANK or the
Holding Company, as the case may be, made by or held by any Tax-Qualified
Employee Stock Benefit Plan or Non-Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan of
the BANK or the Holding Company (including the Employee Plans) which may be
attributable to any Officer or Director. As used herein, the term "negotiated
transaction" means a transaction in which the securities are offered and the
terms and arrangements relating to any sale are arrived at through direct
communications between the seller or any person acting on its behalf and the
purchaser or his investment representative. The term "investment representative"
shall mean a professional investment advisor acting as agent for the purchaser
and independent of the seller and not acting on behalf of the seller in
connection with the transaction.
15. PAYMENT FOR CONVERSION STOCK
All payments for Conversion Stock subscribed for in the Subscription,
Community and Syndicated Community Offerings must be delivered in full to the
BANK, together with a properly completed and executed Order Form, or purchase
order in the case of the Syndicated Community Offering, on or prior to the
expiration date specified on the Order Form or purchase order, as the case may
be, unless such date is extended by the BANK; provided, however, that if the
Employee Plans subscribe for shares during the Subscription Offering, such plans
will not be required to pay for the shares at the time they subscribe but rather
may pay for such shares of Conversion Stock subscribed for by such plans at the
Actual Purchase Price upon consummation
30
of the Conversion, provided that, in the case of the employee stock ownership
plan ("ESOP") there is in force from the time of its subscription until the
consummation of the Conversion, a loan commitment from the Holding Company or an
unrelated financial institution to lend to the ESOP, at such time, the aggregate
Subscription Price of the shares for which it subscribed. The BANK may make
scheduled discretionary contributions to an Employee Plan provided such
contributions do not cause the BANK to fail to meet its regulatory capital
requirement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the BANK and the Holding Company, if
utilized, shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to permit
institutional investors to submit contractually irrevocable orders in the
Community Offering and to thereafter submit payment for the Conversion Stock for
which they are subscribing in the Community Offering at any time prior to 48
hours before the completion of the Conversion, unless such 48 hour period is
waived by the BANK and the Holding Company, in their sole discretion.
Payment for Conversion Stock subscribed for shall be made either in cash
(if delivered in person), check or money order. Alternatively, subscribers in
the Subscription and Community Offerings may pay for the shares subscribed for
by authorizing the BANK on the Order Form to make a withdrawal from the
subscriber's Savings Account at the BANK in an amount equal to the purchase
price of such shares. Such authorized withdrawal, whether from a savings
passbook or certificate account, shall be without penalty as to premature
withdrawal. If the authorized withdrawal is from a certificate account, and the
remaining balance does not meet the applicable minimum balance requirement, the
certificate shall be cancelled at the time of withdrawal, without penalty, and
the remaining balance will earn interest at the passbook rate. Funds for which a
withdrawal is authorized will remain in the subscriber's Savings Account but may
not be
31
used by the subscriber until the Conversion Stock has been sold or the 45-day
period (or such longer period as may be approved by the OTS) following the
Subscription and Community Offering has expired, whichever occurs first.
Thereafter, the withdrawal will be given effect only to the extent necessary to
satisfy the subscription (to the extent it can be filled) at the purchase price
per share. Interest will continue to be earned on any amounts authorized for
withdrawal until such withdrawal is given effect. Interest will be paid by the
BANK at not less than the passbook annual rate on payments for Conversion Stock
received in cash or by check or money order. Such interest will be paid from the
date payment is received by the BANK until consummation or termination of the
Conversion. If for any reason the Conversion is not consummated, all payments
made by subscribers in the Subscription, Community and Syndicated Community
Offerings will be refunded to them with interest. In case of amounts authorized
for withdrawal from Savings Accounts, refunds will be made by cancelling the
authorization for withdrawal. The BANK is prohibited by regulation from
knowingly making any loans or granting any lines of credit for the purchase of
stock in the Conversion, and therefore, will not do so.
16. MANNER OF EXERCISING SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS THROUGH ORDER FORMS
As soon as practicable after the Prospectus prepared by the Holding Company
and BANK has been declared effective by the OTS and the SEC, if the holding
company form of organization is utilized, Order Forms will be distributed to all
Eligible Account Holders, the Employee Plans, the Supplemental Eligible Account
Holders and Other Members at their last
32
known addresses appearing on the records of the BANK for the purpose of
subscribing to shares of Conversion Stock in the Subscription Offering and will
be made available for use by those Persons entitled to purchase in the Community
Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the BANK may elect to send Order Forms
only to those Persons who request them after such notice as is approved by the
OTS and is adequate to apprise all Eligible Account Holders, the Employee Plans,
Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members of the pendency of the
Subscription Offering has been given. Such notice may be included with the proxy
statement for the Special Meeting of Members and may also be included in a
notice of the pendency of the Conversion and the Special Meeting of Members sent
to all Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders in
accordance with regulations of the OTS.
Each Order Form will be preceded or accompanied by the Prospectus (if a
holding company form of organization is utilized) or the Offering Circular (if
the holding company form of organization is not utilized) describing the Holding
Company, if utilized, the BANK, the Conversion Stock and the Subscription and
Community Offerings. Each Order Form will contain, among other things, the
following:
A. A specified date by which all Order Forms must be received by the
BANK, which date shall be not less than twenty (20), nor more than forty-five
(45) days, following the date on which the Order Forms are mailed by the BANK,
and which date will constitute the termination of the Subscription Offering;
B. The Subscription Price per share for shares of Conversion Stock to be
sold in the Subscription and Community Offerings;
33
C. A description of the minimum and maximum number of shares of
Conversion Stock which may be subscribed for pursuant to the exercise of
subscription rights or otherwise purchased in the Community Offering;
D. Instructions as to how the recipient of the Order Form is to indicate
thereon the number of shares of Conversion Stock for which such person elects to
subscribe and the available alternative methods of payment therefor;
X. Xx acknowledgment that the recipient of the Order Form has received a
final copy of the Prospectus or Offering Circular, as the case may be, prior to
execution of the Order Form;
F. A statement to the effect that all subscription rights are
nontransferable, will be void at the end of the Subscription Offering, and can
only be exercised by delivering within the subscription period such properly
completed and executed Order Form, together with cash (if delivered in person),
check or money order in the full amount of the purchase price as specified in
the Order Form for the shares of Conversion Stock for which the recipient elects
to subscribe in the Subscription Offering (or by authorizing on the Order Form
that the BANK withdraw said amount from the subscriber's Savings Account at the
BANK) to the BANK;
G. A statement to the effect that the executed Order Form, once received
by the BANK, may not be modified or amended by the subscriber without the
consent of the BANK; and
X. A statement with respect to the residence of the subscriber.
Notwithstanding the above, the BANK and the Holding Company will not accept
orders received on photocopied or facsimilied order forms.
