STOCK OPTION
AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of August 6, 1998, by and between 1ST BANCORP, an Indiana
corporation ("Issuer"), and GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP, an Indiana corporation
("Grantee").
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into that certain
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of August 5, 1998 (the "Merger
Agreement"), providing for, among other things, the merger of Issuer with and
into Grantee with Grantee as the surviving entity; and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's execution
of the Merger Agreement, Grantee has required that Issuer agree, and Issuer has
agreed, to grant Grantee the Option (as defined below);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in
the Merger Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Issuer and
Grantee agree as follows:
1 . DEFINED TERMS. Capitalized terms which are used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
2. GRANT OF OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to
purchase up to 218,142 shares (as adjusted as set forth herein, the "Option
Shares," which shall include the Option Shares before and after any transfer of
such Option Shares) of common stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Issuer Common
Stock"), of Issuer at a purchase price per Option Share (subject to adjustment
as set forth herein, the "Purchase Price") equal to $50.94 provided, however,
that in no event shall the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock for which
this Option is exercisable exceed the lesser of (i) 19.9% of the lssuer's issued
and outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock without giving effect to any
shares subject to or issued pursuant to the Option and (ii) that minimum number
of shares of Issuer Common Stock which when aggregated with any other shares of
Issuer Common Stock beneficially owned by Grantee or any Affiliate thereof would
cause the provisions of any Takeover Laws of the IBCL to be applicable to the
Merger or the Option.
3. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) Provided that (i) Grantee or Holder (as hereinafter defined), as
applicable, shall not be in material breach of its agreements or covenants
contained in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, and (ii) no preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order against the delivery of shares covered by
the Option issued by any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
shall be in effect, Holder may exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any
time and from time to time following the occurrence of a Purchase Event and
prior to the termination of the Option. The Option shall terminate and be of no
further force and effect upon the earliest to occur of (A) the Effective Time,
(B) termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof
prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a Preliminary Purchase Event
(other than a termination of the Merger Agreement by Grantee pursuant to (i)
Section 7.02 thereof (but only if such termination was a result of a willful
breach by Issuer) or (ii) Section 7.05 thereof (but only if such termination was
as a result of the failure of the shareholders of Issuer to approve the Merger)
(each a "Default Termination")), (C) 18 months after a Default Termination, and
(D) 18 months after any termination of the Merger Agreement following the
occurrence of a Purchase Event or a Preliminary Purchase Event. Any purchase of
shares upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with
applicable law, including, without limitation, any required regulatory approvals
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"), and the
Savings and Loan Holding Company Act. The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or
holders of the Option from time to time, and which initially is the Grantee. The
rights set forth in Section 8 shall terminate when the right to exercise the
Option terminates (other than as a result of a complete exercise of the Option)
as set forth herein.
(b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means any of the
following events subsequent to the date of this Agreement:
(i) without Grantee's prior written consent, Issuer
shall have authorized, recommended, publicly proposed or publicly
announced an intention to authorize, recommend or propose, or entered
into an agreement with any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary
of Grantee) to effect an Acquisition Transaction (as defined below). As
used herein, the term Acquisition Transaction shall mean (A) a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction involving Issuer, or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than transactions solely between Issuer's
Subsidiaries and transactions involving Issuer or any Subsidiary in
which the voting securities of Issuer outstanding immediately prior
thereto continue to represent (by either remaining outstanding or being
converted into securities of the surviving entity or the parent
thereof) at least 75% of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Issuer or the surviving entity or the parent thereof
outstanding immediately after the consummation of the transaction), (B)
the disposition, by sale, lease, exchange or otherwise, of Assets of
Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries representing in either case 20% or
more of the consolidated assets of Issuer and its Subsidiaries, or (C)
the issuance, sale or other disposition of (including by way of merger,
consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities
representing 20% or more of the voting power of Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries (any of the foregoing, an "Acquisition Transaction"); or
(ii) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary
of Grantee) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (as such term is
defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), of or the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined under
the Exchange Act), other than a group of which Grantee or any of its
Subsidiaries is a member, shall have been formed which beneficially
owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, 20% or more
of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock,
(c) As used herein, a "Preliminary Purchase Event" means any
of the following events:
(i) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary
of Grantee) shall have commenced (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2
under the Exchange Act), or shall have filed a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")
with respect to, a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase any
shares of Issuer Common Stock such that, upon consummation of such
offer, such person would own or control 20% or more of the
then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock (such an offer being
referred to herein as a "Tender Offer" or an "Exchange Offer,"
respectively); or
(ii) the holders of Issuer Common Stock shall not
have approved the Merger Agreement at the meeting of such stockholders
held for the purpose of voting on the Merger Agreement, such meeting
shall not have been held or shall have been canceled prior to
termination of the Merger Agreement, or Issuer's Board of Directors
shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Grantee the
recommendation of Issuer's Board of Directors with respect to the
Merger Agreement, in each case after it shall have been publicly
announced that any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) shall have (A) made a proposal to engage in an Acquisition
Transaction, (B) commenced a Tender Offer or filed a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to an Exchange Offer,
or (C) filed an application (or given a notice), whether in draft or
final form, under any federal or state statute or regulation (including
a notice filed under the HSR Act and an application, or notice filed
under the BHC Act, the Bank Merger Act, or the Change in Bank Control
Act of 1978) seeking the Consent to an Acquisition Transaction from any
federal or state governmental or regulatory authority or agency.
