AGREEMENT OF MERGER DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 27, 2007 among PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. and TRADERS BANKSHARES, INC.
Exhibit
10.1
AGREEMENT
OF MERGER
DATED
AS OF NOVEMBER 27, 2007
among
PREMIER
FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
and
TRADERS
BANKSHARES, INC.
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
Section 1. | Merger | |
1.1
|
General
Effect of Merger; Assets
|
2
|
1.2
|
Liabilities
of Surviving Company
|
2
|
1.3
|
Name,
Directors and Officers of Surviving Company
|
2
|
1.4
|
Offices,
Policies of Surviving Company
|
3
|
1.5
|
Capital
Structure of Surviving Company
|
3
|
1.6
|
Change
in Method of Effecting Acquisition
|
3
|
Section 2. | Conversion, Exchange and Cancellation of Shares |
|
2.1
|
General
|
4
|
2.2
|
Stock
Consideration and Cash Consideration
|
4
|
2.3
|
Manner
of Exchange
|
4
|
2.4
|
Fractional
Shares
|
5
|
2.5
|
Lost
Certificates
|
5
|
Section
3.
|
Representations,
Warrantis and Covenants of Premier
|
|
3.1
|
Organization,
Standing and Authority
|
6
|
3.2
|
Capital
Structure
|
6
|
3.3
|
Premier
Subsidiaries
|
7
|
3.4
|
Authority
|
8
|
3.5
|
Premier
Financial Statements
|
8
|
3.6
|
Allowance
for Possible Loan Losses
|
9
|
3.7
|
Accuracy
of Annual Reports
|
9
|
3.8
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
9
|
3.9
|
Tax
Matters
|
9
|
3.10
|
Loans
|
10
|
3.11
|
Properties
|
10
|
3.12
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
10
|
3.13
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
11
|
3.14
|
Commitments
and Contracts
|
11
|
3.15
|
Labor
|
12
|
3.16
|
Material
Contracts Furnished
|
12
|
3.17
|
Material
Contracts
|
12
|
3.18
|
Material
Contract Defaults
|
12
|
3.19
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
13
|
3.20
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
13
|
3.21
|
Reports
|
13
|
3.22
|
Investments
|
13
|
ii
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
3.23
|
Securities
Portfolio
|
13
|
3.24
|
Environmental
Matters
|
14
|
3.25
|
Accuracy
of Proxy Statement
|
14
|
3.26
|
Interim
Bank Formation; Adoption Agreement
|
14
|
3.27
|
Filing
of Application to Merge
|
14
|
3.28
|
Best
Efforts
|
14
|
3.29
|
Conduct
of Business - Acquisitions
|
15
|
3.30
|
Conduct
of Business - Affirmative Covenants of Premier
|
15
|
Section
4.
|
Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of Traders
|
|
4.1
|
Organization,
Standing and Authority
|
16
|
4.2
|
Capital
Structure
|
16
|
4.3
|
Subsidiary
|
16
|
4.4
|
Authority
|
16
|
4.5
|
Traders
Financial Statements
|
17
|
4.6
|
Accuracy
of Annual Reports
|
17
|
4.7
|
Allowance
for Possible Loan Losses
|
17
|
4.8
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
17
|
4.9
|
Tax
Matters
|
18
|
4.10
|
Loans
|
19
|
4.11
|
Properties
|
19
|
4.12
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
19
|
4.13
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
19
|
4.14
|
Commitments
and Contracts
|
20
|
4.15
|
Labor
|
21
|
4.16
|
Material
Contracts Furnished
|
21
|
4.17
|
Material
Contracts
|
21
|
4.18
|
Material
Contract Defaults
|
21
|
4.19
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
21
|
4.20
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
22
|
4.21
|
Reports
|
22
|
4.22
|
Accuracy
of Proxy Statement
|
22
|
4.23
|
Investments
|
22
|
4.24
|
Securities
Portfolio
|
22
|
4.25
|
Environmental
Matters
|
22
|
4.26
|
Best
Efforts
|
23
|
4.27
|
Conduct
of Business – Negative Covenants of Traders
|
23
|
4.28
|
Conduct
of Business – Affirmative Covenants of Traders
|
24
|
4.29 | CEO/CFO Certification Checklist | 26 |
4.30 | Branch Operations Certification | 26 |
4.31 | Termination of "Trade-In Your Mortgage" Program | 26 |
iii
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
5.
|
Indemnification
and Confidentiality
|
|
5.1
|
Access
and Information
|
27
|
5.2
|
Furnishing
Information and Indemnification
|
27
|
5.3
|
Confidentiality
|
28
|
5.4
|
Updates
to Information
|
28
|
Section
6.
|
Conditions
Precedent
|
|
(a)
|
Governmental
Approvals
|
29
|
(b)
|
Shareholder
Approval
|
29
|
(c)
|
Registration
Statement
|
29
|
(d)
|
Affiliates
|
29
|
(e)
|
No
Divestiture or Adverse Condition
|
30
|
(f)
|
Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations
and
Covenants - Premier
|
30
|
(g)
|
Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations
and
Covenants – Traders
|
30
|
(h)
|
Opinion
of Counsel for Traders
|
30
|
(i)
|
Opinion
of Counsel for Premier
|
32
|
(j)
|
Less
than 20% Dissenters
|
33
|
(k)
|
Tax
Ruling or Opinion Letter
|
34
|
(l)
|
Absence
of Material Adverse Changes - Premier
|
34
|
(m)
|
Absence
of Material Adverse Changes – Traders
|
34
|
(n) | Consent of Lenders | 34 |
(o) | Financing | 35 |
(p) | No Excess Parachute Payment | 35 |
(q) | Fairness Opinion | 35 |
Section
7.
|
Closing
Date and Effective Time
|
|
7.1
|
Closing
Date
|
36
|
7.2
|
Effective
Time
|
36
|
Section
8.
|
Termination
of Agreement
|
|
8.1
|
Grounds
for Termination
|
37
|
8.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
38
|
8.3
|
Lost
Opportunity Costs
|
38
|
8.4
|
Return
of Information
|
39
|
Section
9.
|
Waiver
and Amendment
|
40
|
Section
10.
|
Meeting
of Shareholders of Traders
|
41
|
Section
11.
|
Rights
of Dissenting Shareholders
|
42
|
iv
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
12.
|
Indemnification
|
|
12.1
|
Indemnification
|
43
|
12.2
|
Insurance
|
43
|
12.3
|
Consolidation
or Merger
|
43
|
12.4
|
Survival
|
43
|
12.5 | Regulatory Constraints | 43 |
Section
13.
|
Operations
after the Closing Date
|
|
13.1 | Maintenance of Existence | 44 |
13.2
|
Employees
of Traders
|
44
|
13.3
|
Severance
|
45
|
13.4
|
Survival
|
46
|
Section
14.
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
14.1
|
Public
Announcements
|
46
|
14.2
|
Brokers
and Finders
|
46
|
14.3
|
Disclosed
In Writing
|
46
|
14.4
|
Entire
Agreement
|
46
|
14.5
|
Counterparts
|
46
|
14.6
|
Invalid
Provisions
|
46
|
14.7
|
Notices
|
46
|
14.8
|
Headings
|
47
|
14.9
|
Expenses
|
47
|
14.10
|
Governing
Law
|
47
|
14.11
|
No
Assignment
|
47
|
14.12
|
Effectiveness
of Agreement
|
47
|
14.13
|
Further
Acts
|
48
|
14.14
|
Representations
and Warranties Not to Survive
|
48
|
14.15
|
Individual
Directors
|
48
|
v
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
AGREEMENT
OF MERGER
THIS
AGREEMENT OF MERGER (hereinafter
sometimes referred to as the "Agreement”), made and entered into as of the
27th day of
November, 2007, by and between PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INC. (“Premier”) and
TRADERS BANKSHARES, INC. (“Traders”), and its directors, or a majority of
them;
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
Premier is a corporation duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
and a registered bank holding company, with its principal office and place
of
business located in the City of Huntington, County of Xxxxxx and State of West
Virginia, with authorized capital stock consisting of 10,000,000 common shares,
no par value per share (“Premier Common Stock”), of which 5,237,899 shares are
currently outstanding and 1,000,000 preferred shares, no par value per share,
none of which are currently outstanding (“Premier Preferred Stock”);
and
WHEREAS,
Traders is a corporation duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of West Virginia
and
a registered bank holding company, with its principal office and place of
business located in Xxxxxxx, County of Xxxxx, State of West Virginia, with
authorized capital stock consisting of 360,000 common shares, par value $5.00
(“Traders Common Stock”), of which 180,000 are currently outstanding;
and
WHEREAS,
Premier and Traders have
agreed to the merger of Traders with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Premier, to be organized under the laws of the State of West Virginia, so
that upon consummation of the merger Traders will be a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Premier; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of
Premier has approved this agreement and has authorized the execution hereof
in
counterparts; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of
Traders has approved this agreement, authorized the execution hereof in
counterparts, and directed that it be submitted to its shareholders for
approval, ratification and confirmation; and
WHEREAS,
Premier has agreed to cause a
new West Virginia corporation to be organized which shall be named TBI
Acquisition Company, or such other name as Premier may determine (“Interim
Company”), with its principal office and place of business to be located in
Xxxxxxx, County of Xxxxx, State of West Virginia, and all shares of its capital
stock to be owned by Premier; and
WHEREAS,
Premier has agreed to cause
Interim Company to approve this Agreement and authorize the execution of an
Adoption Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as “Exhibit A”
which is incorporated herein by reference.
1
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the
foregoing premises, which are not mere recitals but an integral part hereof,
and
in consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
Section
1. Merger
1.1 General
Effect of Merger; Assets. At the Effective Time (hereinafter
defined in Section 7.2) and subject to the terms and conditions hereof and
of
the attendant Plan of Merger (“Plan of Merger”) attached hereto as “Exhibit B”,
Traders shall merge with and into Interim Company (the “Merger”) under the
charter of Interim Company pursuant to the provisions of and with the effect
provided in the West Virginia Business Corporation Act, Chapter
31D. Interim Company shall be (and is hereinafter called when
reference is made to it at and after the consummation of the Merger) the
“Surviving Company”. At the Effective Time of the Merger, the
corporate existence of Traders shall, as provided in the West Virginia Business
Corporation Act, Chapter 31D, Article 11 of the West Virginia Code, be merged
with and into Interim Company and continued in the Surviving Company and the
separate existence of Traders shall cease. The Surviving Company
shall thereupon and thereafter possess all of the rights, privileges, immunities
and franchises, of a public as well as of a private nature, of the Interim
Company and Traders; and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts
due on whatever account, including subscriptions to shares, if any, and all
other choses in action, and all and every other interest of or belonging to
or
due to the Interim Company and Traders, and each of them, shall be deemed to
be
transferred to and vested in the Surviving Company without further act or deed;
and the title to any real estate, or any interest therein, vested in the Interim
Company and Traders and each of them, before the Merger, shall not revert or
in
any way be impaired by reason of the Merger.
1.2 Liabilities
of Surviving Company. From and after the Effective Time of the
Merger, the Surviving Company shall be liable for all liabilities of Traders
and
Interim Company and all deposits, debts, liabilities, obligations and contracts
of Traders and Interim Company, respectively, matured or unmatured, whether
accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether or not reflected or
reserved against on balance sheets, books of account or records of Traders
or
Interim Company, as the case may be, shall be those of and are hereby expressly
assumed by the Surviving Company and shall not be released or impaired by the
Merger, and all rights of creditors and other obligees and all liens on property
of either Traders or Interim Company shall be preserved unimpaired, and the
Surviving Company shall have all rights and shall be liable for all obligations
of Traders under all employee benefit plans and arrangements of Traders and
such
plans and related trusts shall continue in effect without any interruption
or
termination unless and until changed as therein or by law provided or permitted
or as mutually agreed to by the parties hereto.
1.3 Name,
Directors and Officers of Surviving Company. From and after the
Effective Time, the name of the Surviving Company shall be “Traders Bankshares,
Inc.”. The Articles of Incorporation and the By-laws of Interim
Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (which shall be
substantially the same as the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of Traders)
shall be the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Company
until changed as therein or by law provided. Until changed by the
shareholder or Board of Directors of Surviving Company, as the case may be,
the
directors and officers of the Surviving Company at the Effective Time shall
be
those persons who are directors and officers respectively of Traders immediately
before the Effective Time. The committees of the Board of Directors
of the Surviving Company at the Effective Time shall be the same as and shall
be
composed of the same persons who are serving on committees appointed by the
Board of Directors of Traders as they exist immediately before the Effective
Time. The committees of officers of the Surviving Company at the
Effective Time shall be the same as and shall be composed of the same officers
who are serving on the committees of officers of Traders as they exist
immediately before the Effective Time.
2
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
1.4 Offices,
Policies of Surviving Company. Until changed by the Board of
Directors of the Surviving Company, from and after the Effective Time, the
business and location of the Surviving Company shall be the same as that of
Traders. Unless contrary to law, all corporate acts, plans, policies,
applications, agreements, loan commitments, orders, registrations, licenses,
approvals and authorizations of Traders and Interim Company, their respective
shareholders, boards of directors, committees elected or appointed by their
boards of directors, officers and agents, which were valid and effective
immediately before the Effective Time shall be taken for all purposes at and
after the Effective Time as the acts, plans, policies, applications, agreements,
orders, registrations, licenses, approvals, and authorizations of Surviving
Company and shall be effective and binding thereon as the same were with respect
to Traders and Interim Company immediately before the Effective
Time.