34
17. UNDELIVERED, DEFECTIVE OR LATE ORDER FORMS: INSUFFICIENT PAYMENT
In the event Order Forms (a) are not delivered and are returned to the BANK
by the United States Postal Service or the BANK is unable to locate the
addressee, (b) are not received back by the BANK or are received by the BANK
after the expiration date specified thereon, (c) are defectively filled out or
executed, (d) are not accompanied by the full required payment, except in the
case of institutional investors in the Community Offering, by delivering
irrevocable orders together with a legally binding commitment to pay in cash,
check, money order or wire transfer the full amount of the purchase price prior
to 48 hours before the completion of the Conversion for the shares of Conversion
Stock subscribed for (including cases in which savings accounts from which
withdrawals are authorized are insufficient to cover the amount of the required
payment), or (e) are not mailed pursuant to a "no mail" order placed in effect
by the account holder, the subscription rights of the person to whom such rights
have been granted will lapse as though such person failed to return the
contemplated Order Form within the time period specified thereon; provided,
however, that the BANK may, but will not be required to, waive any immaterial
irregularity on any Order Form or require the submission of corrected Order
Forms or the remittance of full payment for subscribed shares by such date as
the BANK may specify. The interpretation of the BANK of terms and conditions of
the Plan and of the Order Forms will be final, subject to the authority of the
OTS.
35
18. RESTRICTIONS ON RESALE OR SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION
A. All shares of Conversion Stock purchased by Directors or Officers of
the BANK or the Holding Company in the Conversion shall be subject to the
restriction that, except as provided in Section 18B, below, or as may be
approved by the OTS, no interest in such shares may be sold or otherwise
disposed of for value for a period of one (1) year following the date of
purchase.
B. The restriction on disposition of shares of Conversion Stock set forth
in Section 18A above shall not apply to the following:
(i) Any exchange of such shares in connection with a merger or
acquisition involving the BANK or the Holding Company, as the case may be, which
has been approved by the OTS; and
(ii) Any disposition of such shares following the death of the
person to whom such shares were initially sold under the terms of the Plan.
C. With respect to all shares of Conversion Stock subject to restrictions
on resale or subsequent disposition, each of the following provisions shall
apply:
(i) Each certificate representing shares restricted within the
meaning of Section 18A, above, shall bear a legend prominently stamped on its
face giving notice of the restriction;
(ii) Instructions shall be issued to the stock transfer agent for
the BANK or the Holding Company, as the case may be, not to recognize or effect
any transfer of any certificate or record of ownership of any such shares in
violation of the restriction on transfer; and
36
(iii) Any shares of capital stock of the BANK or the Holding Company,
as the case may be, issued with respect to a stock dividend, stock split, or
otherwise with respect to ownership of outstanding shares of Conversion Stock
subject to the restriction on transfer hereunder shall be subject to the same
restriction as is applicable to such Conversion Stock.
19. VOTING RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Upon conversion, the holders of the capital stock of the BANK shall have
the exclusive voting rights with respect to the BANK as specified in its
charter. The holders of the common stock of the Holding Company (if a holding
company form of organization is utilized) shall have the exclusive voting rights
with respect to the Holding Company.
20. ESTABLISHMENT OF LIQUIDATION ACCOUNT
The BANK shall establish at the time of conversion a liquidation account in
an amount equal to its net worth as of the latest practicable date prior to
conversion ("Liquidation Account"). The liquidation account will be maintained
by the BANK for the benefit of the Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental
Eligible Account Holders who continue to maintain their Savings Accounts at the
BANK. Each Eligible Account Holder and Supplemental Eligible Account Holder
shall, with respect to his Savings Account, hold a related inchoate interest in
a portion of the Liquidation Account balance, in relation to his Savings Account
balance at the Eligibility Record Date and/or Supplemental Eligibility Record
Date or to such balance as it may be subsequently reduced, as hereinafter
provided.
37
In the unlikely event of a complete liquidation of the BANK (and only in
such event), following all liquidation payments to creditors (including those to
Account Holders to the extent of their Savings Accounts) each Eligible Account
Holder and Supplemental Eligible Account Holder shall be entitled to receive a
liquidating distribution from the Liquidation Account, in the amount of the then
adjusted subaccount balance for his Savings Account then held, before any
liquidation distribution may be made to any holders of the BANK's capital stock.
No merger, consolidation, bulk purchase of assets with assumption of Savings
Accounts and other liabilities, or similar transactions with an FDIC-issued
institution, in which the BANK is not the surviving institution, shall be deemed
to be a complete liquidation for this purpose. In such transactions, the
Liquidation Account shall be assumed by the surviving institution.
The initial subaccount balance for a Savings Account held by an Eligible
Account Holder and Supplemental Eligible Account Holder shall be determined by
multiplying the opening balance in the Liquidation Account by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the amount of such Eligible Account Holder's and/or
Supplemental Eligible Account Holder's Qualifying Deposit and the denominator of
which is the total amount of all Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account
Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders in the BANK. Such initial
subaccount balance shall not be increased, but shall be subject to downward
adjustment as described below. For Savings Accounts in existence at both dates,
separate subaccounts shall be determined on the basis of the Qualifying Deposits
in such Savings Account on such record dates. Such initial subaccount balances
shall not be increased but shall be subject to downward adjustment as described
below.
38
If, at the close of business on any annual closing date, commencing on or
after the effective date of Conversion, the deposit balance in the Savings
Account of an Eligible Account Holder or Supplemental Eligible Account Holder is
less than the lesser of (i) the balance in the Savings Account at the close of
business on any other annual closing date subsequent to the Eligibility Record
Date or Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, or (ii) the amount of the
Qualifying Deposit in such Savings Account, the subaccount balance for such
Savings Account shall be adjusted by reducing such subaccount balance in an
amount proportionate to the reduction in such deposit balance. In the event of
such downward adjustment, the subaccount balance shall not be subsequently
increased, notwithstanding any subsequent increase in the deposit balance of the
related Savings Account. If any such Savings Account is closed, the related
subaccount shall be reduced to zero.
The creation and maintenance of the Liquidation Account shall not operate
to restrict the use or application of any of the net worth accounts of the BANK.
21. TRANSFER OF SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND CONTINUITY OF THE BANK
Upon Conversion, each Savings Account Holder having a Savings Account at
the BANK prior to the Conversion will continue to have a Savings Account,
without payment therefor, in the same amount and subject to the same terms and
conditions (except for voting and liquidation rights) as in effect prior to the
Conversion.