As used in this Agreement, "person" shall have the meaning specified in
Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(d) In the event Holder wishes to exercise the Option, it
shall send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein referred
to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of Option Shares it
intends to purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not
earlier than three business days nor later than 30 business days from the Notice
Date for the closing (the "Closing") of such purchase (the "Closing Date"). If
prior Consent of any governmental or regulatory agency or authority is required
in connection with such purchase, Issuer shall cooperate with Holder in the
filing of the required notice or application for such Consent and the obtaining
of such Consent and the Closing shall occur immediately following receipt of
such Consents (and expiration of any mandatory waiting periods).
4. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES.
(a) On each Closing Date, Holder shall (i) pay to Issuer, in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by
Issuer, an amount equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Option
Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date, and (ii) present and surrender this
Agreement to the Issuer at the address of the Issuer specified in Section 13(f)
hereof.
(b) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of
immediately available funds and surrender of this Agreement as provided in
Section 4(a), (i) Issuer shall deliver to Holder (A) a certificate or
certificates representing the Option Shares to be purchased at such Closing,
which Option Shares shall be free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and
encumbrances of any kind whatsoever and subject to no pre-emptive rights, and
(B) if the Option is exercised in part only, an executed new agreement with the
same terms as this Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the balance of the
shares of Issuer Common Stock purchasable hereunder, and (ii) Holder shall
deliver to Issuer a letter agreeing that Holder shall not offer to sell or
otherwise dispose of such Option Shares in violation of applicable federal and
state law or of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) In addition to any other legend that is required by
applicable law, certificates for the Option Shares delivered at each Closing
shall be endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as
follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 5,
1998. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF
WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT BY THE ISSUER OF A WRITTEN REQUEST
THEREFOR.
It is understood and agreed that: (i) the references in the above legend to
resale restrictions of the Securities Act shall be removed by delivery of
substitute certificate(s) without such reference if Holder shall have delivered
to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and its counsel, to the
effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the Securities Act: (ii)
the references in the above legend to the provisions of this Agreement shall be
removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the
shares have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement and under circumstances that do not require the retention of such
reference; and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its entirety if the
conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ISSUER. Issuer hereby represents
and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals referred to herein, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Issuer.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue, and, at all times from the date
hereof until the obligation to deliver Issuer Common Stock upon the exercise of
the Option terminates, will have reserved for issuance, upon exercise of the
Option, the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock necessary for Holder to
exercise the Option, and Issuer will take all necessary corporate action, to
authorize and reserve for issuance all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities which may be issued pursuant to Section 7 upon exercise of
the Option. The shares of Issuer Common Stock to be issued upon due exercise of
the Option, including all additional Shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities which may be issuable pursuant to Section 7, upon issuance pursuant
hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and
shall be delivered free and clear of all liens, claims, charges, and
encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any preemptive rights
of any stockholder of Issuer.
(c) Issuer has taken all action so that the entering into of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement do not and will not result in the grant of any rights to any Person
under the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or other governing instruments of
Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or restrict or impair the ability of Grantee
to vote, or otherwise to exercise the rights of a stockholder with respect to,
shares of Issuer or any of its subsidiaries that may be directly or indirectly
acquired or controlled by it.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GRANTEE. Grantee hereby represents
and warrants to Issuer that:
(a) Grantee has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals or consents referred to
herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of Grantee. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
(b) This Option is not being, and any Option Shares or other
securities acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be, acquired
with a view to the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or
otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from
registration under any applicable securities laws.
