AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Agreement”) is dated as of March 19, 2012, between Florida Gulf Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation and a bank holding company with principal offices in Fort Xxxxx, Florida (“FGBC”), and IBERIABANK Corporation, a Louisiana corporation and a bank holding company with principal offices in Lafayette, Louisiana (“IBKC”).
RECITALS
1. The Board of Directors of each party hereto believes that the transactions described in this Agreement are in the best interests of such party and its shareholders.
2. By virtue of the reorganization that is to be effectuated by this Agreement, FGBC will be merged with and into IBKC (the “Merger”), and, except as provided in this Agreement, the then outstanding shares of FGBC common stock, par value $5.00 per share (“FGBC Common Stock”) will be converted into shares of IBKC common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“IBKC Common Stock”).
3. The Merger is subject to prior FGBC shareholder and regulatory approvals and to prior satisfaction of certain other conditions set forth in this Agreement.
4. The parties hereto intend that the reorganization contemplated by this Agreement qualify for federal income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual warranties, representations, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:
SECTION I.
DEFINITIONS
Except as may otherwise be provided in this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the following respective meanings, in their singular or plural forms as applicable:
1.1 “Acquisition Proposal” – shall mean any tender offer or exchange offer or any proposal for a merger, acquisition of all of the capital stock or assets of, share exchange, or other business combination involving the acquisition of FGBC or any of its Subsidiaries or the acquisition of a 50% or greater equity interest in, or 50% or greater portion of the assets of, FGBC or any of its Subsidiaries, or any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the foregoing, other than the transactions contemplated under this Agreement.
1.2 “Agreement” – this Agreement and Plan of Merger, including any amendment hereto.
1.3 “LBCL” – the Louisiana Business Corporation Law.
1.4 “Bank Merger” – the merger of FGB with and into IBERIABANK.
1.5 “BHC Act” – the federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.
1.6 “Business Day” – Monday through Friday of each week, except a legal holiday recognized as such by the U.S. Government or any day on which banking institutions in the state of Louisiana are authorized or obligated to close.
1.7 “Certificates” – the certificates representing shares of FGBC Common Stock on or prior to the Effective Date.
1.8 “Closing” – the closing of the transactions contemplated hereunder as described in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
1.9 “Code”– the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.10 “FGBC Common Stock” – the common stock, par value $5.00 per share, of FGBC.
1.11 “FGBC Preferred Stock” – the Noncumulative Perpetual Series A Preferred Stock, par value $5.00 per share, of FGBC.
1.12 “FGBC Warrants” – nontransferable stock warrants, each of which entitles the holder to purchase one share of FGBC Common Stock, at an exercise price of $19.00 per share.
1.13 “Effective Date” – the date and time at which the Merger becomes effective, as described in Section 3.2 of this Agreement.
1.14 “ERISA” – the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
1.15 “Exchange Agent” – IBKC’s stock transfer agent or such other third party experienced in the stock transfer business reasonably acceptable to FGBC which shall act as the exchange agent pursuant to Section 2.2(f) hereof.
1.16 “Fixed Exchange Ratio” – shares of IBKC common stock, issued in accordance with Section 2.2(a) (ii) or Section 2(a)(iii) of this Agreement, as applicable.
1.17 “Floating Exchange Ratio” – the quotient (rounded to the nearest thousandth of a share) obtained by dividing $23.00 by the Market Value.
1.18 “FBCA” – the Florida Business Corporation Act.
1.19 “Federal Reserve” – the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
1.20 “FGBC” – Florida Gulf Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation.
1.21 “FGB” – Florida Gulf Bank, a Florida banking corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of FGBC.
1.22 “Financial Statements” – (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets (including related notes and schedules, if any) of a Warrantor as of February 29, 2012 and the audited consolidated balance sheets (including related notes and schedules, if any) of FGBC as of December 31, 2011 and of IBKC as of December 31, 2011, and (ii) the related consolidated statements of income (or statements of income and comprehensive income), changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows (including related notes and schedules, if any) for the respective periods then ended.
1.23 “GAAP” – generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
1.24 “IBERIABANK” – IBERIABANK, a Louisiana banking corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of IBKC.
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1.25 “IBKC” – IBERIABANK Corporation, a Louisiana corporation.
1.26 “IBKC Common Stock” – the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of IBKC.
1.27 “Market Value” – the average of the twenty-four (24) hour daily weighted average trading prices of the IBKC Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (as calculated by Bloomberg Screen AQR) on each of the fifteen (15) trading days ending one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date.
1.28 “Material Adverse Effect” – with respect to a Warrantor, means any change, effect, event, occurrence or state of facts that (a) is, or would reasonably be expected to be, materially adverse to the business, financial condition or results of operations of such Warrantor and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) materially and adversely affects the ability of the Warrantor to perform its obligations hereunder or materially and adversely affects the timely consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not be deemed to include the impact of (i) any change in the value of the securities portfolio or loan portfolio of the Warrantor, whether held as available for sale or held to maturity, resulting from changes in the prevailing level of interest rates; (ii) any change, effect, event or occurrence relating to the announcement or performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the expenses incurred by the Warrantor in consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) with respect to FGBC and its Subsidiaries, any change, effect, event or occurrence resulting from any action or omission taken with the prior consent of IBKC; (iv) any change in banking, or other laws, rules or regulations of general applicability or interpretations thereof by courts or governmental authorities; (v) any change in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to banks or their holding companies generally; and (vi) any change in political conditions or in general economic or market conditions affecting banks or their holding companies generally except to the extent that such changes in general economic or market conditions have a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Warrantor; or (vii) the payment of any amounts due to, or the provision of any other benefits to, any directors, officers or employees of FGBC and its Subsidiaries pursuant to employment agreements, plans and other arrangements described in this Agreement.
1.29 “Merger” – the merger of FGBC with and into IBKC.
1.30 “Merger Consideration” – (i) a number of shares of IBKC Common Stock based either upon the Floating Exchange Ratio as determined under Section 2.2(a)(i) hereof or upon the Fixed Exchange Ratio as determined under Section 2.2(a)(ii) or Section 2.2(a)(iii) hereof, as applicable; plus (ii) that amount of cash paid in lieu of issuing any fractional share of IBKC Common Stock which would otherwise be distributable to a FGBC shareholder as determined under Section 2.2(a)(iv) hereof; plus (iii) a pro rata portion of a total cash payment (the “Additional Cash Payment”) equal to sixty-five percent (65%) of the estimated loss (to account for tax impact) on certain identified loans set forth in Schedule 1.30 to this Agreement (the “Identified Loans”) which, prior to the Effective Date, have been paid off at par, or renewed or modified on terms and conditions to the complete agreement and satisfaction of the parties.
1.31 “NASDAQ Close” – the close of trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market pursuant to applicable NASDAQ Stock Market rules.
1.32 “1933 Act” – the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1.33 “1934 Act” – the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1.34 “Person” – any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, business trust, limited liability company or unincorporated association.
1.35 “Proxy Statement” – the proxy or information statement to be used by FGBC in connection with the Shareholders Meeting to consider and vote upon the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, together with any and all amendments or supplements thereto.
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1.36 “Registration Statement” – the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or other appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements thereto filed with the SEC by IBKC under the 1933 Act in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
1.37 “Regulatory Authorities” – collectively, any federal or state banking, insurance, securities or other governmental or regulatory authority whose approval is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
1.38 “SEC” – the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.39 “SEC Documents” – all reports, proxy statements, registration statements and other documents filed by any Warrantor pursuant to the Securities Laws.
1.40 “Securities Laws” – the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and the rules and regulations of the SEC under each of such acts.
1.41 “Shareholders Meeting” – the meeting of the shareholders of FGBC to be held pursuant to Section 7.1(b) of this Agreement, including any adjournments thereof.
1.42 “Subsidiaries” – all those corporations, banks, savings banks, associations and other entities of which the Person in question owns or controls 100% or more of the outstanding equity securities either directly or through an unbroken chain of entities as to each of which 100% or more of the outstanding equity securities is owned directly or indirectly by such Person; provided, however, there shall not be included any such entity acquired in good faith through foreclosure, or any such entity to the extent that the equity securities of such entity are owned or controlled in a bona fide fiduciary capacity, through a small business investment corporation or otherwise as an investment by an entity that invests in unaffiliated companies in the ordinary course of business.
1.43 “Warrantor” – IBKC or FGBC, as the case may be.
1.44 “Warrantor Benefit Plans” – the benefit plans of IBKC or FGBC, as defined in Section 5.11(a) of this Agreement and as the context shall require, which shall depend on whether the Warrantor is IBKC or FGBC.
1.45 “Warrantor Common Stock” – the IBKC Common Stock or the FGBC Common Stock, as the context shall require, which shall depend on whether the Warrantor is IBKC or FGBC.
1.46 “Warrantor Companies” – collectively, FGBC and all FGBC Subsidiaries or, collectively, IBKC and all IBKC Subsidiaries, as the context shall require.
1.47 “Warrantor Financial Statements” – the Financial Statements of Warrantor.
1.48 “Warrantor’s knowledge” – the actual knowledge of the executive management of such Warrantor or the knowledge of the management of such Warrantor that should have been known in the normal and customary operation and administration of their respective businesses and/or assets.
1.49 “Warrantor Real Property” – the real property owned by IBKC, and the real property owned by FGBC a list of which is set forth on Schedule 1.49 attached hereto, and used in the conduct of its ordinary course of business as a financial institution.
1.50 “Warrantor Subsidiaries” – the Subsidiaries of FGBC or IBKC, as the context shall require, which shall include the Subsidiaries described in Section 1.42 of this Agreement and any corporation, bank, savings bank, association or other entity that becomes or is acquired as a Subsidiary of a Warrantor in the future.
Other terms are defined as set forth below.
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SECTION II.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND TERMS OF MERGER
2.1 Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Date, FGBC will be merged with and into IBKC in accordance with this Agreement, the LBCL and the FBCA.