After the Conversion, the BANK will succeed to all the rights, interests,
duties and obligations of the BANK before the Conversion, including but not
limited to all rights and interests of the BANK in and to its assets and
properties, whether real, personal or mixed. The
39
BANK will continue to be a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System and all
its insured savings deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC to the
extent provided by applicable law.
22. RESTRICTIONS ON ACQUISITION OF THE BANK AND HOLDING COMPANY
A. In accordance with OTS regulations, for a period of three years from
the date of consummation of the Conversion, no Person, other than the Holding
Company (if a holding company form of organization is utilized), shall directly
or indirectly offer to acquire or acquire the beneficial ownership of more than
10% of any class of an equity security of the BANK without the prior written
consent of the OTS.
B. 1. The charter of the BANK contains a provision stipulating that no
person, except the Holding Company (if a holding company form of organization is
utilized), for a period of five years following the date of the Conversion shall
directly or indirectly offer to acquire or acquire the beneficial ownership of
more than 10% of any class of an equity security of the BANK, without the prior
written approval of the OTS. In addition, such charter may also provide that for
a period of five years following the Conversion, shares beneficially owned in
violation of the above-described charter provision shall not be entitled to vote
and shall not be voted by any person or counted as voting stock in connection
with any matter submitted to stockholders for a vote. In addition, special
meetings of the stockholders relating to changes in control or amendment of the
charter may only be called by the Board of Directors, and shareholders shall not
be permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
40
2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Holding Company, if a
holding company form of organization is utilized, will contain a provision
stipulating that in no event shall any record owner of any outstanding shares of
the Holding Company's common stock who beneficially owns in excess of 10% of
such outstanding shares be entitled or permitted to any vote in respect to any
shares held in excess of 10%. In addition, the Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws of the Holding Company provide for staggered terms of the directors,
noncumulative voting for directors, limitations on the calling of special
meetings, a fair price provision for certain business combinations and certain
notice requirements.
C. For the purposes of this Section 22:
(i) The term "person" includes an individual, a group acting in
concert, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint stock company, a
trust, an unincorporated organization or similar company, a syndicate or any
other group formed for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of
securities of an insured institution;
(ii) The term "offer" includes every offer to buy or acquire,
solicitation of an offer to sell, tender offer for, or request or invitation for
tenders of, a security or interest in a security for value;
(iii) The term "acquire" includes every type of acquisition, whether
effected by purchase, exchange, operation of law or otherwise; and
(iv) The term "security" includes non-transferable subscription
rights issued pursuant to a plan of conversion as well as a "security" as
defined in 15 U.S.C. (S) 78c(a)(10).
41
23. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND REPURCHASE OF STOCK
The BANK shall not declare or pay a cash dividend on, or repurchase any of,
its capital stock if the effect thereof would cause its regulatory capital to be
reduced below (i) the amount required for the Liquidation Account or (ii) the
federal regulatory capital requirement in Section 567.2 of the Rules and
Regulations of the OTS. Otherwise, the BANK may declare dividends, make capital
distributions or repurchase its capital stock in accordance with applicable law
and regulations.
24. AMENDMENT OF PLAN
If deemed necessary or desirable, the Plan may be substantively amended at
any time prior to solicitation of proxies from Members to vote on the Plan by a
two-thirds vote of the BANK's Board of Directors, and at any time thereafter by
such vote of such Board of Directors with the concurrence of the OTS. Any
amendment to the Plan made after approval by the Members with the approval of
the OTS shall not necessitate further approval by the Members unless otherwise
required by the OTS. The Plan may be terminated by majority vote of the BANK's
Board of Directors at any time prior to the Special Meeting of Members to vote
on the Plan, and at any time thereafter with the concurrence of the OTS.
By adoption of the Plan, the Members of the BANK authorize the Board of
Directors to amend or terminate the Plan under the circumstances set forth in
this Section.
42
25. CHARTER AND BYLAWS
By voting to adopt the Plan, members of the BANK will be voting to adopt a
Federal Stock Savings Bank Charter and Bylaws for a Federal Stock Savings Bank
attached as Exhibits I and II to this Plan. The effective date of the BANK's
stock charter and bylaws shall be the date of issuance and sale of the
Conversion Stock as specified by the OTS.
26. CONSUMMATION OF CONVERSION
The Conversion of the BANK shall be deemed to take place and be effective
upon the completion of all requisite organizational procedures for obtaining a
Federal Stock Savings Bank Charter for the BANK and sale of all Conversion
Stock.
27. REGISTRATION AND MARKETING
Within the time period required by applicable laws and regulations, the
BANK or the Holding Company, as the case may be, will register the securities
issued in connection with the Conversion pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 and will not deregister such securities for a period of at least three
years thereafter, except that the maintenance of registration for three years
requirement may be fulfilled by any successor to the BANK or any holding company
of the BANK. In addition, the BANK or Holding Company, as the case may be, will
use its best efforts to encourage and assist a market-maker to establish and
maintain a market for the Conversion Stock and to list those securities on a
national or regional securities exchange or the NASDAQ system.
43
28. RESIDENTS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND CERTAIN STATES
The BANK will make reasonable efforts to comply with the securities laws of
all States in the United States in which Persons entitled to subscribe for
shares of Conversion Stock pursuant to the Plan reside. However, no such Person
will be issued subscription rights or be permitted to purchase shares of
Conversion Stock in the Subscription Offering if such Person resides in a
foreign country or in a state of the United States with respect to which both of
the following apply: A. a small number of Persons otherwise eligible to
subscribe for shares under the Plan reside in such state and; B. the issuance of
subscription rights or the offer or sale of shares of Conversion Stock to such
Persons would require the BANK or the Holding Company, as the case may be, under
the securities laws of such state, to register as a broker, dealer, salesman or
agent or to register or otherwise qualify its securities for sale in such state
and such registration or qualification would be impracticable for reasons of
cost or otherwise.
29. EXPENSES OF CONVERSION
The BANK shall use its best efforts to assure that expenses incurred by it
in connection with the Conversion shall be reasonable.
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30. CONDITIONS TO CONVERSION
The Conversion of the BANK pursuant to this Plan is expressly conditioned
upon the following:
(a) Prior receipt by the BANK of rulings of the United States Internal
Revenue Service and any applicable state taxing authority, or opinions of
counsel, substantially to the effect that the Conversion will not result in any
adverse federal or state tax consequences to Eligible Account Holders or to the
BANK and the Holding Company before or after the Conversion;
(b) The sale of all of the Conversion Stock offered in the Conversion; and
(c) The completion of the Conversion within the time period specified in
Section 3 of this Plan.