1.5 Capital
Structure of Surviving Company. The capital structure of the
Surviving Company shall be the same as the capital structure of Interim
Company.
1.6 Change
in Method of Effecting Acquisition. Premier may at any time prior
to the Effective Time change the method of effecting the combination with
Traders (including, without limitation, the provisions of this Section 1 if
and
to the extent it deems such change to be necessary, appropriate or desirable;
however, that no such change shall (i) cause the approval of the stockholders
of
Premier to be required as a condition to the Merger, (ii) alter or change the
amount or kind of Merger Consideration (as hereinafter defined), or the relative
proportions of cash and Premier Common Stock included therein, (iii) adversely
affect the tax treatment of Traders’ stockholders as a result of receiving the
Merger Consideration or (iv) materially impede or delay consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and provided further, that Premier
shall provide Traders prior written notice of such change and the reasons
therefore.
3
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
2. Conversion, Exchange and Cancellation of
Shares
2.1 General. The
manner of converting and exchanging Traders Common Stock, all of which is
represented by outstanding share certificates, into Premier Common Stock and
cash shall be as hereinafter provided in this Section 2.
2.2 Stock
Consideration and Cash Consideration.
(a) Each
holder of a share of Traders Common Stock (other than those shares of Traders
Common Stock for which appraisal rights have been perfected pursuant to the
West Virginia Business Corporation Act), shall receive in respect thereof,
subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, (i) 3.75 shares of
Premier Common Stock (the “Stock Consideration”) and (ii) $50.00 cash, without
interest (the “Cash Consideration”). The Cash Consideration and the
Stock Consideration are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Merger
Consideration.”
(b) Outstanding
Premier Stock. Each share of Premier Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain issued and
outstanding and unaffected by the Merger.
(c) Treasury
Shares. Each share of Traders Common Stock held as Treasury Stock
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and retired at the
Effective Time and no consideration shall be issued in exchange
therefore.
(d) Merger
Sub. Each share of capital stock of Interim Company issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding
and
unaffected by the Merger, and no consideration shall be issued in exchange
therefor.
2.3 Manner
of Exchange. After the Effective Time of the Merger, except
for persons exercising their rights as dissenting shareholders of Traders,
each
holder of a certificate theretofore evidencing outstanding shares of Traders
Common Stock, upon surrender of such certificate, accompanied by a Letter of
Transmittal, to Premier shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a
certificate or certificates representing the number of full shares of Premier
Common Stock for which shares of Traders Common Stock theretofore represented
by
the certificate or certificates so surrendered shall have been exchanged as
provided in this Section 2, plus cash as provided in Section 2.2(a), without
interest. Until so surrendered, each outstanding certificate which,
prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, represented Traders Common Stock
will
be deemed to evidence the right to receive the Cash Consideration (without
interest) plus the number of full shares of Premier Common Stock into which
the
shares of Traders Common Stock represented thereby may be converted, and will
be
deemed for all corporate purposes of Premier to evidence ownership of the number
of full shares of Premier Common Stock and Cash Consideration into which the
shares of Traders Common Stock represented thereby were
converted. Until such outstanding certificates formerly representing
Traders Common Stock are surrendered, no dividend payable to holders of record
of Premier Common Stock for any period as of any date subsequent to the
Effective Time of the Merger shall be paid to the holder of such outstanding
certificates in respect thereof and no interest will be paid on the Cash
Consideration. After the Effective Time of the Merger there shall be
no further registry of transfers on the records of Traders of shares of Traders
Common Stock. Upon surrender of certificates of Traders Common Stock
for exchange for Premier Common Stock, there shall be paid to the record holder
of the certificates of Premier Common Stock issued in exchange therefor (i)
the
Cash Consideration, (ii) the amount of dividends theretofore paid with respect
to such full shares of Premier Common Stock as of any date subsequent to the
Effective Time of the Merger which have not yet been paid to a public official
pursuant to abandoned property laws and (iii) at the appropriate payment date
the amount of dividends with a record date after the Effective Time of the
Merger, but prior to surrender and a payment date subsequent to
surrender. No interest shall be payable with respect to such
dividends or Cash Consideration upon surrender of outstanding
certificates.
4
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
2.4 Fractional
Shares. Premier will not issue fractional shares or fractional
share certificates, but in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares will pay
cash, without interest, to any Traders shareholder otherwise entitled to receive
such fractional shares. The amount of such cash payment will be
determined by multiplying the fractional share interest to which a Traders
shareholder would otherwise be entitled by the volume-weighted average of the
closing price of Premier Common Stock for the five trading days ending with
the
fifth business day before the Effective Time. Payment for fractional
shares will be made with respect to each shareholder at the time such
shareholder’s certificates of Traders Common Stock are exchanged.
2.5 Lost
Certificates. If a certificate evidencing outstanding shares of
Traders Common Stock is lost, stolen or destroyed, the registered owner thereof
shall be entitled to receive the Premier certificate and cash,
without interest, to which he would otherwise be entitled on exchange of such
certificate, by notifying Premier in writing of such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate and giving Premier evidence of loss and a bond sufficient to
indemnify Premier against any claim that may be made against it on account
of
the alleged lost, stolen and destroyed certificate and the issuance of the
certificate and cash.
5
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
3. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of Premier
Except
as disclosed in writing, Premier
hereby represents and warrants to and covenants with Traders that:
3.1 Organization,
Standing and Authority. Premier is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, and is a duly registered bank holding company under
the provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended. Premier has the corporate power to execute and deliver this
Agreement, and has taken all action required by law, its Articles of
Incorporation, its By-laws or otherwise, to authorize such execution and
delivery, the Merger and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and this Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of Premier in
accordance with its terms. No action of Premier’s shareholders is or
will be required to approve this Agreement or the Merger. At the
Effective Time, Premier will have corporate power to carry on its business
as
then to be conducted and will be qualified to do business in every jurisdiction
in which the character and location of the assets to be owned by it or the
nature of the business to be transacted by it require
qualification.
3.2 Capital
Structure. The authorized capital stock of Premier consists of
10,000,000 shares of Premier Common Stock, of which 5,237,899 shares are
currently issued and outstanding and 1,000,000 shares of Premier Preferred
Stock, none of which are currently issued and outstanding. All of
such shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Premier does not have
any other shares of Premier Common Stock or Premier Preferred Stock or any
other
capital stock issued or outstanding. Premier does not have any
outstanding subscriptions, options or other agreements or commitments obligating
it to issue shares of its capital stock except that (i) Premier has
reserved 511,000 shares of Premier Common Stock to be issued upon the exercise
of stock options granted to certain Premier employees and (ii) Premier has
entered into or will enter into an Agreement of Merger with Citizens First
Bank,
Inc., a West Virginia state banking corporation (“Citizens First”) in which
Premier intends to purchase each of Citizens First 400,000 shares of common
stock for the following consideration: (x) 1.20 shares of Premier Common Stock
and (y) an amount of cash, without interest, determined by taking the
volume-weighted average of the closing price of Premier Common Stock for the
five (5) trading days ending with the fifth business day before the effective
time of Premier/Citizens First merger multiplied by 1.20 and subtracting that
sum from $29.25. In no event, however, shall the cash to be paid per
share of Citizens First exceed $13.25.
As
of September 30, 2007 152,417 option grants for Premier Common Stock were
outstanding, of which 85,764 were immediately exercisable. Neither
the holders of Premier Common Stock or Premier Preferred Stock have any
preemptive rights with respect to the issuance of additional authorized shares
of Premier Common Stock. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or
impair the ability and right of Premier to increase its authorized capital
stock, or issue or agree to commit to issue additional shares of its capital
stock, and any increase in authorized capital stock, or issuance, or agreement
or commitment to issue, additional shares of Premier Common Stock (other than
an
issuance, or agreement or commitment to issue, resulting from a stock dividend,
stock split, or reverse stock split) shall not alter or affect the Merger
Consideration set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.
6
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
3.3 Premier
Subsidiaries. At the date of this Agreement, Premier has five (5)
state bank subsidiaries, and one (1) non-banking/non-holding company subsidiary,
as follows:
(a) Premier
State Banks:
Citizens
Deposit Bank and Trust,
Inc.;
Farmers
Deposit Bank, Eminence,
Kentucky;
Ohio
River Bank, Inc.;
First
Central Bank, Inc.;
and
Xxxxx
County Bank, Inc.
hereinafter
referred to as “Premier State Banks”.
(b) Premier
has one (1) non-bank/non-bank holding company subsidiary:
Mt.
Xxxxxx Financial Holdings,
Inc.
hereinafter
referred to as the “Premier Non-Bank Subsidiary”.
The
Premier State Banks and Premier
Non-Bank Subsidiary are hereinafter jointly referred to as the “Premier
Subsidiaries”.
Except
for the Premier State Banks and
Premier Non-Bank Subsidiary, Premier has no subsidiaries.
Each
of the Premier State Banks is a
banking corporation, duly organized, validly existing under the laws of either
the State of West Virginia or Ohio, or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and has
the
corporate power and is duly authorized to own all of its properties and assets
and to carry on its business as is now being conducted. The Premier
Non-Bank Subsidiary is a corporation, validly existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, and has the corporate power and is duly authorized
to
own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as is now
being conducted. Premier owns all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of each of the Premier Subsidiaries, free and clear of any liens,
claims, security interest, encumbrances, charges or rights of third parties
of
any kind whatsoever, except that (i) all Premier’s 100% interest in Xxxxx County
Bank is pledged as collateral for a $7,000,000 loan from First Guaranty Bank
of
Hammond, Louisiana and (ii) all of Premier’s 100% interest in Farmers Deposit
Bank and Citizens Deposit Bank are pledged as collateral for a $6,500,000 loan
and a $3,500,000 line of credit from The Bankers’ Bank of Kentucky, Inc. of
Frankfort, Kentucky.
As
stated above, Premier has previously
entered into or intends to enter into an agreement to acquire Citizens
First. Citizens First is a state banking corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of West
Virginia. The authorized capital stock of Citizens First Bank
consists of 750,000 shares of common stock, of which 400,000 shares are issued
and outstanding.
7
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Nothing
in this Agreement shall prohibit or impair the ability and right of Premier
or
any Premier Subsidiary to create or acquire, or agree to create or acquire,
any
other subsidiaries or entities or to acquire, consolidate or merge with any
other company, corporation, bank or banking association, or to acquire or
establish any branch prior to the Effective Time.
3.4 Authority. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
Merger and transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate any provision
of
the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of Premier, or any provision of, or
result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any material mortgage,
deed
of trust, note, lien, lease, franchise, license, permit, agreement, instrument,
order, arbitration award, judgment, injunction or decree, or result in the
termination of any material license, franchise, lease, or permit to which
Premier is a party or by which it is bound, and will not violate or conflict
with any other material restriction of any kind or character to which Premier
is
subject.
3.5 Premier
Financial Statements. Premier has delivered to Traders prior to
the execution of this Agreement copies of the following financial statements
of
Premier (which, together with all future financial statements to be furnished
are collectively referred to herein as the “Premier Financial Statements”): the
audited Consolidated Balance Sheets of Premier as of December 31, 2006, December
31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and the related Consolidated Statements of
Income, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and of Consolidated Statements
of
Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years then ended, and the notes
thereto. The Premier Financial Statements (as of the dates thereof
and for the periods covered thereby):
(a) are
in accordance with the books and records of Premier, which are complete and
correct in all material respects that are required by generally accepted
accounting principles (except as otherwise required or approved by applicable
regulatory authorities or by applicable law) and which have been maintained
in
accordance with good business practices; and
(b) present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of
operations and cash flows of Premier as of the dates and for the periods
indicated, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except
as otherwise required or approved by applicable regulatory authorities or by
applicable law), applied on a basis consistent with prior years, and do not
fail
to disclose any material extraordinary or out-of-period items.
Premier’s
unaudited Balance Sheet and
the related unaudited Statement of Income and Statement of Changes in Cash
Flows, for the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2007, and for each calendar
quarter thereafter until the Effective Time, all of which Premier shall deliver
to Traders as soon as practicable, will be prepared in accordance with
accounting principals consistently applied and will fairly present Premier’s
financial condition and results of operations as of such date and for such
period, except for footnote disclosures, which generally do not include all
of
the disclosures normally required for annual financial statements.
8
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
3.6 Allowance
for Possible Loan Losses. The allowance for possible loan losses
shown on the Consolidated Balance Sheet of Premier as of December 31, 2006, and
September 30, 2007, has been established and is adequate in all material
respects under the requirements of generally accepted accounting principles
to
provide for possible losses, net of recoveries relating to loans previously
charged off, on loans outstanding (including accrued interest receivable) as
of
December 31, 2006.