2.2 Determination of Merger Consideration.
(a) Except for shares of FGBC Common Stock as to which appraisal rights have been perfected and not withdrawn or otherwise forfeited under the FBCA, and as otherwise provided herein, at the Effective Date each outstanding share of FGBC Common Stock will be converted into shares of IBKC common stock as set forth below:
(i) | if the Market Value is less than $61.25 per share and greater than $47.15 per share, each FGBC shareholder’s FGBC Common Stock shall be multiplied by the Floating Exchange Ratio; |
(ii) | if the Market Value is equal to or greater than $61.25 per share, each FGBC shareholder’s FGBC Common Stock shall be multiplied by a Fixed Exchange Ratio equal to 0.376 shares of IBKC Common Stock for each share of FGBC Common Stock; or |
(iii) | if the Market Value is equal to or less than $47.15 per share, each FGBC shareholder’s FGBC’s Common Stock shall be multiplied by Fixed Exchange Ratio equal to 0.488 shares of IBKC Common Stock for each share of FGBC Common Stock; plus |
(iv) | in lieu of issuing any fractional share of IBKC Common Stock which would otherwise be distributable to a FGBC shareholder as determined following application of Section 2.2(a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) above, each holder of FGBC Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled thereto, after aggregating into whole shares all fractional shares of IBKC Common Stock to which such holder is entitled by virtue of the Merger, upon surrender of the certificate(s) which represented FGBC Common Stock, will receive, without interest, cash equal to such fractional share multiplied by the Market Value. |
(b) In addition to shares of IBKC Common Stock to be issued and cash to be paid for any fractional shares under Section 2.2(a), holders of outstanding FGBC Common Stock as to which appraisal rights have not been perfected and not withdrawn shall be entitled to the Additional Cash Payment.
(c) Shares of FGBC Common Stock that are held by FGBC and any FGBC Subsidiary (other than shares held in a fiduciary capacity) shall not be considered to be outstanding and shall be cancelled (and not converted) by virtue of the Merger at the Effective Date and without any further action by any party.
(d) If, before the Effective Date, IBKC should split, reclassify, recapitalize or combine the IBKC Common Stock, or pay a stock dividend in IBKC Common Stock, or otherwise change the IBKC Common Stock into any other securities, or make any other dividend or distribution in respect of the IBKC Common Stock (other than normal cash dividends consistent with past practices as the same may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with or not in violation of this Agreement), and the record date therefore is prior to the Effective Date, then the Exchange Ratios will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted to reflect such split, reclassification, recapitalization, combination, stock dividend or other distribution or change, and any amounts which may be paid pursuant to Section 7.8 of this Agreement.
(e) No later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, FGBC shall deliver to the Exchange Agent a list of all FGBC shareholders entitled to receive the Merger Consideration, in an electronic format compatible with the Exchange Agent’s systems. No later than the Effective Date, IBKC shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent for the benefit of the holders of FGBC Common Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Section 2.2, certificates and cash (in immediately available funds) representing the Merger Consideration to be paid. After the Effective Date, each holder of FGBC Common Stock, other than shares
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for which appraisal rights have been elected, upon surrender of such holder’s Certificates in accordance herewith, will be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration into which such holder’s shares have been converted, less any applicable tax withholding. Until then, each Certificate for FGBC Common Stock will represent the Merger Consideration into which the shares of FGBC Common Stock represented thereby were converted, except that IBKC may refuse to pay any dividend or other distribution payable to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate for FGBC Common Stock (without any interest thereon) until surrender, or if such dividend or distribution has reverted in full ownership to IBKC under its Articles of Incorporation. Whether or not a Certificate for FGBC Common Stock is surrendered, after the Effective Date it will not represent any interest in any Person other than IBKC.
(f) Prior to the Effective Date, IBKC or the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a Certificate or Certificates a form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates, or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof in form and substance satisfactory to the Exchange Agent, to the Exchange Agent) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration into which the shares of FGBC Common Stock represented by such Certificate or Certificates shall have been converted pursuant to this Section 2.2. Upon proper surrender of a Certificate for exchange and cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefore (i) a certificate representing that number of shares of IBKC Common Stock to which such former holder of FGBC Common Stock shall have become entitled pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) a check representing that amount of cash to which such former holder of FGBC Common Stock shall have become entitled pursuant to this Agreement.
(f) In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and the posting by such person of a bond in such amount as IBKC may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof.
(g) If the Person surrendering a Certificate and signing the accompanying letter of transmittal is not the record holder thereof, then it shall be a condition of the payment of the Merger Consideration that: (i) such Certificate is properly endorsed to such Person or is accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name of the record holder appears on such Certificate, and is otherwise in proper form for transfer, or is accompanied by appropriate evidence of the authority of the Person surrendering such Certificate and signing the letter of transmittal to do so on behalf of the record holder; and (ii) the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent in advance any transfer or other similar taxes required by reason of the payment to a Person other than the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or required for any other reason, or shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
(h) If necessary, IBKC shall prepare and file with the SEC, promptly after the Effective Date, a registration statement on Form S-8 (or other appropriate form) registering a number of shares of IBKC Common Stock necessary to exchange shares of FGBC Common Stock held in the Plan (as defined below) into shares of IBKC Common Stock.
2.3 Redemption of FGBC Preferred Stock. At the Effective Date, each outstanding share of FGBC Preferred Stock will be redeemed by FGBC for cash at par in accordance with FGBC’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended.
2.4 FGBC Warrants. At the Effective Date, each outstanding FGBC Warrant held by holders of FGBC Preferred Stock will have been exercised by the holders thereof or will terminate upon the Closing.
2.5 Employee Agreements.
(a) Schedule 2.5(a) sets forth a list of all of the FGBC employee agreements (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”) between FGBC or its applicable Subsidiary and their respective employees and the estimated amounts to be paid by FGBC or its applicable Subsidiary, at or immediately prior to the Effective Date, to the employees as set forth on Schedule 2.5(a) pursuant to said Employment Agreements. At or prior to the Effective
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Date, FGBC or its applicable Subsidiary shall pay to the employees listed on Schedule 2.5(a) the amounts, without material deviation, as set forth on Schedule 2.5(a) against delivery by each listed employee of an instrument in writing signed by the employee acknowledging (i) receipt of said payment as full payment for all amounts due and payable to such employee thereunder and (ii) the termination of said Employment Agreement, effective immediately upon the execution and delivery of said acknowledgment.
(b) Schedule 2.5(b) sets forth a list of all of the Retention Agreements which FGBC has or expects to enter into between FGBC (or its applicable Subsidiary) and their respective employees.
(c) Any action (including but not limited to any payment) under this Section 2.5 shall be subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“Section 409A”), provided that the timing of any payment under this Section 2.5 may be delayed only if such delay is necessary to comply with Section 409A.
2.6 FGBC Stock Options. At the Effective Date, each option (each, a “FGBC Stock Option”) to purchase shares of FGBC Common Stock granted under any stock option, stock purchase or equity compensation plan, director compensation plan or other arrangement or agreement of FGBC (the “FGBC Stock Option Plans”), whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall cease to represent a right to acquire shares of FGBC Common Stock and shall be assumed by IBKC and converted automatically into a fully vested and exercisable option to purchase a number of shares of IBKC Common Stock equal to the number of shares of FGBC Common Stock subject to such FGBC Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective Date, multiplied by the Floating Exchange Ratio or the Fixed Exchange Ratio, as appropriate (rounded down to the nearest whole share), at a price per share of IBKC Common Stock equal to the price per share under such FGBC Stock Option, divided by the appropriate exchange ratio (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) and, on the same terms and conditions as were in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date under the terms of the FGBC Stock Option Plan pursuant to which such FGBC Stock Option was granted and the award agreement by which it is evidenced. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.6, the number of shares of IBKC Common Stock subject to any converted FGBC Stock Option, and the exercise price per share of any converted FGBC Stock Option, shall be determined in a manner that (x) will result in such converted option remaining compliant with, or exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, (y) with respect to each FGBC Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code, consistent with the requirements of Section 424(h) of the Code and the Department of Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, and (z) most closely reflects the economics of the adjustment pursuant to this Section 2.6. IBKC agrees that the IBKC Common Stock underlying such options shall be registered under federal and, if required, applicable state securities laws as soon as practicable subsequent to the Effective Date.
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SECTION III
CLOSING AND EFFECTIVE DATE
3.1 Time and Place of Closing.
(a) The Closing will take place on a mutually agreed upon Business Day as soon as is reasonably practical subsequent to the last to occur of: (i) the date of receipt of all required Regulatory Authorities’ approvals of the Merger and the expiration of all required waiting periods, and (ii) the date on which the shareholders of FGBC approve this Agreement and the Merger at the Shareholders Meeting to be held pursuant to Section 7.1(b) of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Closing shall be held as soon as practicable after the date on which the last such condition to Closing is satisfied but in no event after the first day of the calendar month following the month in which such condition has been satisfied; or may be held on such other date as the parties hereto may mutually agree. If all conditions in Section VIII hereof are satisfied, or waived by the party entitled to grant such waiver, at the Closing (i) the parties shall each provide to the other such proof of satisfaction of the conditions in Section VIII as the party whose obligations are conditioned upon such satisfaction may reasonably request, (ii) the certificates and letters required by Section VIII shall be delivered, (iii) the directors and appropriate officers of the parties shall authorize, execute, deliver and acknowledge the articles and certificate of merger, and (iv) the parties shall take such further action, including (without limitation) filing this Agreement and any other necessary filings with the Secretary of State of Louisiana and the Florida Department of State to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) If on any date established for the Closing all conditions in Section VIII hereof have not been satisfied or waived by each Warrantor entitled to grant such waiver, then either Warrantor, on one or more occasions, may declare a delay of the Closing of such duration, not exceeding ten (10) days, as the declaring Warrantor shall select, but no such delay shall extend beyond the last date set forth in Section 9.1(c) without the written consent of the non-declaring party, whose consent may be withheld for any or no reason, and no such delay shall interfere with the right of either Warrantor to declare a termination pursuant to Section IX. The place of Closing shall be at the office of IBKC set forth in Section 10.7, or at such other physical location or telephonically, as the parties shall mutually determine.
3.2 Effective Date. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII, the Merger shall become effective upon the approval of the Merger by the Federal Reserve and necessary filings with the Louisiana Secretary of State in accordance with the LBCL and the Florida Department of State in accordance with the FBCA, or at such later date and time as may be set forth in such filings (the time the Merger becomes effective being referred to as the “Effective Date.”).
SECTION IV.
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED MATTERS FOLLOWING MERGER
4.1 Board of Directors and Officers of IBKC. At the Effective Date, the board of directors and officers of IBKC shall consist of those persons serving as directors and officers of IBKC immediately prior to the Effective Date.
