STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as
of October 2, 2002, by and between FLORIDAFIRST BANCORP, INC., a Florida
corporation ("FloridaFirst" or "Issuer"), and BB&T CORPORATION, a North Carolina
corporation ("Grantee").
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into that certain Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization, dated this date (the "Merger Agreement"), providing for,
among other things, the merger of Issuer with and into Grantee; and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's execution of the Merger
Agreement, Grantee has required that Issuer agree, and Issuer has agreed, to
grant to Grantee the Option (as defined below);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger
Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Issuer and Grantee agree as
follows:
1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms which are used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
2. Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase
up to 1,060,000 shares (as adjusted as set forth herein, the "Option Shares,"
which term shall refer to the Option Shares before and after any transfer of
such Option Shares), of the common stock of Issuer, par value $.10 per share
("Issuer Common Stock"), at a purchase price per Option Share (subject to
adjustment as set forth herein, the "Purchase Price") equal to $19.50.
3. Exercise of Option.
(a) Provided that (i) Grantee or Holder (as hereinafter defined), as
applicable, shall not be in material breach of its agreements or covenants
contained in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, and (ii) no preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order against the delivery of shares covered by
the Option issued by any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
shall be in effect, Holder may exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any
time and from time to time following the occurrence of a Purchase Event (as
hereinafter defined); provided, that the Option shall terminate and be of no
further force and effect upon the earliest to occur of (A) the Effective Time,
(B) subject to clause (E) below, termination of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with
the terms thereof prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a Preliminary
Purchase Event (as hereinafter defined) (other than a termination of the Merger
Agreement by Grantee pursuant to Section 7.1(b) thereof (a "Default
Termination")), (C) 12 months after a Default Termination, (D) 12 months after
any termination of the Merger Agreement (other than a Default Termination)
following the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a Preliminary Purchase Event,
and (E) subject to clause (D) above, 12 months after termination of the Merger
Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(e) thereof; provided further, that any
purchase of shares upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance
with applicable law, including, without limitation, the Bank Holding Company Act
of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"). Subject to compliance with Section 13(h)
hereof, the term "Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the Option from
time to time, including initially Grantee. The rights set forth in Section 8
hereof shall terminate when the right to exercise the Option terminates (other
than as a result of a complete exercise of the Option) as set forth herein.
(b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means any of the following events
subsequent to the date of this Agreement:
(i) Issuer shall have authorized, recommended, publicly proposed or
publicly announced an intention to authorize, recommend or propose, or
entered into an agreement with any person (other than Grantee or any
Subsidiary of Grantee) to effect an Acquisition Transaction (as defined
below). As used herein, the term "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (A) a
merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than transactions solely between Issuer's Subsidiaries
or between Issuer's Subsidiaries and Issuer), (B) the disposition, by sale,
lease, exchange or otherwise, of assets of Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries representing in either case 15% or more of the consolidated
assets of Issuer and its Subsidiaries (other than a sale of loan
receivables in a financing transaction in the normal course of business
consistent with past practices), or (C) the issuance, sale or other
disposition (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or
any similar transaction) of securities representing 15% or more of the
voting power of Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries; or
(ii) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee)
shall have acquired beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of or the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined under the
Exchange Act), other than a group of which Grantee or any of the
Subsidiaries of Grantee is a member, shall have been formed which
beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, 15%
or more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock.