3.7 Accuracy
of Annual Reports. The annual report of Premier to its
shareholders for the years 2006, 2005 and 2004 heretofore delivered to Traders
do not contain as of the dates thereof any untrue statement of material fact
or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
3.8 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities. At December 31, 2006, and September
30, 2007, none of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries had any obligation or
liability (contingent or otherwise) which was material, or which when combined
with all similar obligations or liabilities would have been material, to Premier
(i) except as disclosed in the Premier Financial Statements or as disclosed
to
Traders in writing and (ii) except, in the case of any of the Premier Banks,
for
unfunded loan commitments made in the ordinary course of their respective
businesses and consistent with generally accepted banking practices; nor does
there exist a set of circumstances resulting from transactions effected or
events occurring on or prior to December 31, 2006, or from any action omitted
to
be taken during such period that, to the knowledge of Premier, could reasonably
be expected to result in any such material obligation or liability, except
as
previously disclosed to Traders in writing, or as disclosed or provided for
in
the Premier Financial Statements. The amounts set up as liabilities
for taxes in the Premier Financial Statements are sufficient for the payment
of
all respective taxes (including, without limitation, federal, state, local
and
foreign excise, franchise, property, payroll, income, capital stock and sales
and use taxes) accrued in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and unpaid at December 31, 2006. Since December 31, 2006,
none of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries has incurred or paid any obligation
or liability which would be material (on a consolidated basis) to Premier,
except for obligations incurred or paid in connection with transactions by
it in
the ordinary course of its business consistent with generally accepted banking
practices and except as disclosed herein.
3.9 Tax
Matters.
(a) All
federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, (including, without limitation,
estimated tax returns, withholding tax returns with respect to employees, and
FICA and FUTA returns) required to be filed by or on behalf of any of Premier
or
the Premier Subsidiaries have been timely filed or requests for extensions
have
been timely filed, granted and have not expired and all returns filed are
complete and accurate to the best information and belief of Premier
management. All taxes shown on filed returns have been
paid. As of the date hereof, and as of the Effective Time, there is
no audit examination, deficiency or refund litigation or matter in controversy
with respect to any taxes that might result in a determination adverse to any
of
Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries, except as reserved against in the Premier
Financial Statements, or as previously disclosed to Traders in
writing. Except as disclosed by Premier in writing, all taxes,
interest, additions and penalties due with respect to completed and settled
examinations or concluded litigation have been paid.
9
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(b) None
of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries has executed an extension or waiver
of
any statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any tax due that
is currently in effect.
(c) To
the extent any federal, state, local or foreign taxes are due from any of
Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries for the period or periods beginning January
1, 2007, or thereafter through and including the Effective Time, adequate
provision on an estimated basis has been or will be made for the payment of
such
taxes by establishment of appropriate tax liability accounts on the last monthly
financial statements of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries prepared before
the
Effective Time.
(d) Deferred
taxes of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries have been provided for in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
3.10 Loans. Except
as previously disclosed to Traders in writing or as disclosed or provided for
in
the Premier Financial Statements, to the best knowledge and belief of its
management, each loan reflected as an asset of any Premier Bank in the Premier
Financial Statements as of December 31, 2006, or acquired since that date,
is
the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor named therein,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, was made in the ordinary course of
business, was not known to be uncollectible at the time it was made and was
made
in accordance with the standard loan policies of such lending bank, and no
loan
having an unpaid balance (principal and accrued interest) in excess of
$500,000.00 is subject to any asserted defense, offset or counterclaim known
to
Premier.
3.11 Properties. Except
as previously disclosed to Traders in writing, or disclosed in the Premier
Financial Statements, Premier and the Premier Subsidiaries have good and
marketable title, free and clear of all material liens, encumbrances, charges,
defaults or equities of whatever character, to all of the respective properties
and assets, tangible or intangible, whether real, personal or mixed, reflected
in the Premier Financial Statements as being owned by them at December 31,
2006
or acquired by them after December 31, 2006. To the best knowledge
and belief of Premier management, all buildings, and all fixtures, equipment
and
other property and assets which in the opinion of management are material to
its
business on a consolidated basis, held under leases or subleases by any of
Premier and the Premier Subsidiaries, as the case may be, are held under valid
instruments enforceable in accordance with their respective terms (except as
previously disclosed in writing to Traders and except as enforceability may
be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and
except that the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance
or
injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any
proceedings may be brought).
3.12 Compliance
with Laws. Premier and each of the respective Premier
Subsidiaries, to Premier’s best knowledge and belief:
10
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(a) is
in compliance with all laws, regulations, reporting and licensing requirements
and orders applicable to its business or any of its employees (because of such
employee’s activities on behalf of it), the breach or violation of which could
have a material adverse effect on such business; and
(b) has
received no notification (not previously disclosed to Traders in writing) from
any agency or department of federal, state or local government or regulatory
authorities or the staff thereof asserting that any such entity is not in
compliance with any of the statutes, regulations, rules or ordinances which
such
governmental authority or regulatory authority enforces, or threatening to
revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization, and is
subject to no agreement with any regulatory authorities with respect to its
assets or business.
3.13 Employee
Benefit Plans. With respect to any plan or arrangement of Premier
or any Premier Subsidiary which constitutes an employee benefit within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended (“ERISA”):
(a) All
“employee benefit plans”, as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, which cover one
or more employees employed by any of Premier or any Premier Subsidiary (each
individually, a “Plan”, and collectively, the “Plans”) comply in all material
respects with ERISA and, where applicable for tax-qualified or tax-favored
treatment, with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As of December 31,
2006, none of Premier or any Premier Subsidiary had any material liability
under
any Plan that is not reflected on the audited statements of financial condition
of Premier or the unaudited balance sheets of the Premier Subsidiaries, as
of
such date, or in the notes thereto (other than such normally unrecorded
liabilities under the Plans for sick leave, holiday, education, bonus, vacation,
incentive compensation and anniversary awards, provided that such liabilities
are not in any event material). Neither the Plans nor any trustee or
administrator thereof has engaged in a “prohibited transaction” within the
meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or, where applicable, Section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for which no exemption is applicable, nor have
there been any “reportable events” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA
for which the 30-day notice therefor has not been waived.
(b) No
litigation is pending against any Plan or plan fiduciary seeking the payment
of
benefits or alleging a breach of trust or fiduciary duty by any plan
fiduciary.
(c) Neither
Premier nor any Premier Subsidiary is a party to any multiemployer pension
plan
as defined in Section 414(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and Section
3(37) of ERISA.
3.14 Commitments
and Contracts. Neither Premier nor any Premier Subsidiary
is a party or subject to any of the following (whether written or oral, express
or implied):
(i) any
employment contract or understanding (including any understandings or
obligations with respect to severance or termination pay liabilities or fringe
benefits) with any present or former officer, director, employee or
consultant;
11
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(ii) any
plan, contract or understanding providing for bonuses, pensions, options,
deferred compensation, retirement payments, profit sharing or similar
understandings with respect to any present or former officer, director or
consultant;
(iii) any
contract or agreement with any labor union;
(iv) any
contract not made in the ordinary course of business containing covenants
limiting the freedom of Premier or any Premier Subsidiary to compete in any
line
of business or with any person or involving any restriction of the area in
which, or method by which, Premier or any Premier Subsidiary will carry on
its
business (other than as may be required by law or applicable regulatory
authorities).
3.15 Labor. No
work stoppage involving Premier or any Premier Subsidiary is pending or, to
the
best Premier’s knowledge, threatened. Neither Premier nor any Premier
Subsidiary is involved in, or threatened with or affected by, any labor dispute,
arbitration, lawsuit or administrative proceeding which could materially and
adversely affect the business of Premier or any Premier
Subsidiary. Employees of Premier or any Premier Subsidiary are not
represented by any labor union nor are any collective bargaining agreements
otherwise in effect with respect to such employees.
3.16 Material
Contracts Furnished. Premier has made available to Traders true
and complete copies of all material contracts, leases and other agreements
to
which Premier or any Premier Subsidiary are parties or by which they are bound
and of all employment, pension, retirement, stock option, profit sharing and
deferred compensation, consultant, bonus, group insurance or similar plans
with
respect to any of the directors, officers, or other employees of Premier or
any
Premier Subsidiary.
3.17 Material
Contracts. Except as previously disclosed to Traders in writing
and except as is otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of Premier or the
Premier Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective assets, businesses or
operations is, as of the date hereof, a party to, or is bound or affected by,
or
receives benefits under, (i) any material agreement, arrangement or commitment
not cancellable by it without penalty, other than agreements, arrangements
or
commitments entered into in the ordinary course of its business and negotiated
on an arms-length basis, or (ii) any material agreement, arrangement or
commitment relating to the employment, election or retention in office of any
director or officer other than agreements, arrangements or commitments entered
into in the ordinary course of its business and negotiated on an arms-length
basis.
3.18 Material
Contract Defaults. None of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries is
in default in any material respect under any material contract, agreement,
commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument to which
it
is a party or by which its respective assets, business or operations may be
bound or affected or under which it or its respective assets, business or
operations receive benefits, and there has not occurred any event which with
the
lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute such a default,
except as previously disclosed to Traders in writing.
12
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
3.19 Legal
Proceedings. Except as previously disclosed by Premier to Traders
in writing, there are no actions, suits or proceedings instituted or pending,
or
to the best knowledge of Premier, threatened (or unasserted but considered
probable of assertion and which if asserted would have at least a reasonable
probability of an unfavorable outcome), including eminent domain proceedings,
against or relating to any of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries, respectively,
or against any property, asset, interest or right of any of them, that could
have a material and adverse effect on the condition (financial or other, present
or prospective), business, properties, assets, operations, liabilities or
prospects of Premier or any of the Premier Subsidiaries, respectively, or that
threaten or would impede the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement. None of Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries is a
party to any agreement or instrument or is subject to any charter or other
corporate restriction or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, stay, decree,
rule, regulation, code or ordinance that threatens or might impede the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.20 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2006, none of
Premier or the Premier Subsidiaries has: (i) incurred any material
liability, except in the ordinary course of its business, and except as
permitted pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) suffered any material adverse change
in its business, operations, assets or condition (financial or other); or (iii)
failed to operate its business consistent with generally acceptable banking
practice.
3.21 Reports. Since
January 1, 2006, each of Premier and the Premier Subsidiaries has filed all
reports and statements, together with any amendments required to be made with
respect thereto, which they were required to file with: (i) the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Forms 10-K,
Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and proxy statements; (ii) the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System; (iii) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency;
(iv) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (v) the West Virginia Department
of Banking; (vi) the Kentucky Office of Financial Institutions; (vii) the Ohio
Department of Banking; and (viii) any other governmental agency or regulatory
authority having jurisdiction over its operations. Each of such
reports and documents, including the financial statements, exhibits and
schedules thereto, and each other document delivered to Traders by Premier
does
not contain any statement which, at the time and in the light of the
circumstances under which it was made, is false or misleading with respect
to
any material fact or which omits to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements contained therein not false or misleading.
3.22 Investments. Except
as incurred in the ordinary course of business as heretofore conducted or as
previously disclosed to Traders in writing, all securities owned by Premier
and
the Premier Subsidiaries of record and beneficially are free and clear of all
mortgages, liens, pledges and encumbrances. Any securities owned of
record by Premier and the Premier Subsidiaries in an amount equal to 5% or
more
of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the issuer have been
previously disclosed to Traders in writing. There are no voting
trusts or other agreements or undertakings with respect to the voting of such
securities.
3.23 Securities
Portfolio. Since December 31, 2006, there have been
no significant changes in the quality of Premier’s or any of the Premier Banks’
portfolios of securities except as previously disclosed to Traders in
writing.
13
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
3.24 Environmental
Matters. To the knowledge of Premier, neither Premier nor any
Premier Subsidiary nor any properties owned or operated by Premier or any
Premier Subsidiary has been or is in violation of or liable under any
Environmental Law (as hereinafter defined). There are no actions,
suits or proceedings, or demands, claims, notices or investigations (including,
without limitation notices, demand letters or requests for information from
any
environmental agency) instituted or pending, or to the best knowledge of
Premier’s management, threatened relating to the liability of any properties
owned or operated by Premier or any Premier Subsidiary under any Environmental
Law. “Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign
law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization,
approval, consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or agreement with any
regulatory authority relating to (i) the protection, preservation or restoration
of the environment (including, without limitation, air, water vapor, surface
water, ground water, drinking water supply, surface soil, sub-surface soil,
plant and animal life or any other natural resource) and/or (ii) the use,
storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling,
labeling, production, release or disposal of any substance presently listed,
defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous,
or otherwise regulated, whether by type or by quantity, including any material
containing any such substance as a component.
3.25 Accuracy
of Proxy Statement. The material which refers to Premier and
which will be submitted by Premier for inclusion in the proxy statement referred
to in Section 10 hereof, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, mailed
to
the holders of Traders Common Stock will not contain any untrue statements
of
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading.
3.26 Interim
Company Formation; Adoption Agreement. Premier at its sole cost
and expense shall cause to be organized Interim Company as a West Virginia
corporation and shall cause Interim Company to execute and enter into an
Adoption Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as “Exhibit A” and
a Plan of Merger in substantially the form annexed hereto as “Exhibit B” and
cause Interim Company to take such action as is provided in this Agreement
or in
said Adoption Agreement or Plan of Merger upon Interim Company’s part to be
taken. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, Premier will own all
of the issued and outstanding shares of Interim Company’s capital
stock.