4.2 Board of Directors and Officers of FGBC Subsidiaries. At the Effective Date, the directors and officers of the FGBC Subsidiaries shall consist of those persons serving as directors and officers of IBKC prior to the Effective Date.
4.3 Employees and Benefits.
(a) The employees of FGBC and its Subsidiaries who remain employed after the Effective Date (“Continuing Employees”) shall be given credit under each employee benefit plan, policy, program and arrangement
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maintained by IBERIABANK after the Closing for their service with FGBC or its Subsidiary prior to the Closing for all purposes, including severance, vacation and sick leave, eligibility to participate, vesting, satisfying any waiting periods, evidence of insurability requirements in accordance with IBKC’s plan, seniority, or the application of any pre-existing condition limitations, other than benefit accrual under a defined benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA); provided, however, that accrued vacation taken subsequent to the Effective Date may be subject to such limitations as IBKC or IBERIABANK may reasonably require.
(b) Any employee of FGBC or its Subsidiaries who does not remain employed by IBKC or its Subsidiaries after the Effective Date and who does not receive a severance payment in connection with the Merger shall receive a severance payment from IBKC as if he or she were an employee of IBKC for the entire time he or she were an employee of FGBC. No former employee of FGBC shall receive a change of control or severance payment from IBKC if he or she received a change of control payment from FGBC, unless provided otherwise pursuant to an agreement entered into between IBKC and such employee, and FGBC shall, prior to the Effective Date, use reasonable best efforts to take all steps, and obtain such consents, as may be necessary to effectuate this Section 4.3(b).
(c) In the event of any termination of any FGBC or FGBC Subsidiary health plan (a “FGBC health plan”), IBKC and IBERIABANK shall make available to Continuing Employees and their dependents, employer-provided health care coverage under health plans provided by IBKC and IBERIABANK. Unless a Continuing Employee affirmatively terminates coverage under a FGBC health plan prior to the time that such Continuing Employee becomes eligible to participate in the IBKC health plan, no coverage of any of the Continuing Employees or their dependents shall terminate under any of the FGBC health plans prior to the time such Continuing Employees and their dependents become eligible to participate in the health plans, programs and benefits common to all employees and their dependents of IBKC and IBERIABANK. In the event IBKC terminates any FGBC health plan or consolidates any FGBC health plan with any IBKC health plan, individuals covered by the FGBC health plan shall be entitled to immediate coverage under the IBKC health plan in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder, including limitations on pre-existing condition exclusions, nondiscrimination and special enrollment rights.
4.4 Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) IBKC agrees that all rights to indemnification and all limitations of liability existing in favor of any director or officer of FGBC or any FGBC Subsidiary (the “Indemnified Parties”) as provided in FGBC’s or the FGBC Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation or bylaws (including without limitation the right to the advancement of expenses) with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Date shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect, without any amendment thereto, for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Date; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in respect of any claim, suit, proceeding, investigation, or other action (“Claim”) asserted or made within such period shall continue until the final disposition of such Claim; provided further, however, that nothing contained in this Section 4.4(a) shall be deemed to preclude the liquidation, consolidation or merger of FGBC or any FGBC Subsidiary, in which case all of such rights to indemnification and limitations on liability shall be deemed to so survive and continue notwithstanding any such liquidation, consolidation or merger and shall constitute rights which may be asserted against IBKC. Nothing contained in this Section 4.4(a) shall be deemed to preclude any rights to indemnification or limitations on liability provided in FGBC’s or any FGBC Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation with respect to matters occurring subsequent to the Effective Date.
(b) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under Section 4.4, upon learning of any claim, shall notify IBKC thereof in writing as promptly as is practicable; provided, however, that failure to so notify IBKC shall not relieve IBKC from any liability that would otherwise arise under this Section 4.4 except to the extent such failure prejudices IBKC. IBKC shall have the right to assume the defense thereof and shall not be liable for any expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof, except that if IBKC does not assume or continue to pursue such defense, or counsel for the Indemnified Party advises in writing that issues raise conflicts of interest between IBKC and the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnified Party may retain counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Party (and reasonably satisfactory to IBKC) at IBKC’s expense; provided, however, that (i) IBKC shall not be obligated to pay for more than one counsel for all Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction except as may be required due to conflicts of interest; (ii) the Indemnified Parties will cooperate
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(to the extent reasonably appropriate under the circumstances) in the defense of any such claim; and (iii) IBKC shall not be liable for any settlement effected without the prior written consent of IBKC, which consent may be withheld unless such settlement is reasonable in light of such claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations against, and defenses available to, such Indemnified Party.
(c) FGBC will, for total premiums not to exceed $100,000 (the “Maximum Amount”), purchase a continuation of their current directors and officers liability insurance for a coverage period of three (3) years after the Merger, provided that if the amount of the annual premiums necessary to maintain or procure such insurance coverage exceeds the Maximum Amount, IBKC shall maintain the most advantageous policies of directors’ and officers’ insurance obtainable for an aggregate annual premium not to exceed the Maximum Amount.
(d) If IBKC or any of its successors or assigns (i) reorganizes or consolidates with or merges into or enters into another business combination transaction with any other Person or entity and is not the resulting, continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such reorganization, consolidation, merger or transaction or (ii) liquidates, dissolves or transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or entity, then, and in each such case, proper provisions will be made so that such surviving corporation or transferee and its successors and assigns assume the obligations of IBKC set forth in this Agreement. The obligations of IBKC under this Section 4.4 are intended to be for the benefit of, and enforceable against IBKC directly by, the Indemnified Parties and their heirs and representatives and shall be binding on all respective successors and permitted assigns of IBKC. IBKC shall pay all reasonable costs, including attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnified Party in successfully enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided for in this Section 4.4 to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law. The rights of each Indemnified Party hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights such Indemnified Party may have under applicable law. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall survive the Effective Date.
SECTION V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF IBKC AND FGBC
IBKC and FGBC hereby represent and warrant to the other Warrantor, to the extent pertaining to itself, its Subsidiaries, and/or its business or affairs, subject to the standard set forth in Section 5.21 hereof, that:
5.1 Organization, Standing, and Authority. Warrantor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the state of Louisiana and Florida, as applicable, and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in the states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Warrantor has corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted in all material respects, to own, lease and operate its assets, properties and business, and to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Agreement. Warrantor is duly registered with the Federal Reserve as a bank holding company under the BHC Act. Warrantor has in effect all federal, state, local and foreign governmental authorizations necessary for it to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now conducted in all material respects. Each of IBERIABANK and FGB is an “insured depository institution” as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and applicable regulations thereunder.
5.2 Capital Stock and Stock Options.
(a) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of Warrantor as of the date of this Agreement, the number of shares of Warrantor Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Warrantor Benefit Plans as of such date and the number of shares of Warrantor Common Stock that are subject to outstanding stock options and warrants under such Warrantor Benefit Plans as of such date, are set forth in Schedule 5.2(a) that pertains to Warrantor. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Warrantor are duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of Warrantor has been issued in violation of any preemptive rights of the current or past shareholders of Warrantor. All of the IBKC Common Stock to be issued in exchange for FGBC Common Stock upon consummation of the Merger, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly authorized and fully paid and non-assessable.
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(b) With respect to FGBC, Schedule 5.2(a) also includes a true and complete list of all holders of outstanding FGBC Stock Options, indicating, with respect to each FGBC Stock Option then outstanding, the type of award granted, the number of shares of FGBC Common Stock subject to such FGBC Stock Option, the name of the plan under which such FGBC Stock Option was granted, the date of grant, exercise price, vesting schedule and expiration thereof. Each FGBC Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies. The exercise price of each FGBC Stock Option is no less than the fair market value of a share of FGBC Common Stock as determined on the date of grant of such FGBC Stock Option and within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and associated Treasury Department guidance. FGBC has made available to IBKC true and complete copies of all FGBC equity plans and the forms of all award agreements evidencing outstanding FGBC Stock Options.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 5.2(a), Section 6.1(e) or Schedule 5.2(a), there are, as of the date of this Agreement and will be, at the Effective Date, no shares of capital stock or other equity securities of FGBC outstanding and no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of the capital stock of FGBC or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which FGBC is or may be bound to issue additional shares of its capital stock or options, warrants or rights to purchase or acquire any additional shares of its capital stock.
5.3 Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.3 lists all of the Subsidiaries of Warrantor as of the date of this Agreement. Except as provided in Louisiana Revised Statutes 6:262, all of the shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary held by Warrantor are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by Warrantor free and clear of any claim, lien or encumbrance. Each Subsidiary of Warrantor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation, and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in the jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of FGB and IBERIABANK has the corporate power and authority necessary for it to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and has all federal, state, local and foreign governmental authorizations necessary for it to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted in all material respects.
5.4 Authority.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, including the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Warrantor, subject, with respect to this Agreement, to the approval of the shareholders of FGBC. This Agreement, subject to any requisite approval by FGBC’s shareholders (and assuming in each case the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Warrantor), represents the valid and legally binding obligation of Warrantor, enforceable against Warrantor, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other 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 proceeding may be brought.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Warrantor, nor the consummation by Warrantor of the transactions contemplated herein, nor compliance by Warrantor with any of the provisions hereof, will (i) conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of the articles of incorporation or by-laws of IBKC or FGBC, or (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 5.4(b), constitute or result in the breach of any term, condition or provision of, or constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration with respect to, or result in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of Warrantor, pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, agreement, lease or other instrument or obligation to which any of them is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets may be subject, except such
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as individually or in the aggregate will not have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) subject to receipt of the requisite approvals, authorizations, filings, registrations and notifications referred to in Section 8.5 of this Agreement, violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Warrantor, or any of its properties or assets.
(c) Other than in connection or compliance with the provisions of applicable state corporate and securities laws, the Securities Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and other than consents, authorizations, approvals or exemptions required from Regulatory Authorities, no notice to, filing with, authorization of, exemption by or consent or approval of any public body or authority is necessary for the consummation by Warrantor of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) The Board of Directors of each of the parties hereto (at a meeting duly called and held prior to the execution of this Agreement) has by requisite vote (i) determined that the Merger is in the best interests of such party and its shareholders, (ii) authorized and approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (iii) in the case of FGBC’s Board of Directors only, has directed that the Merger be submitted for consideration to FGBC’s shareholders at the Shareholders Meeting.