(c) As used herein, a "Preliminary Purchase Event" means any of the
following events:
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(i) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) shall
have commenced (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange
Act), or shall have filed a registration statement under the Securities Act
with respect to, a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase any shares of
Issuer Common Stock such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person
would own or control 15% or more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer
Common Stock (such an offer being referred to herein as a "Tender Offer" or
an "Exchange Offer," respectively); or
(ii) the holders of Issuer Common Stock shall not have approved the
Merger Agreement at the meeting of such shareholders held for the purpose
of voting on the Merger Agreement, such meeting shall not have been held or
shall have been canceled prior to termination of the Merger Agreement, or
Issuer's Board of Directors shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner
adverse to Grantee the recommendation of Issuer's Board of Directors with
respect to the Merger Agreement, in each case after any person (other than
Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) shall have (A) made, or disclosed an
intention to make, a proposal to engage in an Acquisition Transaction, (B)
commenced a Tender Offer or filed a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to an Exchange Offer, or (C) filed an
application (or given a notice), whether in draft or final form, under any
federal or state statute or regulation (including an application or notice
filed under the BHC Act, the Bank Merger Act, the Home Owners' Loan Act or
the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978) seeking the consent to an
Acquisition Transaction from any federal or state governmental or
regulatory authority or agency.
As used in this Agreement, "person" shall have the meaning specified in Sections
3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of FloridaFirst to issue
Option Shares upon exercise of the Option shall be deferred (but shall not
terminate): (i) until the receipt of all required governmental or regulatory
approvals or consents necessary for FloridaFirst to issue the Option Shares or
Holder to exercise the Option, or until the expiration or termination of any
waiting period required by law, or (ii) so long as any injunction or other
order, decree or ruling issued by any federal or state court of competent
jurisdiction is in effect which prohibits the sale or delivery of the Option
Shares.
(e) In the event Holder wishes to exercise the Option, it shall send to
Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein referred to as the
"Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of Option Shares it intends to
purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier than
three business days nor later than 15 business days from the Notice Date for the
closing (the "Closing") of such purchase (the "Closing Date"). If prior consent
of any governmental or regulatory agency or authority is required in connection
with such purchase, Issuer shall cooperate with Holder in the filing of the
required notice or application for such consent and the obtaining of such
consent at Holder's expense, and the Closing shall occur not earlier than three
business
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days nor later than 15 business days 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 referenced 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)
hereof, (i) Issuer shall deliver to Holder (A) a certificate or certificates
representing the Option Shares to be purchased at such Closing, which Option
Shares shall be free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances of
any kind whatsoever and subject to no preemptive rights, and (B) if the Option
is exercised in part only, an executed new agreement with the same terms as this
Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the balance of the shares of Issuer
Common Stock purchasable hereunder, and (ii) Holder shall deliver to Issuer a
letter evidencing Holder's agreement not to offer, sell or otherwise dispose of
such Option Shares in violation of applicable federal and state law or of the
provisions of this Agreement.
(c) In addition to any other legend that is required by applicable law,
certificates for the Option Shares delivered at each Closing shall be endorsed
with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT
TO RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
AND PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
OCTOBER 2, 2002. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE
HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT BY THE ISSUER OF A WRITTEN
REQUEST THEREFOR.
It is understood and agreed that the above legend shall be removed by delivery
of substitute certificate(s) without such legend if Holder shall have delivered
to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the Commission, or an opinion of
counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and its counsel,
to the effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the Securities
Act.
5. Representations and Warranties of Issuer. Issuer hereby represents and
warrants to Grantee as follows:
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(a) Issuer has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and, subject to its obtaining any approvals or consents referred
to herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
delivery of this 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 (i) has been duly executed and delivered by Issuer,
(ii) constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Issuer, and (iii) is
enforceable against Issuer in accordance with its terms, subject to (A)
bankruptcy, fraudulent transfer, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization,
conservatorship, receivership, or other similar laws from time to time in effect
relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors of
FDIC-insured institutions or the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and
(B) general principles of equity (whether applied in a court of law or in
equity).
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize
and reserve and to permit it to issue and, at all times from the date hereof
until the obligation to deliver Issuer Common Stock upon the exercise of the
Option terminates, will have reserved for issuance, upon exercise of the Option,
the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock necessary for Holder to exercise the
Option, and Issuer will take all necessary corporate action to authorize and
reserve for issuance all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities which may be issued pursuant to Section 7 hereof upon exercise of the
Option. The shares of Issuer Common Stock to be issued upon due exercise of the
Option, including all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities which may be issuable pursuant to Section 7 hereof, upon issuance
pursuant hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable, and shall be delivered free and clear of all liens, claims,
charges, and encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any
preemptive rights of any shareholder of Issuer.