3.27 Filing
of Application to Merge. Premier at its sole cost and expense
shall cause to be filed with the Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, West Virginia Board of Banking and Financial Institutions
and the Kentucky Office of Financial Institutions an application to merge
Traders and Interim Company, and shall cause Interim Company to take such action
as is provided in this Agreement upon Interim Company’s part to be
taken.
3.28 Best
Efforts. On or prior to the Closing Date (hereinafter defined in
Section 7.1 hereof), Premier will, to the extent permitted by applicable laws,
rules and regulations, take such actions, and execute and deliver all such
agreements, documents, certificates or amendments to this Agreement as may
be
necessary or desirable to effectuate the provisions and intent of this
Agreement.
14
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
3.29 Conduct
of Business - Acquisitions. Premier and Traders have agreed in
principle that continued growth of Premier through the acquisition of, or
consolidation or merger with, one or more banks or bank holding companies,
and
the payment of cash, the issuance of additional shares of Premier, or both,
as
consideration therefor, all upon proper terms and conditions, will inure to
the
benefit of Premier and to Traders in the event the Merger is
effected. Traders has agreed that in the event the Merger is
effected, such contemplated actions will inure to the benefit of Traders as
well
as to Premier, and has generally approved, in principle, such acts. Traders
hereby consents to, and agrees that Premier, without obtaining any further
consent or approval of Traders, may acquire, consolidate or merge with any
other
company, corporation, bank or banking association, or acquire any assets of
any
other company, corporation, bank or banking association, and no agreement to
issue Premier Common Stock or issuance thereof in connection with any such
act
shall alter or affect the Merger Consideration set forth in Section 2.2
hereof.
3.30 Conduct
of Business - Affirmative Covenants of Premier. Premier covenants
and agrees that:
(a) Subsequent
to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, Premier and
the
Premier Subsidiaries will operate their respective businesses only in the normal
course and manner.
(b) Immediately
upon the execution of this Agreement, Premier will direct its accountants to
give Traders access to all information, documents and working papers pertaining
to Premier;
(c) From
and after the execution of this Agreement, Premier will promptly advise Traders
of any material adverse change in its or any Premier Subsidiary’s respective
financial conditions, assets, business operations or key personnel and of any
material breach of any representation or warranty made by Premier in this
Agreement;
(d) Subsequent
to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time Premier shall
maintain in full force and effect adequate fire, casualty, public liability,
employee fidelity and other insurance coverage in effect on the date of this
Agreement in order to protect Premier against losses for which insurance
protection can reasonably be obtained;
(e) Premier
will use its best efforts in good faith to take or cause to be taken all actions
required under this Agreement on its part to be taken as promptly as practicable
so as to permit the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby at the earliest possible date and cooperate fully with Traders to that
end.
15
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
4. Representations, Warranties and Covenants
of Traders.
Traders
hereby represents and warrants
to and covenants with Premier that:
4.1 Organization,
Standing and Authority. Traders is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of West
Virginia, and is a duly registered, and is a duly registered bank holding
company under the provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended. Traders has the corporate power to execute and deliver this
Agreement, and has taken all action required by law, its Articles of
Incorporation, its By-laws or otherwise, to authorize such execution and
delivery, the Merger and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and this Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of Traders in
accordance with its terms, subject only to the requirement of ratification,
confirmation and approval by Traders’ shareholders. At the Effective
Time, Traders and its subsidiary bank will have corporate power to carry on
its
business as then to be conducted and will be qualified to do business in every
jurisdiction in which the character and location of the assets to be owned
by it
or the nature of the business to be transacted by it require
qualification.
4.2 Capital
Structure. The authorized capital stock of Traders consists of
360,000 shares of Traders Common Stock, par value of $5.00 per share, of which
180,000 shares are issued and outstanding. Traders does not have any
subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, or other agreements or commitments,
of
any kind relating to or obligating it to issue any shares of its capital
stock. Further, there are no securities outstanding which are
convertible into capital stock of Traders. None of the shares of
Traders Common Stock has been issued in violation of any preemptive rights
of
shareholders.
4.3 Subsidiary. Traders
has one subsidiary: Traders Bank, Inc. (hereinafter the “Traders’
Subsidiary Bank”). Traders will not organize or acquire any other
subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time of the Merger without the written
consent of the President of Premier.
The
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is a
banking corporation, duly organized, validly existing under the laws of the
State of West Virginia, and has the corporate power and is duly authorized
to
own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as is now
being conducted. Traders owns all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, free and clear of any liens,
claims, security interest, encumbrances, charges or rights of third parties
of
any kind whatsoever.
4.4 Authority. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
Merger and transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate any provision
of
the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of Traders, or any provision of, or
result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any material mortgage,
deed
of trust, note, lien, lease, franchise, license, permit, agreement, instrument,
order, arbitration award, judgment, injunction or decree, or result in the
termination of any material license, franchise, lease, or permit to which
Traders is a party or by which it is bound, and will not violate or conflict
with any other material restriction of any kind or character to which Traders
is
subject.
16
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
4.5 Traders
Financial Statements. Traders has delivered to Premier prior to
the execution of this Agreement copies of the following financial statements
of
Traders (which, together with all future financial statements to be furnished
are collectively referred to herein as the “Traders Financial
Statements”): the audited Consolidated Balance Sheets of Traders as
of December 31, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and the related
Consolidated Statements of Income, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years then
ended, and the notes thereto. The Traders Financial Statements (as of
the dates thereof and for the periods covered thereby):
(a) are
in accordance with the books and records of Traders, which are complete and
correct in all material respects that are required by generally accepted
accounting principles (except as otherwise required or approved by applicable
regulatory authorities or by applicable law) and which have been maintained
in
accordance with good business practice; and
(b) present
fairly the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of
Traders as of the dates and for the periods indicated, in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles (except as otherwise required or
approved by applicable regulatory authorities or by applicable law), applied
on
a basis consistent with prior years, and do not fail to disclose any material
extraordinary or out-of-period items.
Traders’
unaudited
Consolidated Balance
Sheet and the related unaudited Consolidated Statement of Income and
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, for the calendar
quarter ending September 30, 2007, and for each calendar quarter thereafter
until the Effective Time, all of which Traders shall deliver to Premier as
soon
as practicable, will be prepared in accordance with accounting principles
consistently applied and will fairly present Traders’ financial condition and
results of operations as of such date and for such period, except for footnote
disclosures, which generally do not include all of the disclosures normally
required for annual financial statements.
4.6 Accuracy
of Annual Reports. Traders’ annual reports to its shareholders
for the years 2006 and 2005 heretofore delivered to Premier do not contain
as of
the dates thereof any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
4.7 Allowance
for Possible Loan Losses. The allowances for possible loan losses
shown on the Consolidated Balance Sheet of Traders and Traders Subsidiary Bank
as of December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2007, have been established and are
adequate in all material respects under the requirements of generally accepted
accounting principles to provide for possible losses, net of recoveries relating
to loans previously charged off, on loans outstanding (including accrued
interest receivable) as of December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2007,
respectively.
4.8 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities. At December 31, 2006 and
September 30, 2007, neither Traders nor the Traders’ Bank Subsidiary
had any obligation or liability (contingent or otherwise) which was material,
or
which when combined with all similar obligations or liabilities would have
been
material, to Traders (i) except as disclosed in the Traders Financial Statements
or as previously disclosed to Premier in writing; and (ii) except, in the case
of Traders’ Subsidiary Bank any unfunded loan commitments made in the ordinary
course of its business and consistent with generally accepted banking practices;
nor does there exist a set of circumstances resulting from transactions effected
or events occurring on or prior to December 31, 2006, or from any action omitted
to be taken during such period that, to the knowledge of Traders, could
reasonably be expected to result in any such material obligation or liability,
except as previously disclosed to Premier in writing, or as disclosed or
provided for in the Traders Financial Statements. The amounts set up
as liabilities for taxes in the Traders Financial Statements are sufficient
for
the payment of all respective taxes (including, without limitation, federal,
state, local and foreign excise, franchise, property, payroll, income, capital
stock and sales and use taxes) accrued in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and unpaid at December 31, 2006 and September 30,
2007. Since December 31, 2006, neither Traders nor Traders’
Subsidiary Bank has incurred or paid any obligation or liability which would
be
material to Traders, except for obligations incurred or paid in connection
with
transactions by it in the ordinary course of its business consistent with
generally accepted banking practices and except as disclosed
herein.
17
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
4.9 Tax
Matters.
(a) All
federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, (including, without limitation,
estimated tax returns, withholding tax returns with respect to employees, and
FICA and FUTA returns) required to be filed by or on behalf of Traders or
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank have been timely filed or requests for extensions have
been timely filed, granted and have not expired and all returns filed are
complete and accurate to the best information and belief of Traders
management. All taxes shown on filed returns have been
paid. As of the date hereof, and as of the Effective Time, there is
no audit examination, deficiency or refund litigation or matter in controversy
with respect to any taxes that might result in a determination adverse to
Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, except as reserved against in the Traders
Financial Statements, or as previously disclosed to Premier in
writing. All taxes, interest, additions and penalties due with
respect to completed and settled examinations or concluded litigation have
been
paid.
(b) Neither
Traders nor the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank has executed an extension or waiver of
any statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any tax due that
is currently in effect.
(c) To
the extent any federal, state, local or foreign taxes are due from Traders
or
the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank for the period or periods beginning January 1,
2007, or thereafter through and including the Effective Time, adequate provision
on an estimated basis has been or will be made for the payment of such taxes
by
establishment of appropriate tax liability accounts on the last monthly
financial statements of Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, prepared before
the Effective Time.
(d) Deferred
taxes of Traders and the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank have been provided for in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
18
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
4.10 Loans. Except
as previously disclosed to Premier in writing or as disclosed or provided for
in
Traders’ Financial Statements, to the best knowledge and belief of its
management, each loan reflected as an asset of Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary
Bank in the Traders Financial Statements as of December 31, 2006, or acquired
since that date, is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor
named
therein, enforceable in accordance with its terms, was made in the ordinary
course of business, was not known to be uncollectible at the time it was made
and was made in accordance with the standard loan policies of such lending
bank,
and no loan having an unpaid balance (principal and accrued interest) in excess
of $50,000.00 is subject to any asserted defense, offset or counterclaim known
to Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary Bank.
4.11 Properties. Except
as previously disclosed to Premier in writing or disclosed in the Traders
Financial Statements, Traders and the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank have good and
marketable title, free and clear of all material liens, encumbrances, charges,
defaults or equities of whatever character, to all of the respective properties
and assets, tangible or intangible, whether real, personal or mixed, reflected
in the Traders Financial Statements as being owned by it at December 31, 2006
or
acquired by it after December 31, 2006. To the best knowledge and
belief of Traders, all buildings, and all fixtures, equipment and other property
and assets which in the opinion of management are material to its business,
held
under leases or subleases by Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank are held
under valid instruments enforceable in accordance with their respective terms
(except as previously disclosed in writing to Premier and except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement
of
creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of the equitable
remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion
of the court before which any proceedings may be brought).
4.12 Compliance
with Laws. Except as previously disclosed in writing to
Premier, Traders and the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, to Traders’ best knowledge
and belief:
(a) is
in compliance with all laws, regulations, reporting and licensing requirements
and orders applicable to its business or any of its employees (because of such
employee’s activities on behalf of it), the breach or violation of which could
have a material adverse effect on such business; and
(b) has
received no notification (not previously disclosed to Premier in writing) from
any agency or department of federal, state or local government or regulatory
authorities or the staff thereof asserting that any such entity is not in
compliance with any of the statutes, regulations, rules or ordinances which
such
governmental authority or regulatory authority enforces, or threatening to
revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization, and is
subject to no agreement with any regulatory authorities with respect to its
assets or business.
4.13 Employee
Benefit Plans. Except as previously disclosed in writing to
Premier, with respect to any plan or arrangement of Traders or Traders’
Subsidiary Bank which constitutes an employee benefit plan within the meaning
of
Section 3(3) of ERISA:
19
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(a) Except
for liabilities to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation pursuant to Section
4007 of ERISA, all of which have been fully paid, and except for liabilities
to
the Internal Revenue Service under Section 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code
of
1954, if any, all of which have been fully paid, neither Traders nor Traders’
Subsidiary Bank has any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
or
to the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any pension plan qualified
under
Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
(b) All
“employee benefit plans”, as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, which cover one
or more employees employed by Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary Bank (each
individually, a “Plan”, and collectively, the “Plan”) comply in all material
respects with ERISA and, where applicable for tax-qualified or tax-favored
treatment, with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As of December 31,
2006, no material liability under any Plan that is not reflected in the Traders
Financial Statements (other than such normally unrecorded liabilities under
the
Plans for sick leave, holiday, education, bonus, vacation, incentive
compensation and anniversary awards, provided that such liabilities are not
in
any event material). Neither the Plans nor any trustee or
administrator thereof has engaged in a “prohibited transaction” within the
meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or, where applicable, Section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for which no exemption is applicable, nor have
there been any “reportable events” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA
for which the 30-day notice therefor has not been waived.