5.5 Financial Statements; Accounting. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, each Warrantor has delivered to the other Warrantor its Warrantor Financial Statements through the period ended December 31, 2011, and each Warrantor will promptly deliver when available copies of such Warrantor Financial Statements in respect of periods ending after December 31, 2011. Each of the Warrantor Financial Statements (as of the dates thereof and for the periods covered thereby): (i) is (and, in the case of Warrantor Financial Statements in respect of periods ending after December 30, 2011, will be) in accordance with the books and records of the Warrantor, and have been and will continue to be maintained in accordance with GAAP (except as permitted by Regulation S-X of the SEC), in all material respects, and (ii) except as permitted by Regulation S-X of the SEC, presents (and, in the case of Warrantor Financial Statements in respect of periods ending after December 31, 2011, will present) fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations, changes in Shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Warrantor as of the dates and for the periods indicated, in all material respects in accordance with GAAP applicable to financial institution holding companies applied on a basis consistent with prior periods, except as otherwise described (subject in the case of interim financial statements to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes).
5.6 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.6, neither Warrantor has any obligation or liability (contingent or otherwise) that is material, either individually or in the aggregate, to the financial condition, results of operations or, to the Warrantor’s knowledge, business prospects of the Warrantor on a consolidated basis, or that when combined with all similar obligations or liabilities would, either individually or in the aggregate, be material to the financial condition, results of operations or, to the Warrantor’s knowledge, business prospects of the Warrantor on a consolidated basis, except (i) as reflected in the Warrantor Financial Statements delivered prior to the date of this Agreement, (ii) as reflected by this Agreement, or (iii) for commitments and obligations made, or liabilities incurred, since December 31, 2011, with respect to FGBC, and December 31, 2011, with respect to IBKC, in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practices.
5.7 Tax Matters.
(a) All material federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by or on behalf of Warrantor have been timely filed or requests for extensions have been timely filed, granted and have not expired. All taxes shown on filed returns have been paid, except for taxes which are being contested in good faith or have not yet been fully determined. There is no audit examination, deficiency, refund litigation or matter in controversy with respect to any taxes, except as reserved against in the Warrantor Financial Statements or as set forth on Schedule 5.7(a). All taxes, interest, additions and penalties which are material in amount and which are due with respect to completed and settled examinations or concluded litigation have been paid or adequately reserved for.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.7(b), Warrantor has not executed an extension or waiver of any statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any tax due that is currently in effect.
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(c) Adequate provision for any federal, state, local or foreign taxes due or to become due for Warrantor for any period or periods through and including December 31, 2011 has been made and is reflected in the Warrantor Financial Statements, and will be made through and including the Closing.
(d) Deferred taxes of the Warrantor Companies have been provided for in accordance with GAAP.
(e) Neither the execution of this Agreement, FGBC shareholder approval of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in payments under any FGBC plan or arrangement which would not reasonably be expected to be deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code, (ii) give rise to any additional taxation under Section 409A of the Code, or (iii) result in the payment of any “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
5.8 Loans, Reserves, and Investments.
(a) All loans (including discounts) and financing leases in which Warrantor is lessor (collectively, “Credits”) reflected in the Warrantor Financial Statements were (i) made for adequate consideration in the ordinary course of business, (ii) evidenced by instruments that were true and genuine, and (iii) if secured, secured by valid perfected security interests. An accurate trial balance of all such Credits of FGBC and of the investment portfolio as of February 29, 2012 has been previously delivered to IBKC.
(b) The aggregate allowances for losses on Credits and other real estate and foreclosed assets owned reflected on the latest Warrantor Financial Statement delivered on or prior to the date of this Agreement were, as of the date of such Financial Statements and will be, at the Closing, adequate, as of the respective dates of the Financial Statements, in accordance with regulatory guidelines and GAAP in all material respects.
5.9 Properties and Insurance. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.9 or as reserved against in the Warrantor Financial Statements, Warrantor, has good and, as to real property, marketable title, free and clear of all material liens, encumbrances, charges or defaults of any character, to all of the material properties and assets, tangible or intangible, reflected in the Warrantor Financial Statements as being owned by the Warrantor as of the dates thereof. For purposes of the Warrantor’s representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.9, any reference to real property shall only relate to the Warrantor Real Property. To Warrantor’s knowledge, (i) all buildings and all fixtures, equipment and other property and assets which are material to its business on a consolidated basis and are held under leases or subleases by the Warrantor are held under valid leases or subleases enforceable in accordance with their respective terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other 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); and (ii) the policies of fire, theft, liability, fidelity and other insurance maintained with respect to the assets or businesses of the Warrantor provide adequate coverage against loss.
5.10 Compliance with Laws. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.10, each Warrantor and the Warrantor Subsidiaries:
(a) Is, to Warrantor’s knowledge, in compliance in all material respects with all laws, regulations, reporting and licensing requirements and orders necessary for it to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now conducted in all material respects;
(b) Has received no notification or communication from any Regulatory Authority (i) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization which is material, either individually or in the aggregate, to the financial condition, results of operations or, to the Warrantor’s knowledge, business prospects of the Warrantor on a consolidated basis or the ability of the Warrantor to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, under the terms hereof, or (ii) requiring Warrantor (or any of its officers, directors or controlling Persons) to enter into a cease and desist order, agreement or memorandum of understanding (or requiring the board of directors thereof to adopt any resolution or policy); and
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(c) Has complied in all material respects with the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) and the rules and regulations thereunder, and has a CRA rating of not less than “satisfactory.”
5.11 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) (i) Warrantor has delivered or made available to the other Warrantor, prior to the execution of this Agreement, copies of each pension, retirement, profit sharing, supplemental or excess retirement, stock option, stock purchase, savings, employee stock ownership, restricted stock, phantom stock, stock ownership, life insurance, disability, vacation pay, severance pay (including, without limitation change of control or golden parachute arrangements), incentive, deferred compensation, bonus or benefit arrangement, health or hospitalization program, fringe benefit or perquisite arrangement or other similar plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any “employee benefit plan”, as that term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, in respect of any of the present or former directors, officers, other employees or independent contractors of, or dependents, spouses or other beneficiaries of any of such directors, officers, other employees or independent contractors of, any of the Warrantor Companies (collectively, the “Warrantor Benefit Plans”), and (ii) FGBC and the FGBC Subsidiaries have delivered or made available to IBKC, prior to the execution of this Agreement, copies of each employment or consulting agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement which provides any benefit or perquisites to or in respect of any of the present or former directors or officers of, or dependents, spouses or other beneficiaries of any of such directors or officers of, FGBC and the FGBC Subsidiaries, which employment and consulting agreements are, with respect to FGBC and the FGBC Subsidiaries, included in the term “Warrantor Benefit Plans” as defined above. Any of the Warrantor Benefit Plans which is an “employee pension benefit plan,” as that term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, is referred to herein as a “Warrantor ERISA Plan”. No Warrantor has participated in or been a member of, and no Warrantor Benefit Plan is or has been, a multi-employer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11(a), the Warrantor Benefit Plans of FGBC and the FGBC Subsidiaries are terminable on their terms without penalty or payment except for accrued and vested benefits thereunder.
(b) All Warrantor Benefit Plans comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations the breach or violation of which could result in a liability, either individually or in the aggregate, material to the financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Warrantor on a consolidated basis. With respect to the Warrantor Benefit Plans, no event has occurred and, to Warrantor’s knowledge, there exists no condition or set of circumstances, in connection with which the Warrantor could be subject to any liability (except liability for severance payments, benefit claims, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums, and funding obligations payable in the ordinary course). No notice of a “reportable event,” as that term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived has been required to be filed for any Warrantor ERISA Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA within the 12-month period ending on the date of this Agreement. No Warrantor has provided, or is required to provide, security to any Warrantor ERISA Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA pursuant to Section 401(a)(20) of the Code.
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11(c), no Warrantor ERISA Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA has any “unfunded current liability,” as that term is defined in Section 302(d)(8)(A) of ERISA, and the present fair market value of the assets of each such plan exceeds the plan’s “benefit liabilities”, as that term is defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, when determined under actuarial factors that would apply if the plan terminated as of the date of this Agreement in accordance with all applicable legal requirements.
5.12 Material Contracts. Except, with respect to FGBC, as set forth on Schedule 5.12, and except, with respect to IBKC, as filed as an exhibit to its most recent Form 10-K, none of the Warrantor Companies, nor any of their respective assets, businesses or operations, as of the date of this Agreement, is a party to, or is bound or affected by, or receives benefits under, any contract or agreement or amendment thereto that in each case would be required to be filed as an exhibit to a Form 10-K filed by Warrantor as of the date of this Agreement (each such contract, agreement or amendment, a “Warrantor Material Contract”). No Warrantor Company is in default in any material respect under any Warrantor Material Contract, and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default.
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5.13 Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.13, there are no actions, suits or proceedings instituted or pending or, to Warrantor’s knowledge, threatened against a Warrantor Company, or affecting any property, asset, interest or right of any of them.
5.14 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2009, the Warrantor Companies, taken as a whole on a consolidated basis, have not suffered any change in any respect that has had or, to Warrantor’s knowledge, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.15 Reports. Since December 31, 2009, each of the Warrantor Companies has filed all reports and statements, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that it was required to file with (i) the SEC, including, but not limited to, Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and proxy statements, (ii) the Federal Reserve, (iii) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and (iv) any applicable state banking, insurance, securities or other regulatory authorities. As of their respective dates (and without giving effect to any amendments or modifications filed after the date of this Agreement with respect to reports and documents filed before the date of this Agreement), each of such reports and documents, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, complied in all material respects with all of the statutes, rules and regulations enforced or promulgated by the authority with which they were filed and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.
5.16 Statements True and Correct. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Warrantor for inclusion in (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Proxy Statement and (iii) any other documents to be filed with the SEC or any other Regulatory Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, will, at the respective times such documents are filed, and, in the case of the Registration Statement, when it becomes effective and, with respect to the Proxy Statement, when first mailed to the shareholders of FGBC be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of the Proxy Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, at the time of the Shareholders Meeting, be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. All documents that Warrantor is responsible for filing with the SEC or any other Regulatory Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby will comply in all material respects with the provisions of applicable law including applicable provisions of the Securities Laws.