6. Representations and Warranties of Grantee. Grantee hereby represents and
warrants to Issuer that:
(a) Grantee has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and, subject to its obtaining any approvals or consents referred
to herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of Grantee. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
(b) Grantee represents that it is acquiring the Option for Grantee's own
account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution
of the Option or the Option Shares. Grantee represents that it is aware that
neither the Option nor the Option Shares is the subject of a registration
statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission pursuant to
Section 5 of the Securities Act, but instead each is being offered in reliance
upon the exemption from the registration requirement provided by Section 4(2)
thereof and the representations and warranties made by Grantee in connection
therewith. Grantee represents that neither the Option nor the Option Shares will
be transferred or otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered or
exempt
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from registration under the Securities Laws, and that with respect to any
transfer or other disposition proposed to be made in reliance upon an exemption
from registration, such transfer or other disposition shall not be made unless
FloridaFirst first receives an opinion of counsel in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to it regarding the availability of such exemption.
7. Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization, etc.
(a) In the event of any change in Issuer Common Stock by reason of a stock
dividend, stock split, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of
shares or similar transaction, the type and number of shares or securities
subject to the Option and the Purchase Price therefor shall be adjusted
appropriately, and proper provision shall be made in the agreements governing
such transaction so that Holder shall receive, upon exercise of the Option, the
number and class of shares or other securities or property that Holder would
have received in respect of Issuer Common Stock if the Option had been exercised
immediately prior to such event, or the record date therefor, as applicable. If
any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock are issued after the date of this
Agreement (other than pursuant to an event described in the first sentence of
this Section 7(a)), the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to the
Option shall be adjusted so that, after such issuance, it, when added to the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto,
equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock then issued and
outstanding, without giving effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant
to the Option.
(b) In the event that Issuer shall enter into an agreement (prior to
termination of the Option pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof): (i) to consolidate
with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries,
and Issuer shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger; (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee or one of
its Subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer, and Issuer shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then outstanding
shares of Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of Issuer or any other person or cash or any other property or
the outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock immediately prior to such merger
shall after such merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares and
share equivalents of the merged company; (iii) to permit any person, other than
Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of
Issuer Common Stock pursuant to a statutory share exchange; or (iv) to sell or
otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any person, other
than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the
agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provisions so that the
Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged for, an option
(the "Substitute Option"), at the election of Grantee, deemed granted by either
(x) the Acquiring Corporation (as defined below), (y) any person that controls
the Acquiring Corporation, or (z) in the case of a merger described in clause
(ii), the Issuer (in each case, such person being referred to as the "Substitute
Option Issuer").
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(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option, provided
that, if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons, be
identical to those of the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and
in no event less advantageous to Grantee. The Substitute Option Issuer shall
also enter into an agreement with the then-holder or holders of the Substitute
Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement, which agreement shall
be applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares of
the Substitute Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as is equal to the Assigned
Value (as hereinafter defined) multiplied by the number of shares of the Issuer
Common Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable, divided by the
Average Price (as hereinafter defined). The exercise price of the Substitute
Option per share of the Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute Purchase
Price") shall then be equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by a fraction in
which the numerator is the number of shares of the Issuer Common Stock for which
the Option was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is the number of
shares for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean the continuing or surviving
corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other than
Issuer), Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the continuing or surviving
person, the corporation that shall acquire all of the outstanding shares of
Issuer Common Stock pursuant to a statutory share exchange, or the
transferee of all or substantially all of the Issuer's assets (or the
assets of its Subsidiaries).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock issued by
the Substitute Option Issuer upon exercise of the Substitute Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (x) the price per share of
the Issuer Common Stock at which a Tender Offer or Exchange Offer therefor
has been made by any person (other than Grantee), (y) the price per share
of the Issuer Common Stock to be paid by any person (other than the
Grantee) pursuant to an agreement with Issuer, and (z) the highest closing
sales price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market System within the six-month period immediately preceding the
agreement; provided, that in the event of a sale of less than all of
Issuer's assets, the Assigned Value shall be the sum of the price paid in
such sale for such assets and the current market value of the remaining
assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by Grantee (or by a majority in interest of the
Grantees if there shall be more than one Grantee (a "Grantee Majority")),
divided by the number of shares of the Issuer Common Stock outstanding at
the time of such sale. In the event that an exchange offer is made for the
Issuer Common Stock or an agreement is entered into for a merger or
consolidation involving consideration other than cash, the value of the
securities or other property issuable or deliverable in exchange for the
Issuer Common Stock shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking
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firm mutually selected by Grantee and Issuer (or if applicable, Acquiring
Corporation). (If there shall be more than one Grantee, any such selection
shall be made by a Grantee Majority.)