31. INTERPRETATION
All interpretations of this Plan and application of its provisions to
particular circumstances by a majority of the Board of Directors of the BANK
shall be final, subject to the authority of the OTS.
45
EXHIBIT I
FEDERAL STOCK CHARTER
FOR
FIRST FEDERAL LINCOLN BANK
Section 1. Corporate Title.
The full corporate title of the institution is First Federal Lincoln Bank
(the "BANK").
Section 2. Office.
The home office shall be located in the City of Lincoln, in the County of
Lancaster, State of Nebraska.
Section 3. Duration.
The duration of the BANK is perpetual.
Section 4. Purpose and Powers.
The purpose of the BANK is to pursue any or all of the lawful objectives of
a Federal savings bank chartered under Section 5 of the Home Owners' Loan Act
and to exercise all the express, implied, and incidental powers conferred
thereby and by all acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, subject to
the Constitution and laws of the United States as they are now in effect, or as
they may hereafter be amended, and subject to all lawful and applicable rules,
regulations, and orders of the Office of Thrift Supervision ("Office").
Section 5. Capital Stock.
The total number of shares of all classes of the capital stock which the
BANK has authority to issue is fifty million (50,000,000), of which forty-five
million (45,000,000) shall be common stock, par value $1.00 per share and of
which five million (5,000,000) shall be preferred stock, par value $1.00 per
share. The shares may be issued from time to time as authorized by the Board of
Directors without further approval of shareholders except as otherwise provided
in this Section 5 or to the extent that such approval is required by governing
law, rule, or regulation. The consideration for the issuance of the shares shall
be paid in full before their issuance and shall not be less than the par value.
Neither promissory notes nor future services shall constitute payment or part
payment for the issuance of shares of the BANK. The consideration for the shares
shall be cash, tangible or intangible property (to the extent direct investment
in such
property would be permitted), labor or services actually performed for the BANK,
or any combination of the foregoing. In the absence of actual fraud in the
transaction, the value of such property, labor, or services, as determined by
the Board of Directors of the BANK, shall be conclusive. Upon payment of such
consideration, such shares shall be deemed to be fully paid and nonassessable.
In the case of a stock dividend, that part of the retained earnings of the BANK
that is transferred to common stock or paid-in capital accounts upon the
issuance of shares as a stock dividend shall be deemed to be the consideration
for their issuance.
Except for shares issued in the initial organization or in connection with
the conversion of the BANK from the mutual to the stock form of capitalization,
no shares of capital stock (including shares issuable upon conversion, exchange,
or exercise of other securities) shall be issued, directly or indirectly, to
officers, directors, or controlling persons of the BANK other than as part of a
general public offering or as qualifying shares to a director, unless their
issuance or the plan under which they would be issued has been approved by a
majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at a legal meeting.
Nothing contained in this Section 5 (or in any supplementary sections
hereto) shall entitle the holders of any class or series of capital stock to
vote as a separate class or series or to more than one vote per share, except as
to the cumulation of votes for the election of directors, unless the charter
otherwise provides that there shall be no such cumulative voting: Provided, That
--------
this restriction on voting separately by class or series shall not apply:
(i) To any provision which would authorize the holders of preferred
stock, voting as a class or series, to elect some members of the
Board of Directors, less than a majority thereof, in the event of
default in the payment of dividends on any class or series of
preferred stock;
(ii) To any provision that would require the holders of preferred stock,
voting as a class or series, to approve the merger or consolidation
of the BANK with another corporation or the sale, lease, or
conveyance (other than by mortgage or pledge) of properties or
business in exchange for securities of a corporation other than the
BANK if the preferred stock is exchanged for securities of such other
corporation: Provided, That no provision may require such approval
--------
for transactions undertaken with the assistance or pursuant to the
direction of the Office or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
(iii) To any amendment which would adversely change the specific terms of
any class or series of capital stock as set forth in this Section 5
(or in any supplementary sections hereto), including any amendment
which would create or enlarge any class or series ranking prior
thereto in rights and preferences. An amendment which increases the
number of authorized shares of any class or series of capital stock,
or substitutes the surviving BANK in a merger or consolidation for
the BANK, shall not be considered to be such an adverse change.
2
A description of the different classes and series (if any) of the BANK's
capital stock and a statement of the designations, and the relative rights,
preferences, and limitations of the shares of each class of and series (if any)
of capital stock are as follows:
A. Common Stock. Except as provided in this Section 5 (or in any
------------
supplementary sections hereto) the holders of the common stock shall
exclusively possess all voting power. Each holder of shares of common
stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held by each
holder, except as to the cumulation of votes for the election of
directors, unless the charter otherwise provides that there shall be
no such cumulative voting.
Whenever there shall have been paid, or declared and set aside for
payment, to the holders of the outstanding shares of any class of
stock having preference over the common stock as to the payment of
dividends, the full amount of dividends and of sinking fund, or
retirement fund, or other retirement payments, if any, to which such
holders are respectively entitled in preference to the common stock,
then dividends may be paid on the common stock and on any class or
series of stock entitled to participate therewith as to dividends out
of any assets legally available for the payment of dividends.
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the
BANK, the holders of the common stock (and the holders of any class
or series of stock entitled to participate with the common stock in
the distribution of assets) shall be entitled to receive, in cash or
in kind, the assets of the BANK available for distribution remaining
after: (i) payment or provision for payment of the BANK's debts and
liabilities; (ii) distributions or provision for distributions in
settlement of its liquidation account; and (iii) distributions or
provision for distributions to holders of any class or series of
stock having preference over the common stock in the liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up of the BANK. Each share of common stock
shall have the same relative rights as and be identical in all
respects with all the other shares of common stock.
B. Preferred Stock. The BANK may provide in supplementary sections to
---------------
its charter for one or more classes of preferred stock, which shall
be separately identified. The shares of any class may be divided into
and issued in series, with each series separately designated so as to
distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series
and classes. The terms of each series shall be set forth in a
supplementary section to the charter. All shares of the same class
shall be identical except as to the following relative rights and
preferences, as to which there may be variations between different
series:
(a) The distinctive serial designation and the number of shares
constituting such series;
3
(b) The dividend rate or the amount of dividends to be paid on the
shares of such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative
and, if so, from which date(s), the payment date(s) for
dividends, and the participating or other special rights, if
any, with respect to dividends;
(c) The voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of
such series;
(d) Whether the shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if
so, the price(s) at which, and the terms and conditions on
which, such shares may be redeemed;
(e) The amount(s) payable upon the shares of such series in the
event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or
winding up of the BANK;
(f) Whether the shares of such series shall be entitled to the
benefit of a sinking or retirement fund to be applied to the
purchase or redemption of such shares, and if so entitled, the
amount of such fund and the manner of its application,
including the price(s) at which such shares may be redeemed or
purchased through the application of such fund;
(g) Whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into,
or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of
stock of the BANK and, if so, the conversion price(s) or the
rate(s) of exchange, and the adjustments thereof, if any, at
which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other
terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(h) The price or other consideration for which the shares of such
series shall be issued; and
(i) Whether the shares of such series which are redeemed or
converted shall have the status of authorized but unissued
shares of serial preferred stock and whether such shares may
be reissued as shares of the same or any other series of
serial preferred stock.