(c) Grantee has taken all necessary action to exempt the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement from any applicable Takeover Laws.
7. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, ETC.
(a) In the event of any change in Issuer Common Stock by
reason of a stock dividend, stock split, split-up, recapitalization,
combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction, the type and number of
shares or securities subject to the Option, and the Purchase Price therefor,
shall be adjusted appropriately, and proper provision shall be made in the
agreements governing such transaction, if any, so that Holder shall receive,
upon exercise of the Option, the number and class of shares or other securities
or property that Holder would have received in respect of Issuer Common Stock if
the Option had been exercised immediately prior to such event, or the record
date therefor, as applicable. If any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
are issued after the date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to an event
described in the first sentence of this Section 7(a) or pursuant to this
Option), the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to the Option shall
be adjusted so that, after such issuance, it, together with any shares of Issuer
Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, shall not exceed the lesser of
(i) 19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock then issued and
outstanding, without giving effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant
to the Option and (ii) that minimum number of shares of Issuer Common Stock,
which when aggregated with any other shares of Issuer Common Stock beneficially
owned by Grantee or any Affiliate thereof would cause the provisions of any
Takeover Laws of the IBCL to be applicable to the Merger or the Option.
(b) In the event that Issuer shall enter in an agreement (i)
to consolidate with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries, and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger; (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee or one of
its Subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then outstanding
shares of Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of Issuer or any other person or cash or any other property and
the outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock immediately prior to such merger
shall after such merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares and
share equivalents of the merged company; or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer
all or substantially all of its assets to any person, other than Grantee or one
of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such
transaction shall make proper provisions so that the Option shall, upon the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein, be converted into, or exchanged for, an option (the "Substitute
Option"), at the election of Grantee, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation
(as defined below) or (y) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation (in
each case, such person being referred to as the "Substitute Option Issuer").
(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the
Option, provided that, if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal
reasons, be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible
and in no event less advantageous to Grantee. The Substitute Option Issuer shall
also enter into an agreement with the then holder or holders of the Substitute
Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement, which shall be
applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number
of shares of the Substitute Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as is equal to
the Assigned Value (as hereinafter defined) multiplied by the number of shares
of the Issuer Common Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable,
divided by the Average Price (as hereinafter defined). The exercise price of the
Substitute Option per share of the Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute
Purchase Price") shall then be equal to the Purchase Price, multiplied by a
fraction in which the numerator is the number of shares of the Issuer Common
Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is
the number of shares for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (x) the continuing or
surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if
other than Issuer), (y) Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the
continuing or surviving person, and (z) the transferee of all or any
substantial part of the Issuer's assets (or the assets of its
Subsidiaries).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common
stock issued by the Substitute Option Issuer upon exercise of the
Substitute Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (x)
the price per share of the Issuer Common Stock at which a Tender Offer
or Exchange Offer therefor has been made by any person (other than
Grantee), (y) the price per share of the Issuer Common Stock to be paid
by any person (other than the Grantee) pursuant to an agreement with
Issuer, and (z) the highest last sale price per share of Issuer Common
Stock quoted on the Nasdaq National Market (or if Issuer Common Stock
is not quoted on such exchange, the highest bid price per share on any
day as quoted on the principal trading market or securities exchange on
which such shares are traded as reported by a recognized source chosen
by Grantee) within the six-month period immediately preceding the
agreement; provided, that in the event of a sale of less than all of
Issuer's assets, the Assigned Value shall be the sum of the price paid
in such sale for such assets and the current market value of the
remaining assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by Grantee (or by a majority in
interest of the Grantees if there shall be more than one Grantee (a
"Grantee Majority")) and reasonably acceptable to Issuer, divided by
the number of shares of the Issuer Common Stock outstanding at the time
of such sale. In the event that an exchange offer is made for the
Issuer Common Stock or an agreement is entered into for a merger or
consolidation involving consideration other than cash, the value of the
securities or other property issuable or deliverable in exchange for
the Issuer Common Stock shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by Grantee and reasonably acceptable
to Issuer (or if applicable, Acquiring Corporation). (If there shall be
more than one Grantee, any such selection shall be made by a Grantee
Majority.)