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of a share
of the Substitute Common Stock for the one-year period immediately
preceding effectiveness of the consolidation, merger, share exchange or
sale in question, but in no event higher than the closing price of the
shares of the Substitute Common Stock on the day preceding the
effectiveness of such consolidation, merger, share exchange or sale;
provided, that if Issuer is the issuer of the Substitute Option, the
Average Price shall be computed with respect to a share of common stock
issued by Issuer, the person merging into Issuer or by any company which
controls or is controlled by such merger person, as Grantee may elect.
(f) In no event pursuant to any of the foregoing sections shall the
Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of
the shares of the Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of
the Substitute Option. In the event that the Substitute Option would be
exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the shares of
Substitute Common Stock but for this clause (f), the Substitute Option
Issuer shall make a cash payment to Grantee equal to the excess of (i) the
value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the limitation in
this clause (f) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving
effect to the limitation in this clause (f). This difference in value shall
be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by Grantee (or a Grantee Majority).
(g) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (b) of this Section 7 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any
person that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the
obligations of Issuer hereunder and take all other actions that may be
necessary so that the provisions of this Section 7 are given full force and
effect (including, without limitation, any action that may be necessary so
that the shares of Substitute Common Stock are in no way distinguishable
from or have lesser economic value than other shares of common stock issued
by the Substitute Option Issuer).
(h) The provisions of Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof shall apply,
with appropriate adjustments, to any securities for which the Option
becomes exercisable pursuant to this Section 7 and, as applicable,
references in such sections to "Issuer," "Option," "Purchase Price" and
"Issuer Common Stock" shall be deemed to be references to "Substitute
Option Issuer," "Substitute Option," "Substitute Purchase Price" and
"Substitute Common Stock," respectively.
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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 12 months immediately thereafter, Issuer
shall repurchase from Holder the Option and all shares of Issuer Common Stock
purchased by Holder pursuant hereto with respect to which Holder then has
beneficial ownership. The date on which Holder exercises its rights under this
Section 8 is referred to as the "Request Date." Such repurchase shall be at an
aggregate price (the "Section 8 Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:
(i) the aggregate Purchase Price paid by Holder for any shares of
Issuer Common Stock acquired by Holder pursuant to the Option with
respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership;
(ii) the excess, if any, of (x) the Applicable Price (as defined
below) for each share of Issuer Common Stock over (y) the Purchase
Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7), multiplied by the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the
Option has not been exercised; and
(iii) the excess, if any, of the Applicable Price over the
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7) paid (or,
in the case of Option Shares with respect to which the Option has been
exercised but the Closing Date has not occurred, payable) by Holder
for each share of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the Option
has been exercised and with respect to which Holder then has
beneficial ownership, multiplied by the number of such shares.