Each share of each series of serial preferred stock shall have the same
relative rights as and be identical in all respects with all the other shares of
the same series.
The Board of Directors shall have authority to divide, by the adoption of
supplementary charter sections, any authorized class of preferred stock into
series, and, within the limitations set forth in this section and the remainder
of this charter, fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of the
shares of any series so established.
4
Prior to the issuance of any preferred shares of a series established by a
supplementary charter section adopted by the Board of Directors, the BANK shall
file with the Secretary of the Office a dated copy of that supplementary section
of this charter establishing and designating the series and fixing and
determining the relative rights and preferences thereof.
Section 6. Preemptive Rights.
Holders of the capital stock of the BANK shall not be entitled to
preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the BANK which may be issued.
Section 7. Liquidation Account.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Office's regulations (12 C.F.R.
563b.3), the BANK shall establish and maintain a liquidation account for the
benefit of its savings account holders as of June 30, 1996 and
[_________________] ("eligible savers"). In the event of a complete liquidation
of the BANK, it shall comply with such regulations with respect to the amount
and the priorities on liquidation of each of the BANK's eligible saver's
inchoate interest in the liquidation account, to the extent it is still in
existence: provided, that an eligible saver's inchoate interest in the
liquidation account shall not entitle such eligible saver to any voting rights
at meetings of the BANK's shareholders.
Section 8. Certain Provisions Applicable for Five Years.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the BANK's charter or bylaws to the
contrary, for a period of five years from the date of consummation of the
conversion of the BANK from mutual to stock form, the following provisions shall
apply:
A. Beneficial Ownership Limitation. No person shall directly or
-------------------------------
indirectly offer to acquire or acquire the beneficial ownership of
more than 10 percent of any class of any equity security of the BANK.
This limitation shall not apply to a transaction in which the BANK
forms a holding company in conjunction with conversion, or
thereafter, if such formation is without change in the respective
beneficial ownership interests of the BANK's shareholders other than
pursuant to the exercise of any dissenter and appraisal rights, the
purchase of shares by underwriters in connection with a public
offering, or the purchase of shares by a tax-qualified employee stock
benefit plan which is exempt from the approval requirements under
Section 574.3(c)(1)(vi) of the Office Regulations.
In the event shares are acquired in violation of this Section 8, all
shares beneficially owned by any person in excess of 10 percent shall
be considered "excess shares" and shall not be counted as shares
entitled to vote and shall not be
5
voted by any person or counted as voting shares in connection with
any matters submitted to the shareholders for a vote.
For the purposes of this Section 8, the following definitions apply:
(i) The term "person" includes an individual, a group acting in
concert, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint
stock company, a trust, any unincorporated organization or
similar company, a syndicate or any other group formed for the
purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of the equity
securities of the BANK.
(ii) The term "offer" includes every offer to buy or otherwise
acquire, solicitation of an offer to sell, tender offer for,
or request or invitation for tenders of, a security or
interest in a security for value.
(iii) The term "acquire" includes every type of acquisition, whether
effected by purchase, exchange, operation of law or otherwise.
(iv) The term "acting in concert" means (a) knowing participation
in a joint activity or conscious parallel action towards a
common goal whether or not pursuant to an express agreement,
or (b) a combination or pooling of voting or other interests
in the securities of an issuer for a common purpose pursuant
to any contract, understanding, relationship, agreement or
other arrangement, whether written or otherwise.
B. Cumulative Voting Limitation. Shareholders shall not be permitted to
cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
C. Call for Special Meetings. Special meetings of shareholders relating
to changes in control of the BANK or amendments to its charter shall
be called only at the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Directors.
The BANK shall be under the direction of a Board of Directors. The
authorized number of directors, as stated in the BANK's bylaws, shall be not be
less than five nor more than 15 except when a greater number is approved by the
Office or his or her delegate.
Section 10. Amendment of Charter.
Except as provided in Section 5, no amendment, addition, alteration,
change, or repeal of this charter shall be made, unless such is proposed by the
Board of Directors of the BANK,
6
approved by the shareholders by a majority of the votes eligible at a legal
meeting unless a higher vote is otherwise required, and approved or preapproved
by the Office.
As adopted by the BANK's members on _________________, to be effective on
the date the BANK converts from mutual to stock form of organization.
FIRST FEDERAL LINCOLN BANK
Attest:_____________________________ By: ________________________________
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
First Federal Lincoln Bank President and Chief Executive Officer
OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION
Attest:_____________________________ By: ________________________________
Secretary to the Office Director
Declared effective on
the _____ day of __________, 199_
7
EXHIBIT II
BYLAWS OF
FIRST FEDERAL LINCOLN BANK
ARTICLE I. HOME OFFICE
The home office of First Federal Lincoln Bank ("BANK") is 13/th/ & "N"
Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508.
ARTICLE II. SHAREHOLDERS
Section l. Place of Meetings. All annual and special meetings of
-----------------------------
shareholders shall be held at the home office of the BANK or at such other place
in the State in which the principal place of business of the BANK is located as
the board of directors may determine.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. A meeting of the shareholders of the BANK for
--------------------------
the election of directors and for the transaction of any other business of the
BANK shall be held annually within 120 days after the end of the BANK's fiscal
year as the board of directors may determine.
Section 3. Special Meetings. For a period of five years from the date of
----------------------------
the completion of the conversion of the BANK from mutual to stock form, special
meetings of the shareholders relating to a change in control of the BANK or to
an amendment of the Charter of the BANK may be called only by the board of
directors. Thereafter, special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or
purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by the regulations of the Office of Thrift
Supervision ("OTS"), may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the
president, or a majority of the board of directors, and shall be called by the
chairman of the board, the president or the secretary upon the written request
of the holders of not less than one-tenth of all the outstanding capital stock
of the BANK entitled to vote at the meeting. Such written request shall state
the purpose or purposes of the meeting and shall be delivered at the home office
of the BANK addressed to the chairman of the board, the president or the
secretary.