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing
price of a share of the Substitute Common Stock for the one year
immediately preceding the consolidation, merger or sale in question,
but in no event higher than the last sale price of the shares of the
Substitute Common Stock on the day preceding such consolidation, merger
or sale; provided that if Issuer is the issuer of the Substitute
Option, the Average Price shall be computed with respect to a share of
common stock issued by Issuer, the person merging into Issuer or by any
company which controls or is controlled by such merger person, as
Grantee may elect.
(f) In no event pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs
shall the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate
of the shares of the Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of
the Substitute Option. In the event that the Substitute Option would be
exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the shares of Substitute
Common Stock but for this clause (f), the Substitute Option Issuer shall make a
cash payment to Grantee equal to the excess of (i) the value of the Substitute
Option without giving effect to the limitation in this clause (f) over (ii) the
value of the Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in this
clause (f). This difference in value shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by Grantee (or a Grantee Majority)
and reasonably acceptable to the Acquiring Corporation.
(g) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (b) of this Section 7 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder and take all other actions that may be necessary so that the
provisions of this Section 7 are given full force and effect (including, without
limitation, any action that may be necessary so that the shares of Substitute
Common Stock are in no way distinguishable from or have lesser economic value
than other shares of common stock issued by the Substitute Option Issuer).
(h) The provisions of Sections 8, 9, 10, and 11 shall apply,
with appropriate adjustments, to any securities for which the Option becomes
exercisable pursuant to this Section 7 and, as applicable, references in such
sections to "Issuer," "Option," "Purchase Price" and "Issuer Common Stock" shall
be deemed to be references to "Substitute Option Issuer," "Substitute Option,"
"Substitute Purchase Price" and "Substitute Common Stock," respectively.
8. REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3(a), at the
request of Holder at any time commencing upon the first occurrence of a
Repurchase Event (as defined in Section 8(d)) and ending 18 months immediately
thereafter, Issuer shall repurchase from Holder the Option and all shares of
Issuer Common Stock purchased by Holder pursuant hereto with respect to which
Holder then has beneficial ownership. The date on which Holder exercises its
rights under this Section 8 is referred to as the "Request Date." Such
repurchase shall be at an aggregate price (the "Section 8 Repurchase
Consideration") equal to the sum of:
(i) the aggregate Purchase Price paid by Holder for
any shares of Issuer Common Stock acquired by Holder pursuant to the
Option with respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership;
(ii) the excess, if any, of (x) the Applicable Price
(as defined below) for each share of Issuer Common Stock over (y) the
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7),
multiplied by the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock with respect
to which the Option has not been exercised; and
(iii) the excess, if any, of the Applicable Price
over the Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7)
paid (or, in the case of Option Shares with respect to which the Option
has been exercised but the Closing Date has not occurred, payable) by
Holder for each share of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the
Option has been exercised and with respect to which Holder then has
beneficial ownership, multiplied by the number of such shares.
(b) If Holder exercises its rights under this Section 8,
Issuer shall, within ten business days after the Request Date, pay the Section 8
Repurchase Consideration to Holder in immediately available funds, and
contemporaneously with such payment Holder shall surrender to Issuer the Option
and the certificates evidencing the shares of' Issuer Common Stock purchased
thereunder with respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership, and
Holder shall warrant that it has sole record and beneficial ownership of such
shares and that the same are then free and clear of all liens, claims, charges
and encumbrances of any kind whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the
extent that prior notification to or Consent of any governmental or regulatory
agency or authority is required in connection with the payment of all or any
portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration, Holder shall have the ongoing
option to revoke its request for repurchase pursuant to Section 8, in whole or
in part, or to require that Issuer deliver from time to time that portion of the
Section 8 Repurchase Consideration that it is not then so prohibited from paying
and promptly file the required notice or application for Consent and
expeditiously process the same (and each party shall cooperate with the other in
the filing of any such notice or application and the obtaining of any such
Consent). If any governmental or regulatory agency or authority disapproves of
any part of Issuer's proposed repurchase pursuant to this Section 8, Issuer
shall promptly give notice of such fact to Holder. If any governmental or
regulatory agency or authority prohibits the repurchase in part but not in
whole, then Holder shall have the right (i) to revoke the repurchase request or
(ii) to the extent permitted by such agency or authority, determine whether the
repurchase should apply to the Option and/or Option Shares and to what extent to
each, and Holder shall thereupon have the right to exercise the Option as to the
number of Option Shares for which the Option was exercisable at the Request Date
less the sum of the number of shares covered by the Option in respect of which
payment has been made pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) and the number of shares
covered by the portion of the Option (if any) that has been repurchased. Holder
shall notify Issuer of its determination under the preceding sentence within
five business days of receipt of notice of disapproval of the repurchase.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all of Holder's rights
under this Section 8 shall terminate on the date of termination of this Option
pursuant to Section 3(a).