(b) If Holder exercises its rights under this Section 8, Issuer shall,
within ten business days after the Request Date, pay the Section 8 Repurchase
Consideration to Holder in immediately available funds, and contemporaneously
with such payment Holder shall surrender to Issuer the Option and the
certificates evidencing the shares of Issuer Common Stock purchased thereunder
with respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership, and Holder shall
warrant that it has sole record and beneficial ownership of such shares and that
the same are then free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances
of any kind whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that prior
notification to or the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory
agency or authority is required in connection with the payment of all or any
portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration, Holder shall have the ongoing
option to revoke its request for repurchase pursuant to Section 8, in whole or
in part, or to require that Issuer deliver from time to time that portion of the
Section 8 Repurchase Consideration that it is not then so prohibited from paying
and promptly file the required notice or application for approval and
expeditiously process the same (and each party shall cooperate with the other in
the filing of any such notice or application and the obtaining of any such
approval), in which case the ten business day period of time that would
otherwise run pursuant to the preceding sentence for the payment of the portion
of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration shall run instead from the date on
which, as the
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case may be, any required notification period has expired or been terminated or
such approval has been obtained and, in either event, any requisite waiting
period shall have passed. If any governmental or regulatory agency or authority
disapproves of any part of Issuer's proposed repurchase pursuant to this Section
8, Issuer shall promptly give notice of such fact to Holder. If any governmental
or regulatory agency or authority prohibits the repurchase in part but not in
whole, then Holder shall have the right (i) to revoke the repurchase request or
(ii) to the extent permitted by such agency or authority, determine whether the
repurchase should apply to the Option and/or Option Shares and to what extent to
each, and Holder shall thereupon have the right to exercise the Option as to the
number of Option Shares for which the Option was exercisable at the Request Date
less the sum of the number of shares covered by the Option in respect of which
payment has been made pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) and the number of shares
covered by the portion of the Option (if any) that has been repurchased. Holder
shall notify Issuer of its determination under the preceding sentence within
five business days of receipt of notice of disapproval of the repurchase.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all of Holder's rights
under this Section 8 shall terminate on
the date of termination of this Option pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the "Applicable Price" means the
highest of (i) the highest price per share of Issuer Common Stock paid for any
such share by the person or groups described in Section 8(d)(i) hereof, (ii) the
price per share of Issuer Common Stock received by holders of Issuer Common
Stock in connection with any merger or other business combination transaction
described in Sections 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii), 7(b)(iii) or 7(b)(iv) hereof, or (iii)
the highest closing sales price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market System (or if Issuer Common Stock is not quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market System, the highest bid price per share as quoted on the
principal trading market or securities exchange on which such shares are traded
as reported by a recognized source chosen by Holder) during the 60 business days
preceding the Request Date; provided, however, that in the event of a sale of
less than all of Issuer's assets, the Applicable Price shall be the sum of the
price paid in such sale for such assets and the current market value of the
remaining assets of Issuer as determined by an independent nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by Holder and reasonably acceptable to Issuer
(which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement),
divided by the number of shares of the Issuer Common Stock outstanding at the
time of such sale. If the consideration to be offered, paid or received pursuant
to either of the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall be other than in cash, the
value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith by an independent
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Holder and reasonably
acceptable to Issuer, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes
of this Agreement.
(d) As used herein, "Repurchase Event" shall occur if (i) any person (other
than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) or "group" (as defined in the
Exchange Act) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the
then-outstanding shares
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of Issuer Common Stock, or (ii) any of the transactions described in Section
7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii), 7(b)(iii) or 7(b)(iv) shall be consummated.
9. Registration Rights.
(a) For a period of 24 months following termination of the Merger
Agreement, Issuer shall, subject to the conditions of subsection (c) below, if
requested by any Holder, including Grantee and any permitted transferee of the
Option Shares ("Selling Holder"), as expeditiously as possible prepare and file
a registration statement under the Securities Laws if necessary in order to
permit the sale or other disposition of any or all shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities that have been acquired by or are issuable to Selling Holder
upon exercise of the Option in accordance with the intended method of sale or
other disposition stated by the Selling Holder in such request, including,
without limitation, a "shelf" registration statement under Rule 415 under the
Securities Act or any successor provision, and Issuer shall use its best efforts
to qualify such shares or other securities for sale under any applicable state
securities laws.