5.17 Environmental Matters.
(a) To Warrantor’s knowledge, Warrantor and each Warrantor Subsidiary (for purposes of this Section 5.17, the term “Warrantor Subsidiary” shall include small business investment corporations and entities that invest in unaffiliated companies in the ordinary course of business in which Warrantor owns or controls 5% or more of the outstanding equity securities either directly or through an unbroken chain of entities as to each of which 5% or more of the outstanding equity securities is owned directly or indirectly by Warrantor), except as set forth in Schedule 5.17(a), the Warrantor Real Property and the Participation Facilities (as defined below) are, and have been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and standards, and all requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and of state and local agencies with jurisdiction over pollution or protection of health or the environment.
(b) To Warrantor’s knowledge, except as set forth in Schedule 5.17(b), there is no suit, claim, action or proceeding, pending or threatened, before any court, governmental agency, board or other forum pursuant to which Warrantor or any of the Warrantor Subsidiaries or any Warrantor Real Property or Participation Facility (or in respect of such Warrantor Real Property or Participation Facility) has been or, with respect to threatened proceedings may be, named as a defendant (i) for alleged noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with any environmental law, rule or regulation or (ii) relating to the release into the environment of any Hazardous Material (as defined below) or oil, whether or not occurring at or on any site owned (including as trustee), leased or operated by it or any of its subsidiaries or any Warrantor Real Property or Participation Facility.
(c) To Warrantor’s knowledge, except as set forth in Schedule 5.17(c), there is no reasonable basis for any suit, claim, action or proceeding of a type described in Section 5.17(b).
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(d) During the period of (i) Warrantor’s or any of the Warrantor Subsidiaries’ ownership (including as trustee) or operation of any of their respective current properties, which, with respect to each Warrantor, shall be limited to the Warrantor Real Property, and (ii) Warrantor’s or any of the Warrantor Subsidiaries’ participation in the management of any Participation Facility, to Warrantor’s knowledge, there has been no release of Hazardous Material or oil in, on, under or affecting such property or Participation Facility.
(e) For purposes of this Section 5.17: (i) “Participation Facility” means any property in which Warrantor (or a Warrantor Subsidiary) participates in the management of such property; and (ii) “Hazardous Material” means any pollutant, contaminant or hazardous substance within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq., or any similar federal, state or local law.
5.18 Knowledge as to Conditions. On the date of this Agreement, Warrantor knows of no reason why the regulatory approvals, authorizations, filings, registrations and notices contemplated by Section 8.5 should not be obtained without the imposition of any material and adverse condition or restriction.
5.19 Labor Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.19, neither Warrantor is a party to, or is bound by, any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is Warrantor the subject of any proceeding asserting that Warrantor has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel Warrantor to bargain with any labor union or labor organization as to wages and conditions of employment; nor is there any strike or other labor dispute involving Warrantor pending or threatened.
5.20 Materiality. No representation or warranty by a Warrantor contained in this Section V shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and no party hereto shall be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, on account of the existence of any fact, circumstance or event unless, as a direct or indirect consequence of such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other facts, circumstances or events inconsistent with any paragraph of Section V, as applicable, there is or is reasonably likely to be a Material Adverse Effect, except that the representations and warranties in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 shall be true and correct in all respects. FGBC’s representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement shall not be deemed to be untrue or breached as a result of effects arising solely from actions taken in compliance with this Agreement or a written request of IBKC.
5.21 FGBC Affiliates. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.21, there is no person other than FGBC’s executive officers, directors and Subsidiaries whom FGBC reasonably believes is an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) of FGBC.
SECTION VI.
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby covenants and agrees with the other parties as follows:
6.1 Conduct of Business—Negative Covenants. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Date or the termination of this Agreement, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 6.1, FGBC will not do, and will not agree or commit to do, and FGBC will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to do and not to agree to commit to do, any of the following without the prior written consent of a duly authorized officer of IBKC:
(a) Amend its articles of incorporation, by-laws, or other governing instruments, or
(b) Impose, or suffer the imposition, on any share of capital stock held by it or by one of its Subsidiaries, of any material lien, charge or encumbrance, or permit any such lien, charge or encumbrance to exist, or
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(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(c), repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire or exchange, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into any shares of its capital stock, or issue Certificates representing more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of FGBC Common Stock to replace lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates in accordance with Section 2.2(f), or
(d) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, acquire direct or indirect control over any corporation, association, firm or organization, other than in connection with (i) internal reorganizations or consolidations involving existing Subsidiaries, (ii) good faith foreclosures in the ordinary course of business, (iii) acquisitions of control by a banking Subsidiary in a bona fide fiduciary capacity, (iv) investments made by small business investment corporations or by Subsidiaries that invest in unaffiliated companies in the ordinary course of business, or (v) the creation of new Subsidiaries organized to conduct or continue activities otherwise permitted by this Agreement, or
(e) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(e), issue, sell, pledge, encumber, authorize the issuance of, or otherwise dispose of: (i) any shares of its capital stock, including any agreement to issue, sell, pledge, encumber, or authorize the issuance of its capital stock; (ii) any substantial part of its assets or earning power; or (iii) any asset other than in the ordinary course of business for reasonable and adequate consideration, or
(f) Adjust, split, combine, or reclassify any capital stock of FGBC or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of or in substitution for FGBC Common Stock, or
(g) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(g), incur any additional material debt obligation or other material obligation for borrowed money, except in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practices (and such ordinary course of business shall include, but shall not be limited to, the creation of deposit liabilities, purchases of federal funds, sales of certificates of deposit and entry into repurchase agreements), or
(h) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(h), without prior consultation with or the prior consent of IBKC, grant any increase in compensation or benefits to its officers or other employees; pay any bonus, enter into any severance agreements with any of its directors or officers; grant any increase in fees or other increases in compensation or other benefits to any of its present or former directors; or effect any change in retirement benefits for any class of its employees or officers (unless such change is required by applicable law or, in the opinion of counsel, is necessary or advisable to maintain the tax qualification of any plan under which the retirement benefits are provided) that would increase the retirement benefit liabilities of FGBC and its Subsidiaries.
(i) Except as contemplated by this Agreement, or any of the agreements, documents or instruments contemplated hereby, or as set forth on Schedule 6.1(i), amend any existing employment, severance or similar contract or other arrangement between it or any of its Subsidiaries (unless such amendment is required by law), or enter into any new such contract or other employment arrangement with, any person, or
(j) Except as contemplated by this Agreement or any of the agreements, documents or instruments contemplated hereby, or set forth in Schedule 6.1(j), adopt any new employee benefit plan or make any material change in or to any existing employee benefit plan, other than any such change that is required by law or that, in the opinion of counsel, is necessary or advisable to maintain the tax qualified status of any such plan, or
(k) Place or suffer to exist on any of it assets or properties any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge or other encumbrance, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, or as disclosed in Schedule 6.1(k), cancel any material indebtedness to it or any material claims which it may have had, or waive any right of substantial value or discharge or satisfy any material noncurrent liability, or
(l) Charge off (except as may otherwise be required by law or by Regulatory Authorities or by GAAP consistently applied) any material Credit, or make or enter into any commitments to make any Credit which varies materially from its written credit policies, copies of which have been made available to IBKC, or
(m) Reduce its reserve for loan losses below $7.0 million, except as may be required by law, Regulatory Authorities or GAAP, or
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(n) Other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, enter into any contract or series of related contracts involving a payment of more than $100,000.
(o) Commit to do any of the foregoing.
6.2 Conduct of Business—Affirmative Covenants. Unless the prior written consent of the other Warrantor shall have been obtained, except as otherwise contemplated or permitted hereby or as set forth on Schedule 6.2, each Warrantor shall operate its business only in the ordinary course of business of such Warrantor consistent with past practices, shall preserve intact its business organizations and assets and maintain its rights and franchises, and shall voluntarily take no action which would (i) adversely affect the ability of any of them to obtain any necessary approvals of Regulatory Authorities required for the transactions contemplated hereby without imposition of a condition or restriction of the type referred to in the second sentence of Section 8.5 of this Agreement, (ii) adversely affect the ability of such Warrantor to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) cause or permit a breach of any of its covenants or cause or permit any representation or warranty of it to become untrue in any material respect, as if each such representation and warranty were continuously made from the date hereof.
6.3 Adverse Changes in Condition. Each Warrantor shall give written notice promptly to the other Warrantor concerning (i) any event which has had, or is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect on such Warrantor, or (ii) the occurrence or impending occurrence of any event or circumstance known to such Warrantor which would have needed to be reported in a disclosure schedule hereunder if it had occurred or been pending on or prior to the date of this Agreement, or which would cause or constitute a material breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of such Warrantor contained herein or that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the timely consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Warrantor shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent or to promptly remedy the same.
6.4 Investigation and Confidentiality. Prior to the Effective Date, each Warrantor will keep the other Warrantor promptly advised of all material developments relevant to its business and to the consummation of the Merger and may make or cause to be made such investigation, if any, of the business, properties, operations and financial and legal condition of the other Warrantor and its Subsidiaries as such Warrantor reasonably deems necessary or advisable to familiarize itself and its advisors with such business, properties, operations and condition; provided, however, that such investigation shall be reasonably related to the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not interfere unnecessarily with normal operations. Each Warrantor agrees to furnish the other Warrantor and the other Warrantor’s respective advisors with such financial and operating data and other information with respect to its business, properties and employees as the other Warrantor shall from time to time reasonably request. No investigation by one Warrantor shall affect the representations and warranties of the other Warrantor and, subject to Section 9.3 of this Agreement, each such representation and warranty shall survive any such investigation. Each Warrantor agrees to furnish the other Warrantor with all information necessary to expedite pre-conversion planning and implementation, including, but not limited to, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to plan, make effective and consummate systems and branch conversions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party hereto shall be required to provide access to or to disclose information where such access or disclosure would violate its attorney-client privilege or violate or prejudice the rights of any customer or contravene any law, rule, regulation, order or judgment, nor to disclose board minutes of any confidential discussion of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Warrantor shall maintain the confidentiality of all confidential information furnished to it by the other Warrantor in accordance with the terms of the confidentiality agreement dated November 11, 2011 between the Warrantors (the “Confidentiality Agreement”).
6.5 Reports. From the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Effective Date or the termination of this Agreement, each Warrantor shall, IBKC shall cause IBERIABANK to, and FGBC shall cause FGB to, file all reports required to be filed by such Warrantor, FGB and IBERIABANK with any Regulatory Authority, and shall deliver to the other Warrantor copies of all such reports promptly after the same are filed.