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the "Applicable Price"
means the highest of (i) the highest price per share of Issuer Common Stock paid
for any such share by the person or groups described in Section 8(d)(i), (ii)
the price per share of Issuer Common Stock received by holders of Issuer Common
Stock in connection with any merger or other business combination transaction
described in Section 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii) or 7(b)(iii), or (iii) the highest last
sale price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq National Market
(or if Issuer Common Stock is not quoted on such exchange, the highest bid price
per share as quoted on the principal trading market or securities exchange on
which such shares are traded as reported by a recognized source chosen by
Holder) during the 60 business days preceding the Request Date; provided,
however, that in the event of a sale of less than all of Issuer's Assets, the
Applicable Price shall be the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets
and the current market value of the remaining assets of Issuer as determined by
an independent nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Holder
and reasonably acceptable to Issuer (which determination shall be conclusive for
all purposes of this Agreement), divided by the number of shares of the Issuer
Common Stock outstanding at the time of such sale. If the consideration to be
offered, paid or received pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses (i) or
(ii) shall be other than in cash, the value of such consideration shall be
determined in good faith by an independent nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by Holder and reasonably acceptable to Issuer, which
determination shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.
(d) As used herein, a "Repurchase Event" shall occur if (i)
any person (other than Grantee or any subsidiary of Grantee) shall have acquired
beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, or any "group"
(as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) shall have been formed which
beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 50% or
more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock, or (ii) any of the
transactions described in Section 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii), or 7(iii) shall be
consummated.
9. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Issuer shall, subject to the conditions of subparagraph
(c) below, if requested by any Holder, including Grantee and any permitted
transferee ("Selling Holder"), as expeditiously as possible prepare and file a
registration statement under the Securities Laws if necessary in order to permit
the sale or other disposition of any or all shares of Issuer Common Stock or
other securities that have been acquired by or are issuable to Selling Holder
upon exercise of the Option in accordance with the intended method of sale or
other disposition stated by Holder in such request (it being understood and
agreed that any such sale or other disposition shall be effected on a widely
distributed basis so that, upon consummation thereof, no purchaser or transferee
shall beneficially own more than 5% of the shares of Issuer Common Stock then
outstanding), including, without limitation, a "shelf" registration statement
under Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor provision, and Issuer
shall use its best efforts to qualify such shares or other securities for sale
under any applicable state securities laws. Each such Holder shall provide all
information reasonably requested by Issuer for inclusion in any registration
statement to be filed hereunder.
(b) If Issuer at any time after the exercise of the Option,
but prior to the termination of the Option, proposes to register any shares of
Issuer Common Stock under the Securities Laws in connection with an underwritten
public offering of such Issuer Common Stock, Issuer will promptly give written
notice to Holder of its intention to do so and, upon the written request of
Holder given within 30 days after receipt of any such notice (which request
shall specify the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock intended to be
included in such underwritten public offering by Selling Holder), Issuer will
use all reasonable efforts to cause all such shares, the holders of which shall
have requested participation in such registration, to be so registered and
included in such underwritten public offering; provided, that Issuer may elect
to not cause any such shares to be so registered (i) if the underwriters in good
faith determine that the inclusion of such shares would interfere with the
successful marketing of the shares of Issuer Common Stock for the account of
Issuer, or (ii) in the case of a registration solely to implement a dividend
reinvestment or similar plan, an employee benefit plan or a registration filed
on Form S-4 or any successor form, or a registration filed on a form which does
not permit registrations of resales; provided, further, that such election
pursuant to clause (i) may only be made once. If some but not all the shares of
Issuer Common Stock, with respect to which Issuer shall have received requests
for registration pursuant to this subparagraph (b), shall be excluded from such
registration, Issuer shall make appropriate allocation of shares to be
registered among Selling Holders and any other person (other than Issuer or any
person exercising demand registration rights in connection with such
registration) who or which is permitted to register their shares of Issuer
Common Stock in connection with such registration pro rata in the proportion
that the number of shares requested to be registered by each Selling Holder
bears to the total number of shares requested to be registered by all persons
then desiring to have Issuer Common Stock registered for sale (other than Issuer
or any person exercising demand registration rights in connection with such
registration).