(b) If Issuer at any time after the exercise of the Option proposes to
register any shares of Issuer Common Stock under the Securities Laws in
connection with an underwritten public offering of such Issuer Common Stock,
Issuer will promptly give written notice to Holder of its intention to do so
and, upon the written request of Holder given within 30 days after receipt of
any such notice (which request shall specify the number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock intended to be included in such underwritten public offering by
Selling Holder), Issuer will cause all such shares, the holders of which shall
have requested participation in such registration, to be so registered and
included in such underwritten public offering; provided, that Issuer may elect
to cause any such shares not to be so registered (i) if the underwriters in good
faith object for a valid business reason, or (ii) in the case of a registration
solely to implement a dividend reinvestment or similar plan, an employee benefit
plan or a registration filed on Form S-4 or any successor form, or a
registration filed on a form which does not permit registration of resales;
provided further, that such election pursuant to clause (i) may be made only one
time. If some but not all the shares of Issuer Common Stock, with respect to
which Issuer shall have received requests for registration pursuant to this
subsection (b), shall be excluded from such registration, Issuer shall make
appropriate allocation of shares to be registered among Selling Holders and any
other person (other than Issuer or any person exercising demand registration
rights in connection with such registration) who or which is permitted to
register their shares of Issuer Common Stock in connection with such
registration pro rata in the proportion that the number of shares requested to
be registered by each Selling Holder bears to the total number of shares
requested to be registered by all persons then desiring to have Issuer Common
Stock registered for sale.
(c) Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to cause each registration
statement referred to in subsection (a) above to become effective and to obtain
all consents or waivers of other parties which are required therefor and to keep
such registration statement effective; provided, that Issuer may delay any
registration of Option Shares required pursuant to subsection (a) above for a
period not exceeding 90 days in the event
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that Issuer shall in good faith determine that any such registration would
adversely affect an offering or contemplated offering of other securities by
Issuer, and Issuer shall not be required to register Option Shares under the
Securities Laws pursuant to subsection (a) above:
(i) prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event;
(ii) on more than two occasions;
(iii) more than once during any calendar year;
(iv) within 90 days after the effective date of a registration
referred to in subsection (b) above pursuant to which the Selling Holders
concerned were afforded the opportunity to register such shares under the
Securities Laws and such shares were registered as requested; and
(v) unless a request therefor is made to Issuer by Selling Holders
holding at least 25% or more of the aggregate number of Option Shares then
outstanding.
In addition to the foregoing, Issuer shall not be required to maintain the
effectiveness of any registration statement after the expiration of nine months
from the effective date of such registration statement. Issuer shall use all
reasonable efforts to make any filings, and take all steps, under all applicable
state securities laws to the extent necessary to permit the sale or other
disposition of the Option Shares so registered in accordance with the intended
method of distribution for such shares; provided, that Issuer shall not be
required to consent to general jurisdiction or qualify to do business in any
state where it is not otherwise required to so consent to such jurisdiction or
to so qualify to do business.
(d) Except where applicable state law prohibits such payments, Issuer will
pay all expenses (including without limitation registration fees, qualification
fees, blue sky fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel),
accounting expenses, legal expenses, including reasonable fees and expenses of
one counsel to the Selling Holders whose Option Shares are being registered,
printing expenses, reasonable expenses of underwriters, excluding discounts and
commissions but including liability insurance if Issuer so desires or the
underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any necessary
special experts) in connection with each registration pursuant to subsection (a)
or (b) above (including the related offerings and sales by Selling Holders) and
all other qualifications, notifications or exemptions pursuant to subsection (a)
or (b) above. Underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Option Shares
and any other expenses incurred by such Selling Holders in connection with any
such registration shall be borne by such Selling Holders.
