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Exhibit 2.2
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of October 22, 1995 (the "Agreement"),
by and between First National BancorpFirst National Bancorp, a Georgia
corporation ("Issuer"), and Regions Financial Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Grantee").
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into that certain Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization, dated as of October 22, 1995 (the "Merger Agreement"),
providing for, among other things, the merger of Issuer with and into a wholly
owned Subsidiary of Grantee with such Subsidiary as the surviving entity; and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's execution of the
Merger Agreement, Grantee has required that Issuer agree, and Issuer has
agreed, to grant Grantee the Option (as defined below);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective representations,
warranties, covenants, and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger
Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Issuer and Grantee agree
as follows:
1. DEFINED TERMS. Capitalized terms which are used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
2. GRANT OF OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to
purchase up to 4,089,234 shares (as adjusted as set forth herein) (the "Option
Shares," which shall include the Option Shares before and after any transfer of
such Option Shares) of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Issuer Common
Stock"), of Issuer at a purchase price per Option Share (the "Purchase Price")
equal to $27.00.
3. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) Provided that (i) Grantee shall not be in material breach
of the agreements or covenants contained in this Agreement or the Merger
Agreement, and (ii) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order
against the delivery of shares covered by the Option issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction in the United States shall be in effect, Grantee may
exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time
following the occurrence of a Purchase Event; provided that the Option shall
terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the earliest to occur of
(A) the Effective Time, (B) termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance
with the terms thereof prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a
Preliminary Purchase Event (other than a termination of the Merger Agreement by
Grantee pursuant to Section 10.1(b) (but only if such termination was a result
of a willful breach by Issuer) or by Grantee pursuant to Section 10.1(c)
thereof or by Grantee and Issuer pursuant to Section 10.1(a) thereof if
Grantee shall at that time have been entitled to terminate the Merger Agreement
pursuant to Section 10.1(b)(but only if such termination was a result of a
willful breach by Issuer)
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or Section 10.1(c) thereof (each a "Default Termination")), (C) 15 months after
the termination of the Merger Agreement by Grantee pursuant to a Default
Termination, and (D) 15 months after termination of the Merger Agreement (other
than pursuant to a Default Termination) following the occurrence of a Purchase
Event or a Preliminary Purchase Event; provided, further, that any purchase of
shares upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with
applicable law, including, without limitation, the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"). The rights set forth in Section 8 shall
terminate when the right to exercise the Option terminates (other than as a
result of a complete exercise of the Option) as set forth herein.
(b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means any of the
following events subsequent to the date of this Agreement:
(i) without Grantee's prior written consent, Issuer shall
have authorized, recommended, publicly proposed, or publicly announced
an intention to authorize, recommend, or propose, or entered into an
agreement with any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) to effect an Acquisition Transaction (as defined below). As
used herein, the term Acquisition Transaction shall mean (A) a merger,
consolidation, or similar transaction involving Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than transactions solely between Issuer's
Subsidiaries), (B) except as permitted pursuant to Section 7.2 of the
Merger Agreement, the disposition, by sale, lease, exchange, or
otherwise, of Assets of Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries representing
in either case 20% or more of the consolidated Assets of Issuer and its
Subsidiaries, or (C) the issuance, sale, or other disposition of
(including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange, or any
similar transaction) securities representing 20% or more of the voting
power of Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (any of the foregoing an
"Acquisition Transaction"); or
(ii) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (as such term is
defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of or the
right to acquire beneficial ownership of, or any "group" (as such term
is defined under the Exchange Act) shall have been formed which
beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of,
20% or more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock.
(c) As used herein, a "Preliminary Purchase Event" means any of
the following events:
(i) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) shall have commenced (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2
under the Exchange Act), or shall have filed a registration statement
under the Securities Act with respect to, a tender offer or exchange
offer to purchase any shares of Issuer Common Stock such that, upon
consummation of such offer, such person would own or control 15% or more
of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock (such an offer
being referred to herein as a "Tender Offer" or an "Exchange Offer,"
respectively); or
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(ii) the holders of Issuer Common Stock shall not have
approved the Merger Agreement at the meeting of such stockholders held
for the purpose of voting on the Merger Agreement, such meeting shall
not have been held or shall have been canceled prior to termination of
the Merger Agreement, or Issuer's Board of Directors shall have
withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Grantee the recommendation
of Issuer's Board of Directors with respect to the Merger Agreement, in
each case after it shall have been publicly announced that any person
(other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) shall have (A) made,
or disclosed an intention to make, a proposal to engage in an
Acquisition Transaction, (B) commenced a Tender Offer or filed a
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an
Exchange Offer, or (C) filed an application (or given a notice), whether
in draft or final form, under the BHC Act, the Bank Merger Act, or the
Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, for approval to engage in an
Acquisition Transaction.