6.6 Dividends. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.6, from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Effective Date or the termination of this Agreement, FGBC shall not declare or pay any dividend or other distribution to its shareholders.
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6.7 Capital Stock. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement (including Section 6.1(e) hereof), or as set forth on Schedule 6.7, without the prior written consent of IBKC, from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Effective Date or the termination of this Agreement, FGBC shall not, and shall not enter into any agreement to, issue, sell, or otherwise permit to become outstanding any additional shares of FGBC Common Stock or any other capital stock of FGBC and any Subsidiary of FGBC, or any stock appreciation rights, or any option, warrant, conversion or other right to acquire any such stock, or any security convertible into any such stock.
6.8 Certain Actions.
(a) Subject to Section 6.8(d) of this Agreement, FGBC agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Date or the termination of this Agreement, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of the officers and directors of it or its Subsidiaries shall, and that it shall cause its and its Subsidiaries’ employees, agents and representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) have any discussion with or provide any confidential information or data to any Person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or engage in any negotiations concerning an Acquisition Proposal, or knowingly facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal or (iv) approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, or execute or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement or other similar agreement or propose publicly or agree to do any of the foregoing related to any Acquisition Proposal.
(b) FGBC agrees that it will, and will cause its officers, directors and representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any activities, discussions or negotiations existing as of the date of this Agreement with any parties conducted heretofore (other than IBKC) with respect to any Acquisition Proposal informing them that the Board of Directors no longer seeks the making of any Acquisition Proposals.
(c) FGBC agrees that it will use reasonable best efforts to promptly inform its directors, officers, key employees, agents and representatives of the obligations undertaken in this Section 6.8.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.8(a) of this Agreement, if any Person after the date of this Agreement submits to FGBC’s board of directors an unsolicited, bona fide, written Acquisition Proposal, and FGBC’s board of directors reasonably determines in good faith, after receipt of advice from outside legal counsel, that the failure to engage in discussions with such Person concerning such Acquisition Proposal may cause FGBC’s board of directors to breach its fiduciary duties to FGBC and its shareholders, and after consultation with its financial advisor, then, in such case, (i) FGBC may (A) furnish information about its business to such Person under protection of an appropriate confidentiality agreement containing customary limitations on the use and disclosure of all non-public written or oral information furnished to such Person, provided that FGBC must contemporaneously furnish to IBKC all such non-public information furnished to such Person, and (B) negotiate and participate in discussions and negotiations with such Person; and (ii) if FGBC’s board of directors determines that such an Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal (defined below), FGBC’s board of directors may (subject to the provisions of this Section 6.8) (A) withdraw or adversely modify its approval or recommendation of the Merger and recommend such Superior Proposal or (B) terminate this Agreement, in each case, (i) at any time after five (5) Business Days following IBKC’s receipt of written notice (a “Notice of Superior Proposal”) advising IBKC that FGBC’s board of directors has received a Superior Proposal and enclosing a copy of the Acquisition Proposal, identifying the Person submitting the Superior Proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal, and (ii) subject to IBKC’s Right of First Refusal (defined below). In the event IBKC elects not to exercise the Right of First Refusal, FGBC shall provide IBKC with a final written notice of acceptance before or simultaneous with accepting any Superior Proposal. For purposes of this Agreement, “Superior Proposal” means any unsolicited, bona fide, written Acquisition Proposal for consideration consisting of cash and/or securities, and otherwise on terms which FGBC’s board of directors determines, after consultation with its financial advisor, are more favorable to FGBC’s shareholders (in their capacities as shareholders) from a financial point of view than the Merger after giving effect to the provisions of Section 9.2 (or other revised proposal submitted by IBKC). For the purposes of this Section 6.8(d), an Acquisition Proposal shall be “bona fide” if the board of directors of FGBC reasonably determines that the Person submitting such Acquisition Proposal is capable, from a financial, regulatory and other appropriate perspectives, of consummating such Acquisition Proposal on the terms proposed.
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(e) IBKC shall have the right (“Right of First Refusal”) for five (5) Business Days after receipt of Notice of Superior Proposal to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable FGBC to proceed with the Merger on the basis of such adjusted terms. If IBKC fails to exercise such Right of First Refusal within the time herein specified, FGBC shall be at liberty to accept the Superior Proposal, subject to the obligations of FGBC pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof.
6.9 Agreement as to Efforts to Consummate. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and its fiduciary duties under applicable law, each Warrantor agrees to use, and to cause its Subsidiaries to use, its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, using its reasonable best efforts to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely affecting the ability of any party hereto to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Warrantor shall use, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to use, its reasonable best efforts to obtain consents of all third parties and governmental bodies necessary or desirable for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, but not limited to, all third party consents to assignments or other transfer of the leases and contracts set forth on Schedule 6.9. This Section 6.9 shall not require either Warrantor to waive any condition to such Warrantor’s obligation to consummate the Merger.
6.10 Operating Functions. FGBC and FGB shall cooperate with IBKC and IBERIABANK in connection with planning for the efficient and orderly combination of the parties and the operation of FGB after the Merger, and in preparing for the consolidation of appropriate operating functions to be effective on the Effective Date.
6.11 Preservation of Business. FGBC shall use its reasonable best efforts to preserve the possession and control of all of FGBC’s and FGB’s assets (other than those consumed or disposed of for value in the ordinary course), and the goodwill of customers and others having business relations with them, and will do nothing knowingly to impair their ability keep and preserve their businesses as they exist on the date hereof. From the date hereof until the Effective Date, FGB (i) shall provide IBERIABANK with schedules of the rates paid by FGB on its deposit accounts from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Date (“stated rates”), and shall notify IBERIABANK of any determination to pay any FGB client 25 or more basis points above a stated rate, (ii) shall confer with IBERIABANK not less than once every two weeks to review the conduct of FGBC’s loan approval and investments processes, and (iii) shall notify IBERIABANK promptly of any change that may result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Credits identified in Section 5.8(a) and (iv) shall provide IBERIABANK with a weekly report of its lending activities during such periods. From the date hereof until the Effective Date, (i) FGBC may modify and renew any loan; and (ii) may originate new loans up to $1.0 million with a credit grade of 3 Satisfactory Risk or better; and (iii) may originate new loans in excess of $1.0 million as mutually agreed upon by the parties.
6.12 Issuance of IBKC Common Stock. IBKC shall, prior to the Closing, take such action as is required to authorize and reserve for issuance the IBKC Common Stock to the shareholders of FGBC pursuant to the Merger, and to permit such IBKC Common Stock to be approved for listing and quotation on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
6.13 Support Agreements. FGBC shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver to IBKC as of the date hereof a Support Agreement executed by each FGBC director substantially in the form of Exhibit I.
6.14 Bank Merger. FGBC will, and will cause FGB to, take such action as IBKC shall reasonably deem necessary or advisable so that, on or as soon as practicable after the Effective Date as determined by IBKC, FGB will merge into IBERIABANK (the “Bank Merger”).
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SECTION VII.
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
7.1 Registration Statement; Shareholder Approval.
(a) The Warrantors shall cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement. IBKC shall, as soon as practicable, but not later than forty-five (45) days following the date of this Agreement, file the Registration Statement with the SEC, and the Warrantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective under the 1933 Act as soon as practicable after filing. IBKC shall provide FGBC and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement, and shall incorporate all appropriate comments thereto, prior to the time it is initially filed with the SEC or any amendments are filed with the SEC. IBKC shall take, and FGBC shall cooperate with IBKC in connection with, any action required to be taken under the applicable state Blue Sky or securities laws in connection with the issuance of shares of IBKC Common Stock upon consummation of the Merger. Each Warrantor shall furnish all information concerning it and the holders of its capital stock as the other Warrantor may reasonably request in connection with such action. FGBC and IBKC shall promptly notify the other party if at any time it becomes aware that the Registration Statement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In such event, FGBC shall cooperate with IBKC in the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement that corrects such misstatement or omission, and IBKC shall file an amended Registration Statement with the SEC, and each of FGBC and IBKC shall mail an amended Proxy Statement to FGBC’s shareholders.
(b) FGBC shall call a Shareholders Meeting for the purpose of considering and voting upon the Merger. In connection with the Shareholders Meeting, (i) FGBC shall mail the Proxy Statement to its shareholders, (ii) each Warrantor shall furnish to the other Warrantor all information concerning it and its Subsidiaries that the other Warrantor may reasonably request in connection with the Proxy Statement, and (iii) the Board of Directors of FGBC, subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law, recommend to its shareholders the approval of this Agreement and cause FGBC to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such shareholder approval.
7.2 Tax Opinion. IBKC agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain a written opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Xxxxxxx, L.L.P., addressed to the Warrantors and reasonably satisfactory to FGBC’s counsel, dated the date of the Closing, subject to customary representations and assumptions, and substantially to the effect that:
(i) the Merger will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code, and IBKC and FGBC will each be a party to the reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code;
(ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by IBKC or FGBC as a result of the Merger;
(iii) a shareholder of FGBC who receives IBKC Common Stock and cash in exchange for such shareholder’s shares of FGBC Common Stock generally will recognize gain, but not loss, to the extent of the lesser of: (1) the excess, if any, of (a) the sum of the aggregate fair market value of the IBKC Common Stock received (including any fractional share of IBKC Common Stock deemed to be received and exchanged for cash) and the amount of cash received (including any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of IBKC Common Stock) over (b) the shareholder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of FGBC Common Stock exchanged in the Merger; and (2) the amount of cash received;
(iv) the aggregate tax basis of the IBKC Common Stock received by a shareholder of FGBC who exchanges such shareholder’s FGBC Common Stock in the Merger will equal such shareholder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of FGBC Common Stock being exchanged, reduced by any amount allocable to a fractioned share interest of IBKC Common Stock for which cash is received and by the amount of any cash consideration received, and increased by the amount of taxable gain, if any recognized by such shareholder in the Merger; and
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(v) the holding period of the shares of IBKC Common Stock received in the Merger will include the period during which the shares of FGBC Common Stock surrendered in exchange therefore were held, provided such shares of FGBC Common Stock were held as capital assets at the Effective Date.
7.3 Press Releases. IBKC and FGBC shall cooperate with each other in the development and distribution of all news releases and other public disclosures with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and except as may be otherwise required by law, neither IBKC nor FGBC shall issue any news release, or other public announcement or communication with respect to this Agreement without first consulting with the other party and using its reasonable best efforts to provide the other party with the proposed news release, public announcement or communication prior to its distribution. It is understood that IBKC shall assume primary responsibility for the preparation of joint press releases relating to this Agreement.