(e) In connection with any registration under subsection (a) or (b) above
Issuer hereby indemnifies the Selling Holders, and each underwriter thereof,
including
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each person, if any, who controls such holder or underwriter within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all expenses, losses, claims,
damages and liabilities caused by any untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any registration statement or prospectus or notification or
offering circular (including any amendments or supplements thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, except insofar as such expenses, losses, claims, damages or
liabilities of such indemnified party are caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission that was included by
Issuer in any such registration statement or prospectus or notification or
offering circular (including any amendments or supplements thereto) in reliance
upon and in conformity with, information furnished in writing to Issuer by such
indemnified party expressly for use therein, and Issuer and each officer,
director and controlling person of Issuer shall be indemnified by such Selling
Holder, or by such underwriter, as the case may be, for all such expenses,
losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission that was included by Issuer in any
such registration statement or prospectus or notification or offering circular
(including any amendments or supplements thereto) in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished in writing to Issuer by such holder or
such underwriter, as the case may be, expressly for such use.
Promptly upon receipt by a party indemnified under this subsection (e) of
notice of the commencement of any action against such indemnified party in
respect of which indemnity or reimbursement may be sought against any
indemnifying party under this subsection (e), such indemnified party shall
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action, but
the failure so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it of any
liability which it may otherwise have to any indemnified party under this
subsection (e). In case notice of commencement of any such action shall be given
to the indemnifying party as above provided, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate in and, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of such
action at its own expense, with counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to such
indemnified party. The indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation)
shall be paid by the indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party agrees
to pay them, (ii) the indemnifying party fails to assume the defense of such
action with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (iii) the
indemnified party has been advised by counsel that one or more legal defenses
may be available to the indemnifying party that may be contrary to the interest
of the indemnified party, in which case the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to assume the defense of such action notwithstanding its obligation to bear fees
and expenses of such counsel. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement entered into without its consent, which consent may not be
unreasonably withheld.
If the indemnification provided, for in this subsection (e) is unavailable
to a party otherwise entitled to be indemnified in respect of any expenses,
losses, claims,
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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 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any obligation by any holder to
indemnify shall be several and not joint with other holders.
In connection with any registration pursuant to subsection (a) or (b)
above, Issuer and each Selling Holder (other than Grantee) shall enter into an
agreement containing the indemnification provisions of this subsection (e).
(f) Issuer shall comply with all reporting requirements and will do all
such other things as may be necessary to permit the expeditious sale at any time
of any Option Shares by the Selling Holders in accordance with and to the extent
permitted by any rule or regulation promulgated by the Commission from time to
time, including, without limitation, Rules 144 and 144A. Issuer shall at its
expense provide the Selling Holders with any information necessary in connection
with the completion and filing of any reports or forms required to be filed by
them under the Securities Laws, or required pursuant to any state securities
laws or the rules of any stock exchange.
(g) Issuer will pay all stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and the
sale of the Option Shares and in connection with the exercise of the Option, and
will save Holder harmless, without limitation as to time, against any and all
liabilities, with respect to all such taxes.
10. Quotation; Listing. If Issuer Common Stock or any other securities to
be acquired upon exercise of the Option are then authorized for quotation or
trading or listing on the Nasdaq National Market System or any other securities
exchange or any automated quotations system maintained by a self-regulatory
organization, Issuer will promptly file an application, if required, to
authorize for quotation or trading or listing the shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option on the Nasdaq
National Market System or any other securities exchange or any automated
quotations system maintained by a self-regulatory organization and will use its
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best efforts to obtain approval, if required, of such quotation or listing as
soon as practicable.