(c) No
litigation is pending against any plan or plan fiduciary seeking the payment
of
benefits or alleging a breach of trust or fiduciary duty by any plan
fiduciary.
(d) Neither
Traders nor the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is a party to any multiemployer pension
plan as defined in Section 414(f) of the Code and Section 3(37) of
ERISA.
4.14 Commitments
and Contracts. Except as previously disclosed in writing to
Premier, neither Traders nor the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is a party or subject
to any of the following (whether written or oral, express or
implied):
(i) any
employment contract or understanding (including any understandings or
obligations with respect to severance or termination pay liabilities or fringe
benefits) with any present or former officer, director, employee or consultant
(other than those which are terminable at will not involve in excess of $25,000
per year);
(ii) any
plan, contract or understanding providing for bonuses, pensions, options,
deferred compensation, retirement payments, profit sharing or similar
understandings with respect to any present or former officer, director or
consultant involving in excess of $25,000 per year;
(iii) any
contract or agreement with any labor union;
(iv) any
contract not made in the ordinary course of business containing covenants
limiting the freedom of Traders to compete in any line of business or with
any
person or involving any restriction of the area in which, or method by which,
Traders will carry on its business (other than as may be required by law or
applicable regulatory authorities);
20
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(v) any
lease with annual rental payments aggregating $50,000 or more.
4.15 Labor. No
work stoppage involving Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is pending or, to
the best of Traders’ knowledge, threatened. Neither Traders nor
Traders Subsidiary Bank is involved in, or threatened with or affected by,
any
labor dispute, arbitration, lawsuit or administrative proceeding which could
materially and adversely affect the business of Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary
Bank. Employees of Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank are not
represented by any labor union nor are any collective bargaining agreements
otherwise in effect with respect to such employees.
4.16 Material
Contracts Furnished. Traders has made available to Premier true
and complete copies of all material contracts, leases and other agreements
to
which Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is a party or by which it is bound
and of all employment, pension, retirement, stock option, profit sharing,
deferred compensation, consultant, bonus, group insurance, or similar plans
with
respect to any of the directors, officers, or other employees of Traders or
the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank.
4.17 Material
Contracts. Except as previously disclosed to Premier in writing
and except as is otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Traders nor
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank or any of their respective assets, businesses or
operations is, as of the date hereof, a party to, or is bound or affected by,
or
receives benefits under, (i) any material agreement, arrangement or commitment
not cancellable by it without penalty, other than agreements, arrangements
or
commitments entered into in the ordinary course of its business and negotiated
on an arms-length basis, or (ii) any material agreement, arrangement or
commitment relating to the employment, election or retention in office of any
director or officer other than agreements, arrangements or commitments entered
into in the ordinary course of its business and negotiated on an arms-length
basis.
4.18 Material
Contract Defaults. Neither Traders nor the Traders’ Subsidiary
Bank is in default in any material respect under any material contract,
agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument
to which it is a party or by which its respective assets, business or operations
may be bound or affected or under which it or its respective assets, business
or
operations receive benefits, and there has not occurred any event which with
the
lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute such a default,
except as previously disclosed to Premier in writing.
4.19 Legal
Proceedings. Except as previously disclosed to Premier by Traders
in writing, there are no actions, suits or proceedings instituted or pending,
or
to the best knowledge of Traders threatened (or unasserted but considered
probable of assertion and which if asserted would have at least a reasonable
probability of an unfavorable outcome), including eminent domain proceedings,
against or relating to Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, or against any
property, asset, interest or right of Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank,
that could have a material and adverse effect on the condition (financial or
other, present or prospective), business, properties, assets, operations,
liabilities or prospects of Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, or that
threaten or would impede the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement. Neither Traders nor the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is a
party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other
corporate restriction or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, stay, decree,
rule, regulation, code or ordinance that threatens or might impede the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
21
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
4.20 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2006, neither
Traders nor the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank has: (i) incurred any
material liability, except in the ordinary course of its business, consistent
with generally acceptable banking practice and except as permitted pursuant
to
this Agreement; (ii) suffered any material adverse change in its business,
operations, assets or condition (financial or other); or (iii) failed to operate
its business consistent with generally acceptable banking practice.
4.21 Reports. Since
January 1, 2006, Traders and the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank has filed all reports
and statements, together with any amendments required to be made with respect
thereto, which it was required to file with: (i) the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (ii) the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation; (iii) the West Virginia Department of Banking; and (iv) any other
governmental agency or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over its
operations. Each of such reports and documents, including the
financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, and each other document
delivered to Premier by Traders does not contain any statement which, at the
time and in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, is false
or
misleading with respect to any material fact or which omits to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not
false or misleading.
4.22 Accuracy
of Proxy Statement. The material which refers to Traders and the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank and which will be submitted by Traders for inclusion in
the proxy statement referred to in Section 10 hereof, or in any amendment or
supplement thereto, mailed to the holders of Traders Common Stock will not
contain any untrue statements of material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein not misleading.
4.23 Investments. Except
as incurred in the ordinary course of business as heretofore conducted or as
previously disclosed to Premier in writing, all securities owned by Traders
and
the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank of record and beneficially are free and clear of
all mortgages, liens, pledges and encumbrances. Any securities owned
of record by Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank in an amount equal to 5% or
more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the issuer have been
previously disclosed to Premier in writing. There are no voting
trusts or other agreements or undertakings with respect to the voting of such
securities.
4.24 Securities
Portfolio. Since December 31, 2006, there have been no
significant changes in the quality of the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank’s portfolio
of securities except as previously disclosed to Premier in writing.
4.25 Environmental
Matters. To the knowledge of Traders, neither Traders nor the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank nor any properties owned or operated by Traders or the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank has been or is in violation of or liable under any
Environmental Law (as hereinafter defined). There are no actions,
suits or proceedings, or demands, claims, notices or investigations (including,
without limitation notices, demand letters or requests for information from
any
environmental agency) instituted or pending, or the best knowledge of Traders’
management, threatened relating to the liability of any properties owned or
operated by Traders’ or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank under any Environmental
Law. “Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign
law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization,
approval, consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or agreement with any
regulatory authority relating to (i) the protection, preservation or restoration
of the environment (including, without limitation, air, water vapor, surface
water, ground water, drinking water supply, surface soil, subsurface soil,
plant
and animal life or any other natural resource) and/or (ii) the use, storage,
recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling,
labeling, production, release or disposal of any substance presently listed,
defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous,
or otherwise regulated, whether by type or by quantity, including any material
containing any such substance as a component.
22
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
4.26 Best
Efforts. On or prior to the Closing Date (hereinafter defined),
Traders will, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations,
take such actions and execute and deliver all such agreements, documents,
certificates or amendments to this Agreement as may be necessary or desirable
to
effectuate the provisions and intent of this Agreement.
4.27 Conduct
of Business - Negative Covenants of Traders. Except as otherwise
contemplated hereby, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, or the
time
when this Agreement terminates as provided herein, Traders will not, without
the
prior written approval of the President of Premier:
(a) Make
any change in its authorized capital stock.
(b) Issue
any shares of its capital stock, securities convertible into its capital stock,
or any long term debt securities.
(c) Issue
or grant any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase shares of its common
stock.
(d) Declare
or pay any dividends or other distributions on any shares of common stock,
except for regular quarterly dividends not to exceed Twenty-Five Cents ($0.25)
per share.
(e) Purchase
or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire for a consideration any share of
Traders Common Stock (other than in a fiduciary capacity).
(f) Except
as otherwise contemplated herein, enter into or amend any employment, pension,
retirement, stock option, profit sharing, deferred compensation, consultant,
bonus, group insurance, or similar plan in respect of any of its directors,
officers, or other employees, or increase the current level of contributions
to
any such plan now in effect.
23
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(g) Take
any action materially and adversely affecting this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or the financial condition (present or prospective),
businesses, properties, or operations of Traders or the Traders Subsidiary
Bank.
(h) Acquire,
consolidate or merge with any other company, corporation, bank or banking
association, or acquire, other than in the ordinary course of business, any
assets of any other company, corporation, bank, or banking
association.
(i) Mortgage,
pledge, or subject to a lien or any other encumbrance, any of its assets,
dispose of any of its assets, incur or cancel any debts or claims, or increase
the current level of compensation or benefits payable to its officers, employees
or directors except in the ordinary course of business as heretofore conducted
or take any other action not in the ordinary course of their business as
heretofore conducted or incur any material obligation or enter into any material
contract.
(j) Amend
its Articles of Incorporation or Association, By-laws or Charter.
(k) Take
any action to solicit, initiate, encourage, or authorize any person, including
directors, officers and other employees, to solicit from any third party any
inquiries or proposals relating to the disposition of the business or assets
of
Traders, or the acquisition of their Traders Common Stock, or the merger of
Traders with any person other than Premier, and Traders shall promptly notify
Premier orally of all the relevant details relating to all inquiries and
proposals which it may receive relating to any of such
matters. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or affect the
fiduciary obligation of Traders’ officers and directors to Traders
shareholders.
4.28 Conduct
of Business - Affirmative Covenants of Traders. Traders covenants
and agrees that:
(a) It
will promptly advise Premier in writing of the name and address of and number
of
shares of Traders Common Stock held by each shareholder who elects to exercise
his, her or its rights to appraisal in connection with the Merger pursuant
to
the West Virginia Business Corporation Act.
(b) Except
as specifically required herein, subsequent to the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Effective Time it will operate its business only in the normal
course and manner.
(c) It
will make available to Premier for review prior to Traders or Traders’
Subsidiary Bank’s final loan approval, any loan documentation, credit
memorandums or other related documentation requested or received by Traders
or
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank in its decision making process in determining whether
to extend credit to any borrower for:
|
(1)
|
Any
new loan, or renewal of an existing loan, that totals $200,000 or
greater;
or
|
|
(2)
|
Any
new loan, or renewal of an existing loan, which, when included with
all
other loans from Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary Bank to any such borrower
and their related interests, would cause such borrower’s total loans from
Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, including loans from Traders or
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank to their related interests, to exceed
$400,000.
|
24
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Any
objections by Premier to proposed loans reviewed hereunder will be made in
writing to Traders’ Subsidiary Bank within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt by
Premier of the information provided hereunder.
(d) From
and after the execution of this Agreement, Traders will promptly advise Premier
of any material adverse change in the financial condition, assets, business
operations or key personnel of Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank and of
any material breach of any representation or warranty made by Traders or the
Traders Subsidiary Bank in this Agreement.
(e) Immediately
upon the execution of this Agreement, it will direct its accountants to give
Premier access to all information, documents and working papers pertaining
to
Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank.
(f) Subsequent
to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, Traders and
the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank shall maintain in full force and effect adequate fire,
casualty, public liability, employee fidelity and other insurance coverage
in
effect on the date of this Agreement in order to protect Traders and the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank against losses for which insurance protection can
reasonably be obtained.
(g) Within
ten days from the execution of this Agreement, Traders shall furnish to Premier
a list, accurate as of the close of business on a date not more than ten (10)
days prior to the date on which such list is furnished, containing the names
and
addresses of all holders of Traders Common Stock as the same appear on the
stock
registration books of Traders and the number of shares held by
each. At the Effective Time, Traders shall furnish to Premier a list,
true, correct and complete as of the close of business on the preceding day,
containing the names and addresses of all holders of Traders Common Stock as
the
same appear on Traders’ stock registration books and the number of shares held
by each.
(h) It
will use its best efforts in good faith to take or cause to be taken all action
required under this Agreement on its part to be taken as promptly as practicable
so as to permit the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby at the earliest possible date and cooperate fully with Premier to that
end.
(i) Subsequent
to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, Traders and
the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank shall take all steps necessary and appropriate
to:
|
(1)
|
Terminate
pursuant to the terms thereof any and all employment contracts to
which
either Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is a
party.
|
|
(2)
|
Terminate
any defined benefit plan to which either Traders or the Traders’
Subsidiary Bank is a party; provided, however, that if all
appropriate steps are taken for termination and the defined benefit
plan
is frozen, the actual termination of any defined benefit plan need
not be
accomplished prior to, or at,
Closing.
|
|
(3)
|
Terminate
any and all deferred compensation plans to which either Traders or
the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank is a party; provided, however, that
liability for accrued but unpaid deferred compensation shall remain
on the
balance sheet of Traders.
|
|
(4)
|
Terminate
any and all employee “carve-out life insurance” benefit
plans.
|
25
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Premier
acknowledges and agrees that termination of the employee benefit plans, as
required by this section, will require the payment of cash and/or other
consideration to affected employees, in accordance with the terms thereof and
applicable law.
(j) Promptly
advise Premier prior to the institution of any new mortgage program by Traders’
Subsidiary Bank.
4.29 CEO/CFO
Certification Checklist. The CEO/CFO Certification
checklist completed by Traders prior to the execution of this Agreement is
true
and correct in all respects and a new true and accurate CEO/CFO Certification
checklist will be executed prior to the Effective Date.
4.30 Branch
Operations Certification. The Branch Operations
Certification for each branch of Traders’ Subsidiary Bank completed prior to the
execution of this Agreement is true and correct in all respects and a new true
and accurate Branch Operations Certification for each branch will be executed
prior to the Effective Date.