Section 4. Conduct of Meetings. Annual and special meetings shall be
-------------------------------
conducted in accordance with the most current edition of Xxxxxx's Rules of Order
unless otherwise prescribed by regulations of the OTS or these bylaws. The
board of directors shall designate, when present, either the chairman of the
board or president to preside at such meetings.
Section 5. Notice of Meetings. Written notice stating the place, day and
------------------------------
hour of the meeting and the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called shall be
delivered not fewer than 20 nor more than 50 days before the date of the
meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the chairman of
the board, the president, the secretary, or the directors calling the meeting,
to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such
notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the mail, addressed to
the shareholder at the address as it appears on the
1
stock transfer books or records of the BANK as of the record date prescribed in
Section 6 of this Article II, with postage prepaid. When any shareholders'
meeting, either annual or special, is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. It
shall not be necessary to give any notice of the time and place of any meeting
adjourned for less than 30 days or of the business to be transacted at the
meeting, other than an announcement at the meeting at which such adjournment is
taken.
Section 6. Fixing of Record Date. For the purpose of determining
---------------------------------
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or
any adjournment, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or
in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose,
the board of directors shall fix in advance a date as the record date for any
such determination of shareholders. Such date in any case shall be not more
than 60 days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not fewer than 10 days
prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination
of shareholders, is to be taken. When a determination of shareholders entitled
to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this
section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment.
Section 7. Voting Lists. At least 20 days before each meeting of the
------------------------
shareholders, the officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for
shares of the BANK shall make a complete list of the shareholders entitled to
vote at such meeting, or any adjournment, arranged in alphabetical order, with
the address and the number of shares held by each. This list of shareholders
shall be kept on file at the home office of the BANK and shall be subject to
inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual business hours, for a
period of 20 days prior to such meeting. Such list shall also be produced and
kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the
inspection by any shareholder during the entire time of the meeting. The
original stock transfer book shall constitute prima facie evidence of the
shareholders entitled to examine such list or transfer books or to vote at any
meeting of shareholders.
In lieu of making the shareholder list available for inspection by
shareholders as provided in the preceding paragraph, the board of directors may
elect to follow the procedures prescribed in (S)552.6(d) of the OTS's
Regulations as now or hereafter in effect.
Section 8. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding shares of the BANK
------------------
entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
at a meeting of shareholders. If less than a majority of the outstanding shares
is represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn
the meeting from time to time without further notice. At such adjourned meeting
at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
notified. The shareholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to
transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
shareholders to constitute less than a quorum.
2
Section 9. Proxies. At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may
-------------------
vote by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his duly authorized
attorney in fact. Proxies solicited on behalf of the management shall be voted
as directed by the shareholder or, in the absence of such direction, as
determined by a majority of the board of directors. No proxy shall be valid
more than eleven months from the date of its execution except for a proxy
coupled with an interest.
Section 10. Voting of Shares in the Name of Two or More Persons. When
---------------------------------------------------------------
ownership stands in the name of two or more persons, in the absence of written
directions to the BANK to the contrary, at any meeting of the shareholders of
the BANK any one or more of such shareholders may cast, in person or by proxy,
all votes to which such ownership is entitled. In the event an attempt is made
to cast conflicting votes, in person or by proxy, by the several persons in
whose names shares of stock stand, the vote or votes to which those persons are
entitled shall be cast as directed by a majority of those holding such and
present in person or by proxy at such meeting, but no votes shall be cast for
such stock if a majority cannot agree.
Section 11. Voting of Shares by Certain Holders. Shares standing in the
-----------------------------------------------
name of another corporation may be voted by any officer, agent or proxy as the
bylaws of such corporation may prescribe, or, in the absence of such provision,
as the board of directors of such corporation may determine. Xxxxxx held by an
administrator, executor, guardian or conservator may be voted by him, either in
person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares into his name. Xxxxxx
standing in the name of a trustee may be voted by him, either in person or by
proxy, but no trustee shall be entitled to vote shares held by him without a
transfer of such shares into his name. Shares standing in the name of a
receiver may be voted by such receiver, and shares held by or under the control
of a receiver may be voted by such receiver without the transfer into his name
if authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order of the court or other
public authority by which such receiver was appointed.
A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such
shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee and
thereafter the pledgee, shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.
Neither treasury shares of its own stock held by the BANK, nor shares held
by another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote for the
election of directors of such other corporation are held by the BANK, shall be
voted at any meeting or counted in determining the total number of outstanding
shares at any given time for purposes of any meeting.
Section 12. Cumulative Voting. Except as otherwise provided in the BANK's
-----------------------------
charter, every shareholder entitled to vote at an election for directors shall
have the right to vote, in person or by proxy, the number of shares owned by the
shareholder for as many persons as there are directors to be elected and for
whose election the shareholder has a right to vote, or to cumulate the votes by
giving one candidate as many votes as the number of such directors to be elected
multiplied by the number of shares shall equal or by distributing such votes on
the same principle among any number of candidates.
3
Section 13. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
----------------------------------
shareholders, the board of directors may appoint any persons other than nominees
for office as inspectors of election to act at such meeting or any adjournment.
The number of inspectors shall be either one or three. Any such appointment
shall not be altered at the meeting. If inspectors of election are not so
appointed, the chairman of the board or the president may, or on the request of
not fewer than 10 percent of the votes represented at the meeting shall, make
such appointment at the meeting. If appointed at the meeting, the majority of
the votes present shall determine whether one or three inspectors are to be
appointed. In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails
or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment by the board of
directors in advance of the meeting, or at the meeting by the chairman of the
board or the president.
Unless otherwise prescribed by regulations of the OTS, the duties of such
inspectors shall include: determining the number of shares and the voting power
of each share, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum,
and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots,
or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in any way
arising in connection with the rights to vote; counting and tabulating all votes
or consents; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct
the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.
Section 14. Nominating Committee. The board of directors shall act as a
--------------------------------
nominating committee for selecting the management nominees for election as
directors. Except in the case of a nominee substituted as a result of the death
or other incapacity of a management nominee, the nominating committee shall
deliver written nominations to the secretary at least 20 days prior to the date
of the annual meeting. Upon delivery, such nominations shall be posted in a
conspicuous place in each office of the BANK. No nominations for directors
except those made by the nominating committee shall be voted upon at the annual
meeting unless other nominations by shareholders are made in writing and
delivered to the secretary of the BANK at least five days prior to the date of
the annual meeting. Upon delivery, such nominations shall be posted in a
conspicuous place in each office of the BANK. Ballots bearing the names of all
persons nominated by the nominating committee and by shareholders shall be
provided for use at the annual meeting. However, if the nominating committee
shall fail or refuse to act at least 20 days prior to the annual meeting,
nominations for directors may be made at the annual meeting by any shareholder
entitled to vote and shall be voted upon.