(c) Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to cause the
registration statement referred to in subparagraph (a) above to become effective
and to obtain all consents or waivers of other parties which are required
therefor and to keep such registration statement effective, provided, that
Issuer may delay any registration of Option Shares required pursuant to
subparagraph (a) above for a period not exceeding 90 days, provided Issuer shall
in good faith determine that any such registration would adversely affect an
offerings, or contemplated offering of other securities by Issuer.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Issuer shall not be
required to register Option Shares under the Securities Laws pursuant to
subparagraph (a) above:
(i) prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event and
following the termination of the Option;
(ii) more than twice;
(iii) within 90 days after the effective date of a
registration referred to in subparagraph (b) above pursuant to which
the Selling Holders concerned were afforded the opportunity to register
such shares under the Securities Laws and such shares were registered
as requested; and
(iv) unless a request therefor is made to Issuer by
Selling Holders holding at least 15% or more of the aggregate number of
Option Shares then outstanding or the right to acquire at least 15% of
the Option Shares.
In addition to the foregoing, Issuer shall not be required to
maintain the effectiveness of any registration statement after the expiration of
120 days from the effective date of such registration statement. Issuer shall
use all reasonable efforts to make any filings, and take all steps, under all
applicable state securities laws to the extent necessary to permit the sale or
other disposition of the Option Shares so registered in accordance with the
intended method of distribution for such shares, provided, that Issuer shall not
be required to consent to general jurisdiction or qualify to do business in any
state where it is not otherwise required to so consent to such jurisdiction or
to so qualify to do business.
(d) Except where applicable state law prohibits such payments,
Issuer will pay all expenses (including without limitation registration fees,
qualification fees, blue sky fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses
of Issuer's counsel), accounting expenses, printing expenses, expenses of
underwriters, excluding discounts and commissions but including liability
insurance if Issuer so desires or the underwriters so require, and the
reasonable fees and expenses of any necessary special experts) in connection
with each registration pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) above (including the
related offerings and sales by Selling Holders) and all other qualifications,
notifications or exemptions pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) above.
Underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Option Shares and any other
expenses incurred by such Selling Holders in connection with any such
registration (including expenses of Selling Holders' counsel) shall be borne by
such Selling Holders.
(e) In connection with any registration under subparagraph (a)
or (b) above Issuer hereby agrees to indemnify the Selling Holders, and each
underwriter thereof, including each person, if any, who controls such holder or
underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all
expenses, losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any registration statement or prospectus
(including any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus,
or caused by any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such
expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities of such indemnified party are
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or any omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with, information
furnished in writing to Issuer by such indemnified party expressly for use
therein, and Issuer and each officer, director and controlling person of Issuer
shall be indemnified by such Selling Holder, or by such underwriter, as the case
may be, for all such expenses, losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by
any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission made in reliance upon, and
in conformity with, information furnished in writing to Issuer by such holder or
such underwriter, as the case may be, expressly for such use.
Promptly upon receipt by a party indemnified under this
subparagraph (e) of notice of the commencement of any action against such
indemnified party in respect of which indemnity or reimbursement may be sought
against any indemnifying party under this subparagraph (e), such indemnified
party shall notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such
action, but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it
of any liability which it may otherwise have to any indemnified party under this
subparagraph (e), except to the extent such failure to notify materially
prejudices the indemnifying party. In case notice of commencement of any such
action shall be given to the indemnifying party as above provided, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it may
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense of such action at its own expense, with counsel chosen by it and
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party. The indemnified party shall
have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in
the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel (other than
reasonable costs of investigation) shall be paid by the indemnified party unless
(i) the indemnifying party either agrees to pay the same, (ii) the indemnifying
party falls to assume the defense of such action with counsel satisfactory to
the indemnified party, or (iii) the indemnified party has been advised by
counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to the indemnifying
party that may be contrary to the interest of the indemnified party, in which
case the indemnifying party shall be entitled to assume the defense of such
action notwithstanding its obligation to bear fees and expenses of such counsel;
provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the
expenses of more than one firm of counsel for all indemnified parties in any
jurisdiction. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement entered
into without its consent, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld
If the indemnification provided for in this subparagraph (e) is
unavailable to a party otherwise entitled to be indemnified in respect of any
expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, then the
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such party otherwise entitled to be
indemnified, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such party to be
indemnified as a result of such expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by issuer, all Selling Holders and the underwriters from the offering of the
securities and also the relative fault of Issuer, all Selling Holders and the
underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the expenses, losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to
above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim; provided, that in no case shall any Selling Holder be responsible, in
the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the net offering proceeds
attributable to its Option Shares included in the offering. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 1 (f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any obligation by any holder to
indemnify shall be several and not joint with other holders.