7.4 Applications. The Warrantors shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, as soon as practicable, but not later than thirty (30) days following the date of this Agreement, prepare and file applications with the appropriate Regulatory Authorities seeking the approvals necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Warrantor shall have the right to review and approve in advance all characterizations of the information relating to that party and any of its Subsidiaries that appear in any filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with any Regulatory Authority. In addition, each Warrantor shall furnish to the other party for review a copy of each such filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with any Regulatory Authority prior to its filing. The Warrantors shall provide copies of all such filings to each other within two (2) business days after such filings are made and shall promptly inform each other of all substantive regulatory contacts concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.5 Medical Claims. In the event that IBKC determines that at or subsequent to Closing, it will terminate or consolidate any FGBC or FGBC Subsidiary health plans, upon the request of IBKC, FGBC and its Subsidiaries will use their reasonable best efforts to cause, prior to the Effective Date, their employees to submit promptly all bills and receipts representing claims for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred prior to the effective date of such termination or consolidation.
7.6 FGB Employee 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. Prior to the Effective Date, the FGBC Board of Directors shall adopt a resolution providing that the FGB Employee 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the “Plan”) shall terminate as of the Effective Date. Prior to the Effective Date, FGB, and following the Effective Date, IBERIABANK, shall use their respective reasonable best efforts in good faith to obtain a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, provided IBERIABANK wishes to pursue a favorable determination letter for the Plan (including, but not limited to, making such changes to the Plan and the proposed allocations as may be requested by the Internal Revenue Service as a condition to its issuance of a favorable determination letter). Prior to the Effective Date, FGB, and following the Effective Date, IBERIABANK, will adopt such amendments to the Plan as may be reasonably required by the Internal Revenue Service as a condition to granting such favorable determination letter on termination. Following the effective date of the Plan’s termination, neither FGB, prior to the Effective Date, nor IBERIABANK, following the Effective Date, shall make any distribution from the Plan except as may be required by applicable law, or in accordance with the Plan’s terms in the ordinary course (e.g., due to retirements or terminations of employees), until receipt of such favorable determination letter. Any distributions may, at the recipient’s option, be rolled into a defined contribution plan of IBERIABANK (or IBKC, as the case may be), subject to IBKC’s discretion: (i) to reject any such rollover if it may reasonably jeopardize the qualified status of such IBERIABANK or IBKC plan; and (ii) to reject non-cash rollovers or rollovers of plan loans. In the case of a conflict between the terms of this Section 7.6 and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control; provided, however, in the event of any such conflict, FGB, before the Effective Date, and IBERIABANK, after the Effective Date, shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Plan to be amended to conform to the requirements of this Section 7.6. Additionally, the Plan trustees shall resign and IBKC shall appoint new trustees of the Plan as of the Effective Date.
7.7 Employment Agreements. As of the Effective Date, IBKC agrees that Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and F. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx (the “Employees”) will enter into Employment Agreements with IBKC substantially in the form of Exhibit II and Exhibit III, respectively (the “Post-Merger Employment Agreements”). The Post-Merger Employment Agreements will provide upon termination thereof substantially the same benefits as the Employees’
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current employment agreements provide. The existing employment agreements of the Employees with FGBC and the FGB Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 7.7 (the “Pre-Merger Employment Agreement”) shall be terminated as of the Effective Date and superseded by the Post-Merger Employment Agreements. The Employees shall receive any payments that they are entitled to receive under their existing Pre-Employment Agreements on the Effective Date (Schedule 2.5(a)); provided, however, that no such payments or benefits in connection with the Merger shall constitute an excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code.
7.8 Identified Loans.
(a) On the Effective Date, FGBC shall deliver to IBKC an updated Schedule 1.30 to this Agreement, which shall have been revised solely to remove any Identified Loans that comprise the Additional Cash Payment.
(b) On the Effective Date, IBKC shall establish an account at IBERIABANK (the “Identified Loan Account”) equal to the remaining amount of the Additional Cash Payment not paid on the Effective Date for the benefit of FGBC common shareholders of record at the Effective Date who do not exercise dissenters’ rights in connection with the Merger (the “Specified Shareholders”). The Identified Loan Account shall be determined by majority vote of a committee (the “Committee”) which shall consist of two (2) representatives to be chosen by the FGBC Board of Directors and subsequently by the Xxx County Advisory Board and three (3) representatives to be chosen by IBKC, one of whom shall be IBKC’s Chief Credit Officer. The Committee will meet semiannually. One of each such meetings shall be within thirty (30) days following each anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Anniversary Date”). Special meetings of the Committee shall be held upon the call of any member after receipt of 3 days’ notice by each member which notice may be written, by facsimile, telephone or email. No meetings shall be held unless all members of the Committee are then in attendance.
(c) Not less than thirty (30) days following each Anniversary Date during a period of three years following the Effective Date, IBKC shall distribute from the Identified Loan Account to the Specified Shareholders, on a pro rata basis, a cash payment equal to fifty percent (50%) of recovered estimated losses (to account for tax impact and estimated workout costs) on Identified Loans which, to IBKC’s complete satisfaction, have been (i) paid off at par, (ii) paid off at less than par but in excess of the recovered estimated loss of principal through a short sale or liquidation (including workouts, recovery from collateral and pursuit of guarantees and other obligations); (iii) fully secured by additional collateral, (iv) renewed, or (v) otherwise modified, prior to that Anniversary Date. Such payment which may be made following the third Anniversary Date shall also include any Identified Loan which is then determined to be performing. For purposes of this payment, “performing” shall mean an Identified Loan which has been determined to be a “pass rated credit” under IBERIABANK’s most recent credit risk assessment process. During such three-year period, IBKC shall use its reasonable best efforts to maximize collections and preserve the value of the Identified Loan Account, in accordance with prudent and reasonable commercial practices and procedures appropriate to the administration of the Identified Loans.
SECTION VIII.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS TO CONSUMMATE
The obligation of each Warrantor to consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions, unless waived by such party pursuant to Section 10.5 of this Agreement:
8.1 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the other Warrantor set forth or referred to in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the time of the Closing with the same effect as though all such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the time of the Closing, except (i) for any such representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such date or (ii) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, in each case subject to the standard set forth in Section 5.21 hereof.
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8.2 Performance of Agreements and Covenants. Each and all of the agreements and covenants of the other Warrantor to be performed and complied with pursuant to this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby prior to the time of the Closing shall have been duly performed and complied with by it in all material respects.
8.3 Certificates. Each Warrantor shall have delivered to the other Warrantor a certificate, dated as of the time of the Closing and signed on its behalf by its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer, to the effect that the conditions of its obligations set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 of this Agreement with respect to it have been satisfied, all in such reasonable detail as the other Warrantor shall request.
8.4 Shareholder Approval. The shareholders of FGBC shall have approved this Agreement, the Merger and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, as and to the extent required by law and by the provisions of the governing instruments of FGBC, and FGBC shall have furnished to IBKC certified copies of resolutions duly adopted by its shareholders evidencing the same. Holders of not more than 10% of the FGBC Common Stock shall have exercised statutory rights of dissent and appraisal pursuant to the FBCA.
8.5 Consents and Approvals. All material approvals and authorizations of, filings and registrations with, and notifications to, all Regulatory Authorities required for consummation of the Merger and the Bank Merger shall have been obtained or made and shall be in full force and effect and all waiting periods required by law shall have expired. Any approval obtained from any Regulatory Authority which is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby shall not contain any material adverse non-standard term or condition which in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of IBKC so materially and adversely affects the economic or business assumptions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement so as to render inadvisable the consummation of the Merger and the Bank Merger. To the extent that any lease, license, loan or financing agreement or other contract or agreement to which Warrantor is a party requires the consent of or waiver from the other party thereto as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such consent or waiver shall have been obtained, unless the failure to obtain such consent or waiver would not, following the Merger, have a Material Adverse Effect on such Warrantor.
8.6 Legal Proceedings. No Warrantor shall be subject to any order, decree or injunction of a court or agency of competent jurisdiction which enjoins or prohibits consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
8.7 Tax Matters. Each Warrantor shall have received the tax opinion addressed to it referred to in Section 7.2 of this Agreement. No payments or benefits to officers of FGBC or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger shall constitute an excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code (or, if so, FGBC may satisfy this condition by reducing the Merger Consideration by an amount equal to the additional income tax incurred by FGBC and its Subsidiaries as a result of the disallowance of the deduction applicable thereto).
8.8 Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall be effective under the 1933 Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC.
8.9 Simultaneous Transactions. The Warrantors shall have executed all documents and taken all such other action as are necessary to effectuate the Merger other than any post-Merger filings necessary to report and complete the Merger, and the Warrantors shall have irrevocably authorized their agents to make any such post-Merger filings in its behalf.
8.10 NASDAQ Listing. The shares of IBKC common stock to be issued in the Merger shall have been authorized for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
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8.11 Payment of Merger Consideration. As a condition to FGBC’s obligation to consummate the Merger, IBKC shall have delivered the Merger Consideration to the Exchange Agent on or before the Closing Date and the Exchange Agent shall provide FGBC with a certificate evidencing such delivery.
8.12 No Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2011, no event has occurred or circumstance arisen that, individually or in the aggregate, has had a Material Adverse Effect on the other Warrantor.
8.13. FGBC Preferred Stock and FGBC Warrants. FGBC shall have redeemed fully all outstanding shares of FGBC Preferred Stock in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of FGBC, as amended, and all outstanding FGBC Warrants shall have been exercised or terminated pursuant to their terms.
8.14 Employment Agreements. Pursuant to Section 7.7 of this Agreement, all Pre-Merger Employment Agreements shall have been terminated, and the Post-Merger Employment Agreements shall have been executed by the parties and shall be effective as of the Effective Date.
8.15 Fairness Opinion. FGBC shall have received a written opinion from Syndicated Capital, Inc., FGBC’s financial advisor, dated as of the date of this Agreement and not subsequently withdrawn prior to the Effective Date, to the effect that, as of such date, the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of FGBC Common Stock is fair to FGBC’s shareholders from a financial point of view.
SECTION IX.