4.31 ”Trade-In
Your Mortgage” Program. Traders’ Subsidiary Bank has ceased
offering the 5.99% APR “Trade-In Your Mortgage” program.
26
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
5. Indemnification and
Confidentiality
5.1 Access
and Information. Traders and Premier shall each afford to the
other, and to the other’s accountants, counsel and other representatives, full
access during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Closing
Date to all of its properties, books, contracts, commitments and records
(including but not limited to tax returns), and, during such period, each shall
furnish promptly to the other (i) a copy of each report, schedule and other
document filed or received by it pursuant to the requirements of federal or
state securities and banking laws and (ii) all other information concerning
its
business, properties and personnel as such other party may reasonably request,
provided that no investigation pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall affect any
representations or warranties or the conditions to the obligations of the
parties to consummate the Merger.
5.2 Furnishing
Information and Indemnification. Premier and the Premier
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Traders and the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, on
the other hand, have furnished or will furnish as soon as practicable after
the
date of this Agreement, to each other all the information (including financial
statements, information and schedules) concerning themselves required for
inclusion in:
(a) any
applications to be filed by any of Premier or Traders with the Federal Reserve
Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Kentucky Office of
Financial Institutions and the West Virginia Board of Banking and Financial
Institutions;
(b) the
registration statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on behalf of under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Merger
and
the proxy statement to solicit the approval of Traders shareholders to the
Merger, and any documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection therewith;
(c) any
filings to be made by Premier with state securities authorities in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereunder; and
(d) any
other request, application, statement, report or material to be made or filed
by
any party to or with any regulatory authority or any governmental agency,
department or instrumentality in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
Premier
represents and warrants to
Traders, and Traders represents and warrants to Premier, that all information
so
furnished for such requests, statements, applications, reports and materials
shall be true and correct in all material respects without omission of any
material fact required to be stated to make the information therein not false
or
misleading. Premier will indemnify and hold harmless Traders and
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, and Traders will indemnify and hold harmless Premier
and each of the Premier Subsidiaries, and each of their respective directors
and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls such entities within the meaning
of the Securities Act of 1933, from and against any and all losses, damages,
expenses or liabilities to which such entity, or any such director, officer
or
controlling person may become subject under applicable laws (including the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and rules and
regulations thereunder and will reimburse the other, and any such director,
officer or controlling person, for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any actions, whether
or
not resulting in liability, insofar as such losses, damages, expenses,
liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such request,
statement, application, report or material or arise out of or are based upon
the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, but only insofar as any such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing in
connection therewith by such indemnifying party for use therein.
27
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
5.3 Confidentiality. It
is hereby agreed that, except (i) as otherwise required in the performance
by
the parties of their respective obligations hereunder or under the Merger and
(ii) as otherwise required by law, any non-public information received from
the other party during the course of the investigation contemplated pursuant
hereto shall remain and be kept as confidential information by it and all copies
thereof will be returned promptly at the request of the party furnishing such
information in the event of the termination of this Agreement and the
Merger. Each of the parties may disclose such information to its
respective employees, affiliates, counsel, accountants, representatives,
professional advisors and consultants, and shall require each of them to agree
to keep all such information confidential.
5.4 Updates
to Information. At the reasonable request of any party hereto,
any other party will update by amendment or supplement any disclosure made
in
writing by such party to the other party and each party hereby represents and
warrants that such written disclosures, as so amended or supplemented, shall
be
true, correct and complete as of the date or dates thereof.
28
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
6. Conditions Precedent
The
consummation of this Agreement and
the Merger is conditioned upon the following:
(a) Governmental
Approvals. The approval of and consent to the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall have been given prior to the Effective
Time by the regulatory agencies whose approval or consent is required,
including, without limitation, to the extent provided by applicable laws, rules
and regulations, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Kentucky Office of Financial
Institutions, the West Virginia Board of Banking and Financial Institutions
and
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and all notice periods, waiting periods
delay periods and all periods for review, objection or appeal of or to any
of
the consents, approvals, or permissions required by law with respect to the
consummation of the Merger and this Agreement shall have
expired. Such approvals shall not be conditioned or restricted in a
manner which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of Premier, materially
adversely affects the economic assumptions of the transactions contemplated
hereby so as to render inadvisable consummation of the Merger.
(b) Shareholder
Approval. The shareholders of Traders and Interim Company shall
have ratified, confirmed and approved this Agreement and the terms and
conditions herein contained by the affirmative vote of shareholders of each
such
corporation, owning at least a majority of its capital stock outstanding, and
final approval of this Agreement shall have taken place as provided in Section
10 hereof, and all provisions of Section 10 shall have been fully complied
with.
(c) Registration
Statement. Premier at its sole cost and expense shall have
prepared and filed an effective registration statement on Form S-4 or on such
other appropriate form as may be prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and as Premier may reasonably be able to prepare and file, providing
timely registration under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of the Premier Common Stock to be exchanged in connection with the
Merger, and a prospectus shall have been delivered to all shareholders of
Traders prior to obtaining the approval of this Agreement by such shareholders
as provided in Section 10, which prospectus may be the same document or part
of
the same document to the extent permitted by the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission as the proxy statement referred to in Section
10, or in the alternative, Premier shall have received an opinion of its counsel
that registration of such shares under the Securities Act of 1933 is not
required. The Registration Statement shall be effective and all
post-effective amendments filed by Premier with respect to such registration
statement shall have been declared effective or shall have been withdrawn and
no
stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and
no
proceedings for that purpose shall, before the Effective Time, have been
initiated nor, to the knowledge of Premier, threatened by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(d) Affiliates. Traders
agrees to deliver to Premier a letter identifying all persons whom it believes
to be, at the time the Merger is submitted to a vote of Traders stockholders,
“affiliates” of Traders, for purposes of Rule 145 or Rule 144 (as applicable)
under the Securities Act of 1933, and shall use its best efforts to cause each
person who is identified as an “affiliate” in such letter to deliver to Premier
prior to the Closing Date a written agreement providing that such person will
agree not to sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of the shares of
Premier Common Stock to be received by such person in the Merger except in
compliance with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and
the
rules and regulations thereunder.
29
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(e) No
Divestiture or Adverse Condition. The approvals, consents and
permissions referred to in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) hereof shall not
have
required the divestiture or cessation of any significant part of the present
operations conducted by Premier, Traders or any Premier Subsidiary, and shall
not have imposed any other condition, which divestiture, cessation or condition
Premier deems to be materially disadvantageous or burdensome.
(f) Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations and Covenants
-
Premier. Unless waived by Traders, the representations and
warranties of Premier contained in this Agreement shall be correct on and as
of
the Closing Date and thereafter until the Effective Time in all material
respects with the same effect as though made on and as of such Effective Time
except for changes which are not in the aggregate material and adverse to the
financial condition, businesses, properties, or operations of Premier and
Premier shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations
and
agreements hereunder theretofore to be performed by it and Traders shall have
received on the Closing Date an appropriate certificate (in affidavit form)
to
the foregoing effect dated as of the Closing Date and executed on behalf of
Premier by one or more appropriate executive officers of Premier.
(g) Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations and Covenants
-
Traders. Unless waived by Premier, the representations and
warranties of Traders contained in this Agreement shall be correct on and as
of
the Closing Date and thereafter until the Effective Time with the same effect
as
though made on and as of such Effective Time except for changes which are not
in
the aggregate material and adverse to the financial condition, businesses,
properties or operations of Traders, and Traders shall have performed in all
material respects all of its obligations and agreements hereunder theretofore
to
be performed by it and Premier shall have received on the Closing Date an
appropriate certificate (in affidavit form) to the foregoing effect dated as
of
the Closing Date and executed on behalf of Traders by one or more appropriate
executive officers of Traders.
(h) Opinion
of Counsel for Traders. Premier shall have received an opinion of
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, PLLC, counsel for Traders, dated the Closing Date, with respect
to such matters as Premier may reasonably request and to the effect
that:
|
(1)
|
Traders
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of West Virginia, is a bank holding company
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and is duly authorized
to own
its properties and to conduct its business as then being
conducted.
|
|
(2)
|
Traders’
Subsidiary Bank is a banking corporation validly existing and in
good
standing under the laws of the State of West Virginia and is duly
authorized to own its properties and to conduct its business as then
being
conducted.
|
30
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
|
(3)
|
The
authorized capitalization of Traders is as set forth in such opinion
and
the shares of Traders Common Stock issued and outstanding (as of
a date
specified in such opinion not more than 5 days prior to the date
of such
opinion) are as stated in such opinion. Such issued and
outstanding shares of stock are validly issued, fully paid and were
not
issued in violation of any preemptive rights of the shareholders
of
Traders. As of such date, there are, to the best of such
counsel’s knowledge, no options, warrants, rights, commitments or
convertible securities outstanding or authorized on behalf of Traders,
calling for the purchase from it of shares of unissued capital stock
or
capital stock held as treasury
shares.
|
|
(4)
|
Traders
had the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its
obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by Traders and constitutes the
legal,
valid and binding obligation of Traders, enforceable in accordance
with
its terms.
|
|
(5)
|
All
necessary corporate proceedings of the board of directors and the
shareholders of Traders, to the extent required by law, its Articles
of
Incorporation and Bylaws or otherwise, to authorize the execution
and
delivery of this Agreement by Traders and the consummation of the
Merger
by Traders pursuant to this Agreement have been duly and validly
taken. The number of shares of stock of Traders voted for and
against the Merger are as stated in such counsel’s opinion; and the number
of shares of such stock as to which shareholders have perfected their
rights to dissent and appraisal under the West Virginia Business
Corporation Act are as stated in such counsel’s
opinion.
|
|
(6)
|
Such
counsel has reviewed the registration statement filed by Premier
as
described in Section 6(c), and with respect to all information relating
to
Traders contained therein, such counsel does not know of any respect
in
which the registration statement contained any false or misleading
statement of any material fact or failed to state a material fact
which
was necessary to be stated to prevent the statements made from being
false
or misleading in any material respect (except as to the financial
statements and related notes and schedules and other financial data,
as to
which such counsel need express no
opinion).
|
|
(7)
|
The
consummation of the Merger will not violate or result in a breach
of, or
constitute a default under, the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws
of
Traders or constitute a breach or termination of, or default under,
any
agreement or instrument of which such counsel has knowledge and which
would have a material adverse affect on the business of Traders,
and to
which Traders is a party or by which it or any of its property is
bound.
|
31
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
|
(8)
|
Such
counsel does not know of any breach of any warranty contained in
this
Agreement on the part of Traders or any failure on the part of Traders
to
perform any of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the
Merger
imposed upon it herein.
|
(i) Opinion
of Counsel for Premier. Traders shall have received the opinion
of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP, counsel for Premier, dated the Closing Date, with
respect to such matters as Traders may reasonably request and to the effect
that:
|
(1)
|
Premier
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a bank holding
company
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, and is duly authorized
to own
its properties and to conduct its business as then being
conducted.
|
|
(2)
|
Each
of the Premier State Banks are banking corporations duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the States
of Ohio
or West Virginia or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as the case may
be, and
each is duly authorized to own its properties and to conduct its
business
as then being conducted.
|
|
(3)
|
The
authorized capitalization of Premier is as set forth in such opinion
and
the shares of Premier Common Stock issued and outstanding (as of
a date
specified in such opinion not more than 5 days prior to the date
of such
opinion) are as stated in such opinion. Such issued and
outstanding shares of stock are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and were not issued in violation of any preemptive
rights
of the shareholders of Premier or any Premier Subsidiary. As of
such date, there are, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, no options,
warrants, rights, commitments or convertible securities outstanding
or
authorized on behalf of Premier or any Premier Subsidiary, calling
for the
purchase from any of them of shares of unissued capital stock or
capital
stock held as treasury shares, except as otherwise permitted by the
Agreement or for those shares of stock issued pursuant to any employee
stock option plan of Premier. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of each of the Premier Subsidiaries are held of record by
Premier.
|
|
(4)
|
All
necessary corporate proceedings of the Boards of Directors and the
shareholders of Premier and Interim Company to the extent required
by law,
their Articles of Incorporation or Association or By-Laws or otherwise,
to
authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Adoption
Agreement and the consummation of the Merger pursuant to this Agreement
have been duly and validly taken. Premier and Interim Company
have the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
this Agreement or the Adoption Agreement. This Agreement has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Premier and Interim
Company (by virtue of the Adoption Agreement) and constitutes the
legal,
valid and binding obligation of Premier and Interim Company in accordance
with its terms.
|
32
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
|
(5)
|
The
consummation of the Merger will not violate or result in a breach
of, or
constitute a default under the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws
of
Premier or constitute a breach or termination of, or default under,
any
agreement or instrument of which such counsel has knowledge and to
which
Premier is a party or by which it or its property is
bound.
|
|
(6)
|
To
the best of such counsel’s knowledge, all approvals of public authorities,
federal, state or local, the granting of which is necessary for the
consummation of the Merger by Premier have been
obtained.
|
|
(7)
|
The
shares of Premier Common Stock into which shares of Traders Common
Stock
are to be converted upon the Effective Time will upon the Effective
Time
be duly authorized, and such shares, when transferred to holders
of
Traders Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Merger, will be
validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Premier Common
Stock.
|
|
(8)
|
Such
counsel has reviewed the registration statement described in Section
6(c),
and with respect to all information relating to the Merger and to
Premier
and the Premier Subsidiaries contained therein, such counsel does
not know
of any respect in which the registration statement contained any
false or
misleading statement of any material fact or failed to state a material
fact which was necessary to be stated to prevent the statements made
from
being false or misleading in any material respect (except as to the
financial statements and related notes and schedules and other financial
data, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion).
|
|
(9)
|
The
registration statement has been filed on the proper form under the
rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, notice
of
effectiveness of the registration statement has been received, and,
to the
best of such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the registration statement has been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose has been
instituted.
|
(j) Less
than 20% Dissenters. Unless waived by Premier, the holders of no
more than 20% of the outstanding shares of Traders Common Stock shall have
elected to exercise their statutory rights to appraisal in connection with
the
transactions contemplated hereby, pursuant to the West Virginia Business
Corporation Act.