In connection with any registration pursuant to subparagraph
(a) or (b) above, Issuer and each Selling Holder (other than Grantee) shall
enter into an agreement containing the indemnification provisions of this
subparagraph (e).
(f) Issuer shall use its best efforts to comply with all
reporting requirements and will do all such other things as may be necessary to
permit the expeditious sale at any time of any Option Shares by Holder in
accordance with and to the extent permitted by any rule or regulation
promulgated by the SEC from time to time, including, without limitation, Rules
144 and 144A.
(g) Issuer will pay all stamp taxes in connection with the
issuance and the sale of the Option Shares and in connection with the exercise
of the Option, and will save Holder harmless, without limitation as to time,
against any and all liabilities, with respect to all such taxes.
10. QUOTATION; LISTING. If Issuer Common Stock or any other securities
to be acquired upon exercise of the Option are then authorized for quotation or
trading or listing on any securities exchange or any automated quotations system
maintained by a self-regulatory organization, Issuer, upon the request of
Holder, will promptly file an application, if required, to authorize for
quotation or trading or listing the shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option on the securities exchange
or any automated quotations system maintained by a self-regulatory organization
and will use its best efforts to obtain approval, if required, of such quotation
or listing as soon as practicable.
11. DIVISION OF OPTION. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby)
are exchangeable, without expense, at the option of Holder, upon presentation
and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer for other
Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling the holder
thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein
include any other Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and
the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably
satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of this
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall constitute
an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether or not the
Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall at any time be
enforceable by anyone.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) EXPENSES. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9, each
of the parties hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it
or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder,
including fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, investment
bankers, accountants and counsel.
(b) WAIVER AND AMENDMENT. Any provision oft his Agreement may
be waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such
provision. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto.
(c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY;
SEVERABILITY. This Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement and the other
documents and instruments referred to herein and therein, between Grantee and
Issuer (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any person
other than the parties hereto (other than any transferees of the Option Shares
or any permitted transferee of this Agreement pursuant to Section 12(h) and
other than as provided in the Merger Agreement) any rights or remedies
hereunder. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or state governmental or
regulatory agency or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that the Option does not permit Holder to acquire, or does not require Issuer to
repurchase, the full number of shares of Issuer Common Stock as provided in
Sections 3 and 8 (as adjusted pursuant to Section 7), it is the express
intention of Issuer to allow Holder to acquire or to require Issuer to
repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible without any
amendment or modification hereof.
(d) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana without regard to
any applicable conflicts of law rules.
(e) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings contained
herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (with confirmation) or mailed by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested) to the parties at the addresses set forth in the Merger
Agreement (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice).
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may
be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been
signed, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same
counterpart.
(h) ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder or under the Option shall be assigned by any
of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the
prior written consent of the other party, except that Grantee may assign this
Agreement to a wholly owned Subsidiary of Grantee and Grantee may assign its
rights hereunder in whole or in part after the occurrence of a Purchase Event.
Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
(i) FURTHER ASSURANCES. In the event of any exercise of the
Option by Holder, Issuer and Holder shall execute and deliver all other
documents and instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably
necessary in order to consummate the transactions provided for by such exercise.
(j) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that this
Agreement may be enforced by either party through specific performance,
injunctive relief and other equitable relief. Both parties further agree to
waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with
the obtaining of any such equitable relief and that this provision is without
prejudice to any other rights that the parties hereto may have for any failure
to perform this Agreement.
(k) CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS. The parties hereto agree that
this Agreement supersedes any provision of the Confidentiality Agreements that
could be interpreted to preclude the exercise of any rights or the fulfillment
of any obligations under this Agreement, and that none of the provisions
included in the Confidentiality Agreements will act to preclude Holder from
exercising the Option or exercising any other rights under this Agreement or act
to preclude Issuer from fulfilling any of its obligations under this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Issuer and Grantee have caused this Stock Option
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the day and year first written above.
GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP
BY:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
1ST BANCORP
BY:/s/ C. Xxxxx XxXxxxxxx
------------------------------
C. Xxxxx XxXxxxxxx
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