Section 15. New Business. Any new business to be taken up at the annual
------------------------
meeting shall be stated in writing and filed with the secretary of the BANK at
least 5 days before the date of the annual meeting, and all business so stated,
proposed, and filed shall be considered at the annual meeting, but no other
proposal shall be acted upon at the annual meeting. Any shareholder may make
any other proposal at the annual meeting and the same may be discussed and
considered, but unless stated in writing and filed with the secretary at least 5
days before the meeting, such proposal shall be laid over for action at an
adjourned, special, or annual meeting of the shareholders taking place 30 days
or more thereafter. This provision shall not prevent the consideration and
approval
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or disapproval at the annual meeting of reports of officers, directors and
committees; but in connection with such reports no new business shall be acted
upon at such annual meeting unless stated and filed as herein provided.
Section 16. Informal Action by Shareholders. Any action required to be
-------------------------------------------
taken at a meeting of shareholders, or any other action which may be taken at a
meeting of the shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if consent in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be given by all of the
shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter.
ARTICLE III. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section l. General Powers. The business and affairs of the BANK shall be
--------------------------
under the direction of its board of directors. The board of directors shall
annually elect a chairman of the board and a president from among its members
and shall designate, when present, either the chairman of the board or the
president to preside at its meetings.
Section 2. Number and Term. The board of directors shall consist of five
---------------------------
(5) members and shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as
possible. The members of each class shall be elected for a term of three years
and until their successors are elected and qualified. One class shall be
elected by ballot annually.
Section 3. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the board of directors
----------------------------
shall be held without other notice than this bylaw immediately after, and at the
same place as, the annual meeting of shareholders. The board of directors may
provide, by resolution, the time and place, for the holding of additional
regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
Section 4. Qualification. Each director shall at all times be the
-------------------------
beneficial owner of not less than 100 shares of capital stock of the BANK unless
the BANK is a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company.
Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors
----------------------------
may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, the president
or one-third of the directors. The persons authorized to call special meetings
of the board of directors may fix any place, within the BANK's normal lending
territory, as the place for holding any special meeting of the board of
directors called by such persons.
Members of the board of directors may participate in special meetings by
means of conference telephone, or by means of similar communications equipment
by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such
participation shall constitute presence in person but shall not constitute
attendance for the purpose of compensation pursuant to Section 12 of this
Article.
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Section 6. Notice. Written notice of any special meeting shall be given
------------------
to each director at least 24 hours prior thereto when delivered personally or by
telegram, or at least five days prior thereto when delivered by mail at the
address at which the director is most likely to be reached. Such notice shall be
deemed to be delivered when deposited in the mail so addressed, with postage
prepaid if mailed, or when delivered to the telegraph company if sent by
telegram. Any director may waive notice of any meeting by a writing filed with
the secretary. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for
the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the board of directors need be
specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the number of directors fixed by Section
------------------
2 of this Article III shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
at any meeting of the board of directors, but if less than such majority is
present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the
meeting from time to time. Notice of any adjourned meeting shall be given in
the same manner as prescribed by Section 6 of this Article III.
Section 8. Xxxxxx of Acting. The act of the majority of the directors
----------------------------
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board
of directors, unless a greater number is prescribed by regulation of the OTS or
by these bylaws.
Section 9. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to
------------------------------------
be taken by the board of directors at a meeting may be taken without a meeting
if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by
all of the directors.
Section 10. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by sending a
-----------------------
written notice of such resignation to the home office of the BANK addressed to
the chairman of the board or president. Unless otherwise specified such
resignation shall take effect upon receipt by the chairman of the board or
president. More than three consecutive absences from regular meetings of the
board of directors, unless excused by resolution of the board of directors,
shall automatically constitute a resignation, effective when such resignation is
accepted by the board of directors.
Section 11. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the board of directors
---------------------
may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors,
although less than a quorum of the board of directors. A director elected to
fill a vacancy shall be elected to serve until the next election of directors by
the shareholders. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the
number of directors may be filled by election by the board of directors for a
term of office continuing only until the next election of directors by the
shareholders.
Section 12. Compensation. Directors, as such, may receive a stated salary
------------------------
for their services. By resolution of the board of directors, a reasonable fixed
sum, and reasonable expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for actual
attendance at each regular or special meeting of the
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board of directors. Members of either standing or special committees may be
allowed such compensation for actual attendance at committee meetings as the
board of directors may determine.
Section 13. Presumption of Assent. A director of the BANK who is present
---------------------------------
at a meeting of the board of directors at which action on any BANK matter is
taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent
or abstention shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall
file a written dissent to such action with the person acting as the secretary of
the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by
registered mail to the secretary of the BANK within five days after the date a
copy of the minutes of the meeting is received. Such right to dissent shall not
apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
Section 14. Removal of Directors. At a meeting of shareholders called
--------------------------------
expressly for that purpose, any director may be removed for cause by a vote of
the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of
directors. Whenever the holders of the shares of any class are entitled to
elect one or more directors by the provisions of the Charter or supplemental
sections thereto, the provisions of this section shall apply, in respect to the
removal of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the
outstanding shares of that class and not to the vote of the outstanding shares
as a whole.
ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES
Section l. Appointment. The board of directors, by resolution adopted by
-----------------------
a majority of the full board, may designate the chief executive officer and two
or more of the other directors to constitute an executive committee. The
designation of any committee pursuant to this Article IV and the delegation of
authority shall not operate to relieve the board of directors, or any director,
of any responsibility imposed by law or regulation.
Section 2. Authority. The executive committee, when the board of
---------------------
directors is not in session, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of
the board of directors except to the extent, if any, that such authority shall
be limited by the resolution appointing the executive committee; and except also
that the executive committee shall not have the authority of the board of
directors with reference to: the declaration of dividends; the amendment of the
Charter or bylaws of the BANK, or recommending to the shareholders a plan of
merger, consolidation, or conversion; the sale, lease or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the property and assets of the BANK otherwise than
in the usual and regular course of its business; a voluntary dissolution of the
BANK; a revocation of any of the foregoing; or the approval of a transaction in
which any member of the executive committee, directly or indirectly, has any
material beneficial interest.