33
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(k) Tax
Ruling or Opinion Letter. Premier and Traders shall have received
a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or at their option, Traders shall
have received an opinion of tax counsel acceptable to it and Premier shall
have
received an opinion of tax counsel acceptable to it, to the effect
that:
|
(1)
|
The
Merger will constitute and qualify as a reorganization within the
meaning
of Sections 368 of the Internal Revenue Code and Traders, Surviving
Company and Premier will each qualify as “a party to a reorganization” as
that term is defined in the Internal Revenue
Code;
|
|
(2)
|
No
gain or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of Traders who
exchange their Traders Common Stock for Premier Common Stock pursuant
to
the Merger, except that gain or loss may be recognized as to cash
received
as Merger Consideration and cash received in lieu of fractional share
interests;
|
|
(3)
|
No
gain or loss will be recognized by Premier, Traders, or Surviving
Company
by reason of the Merger; and
|
|
(4)
|
The
holding period of Premier Common Stock received by Traders shareholders
in
exchange for Traders Common Stock will include the holding period
of the
shares of Traders Common Stock so exchanged, provided that the Traders
Common Stock is held as a capital asset at the Effective
Time.
|
(l) Absence
of Material Adverse Changes - Premier. Unless waived by Traders
at or before the Effective Time, there shall have been no material adverse
change in the financial condition, business or assets of Premier since December
31, 2006, and there shall be no suit, action or proceeding pending or threatened
against Premier or any Premier Subsidiary which, if successful, would have
a
material adverse effect on Premier or the Surviving Company after the
consummation of the Merger.
(m) Absence
of Material Adverse Changes - Traders. Unless waived by Premier
at or before the Effective Time, there shall have been no material adverse
change in the financial condition, business or assets of Traders since December
31, 2006, and there shall be no suit, action or proceeding pending or threatened
against Traders which if successful would have a material adverse effect on
Traders or the Surviving Traders after the consummation of the
Merger.
(n) Consent
of Lenders. Premier shall have received the consents of
First Guaranty Bank of Hammond, Louisiana and The Bankers’ Bank of Kentucky,
Inc. of Frankfort, Kentucky as may be required by those loan agreements entered
into by Premier with First Guaranty Bank and The Bankers’ Bank of Kentucky, as
identified in Section 3.3 on or before midnight on the forty-fifth (45th) day following
the
date of this Agreement. Premier shall use its best efforts to obtain
such consents. In the event that this Agreement is terminated because
such consents are not available, Premier shall reimburse Traders and Traders’
Bank Subsidiary for their out-of-pocket costs with respect to this Agreement
(not to exceed Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000)) and the transactions
contemplated herein.
34
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(o) Financing. Premier
shall have received a loan commitment on or before midnight on the forty-fifth
(45th) day
following the date of this Agreement sufficient to fund the Cash Consideration
from either The Bankers’ Bank of Kentucky or First Guaranty Bank on terms and
conditions reasonably satisfactory to Premier for the Cash
Consideration. Premier shall use its best efforts to obtain such
financing. In the event that this Agreement is terminated because
such financing is not available from The Bankers’ Bank of Kentucky, First
Guaranty Bank, or another lender, Premier shall reimburse Traders and Traders’
Bank Subsidiary for their out-of-pocket costs with respect to this Agreement
(not to exceed Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000)) and the transactions
contemplated herein.
(p) No
Excess Parachute Payment. As a result, directly or
indirectly, of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including,
without limitation, as a result of any termination of employment prior to or
following the Effective Time), neither Premier, Traders nor the Traders’
Subsidiary Bank will be obligated to make a payment that would be characterized
as an “excess parachute payment” to an individual who is a “disqualified
individual” (as such terms are defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code), without regard to whether such payment is reasonable compensation for
personal services performed or to be performed in the future.
(q) Fairness
Opinion. Traders shall have received an opinion from its
financial advisor, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Company, that the Merger Consideration
is
fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of
Traders.
35
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
7. Closing Date and Effective
Time
7.1 Closing
Date. The closing shall be effected as soon as practicable after
all of the conditions contained herein shall have been satisfied. The
closing shall be held at the offices of Premier in Huntington, West Virginia,
and the closing date (“Closing Date”) shall be a mutually agreeable date
following the date of final approval by such regulatory agencies whose approval
is required of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby but, in
no
event, later than forty-five (45) days following the date of such final approval
and/or the date when all such conditions are satisfied, whichever date shall
last occur.
7.2 Effective
Time. Subject to the terms and upon satisfaction on or before the
Closing Date of all conditions specified in this Agreement, the Merger shall
be
effective at the time specified in the certificate of merger to be issued by
the
Secretary of State of West Virginia (such time herein called “Effective
Time”).
36
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
8. Termination of Agreement
8.1 Grounds
for Termination. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date, either before
or
after the meeting of the shareholders of Traders:
(a) By
mutual consent in writing of Traders and Premier; or
(b) By
Traders by giving written notice thereof to Premier if (i) a material adverse
change shall have occurred in the financial condition, results of operations
or
business of Premier or any Premier Bank since December 31, 2006, or (ii) Premier
has in any material respect breached any covenant, undertaking, representation
or warranty contained in this Agreement and such breach has not been cured
within thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice; or
(c) By
Premier by giving written notice thereof to Traders if (i) a material adverse
change shall have occurred in the financial condition, results of operations
or
business of Traders since December 31, 2006 or (ii) Traders has breached any
covenant, undertaking, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement
and such breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days after the giving
of
such notice; or
(d) By
either Traders or Premier upon written notice to the other if any regulatory
agency whose approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is
required denies such application for approval by final order or ruling (which
order or ruling shall not be considered final until expiration or waiver of
all
periods for review or appeal); or
(e) By
either Traders or Premier upon written notice to the other if any condition
precedent to either party’s performance hereunder is not satisfied or fulfilled;
or
(f) By
either Traders or Premier if the Merger shall violate any non-appealable final
order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body having competent
jurisdiction; or
(g) By
either Traders or Premier upon the bankruptcy, insolvency or assignment for
the
benefit of creditors of Traders, Premier or of any of the Premier Banks;
or
(h) By
either Traders or Premier, if the shareholders of Traders shall fail to approve
the Merger by the vote required under the West Virginia Business Corporation
Act
and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Traders; or
(i) By
either Traders or Premier, if the Closing does not occur on or before April
30,
2008 unless extended by mutual agreement in writing; or
(j) By
Traders by giving written notice thereof to Premier during the five day period
(“Election Period”) ending two business days prior to the Closing Date, if the
volume weighted average of the daily closing price per share of Premier Common
Stock for the five trading days ending with the tenth trading day prior to
the
Closing Date (“Closing Price”) is less than $11.20, unless Premier by giving
written notice to Traders after having received a termination notice from
Traders, at its option, increases the Stock Consideration to a sufficient ratio
such that Traders shareholders receive shares of Premier Common Stock which
are
the equivalent to at least $42.00, based upon the Closing Price and the total
Merger Consideration being received by Traders shareholders is equal to at
least
$92.00 per share; or
37
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(k) By
Premier by giving written notice thereof to Traders during the Election Period
if the Closing Price is more than $16.80, unless Traders by giving written
notice to Premier after having received a termination notice from Premier,
at
its option, decreases the Stock Consideration to a sufficient ratio such that
Traders shareholders receive shares of Premier Common Stock which are the
equivalent to, at the greatest, $63.00 based upon the Closing Price and the
total Merger Consideration being received by Traders’ shareholders is equal to,
at the greatest, $113.00 per share.
8.2 Effect
of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement for
any reason other than a breach thereof, neither party hereto shall have any
liability to the other of any nature whatsoever, including any liability for
loss, damages, or expenses suffered or claimed to be suffered by reason thereof,
except as provided in Section 8.3.
8.3. Lost
Opportunity Costs.
(a) Traders
shall pay promptly to Premier a cancellation fee of $500,000 (the “Termination
Fee”) if a Triggering Event (as defined in Section 8.3(b) below) has occurred;
provided that Premier has not breached in any material respect the obligations
of Premier contained in this Agreement. The Termination Fee shall be
payable in immediately available funds.
(b) For
purposes of this Section 8.3, a “Triggering Event” shall mean:
(i) a
breach of this Agreement which would permit Premier to terminate this Agreement;
or
(ii) the
occurrence of both paragraphs (A) and (B):
(A) The
Traders Board of Directors fails to recommend the Merger to Traders shareholders
and to continue such recommendation until the Traders shareholders meeting
duly
called and held for the purpose of approving the Merger (the “Shareholders
Meeting”), unless the Traders Board of Directors reasonably concludes that one
of the conditions precedent to Traders’ obligation to close, other than the
required shareholders’ vote, is not likely to be met, or unless a recommendation
of the Merger would constitute a breach of the Traders Board of Directors
fiduciary duty, and
(B) the
shareholders of Traders fail to approve and adopt the Merger at the Shareholders
Meeting in accordance with the terms hereof; or
38
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
(iii) the
occurrence of both paragraphs (A) and (B):
(A) The
shareholders of Traders fail to approve and adopt the Merger at the Shareholders
Meeting in accordance with the terms hereof and,
(B) pursuant
to an offer or negotiations initiated or commenced while this Agreement is
in
effect, either: (a) within 6 months following the date hereof,
Traders announces or enters into a contract for a transaction with any person
or
group of persons relating to a merger or other business combination involving
Traders or the sale or other disposition of a majority of the assets of, or
equity interest in, Traders other than a transaction pursuant to which Traders
is the surviving corporation and the shareholders of Traders are the owners
of a
majority of the stock of the surviving corporation subsequent to the transaction
(an “Acquisition Transaction”) and such transaction is consummated within 12
months following the date hereof; (b) within 12 months following the date
hereof, a tender or exchange offer is commenced by any person or group of
persons to acquire equity securities of Traders if, after giving effect to
such
offer, such person or group would own or have the right to acquire a majority
equity interest in Traders (a “Tender Offer”), and such equity interest is
acquired pursuant to such Tender Offer within 18 months following the date
hereof.
As
used in this Section 8.3, the terms
“person” and “group of persons” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
8.4 Return
of Information. In the event of the termination of this Agreement
for any reason, each party shall deliver to the other party, and shall require
each of its officers, agents, employees and independent advisers (including
legal, financial and accounting advisers) to deliver to the other party all
documents, work papers, and other material obtained from such other party
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, whether obtained before or
after the execution hereof, including information obtained pursuant to Section
5
hereof. Each party agrees that notwithstanding any other provision
contained in this Agreement, the undertakings and covenants regarding
confidentiality contained in Section 5 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
39
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
9. Waiver and Amendment
Except
with respect to required
approvals of the applicable governmental authorities and shareholders, Premier
or Traders by written instrument signed by its President at any time (whether
before or after approval of the Agreement or the Merger by the shareholders
of
Traders), may extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations
or
other acts of the other and may waive, with respect to the other: (i)
any inaccuracies in the representations or warranties contained in this
Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, (ii) compliance
with any of the covenants, undertakings or agreements, or satisfaction of any
of
the conditions to its obligations, contained in this Agreement, and/or (iii)
the
performance (including performance to the satisfaction of a party or its
counsel) of any obligations set out herein. This Agreement may be
amended or supplemented at any time by mutual agreement of the parties (except
that they may not be amended in any material respect after approval by the
shareholders of the parties without further approval by such
shareholders). Any waiver, amendment or supplement hereof shall be in
writing. Any waiver by Premier or Traders of a condition to its
obligation to perform this Agreement and the subsequent Closing hereunder shall
be without prejudice to the rights or remedies it may have arising out of any
breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement
hereunder.