TERMINATION
9.1 Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and notwithstanding the approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of FGBC, this Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) By mutual consent of the Boards of Directors of the Warrantors; or
(b) By the Board of Directors of either Warrantor (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement) in the event of a material breach by the other Warrantor of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of such other Warrantor contained herein which would result in the failure to satisfy the closing condition set forth in Section 8.1 or 8.2 of this Agreement, which breach cannot be or has not been cured within thirty (30) days after the giving of a written notice to the breaching Warrantor of such material breach; or
(c) By the Board of Directors of either Warrantor in the event that the Merger shall not have been consummated within twelve (12) months after the date of this Agreement; or
(d) By the Board of Directors of either Warrantor in the event any approval of any Regulatory Authority required for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been denied by final non-appealable action of such Regulatory Authority or if any such action taken by such Regulatory Authority is not appealed within the time limit for appeal; or
(e) By the Board of Directors of IBKC, in the event any such approval of any Regulatory Authority required for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby is conditioned upon the satisfaction of any material adverse condition or requirement that, in the reasonable opinion of IBKC, would so materially adversely affect its business or the economic benefits of the Merger as to render consummation of the Merger inadvisable or unduly burdensome, and the time period for appeals and request for reconsideration has run; or
(f) By the Board of Directors of either Warrantor, if the shareholders of FGBC fail to approve this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby at the Shareholders Meeting; or
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(g) By the Board of Directors of either Warrantor (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement) in the event that any of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such Warrantor to consummate the Merger cannot be satisfied or fulfilled within ten (10) months after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that such ten-month period may be extended by the Board of Directors of either Warrantor for up to an additional sixty (60) days if necessary to obtain all material approvals and authorizations of Regulatory Authorities required under 8.5 of this Agreement; or
(h) By the Board of Directors of IBKC if the Board of Directors of FGBC shall, or shall have resolved to withdraw, modify or change its recommendation to FGBC’s shareholders of this Agreement or the Merger, or to recommend any Acquisition Proposal other than the Merger; or
(i) By the Board of Directors of either Warrantor if the other Warrantor has experienced, or is reasonably likely to experience, a Material Adverse Effect, which is not remedied or cured within thirty (30) days after notice of intention to terminate is given by the Warrantor invoking this Section 9.1(i), which notice shall specify the nature of the matter or matters constituting such Material Adverse Effect and which are the basis of such intention; provided, however, that the right to terminate that is specified in such notice of intention shall itself terminate unless notice of termination is given by such Warrantor within fifteen (15) days following the end of such remedial or curative period; or
(k) By the Board of Directors of FGBC, pursuant to Section 6.8(d).
9.2 Effect of Termination.
(a) In the event of the termination and abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1 of this Agreement, this Agreement shall become void and have no effect and the parties hereto (and the Subsidiaries of the parties and the officers and directors of the parties and their Subsidiaries) will be relieved of all obligations and liabilities under this Agreement, except that: (i) the provisions of Sections IX and X hereof shall survive any such termination and abandonment; (ii) a termination pursuant to Section 9.1(b) of this Agreement shall not relieve a breaching Warrantor from liability for any breach giving rise to such termination and the provisions of Section 9.2(c) or (d), as applicable; (iii) each Warrantor shall remain obligated under, and liable for any breach of, any of the provisions of this Agreement that survive its termination.
(b) In the event this Agreement is terminated by IBKC (i) pursuant to Section 9.1(b) hereof because of a willful breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement by FGBC, or (ii) pursuant to Section 9.1(f) because of the failure of the shareholders of FGBC to approve the Merger and this Agreement; or (iii) pursuant to Section 9.1(h) hereof because the Board of Directors of FGBC shall have withdrawn, modified or changed its recommendation to FGBC’s shareholders, or by FGBC pursuant to Section 9.1(k) hereof, and within twelve (12) months after the date of any such termination FGBC, without IBKC’s prior written consent, accepts in a written agreement an Acquisition Proposal, then FGBC shall pay IBKC $2.0 million (the “Termination Fee”), which shall be paid not later than the fifth Business Day following the date FGBC accepts such Acquisition Proposal. Upon payment of the Termination Fee pursuant to this Section 9.2(b), IBKC will not have any other rights or claims against FGBC or its Subsidiaries, or their respective officers and directors, under this Agreement.
(c) In the event this Agreement is terminated by FGBC (i) pursuant to Section 9.1(b) hereof because of a willful breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement by IBKC, or (ii) pursuant to Section 9.1(e) hereof, then IBKC shall pay FGBC $2.0 million (the “Termination Fee”) not later than the fifth Business Day following the date FGBC provides notice to IBKC of its termination and the reasons for such termination. Upon payment of the Termination Fee pursuant to this Section 9.2(c), FGBC will not have any other rights or claims against IBKC or its Subsidiaries, or their respective officers and directors, under this Agreement.
(d) In the event this Agreement is terminated as a result of IBKC’s failure to satisfy any of its representations, warranties or covenants set forth herein, IBKC shall reimburse FGBC for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to the Merger in an amount not to exceed $250,000; provided however, that this provision
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shall not apply in circumstances in which FGBC is entitled to a Termination Fee. The expense reimbursement provided for in this Section 9.2(d) shall be FGBC’s sole and exclusive remedy and shall be deemed to be liquidated damages.
(e) In the event this Agreement is terminated as a result of FGBC’s failure to satisfy any of its representations, warranties or covenants set forth herein, FGBC shall reimburse IBKC for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to the Merger in an amount not to exceed $250,000; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply in circumstances in which IBKC is entitled to a Termination Fee. The expense reimbursement provided for in this Section 9.2(e) shall be IBKC’s sole and exclusive remedy and shall be deemed to be liquidated damages.
9.3 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The respective representations, warranties, obligations, covenants and agreements of the Warrantors shall not survive the Effective Date, except for those covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement which by their terms apply in whole or in part after the Effective Date; provided, however, that no such representations, warranties or covenants shall be deemed to be terminated or extinguished so as to deprive any Warrantor (or any director, officer or controlling Person thereof) of any defense in law or equity which otherwise would be available against the claims of any Person, the aforesaid representations, warranties and covenants being material inducements to consummation by the Warrantors of the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses, incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and expenses of its own financial or other consultants, investment bankers, accountants and counsel.
(b) Final settlement with respect to payment of fees and expenses by one party to the other hereunder shall be made within thirty (30) days of the termination of this Agreement (except to the extent provided otherwise in Section 9.2(b)).
10.2 Brokers and Finders. Except as set forth on Schedule 10.2, FGBC represents and warrants that neither it nor any of its officers, directors, employees, affiliates or Subsidiaries has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fees, investment bankers’ fees, brokerage fees, commissions or finders’ fees in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
10.3 Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement, including the exhibits and schedules hereto, and the Confidentiality Agreement contain the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder, and such agreements supersede all prior arrangements or understanding with respect thereto, written or oral. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto or their respective successors, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement except for (i) the rights of shareholders of FGBC to receive the Merger Consideration following the Effective Date and (ii) the provisions of Section II, Section 4.3, Section 4.4 and Section 7.8 which shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Persons referenced therein.
10.4 Amendments. To the extent permitted by law, this Agreement may be amended by a subsequent writing signed by each of the parties hereto upon the approval of the boards of directors of such parties; provided, however, that the provisions of this Agreement relating to the manner or basis in which shares of FGBC Common Stock will be exchanged for the Merger Consideration shall not be amended after the FGBC Shareholders Meeting without the requisite approval of the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of FGBC Common Stock entitled to vote thereon. The parties hereto may, without approval of their respective boards of directors, make such
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technical changes to this Agreement, not inconsistent with the purposes hereof, as may be required to effect or facilitate any governmental approval or acceptance of the Merger or of this Agreement or to effect or facilitate any filing or recording required for the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. FGBC agrees to take such reasonable actions requested by IBKC as may be reasonably necessary to modify the structure of, or to substitute parties to (so long as such substitute is a Subsidiary of IBKC) the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that such modification shall not change the amount, kind, manner or basis in which shares of FGBC Common Stock will be exchanged for IBKC Common Stock or abrogate the covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement, result in adverse tax consequences to the shareholders of FGBC, materially delay consummation of the Merger or jeopardize the timely receipt of Regulatory Approvals.
10.5 Waivers. Prior to the Effective Date, each party hereto, acting through its Board of Directors or chief executive officer or other authorized officer, shall, as to such party’s rights hereunder, have the right (i) to waive any default in the performance of any term of this Agreement by any other party, (ii) to waive or extend the time for the compliance or fulfillment by any other party of any and all of the obligations under this Agreement, and (iii) to waive any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such party under this Agreement. No waiver or modification of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, or limitation herein contained shall be valid unless in writing and duly executed by the party to be charged therewith. No evidence of any waiver or modification shall be offered or received in evidence at any proceeding, arbitration, or litigation between the parties hereto arising out of or affecting this Agreement, or the rights or obligations of the parties hereunder, unless such waiver or modification is in writing, duly executed as aforesaid.
10.6 No Assignment. No party hereto may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any other Persons, without the express written consent of the other parties and any such purported assignment without such requisite consent shall be null and void.
10.7 Notices. All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered by hand, by facsimile transmission, by registered or certified mail, postage pre-paid, or by overnight courier, to the Persons at the addresses set forth below (or at such other address as may be provided hereunder), and shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so delivered:
If to IBKC and/or IBERIABANK:
IBERIABANK Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
With a copy to:
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Xxxxxxx, L.L.P.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx., Esq.
If to FGBC and/or FGB:
Florida Gulf Bancorp, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
With a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, PA
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000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
10.8 Enforcement Costs. If any civil action, arbitration or other legal proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default or misrepresentation in connection with any provision of this Agreement, the successful or prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, sales and use taxes and all expenses even if not taxable as court costs (including, without limitation, all such fees, taxes, costs and expenses incident to arbitration, appellate, bankruptcy and post-judgment proceedings), incurred in that proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which such party or parties may be entitled. Attorneys’ fees shall include, without limitation, paralegal fees, investigative fees, administrative costs, sales and use taxes and all other charges billed by the attorney to the prevailing party (including any fees and costs associated with collecting such amounts).
10.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
10.10 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile signature.
10.11 Captions. The captions contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties to this Agreement has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf and attested by officers thereunto duly authorized all as of the day and year first above written.
IBERIABANK CORPORATION | FLORIDA GULF BANCORP, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Xxxxx X. Xxxx | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | President and Chief Executive Officer |