11. Division of Option. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) is
exchangeable, without expense, at the option of Holder, upon presentation and
surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer for other
Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling the holder
thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein
include any other Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and
the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of 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. Total Profit.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event
shall the Grantee's Total Profit (as hereinafter defined) exceed $8,717,904 (the
"Maximum Profit") and, if it otherwise would exceed such amount, the Grantee, at
its sole election, shall either (i) reduce the number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock subject to this Option, (ii) deliver to Issuer for cancellation Option
Shares previously purchased by Grantee valued at fair market value at the time
of delivery, (iii) pay cash to Issuer, (iv) increase or otherwise adjust the
Purchase Price or any portion thereof, (v) reduce the amount of the Section 8
Repurchase Consideration, or (vi) any combination thereof so that Grantee's
actually realized Total Profit shall not exceed the Maximum Profit after taking
into account the foregoing actions.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Option may
not be exercised for a number of shares as would, as of the date of exercise,
result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined below) of more than the Maximum
Profit and, if exercise of the Option would otherwise result in Notional Total
Profit in excess of such amount, Grantee in its discretion may take any of the
actions specified in Section 12(a) so that the Notional Total Profit shall not
exceed the Maximum Profit; provided, that nothing in this sentence shall
restrict any exercise of the Option permitted hereby on any subsequent date.
(c) As used herein, the term "Total Profit" shall mean the aggregate amount
(before taxes, and reduced by the aggregate value of Option Shares and cash
previously delivered to Issuer pursuant to (a)(ii) or (iii) above) of the
following: (i) the amount received by Grantee pursuant to Issuer's repurchase of
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the Option (or any portion thereof) pursuant to Section 8, (ii) the amount
received by Grantee pursuant to Issuer's repurchase of Option Shares pursuant to
Section 8, less the Grantee's purchase price for such Option Shares, (iii) the
net (after reduction for applicable commissions, fees and discounts) cash
amounts and fair market value of property received by Grantee pursuant to the
sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such Option Shares are
converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated party, less the Grantee's purchase
price for such Option Shares, (iv) any amounts received by Grantee on the
transfer of the Option (or any portion thereof) to any unaffiliated party, and
(v) any amount equivalent to the foregoing with respect to the Substitute
Option.
(d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Profit" with respect to any
number of shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise this Option shall
be the Total Profit determined as of the date of such proposed exercise assuming
that this Option were exercised on such date for such number of shares and
assuming that such shares, together with all other Option Shares held by Grantee
and its affiliates as of such date, were sold for cash at the closing market
price for the Issuer Common Stock as of the close of business on the preceding
trading day (less customary brokerage commissions).
13. Miscellaneous.
(a) Expenses. Except as otherwise provided, herein, each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants and
counsel.
(b) Waiver and Amendment. Any provision of this Agreement may be waived at
any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such provision. This
Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented except upon the
execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties hereto.
(c) Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiary; Severability. This
Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement and the other documents and
instruments referred to herein and therein, between Grantee and Issuer (a)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any person other
than the parties hereto (other than any transferees of the Option Shares or any
permitted transferee of this Agreement pursuant to Section 13(h) hereof) any
rights or remedies hereunder. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or
state governmental or regulatory agency or authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. If for any reason such court or
regulatory agency determines that the Option does not permit Holder to acquire,
or does not require Issuer to repurchase, the full number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock as provided, in Sections 3 and 8 hereof (as adjusted pursuant to
Section 7 hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow Holder to
16
acquire or to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may
be permissible without any amendment or modification hereof.
(d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina without
regard to any applicable conflicts of law rules, except to the extent that the
federal laws of the United States shall govern.
(e) Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings contained herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (with
confirmation) or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested) to the parties at the addresses set forth in the Merger Agreement (or
at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice).
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may be executed
in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been signed, it
being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.
(h) Assignment; Transfer. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder or under the Option shall be assigned or
transferred by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party, except that
Grantee may assign this Agreement to a wholly owned subsidiary of Grantee and
Grantee may assign or transfer its rights hereunder in whole or in part after
the occurrence of a Purchase Event. In the case of any permitted assignment or
transfer of the Option, Issuer shall do all things necessary to facilitate the
same, and the Holder to whom the Option is assigned or transferred shall make
the representations contained in Section 6 hereof (with Holder substituted for
Grantee) and shall agree in writing to the terms and conditions hereof. Subject
to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.
(i) Further Assurances. In the event of any exercise of the Option by
Holder, Issuer and Holder shall execute and deliver all other documents and
instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably necessary in order
to consummate the transactions provided for by such exercise.
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(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.
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