40
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
10. Meeting of Shareholders of
Traders
Traders
shall take all steps necessary
to call and hold a meeting of its shareholders in accordance with applicable
law
and the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of Traders as soon as practicable
for the purpose of submitting this Agreement to its shareholders for their
ratification, approval and confirmation, and Traders will send to its
shareholders for purposes of such meeting a proxy statement which will not
contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material
fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein not misleading and which will otherwise comply with all applicable
laws,
rules and regulations. Premier agrees to assist Traders in the
preparation of such proxy statement which will adequately disclose all
information relevant and material to the Merger and which will comply with
all
such laws, rules and regulations. Premier agrees that the material
submitted by it to Traders for inclusion in the proxy statement which refers
to
the Merger and to Premier and the Premier Subsidiaries will not contain any
untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading and which will otherwise comply with all applicable laws, rules
and
regulations. Traders will cause such proxy statement to be mailed by
First Class mail postage prepaid to all of its shareholders at the last known
address of each such shareholder contained in Traders’ records and in the proxy
statement and at such meeting of its shareholders Traders will recommend that
all shareholders vote in favor of this Agreement and the
Merger. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Traders may disclose to any or
all of its shareholders any facts with respect to Premier which Traders
reasonably deems to be material to such shareholders’ consideration of this
Agreement and the Merger.
41
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
11. Rights of Dissenting
Shareholders
Any
shareholder of Traders who properly
exercises his right to dissent and perfects his appraisal rights under West
Virginia law shall be entitled, with respect to any shares as to which he or
she
shall so dissent, to the fair value of such shares as of the day prior to the
date on which the shareholders of Traders voted to approve the Merger, excluding
any appreciation or depreciation in anticipation of the Merger. The
procedures to be followed and the rights of such dissenting shareholders shall
be those set forth in the West Virginia Business Corporation Act, Sections
31D-13-1301 et seq.
42
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
12. Indemnification
12.1 Indemnification. Following
the Closing Date and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, Premier shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the present directors, officers and
employees of Traders and Traders’ Subsidiary Bank (an “Indemnified Party)”
against all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees),
judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities (collectively, “Costs”)
incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or omissions
occurring at or prior to the Closing Date (including, but not limited to, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the fullest extent that Premier
is permitted or required to indemnify (and advance expenses to) its directors
and officers under the laws of the State of Kentucky, Premier’s articles of
incorporation, Premier’s bylaws, and any agreement as in effect as of the date
hereof.
12.2 Insurance. For
a period of six (6) years from the Closing Date, Premier shall use its
reasonable best efforts to provide director’s and officer’s liability insurance
for the present and former officers and directors of Traders and Traders’
Subsidiary Bank with respect to claims against such directors and officers
arising from facts or events which occurred before the Closing Date, which
insurance shall contain at least the same coverage and amounts, and contain
terms and conditions no less advantageous, as coverage currently being provided
by Traders, but in no event shall the premium for said coverage exceed
$78,000 Alternatively, Traders, at its option, may purchase the
coverage provided for in this Section 12.2 prior to Closing for a premium not
to
exceed $78,000.
12.3 Consolidation
or Merger. If Premier or any of its successors or assigns shall
consolidate with or merge into any other entity and shall not be the continuing
or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or shall transfer all or
substantially all of its assets to any entity, then and in each case, proper
provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Premier shall
assume the obligations set forth in this Section 12.
12.4 Survival. Provisions
of this Section 12 shall survive the Closing Date and are intended to be for
the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or
her
heirs and representatives.
12.5 Regulatory
Constraints. The indemnification provided for herein is subject
in all respects to any applicable legal and regulatory limitations and
prohibitions for indemnification of officers and directors of a financial
institution; provided, however, that for any indemnification which
is permissible with the approval of one or more regulatory agencies, Premier
shall use reasonable efforts to obtain all of such approvals.
43
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
13. Operations after the Closing Date
13.1 Maintenance
of Existence. For a period of at least one year after the Closing
Date, if and as permitted by regulatory authorities, all locations of Trader’s
Banking Subsidiary shall utilize signage and a trade name which uses in some
form the name “Traders”. For a period of at least two years after the
Closing Date, if Trader’s Banking Subsidiary is merged with any other subsidiary
of Premier, Premier shall appoint to the board of directors of the surviving
entity of such merger such number of directors from the current board of
directors of Traders as of the date hereof, or if an insufficient number of
current directors is available, from the Spencer, West Xxxxxxxx area to ensure
that at least fifty percent (50%) of the board of directors of such surviving
entity are from the Spencer, West Virginia area.
13.2 Employees
of Traders. Premier shall consider the current employees of Traders
and Traders’ Subsidiary Bank for employment after the Closing
Date. Premier agrees that those employees of Traders and the Traders’
Subsidiary Bank who become employees of Premier or its subsidiaries on the
Closing Date (Traders employees), while they remain employees of Premier or
its
subsidiaries after the Closing Date, will be provided with benefits under
employee benefit plans during their period of employment which are no less
favorable in the aggregate than those provided by Premier to similarly situated
employees of Premier and its subsidiaries, except as provided
herein. Premier and Traders agree that all employees of Traders and
Surviving Bank at the Effective Time shall be considered “at will” employees and
no employment contracts between Traders or Traders’ Subsidiary Bank and any of
their employees will extend beyond the Effective Time. Except as
hereinafter provided, as of the Closing Date, in the event of termination or
amendment of any employee benefit and welfare plan in which Traders employees
are eligible to participate, (i) such plans will take into account for purposes
of eligibility, participation, vesting and benefit accrual (except that there
shall not be any benefit accrual for past service under any qualified defined
benefit pension plans), the service of such employees with Traders or the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank as if such service were with Premier and its
subsidiaries; (ii) provided Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank employee is
currently covered under Traders’ medical and/or health plan at Closing Date,
Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank employees will not be subject to any
waiting periods or preexisting condition limitations under any medical, dental
or health plans of Premier or its subsidiaries in which they are eligible to
participate and may participate, except that Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary
Bank employees hired within 90 days prior to the Closing Date will be subject
to
the waiting periods, preexisting condition limitations, and/or
eligibility requirements of Premier’s benefit plans calculated using the Traders
or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank’s date of hire; (iii) Traders or the Traders’
Subsidiary Bank employees will retain credit for unused sick leave and vacation
play which has been accrued as of the Closing Date; and (iv) for purposes of
determining the entitlement of Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank employees
to sick leave and vacation pay following the Closing Date, the service of such
employees with the Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank shall be treated as
if such service were with Premier and its
subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary,
employees of Traders and Traders’ Subsidiary Bank who are eligible for four (4)
weeks’ paid vacation as of the date hereof shall continue to be eligible to
receive four (4) weeks’ paid vacation during their employment after the
Closing.
44
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
13.3 Severance.
Premier agrees that each Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank employee who is
involuntarily terminated (other than for cause for actions arising after the
Closing Date) within twelve (12) months of the Closing Date, shall receive,
upon
execution of an appropriate full release, a severance payment equal to one
(1)
week of base pay (at the rate in effect on the termination date) for each year
of service at Traders or the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank (with credit for partial
years of service), with a minimum payment equal to four (4) weeks of base pay
and a maximum payment equal to eight (8) weeks of base pay, except for employees
with twenty five (25) or more years of service, whose maximum payment shall
be
equal to ten (10) weeks of base pay.
“Cause”
as
used in this Agreement shall
mean embezzlement, personal dishonesty causing injury to Traders, the Traders’
Subsidiary Bank, Premier or any Premier State Bank, gross personal misconduct
which is repetitive and results in a decline in the net worth of Traders, the
Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, Premier or any Premier State Bank, breach of a
fiduciary duty involving personal profit, conviction of a felony involving
personal dishonesty, knowing and willful failure to perform duties, intentional
injury to Traders, the Traders’ Subsidiary Bank, Premier or any Premier State
Bank, gross incompetence, or any material breach of any term or condition of
employment.
13.4 Survival. The
provisions of this Section 13 shall survive the Closing Date.
45
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
Section
14. Miscellaneous
14.1 Public
Announcements. Prior to the Closing Date, each party shall use
its best efforts to consult with the other party with respect to any prepared
public announcement, statement or release to the press, or statement to a
competitor, customer or other third party (except to its consultants or to
the
regulatory authorities in connection with applications for governmental
approvals or filings) with respect to this Agreement or the Merger or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except as may be necessary, in
the
opinion of counsel, to comply with any law, governmental order or
regulation.
14.2 Brokers
and Finders. Traders and Premier represent each to the other that
this Agreement and the Merger contemplated hereby are the result of direct
negotiations between them and further, except for fees due Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
and
Company, that neither Traders nor Premier has incurred any liability for any
broker’s, finder’s or similar fees in connection with this Agreement or the
Merger.
14.3 Disclosed
In Writing. As used in this Agreement, the phrase “disclosed in
writing” shall mean disclosed or delivered prior to or within 20 days after, the
date of this Agreement by means of a writing describing in reasonable detail
the
matters contained therein and delivered in accordance with Section 14.7
hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, anything appearing,
contained, disclosed or described (i) in any Premier Financial Statement or
Traders Financial Statement (including the notes thereto), (ii) in any call
report or similar periodic report furnished to the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve
Board or the West Virginia Department of Banking, or (iii) in any periodic
report or other document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(including, but not limited to, Forms 8-K, Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Annual
Reports, and proxy statements) by either of Premier or Traders, shall be deemed
to be previously disclosed.
14.4 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement among the
parties and there have been no agreements, representations, or warranties among
the parties other than those set forth herein or those provided for
herein.
14.5 Counterparts. This
Agreement has been executed in a number of identical counterparts, and each
such
counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but in making proof
of
this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than
one such counterpart.
14.6 Invalid
Provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and
this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or
unenforceable provision were omitted.
14.7 Notices. Any
notices or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be
sufficiently given if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
46
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
TO
TRADERS:
Xxxx
X. Xxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer
Traders
Bankshares, Inc.
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
with
a copy
to: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esquire
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx PLLC
1600
Laidley Tower (Zip
25301)
X.X.
Xxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
00000
TO
PREMIER: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer
Premier
Financial Bancorp,
Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
00000
with
a copy
to: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esquire
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esquire
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx LLP
P.
O. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx 00000
or
such other addresses as shall be furnished in writing by either party to the
other party. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have
been given as of the date so mailed.
14.8 Headings. The
captions contained in this Agreement are inserted solely for convenience of
reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
14.9 Expenses. Each
of the parties hereto will pay its own fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein.
14.10 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of West Virginia and the United States
of
America.
14.11 No
Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement may not be assigned by either
party without the written consent of the other party.
14.12 Effectiveness
of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective and binding
as to Premier and Traders when one or more counterparts shall have been signed
and delivered by Premier and Traders, and shall become effective and binding
as
to Interim Company when Interim Company has executed an Adoption Agreement
in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A”.
47
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
14.13 Further
Acts. Premier and Traders each agree to execute and deliver on or
before the Closing Date such other documents, certificates, agreements, or
other
writings and to take such other actions as may be necessary or desirable in
order to consummate or implement expeditiously the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement.
14.14 Representations
and Warranties Not to Survive. Except for the representations and
warranties contained in Sections 5, 8.3, 12, 13, 14.9 and 14.15, the
representations and warranties included or provided in this Agreement shall
not
survive the Effective Time.
14.15 Individual
Directors. The several Directors of Traders who are signatories
to this Agreement have joined into this Agreement to evidence their assent
hereto, and for the express purpose of binding themselves, and each of them,
to
the fulfillment of each of the terms and conditions hereof by the respective
parties and to the diligent, expeditious and good faith pursuit, and timely
consummation, of the transactions herein contemplated. Each of the
Directors hereby agrees to cooperate fully with the parties, their assistants
and agents, in consummating the Merger, to vote appropriately upon all corporate
resolutions of the board of directors toward that end, and to take no action
inconsistent with the purposes of this Agreement or the consummation of the
Merger. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or
affect the fiduciary obligation of Traders’ officers and directors to Traders
shareholders or the ability of any director to vote his or her shares of common
stock of the Traders.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Premier and Traders
have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers
and
their corporate seals to be hereunto affixed as of the date first above written,
pursuant to resolutions adopted by the boards of directors of Premier and
Traders, acting by a majority thereof, and WITNESS also the signatures hereto
of
a majority of the board of directors of Traders.
PREMIER
FINANCIAL BANCORP,
INC.
By
_/s/
Xxxxxx X.
Walker______________________
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, President and Chief
Executive Officer
ATTEST:
_/s/
Xxxxx X. Adkins________________
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx,
Assistant
Secretary
48
Exhibit
10.1 -
continued
TRADERS
BANKSHARES, INC.
By
_/s/
Xxxx X.
Brown______________________
Xxxx
X. Xxxxx, President
and
Chief
Executive Officer
ATTEST:
_/s/
Xxxxx X. Boothe____________________
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Secretary
The
following Directors of Traders
Bankshares,
Inc. do hereby join in the
foregoing
Agreement to evidence their consent
and
agreement thereto:
_/s/
X. X. XxXxxx, II___________________
_C.
X. XxXxxx, II____________, Director
_/s/
Xxxx X. Denbigh ___________________
_John
M. Denbigh ____________, Director
_/s/
Xxxx Xxxxx
___________________
_Doug
Xxxxx ______________, Director
_/s/
Xxxxx Harris____
_____________
_Wayne
Harris_ ___________, Director
_/s/
Xxxxxx X.
Sommrville_
__
_Samuel
P. Sommerville___ ____, Director
_/s/
Xxxx X. Hardman___________________
_Fred
C. Hardman___________, Director
_/s/
Xxx Cottrell_______________________
_Kay
Cottrell_______________, Director
_/s/
Xxxx X. Brown_____________________
_Gary
L. Brown_____________, Director
49