Section 3. Tenure. Subject to the provisions of Section 8 of this Article
------------------
IV, each member of the executive committee shall hold office until the next
regular annual meeting of the board of directors following his or her
designation and until a successor is designated as a member of the executive
committee.
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Section 4. Meetings. Regular meetings of the executive committee may be
--------------------
held without notice at such times and places as the executive committee may fix
from time to time by resolution. Special meetings of the executive committee may
be called by any member thereof upon not less than one day's notice stating the
place, date and hour of the meeting, which notice may be written or oral. Any
member of the executive committee may waive notice of any meeting and no notice
of any meeting need be given to any member thereof who attends in person. The
notice of a meeting of the executive committee need not state the business
proposed to be transacted at the meeting.
Section 5. Quorum. A majority of the members of the executive committee
------------------
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
thereof, and action of the executive committee must be authorized by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a
quorum is present.
Section 6. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to
------------------------------------
be taken by the executive committee at a meeting may be taken without a meeting
if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by
all of the members of the executive committee.
Section 7. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the executive committee may be
---------------------
filled by a resolution adopted by a majority of the full board of directors.
Section 8. Resignations and Removal. Any member of the executive
------------------------------------
committee may be removed at any time with or without cause by resolution adopted
by a majority of the full board of directors. Any member of the executive
committee may resign from the executive committee at any time by giving written
notice to the president or secretary of the BANK. Unless otherwise specified,
such resignation shall take effect upon its receipt; the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 9. Procedure. The executive committee shall elect a presiding
---------------------
officer from its members and may fix its own rules of procedure which shall not
be inconsistent with these bylaws. It shall keep regular minutes of its
proceedings and report the same to the board of directors for its information at
the meeting held next after the proceedings shall have occurred.
Section 10. Other Committees. The board of directors may by resolution
----------------------------
establish an audit, loan, or other committees composed of directors as they may
determine to be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the
BANK and may prescribe the duties, constitution and procedures thereof.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
Section l. Positions. The officers of the BANK shall be a president, one
---------------------
or more vice presidents, a secretary and a treasurer, each of whom shall be
elected by the board of directors. The board of directors may also designate
the chairman of the board as an officer. The president may also be designated
by the board of directors as the chief executive officer. The president shall
be a
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director of the BANK. The offices of the secretary and treasurer may be held by
the same person and a vice president may also be either the secretary or the
treasurer. The board of directors may designate one or more vice presidents as
executive vice president or senior vice president. The board of directors may
also elect or authorize the appointment of such other officers as the business
of the BANK may require. The officers shall have such authority and perform such
duties as the board of directors may from time to time authorize or determine.
In the absence of action by the board of directors, the officers shall have such
powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the BANK shall be
---------------------------------------
elected annually at the first meeting of the board of directors held after each
annual meeting of the shareholders. If the election of officers is not held at
such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as possible. Each
officer shall hold office until a successor has been duly elected and qualified
or until the officer's death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter
provided. Election or appointment of an officer, employee or agent shall not of
itself create contractual rights. The board of directors may authorize the BANK
to enter into an employment contract with any officer in accordance with
regulations of the OTS; but no such contract shall impair the right of the board
of directors to remove any officer at any time in accordance with Section 3 of
this Article V.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer may be removed by the board of directors
-------------------
whenever in its judgment the best interests of the BANK will be served thereby,
but such removal, other than for cause, shall be without prejudice to the
contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death,
---------------------
resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the board
of directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 5. Remuneration. The remuneration of the officers shall be fixed
------------------------
from time to time by the board of directors.
ARTICLE VI. CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section l. Contracts. To the extent permitted by regulations of the OTS,
---------------------
and except as otherwise prescribed by these bylaws with respect to certificates
for shares, the board of directors may authorize any officer, employee, or agent
of the BANK to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in
the name of and on behalf of the BANK. Such authority may be general or
confined to specific instances.
Section 2. Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the BANK and
-----------------
no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by the
board of directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
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Section 3. Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for
--------------------------------
the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the
name of the BANK shall be signed by one or more officers, employees or agents of
the BANK in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the board of
directors.
Section 4. Deposits. All funds of the BANK not otherwise employed shall
--------------------
be deposited from time to time to the credit of the BANK in any duly authorized
depositories as the board of directors may select.
ARTICLE VII. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section l. Certificates for Shares. Certificates representing shares of
-----------------------------------
capital stock of the BANK shall be in such form as shall be determined by the
board of directors and approved by the OTS. Such certificates shall be signed
by the chief executive officer or by any other officer of the BANK authorized by
the board of directors, attested by the secretary or an assistant secretary, and
sealed with the corporate seal or a facsimile thereof. The signatures of such
officers upon a certificate may be facsimiles if the certificate is manually
signed on behalf of a transfer agent or a registrar, other than the BANK itself
or one of its employees. Each certificate for shares of capital stock shall be
consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name and address of the
person to whom the shares are issued, with the number of shares and date of
issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the BANK. All
certificates surrendered to the BANK for transfer shall be canceled and no new
certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of
shares has been surrendered and canceled, except that in case of a lost or
destroyed certificate, a new certificate may be issued upon such terms and
indemnity to the BANK as the board of directors may prescribe.
Section 2. Transfer of Shares. Transfer of shares of capital stock of the
------------------------------
BANK shall be made only on its stock transfer books. Authority for such
transfer shall be given only by the holder of record or by his legal
representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of such authority, or by his
attorney authorized by a duly executed power of attorney and filed with the
BANK. Such transfer shall be made only on surrender for cancellation of the
certificate for such shares. The person in whose name shares of capital stock
stand on the books of the BANK shall be deemed by the BANK to be the owner for
all purposes.
ARTICLE VIII. FISCAL YEAR; ANNUAL AUDIT
The fiscal year of the BANK shall end on June 30 of each year. The BANK
shall be subject to an annual audit as of the end of its fiscal year by
independent public accountants appointed by and responsible to the board of
directors. The appointment of such accountants shall be subject to annual
ratification by the shareholders.
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ARTICLE IX. DIVIDENDS
Subject to the terms of the BANK's Charter and the regulations and orders
of the OTS, the board of directors may, from time to time, declare, and the BANK
may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares of capital stock.
ARTICLE X. CORPORATE SEAL
The board of directors shall provide a BANK seal, which shall be two
concentric circles between which shall be the name of the BANK. The year of
incorporation or an emblem may appear in the center.
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended in a manner consistent with regulations of the
OTS at any time by a majority vote of the full board of directors, or by a
majority vote of the votes cast by the shareholders of the BANK at any legal
meeting.
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