As used in this Agreement, "person" shall have the meaning specified in
Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(d) In the event Grantee wishes to exercise the Option, it shall
send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein referred to as
the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of Option Shares it intends
to purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier
than three business days nor later than 15 business days from the Notice Date
for the closing (the "Closing") of such purchase (the "Closing Date"). If
prior notification to or approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board") or any other regulatory authority
is required in connection with such purchase, Issuer shall cooperate with
Grantee in the filing of the required notice or application for approval and
the obtaining of such approval and the Closing shall occur immediately
following such regulatory approvals (and any mandatory waiting periods).
4. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES.
(a) On each Closing Date, Grantee shall (i) pay to Issuer, in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by
Issuer, an amount equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of
Option Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date, and (ii) present and
surrender this Agreement to the Issuer at the address of the Issuer specified
in Section 13(f).
(b) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of
immediately available funds and surrender of this Agreement as provided in
Section 4(a), (i) Issuer shall deliver to Grantee (A) a certificate or
certificates representing the Option Shares to be purchased at such Closing,
which Option Shares shall be free and clear of all liens, claims, charges, and
encumbrances of any kind whatsoever and subject to no pre-emptive rights, and
(B) if the Option is exercised in part only, an executed new agreement with the
same terms as this Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the balance of
the shares of Issuer Common Stock purchasable hereunder, and (ii) Grantee shall
deliver to Issuer a letter agreeing that Grantee shall not offer to sell or
otherwise
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dispose of such Option Shares in violation of applicable federal and state law
or of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) In addition to any other legend that is required by
applicable law, certificates for the Option Shares delivered at each Closing
shall be endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as
follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER
22, 1995. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER
HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT BY THE ISSUER OF A WRITTEN REQUEST
THEREFOR.
It is understood and agreed that the above legend shall be removed by delivery
of substitute certificate(s) without such legend if Grantee shall have
delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion
of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and its
counsel, to the effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the
Securities Act.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ISSUER. Issuer hereby
represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals referred to
herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Issuer. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other action to
authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue, and, at all times from
the date hereof until the obligation to deliver Issuer Common Stock upon
the exercise of the Option terminates, will have reserved for issuance,
upon exercise of the Option, the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock
necessary for Grantee to exercise the Option, and Issuer will take all
necessary corporate action to authorize and reserve for issuance all
additional shares of Issuer Common Stock or other securities which may
be issued pursuant to Section 7 upon exercise of the Option. The shares
of Issuer Common Stock to be issued upon due exercise of the Option,
including all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities which may be issuable pursuant to Section 7, upon issuance
pursuant hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable, and shall be delivered free and clear of all liens,
claims, charges, and encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever,
including any preemptive rights of any stockholder of Issuer.
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6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTS OF GRANTEE. Grantee hereby
represents and warrants to Issuer that:
(a) Grantee has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals or consents
referred to herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Grantee. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
(b) This Option is not being, and any Option Shares or other
securities acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be,
acquired with a view to the public distribution thereof and will not be
transferred or otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered
or exempt from registration under the Securities Laws.
7. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, ETC.
(a) In the event of any change in Issuer Common Stock by
reason of a stock dividend, stock split, split-up, recapitalization,
combination, exchange of shares, or similar transaction, the type and number of
shares or securities subject to the Option, and the Purchase Price therefor,
shall be adjusted appropriately, and proper provision shall be made in the
agreements governing such transaction so that Grantee shall receive, upon
exercise of the Option, the number and class of shares or other securities or
property that Grantee would have received in respect of Issuer Common Stock if
the Option had been exercised immediately prior to such event, or the record
date therefor, as applicable. If any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
are issued after the date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to an event
described in the first sentence of this Section 7(a)), the number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock subject to the Option shall be adjusted so that, after such
issuance, it, together with any shares of Issuer Common Stock previously issued
pursuant hereto, equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock
then issued and outstanding, without giving effect to any shares subject to or
issued pursuant to the Option.
(b) In the event that Issuer shall enter in an agreement: (i) to
consolidate with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries, and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger; (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee or one
of its Subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then
outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged
for stock or other securities of Issuer or any other person or cash or any
other property or the outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock immediately
prior to such merger shall after such merger represent less than 50% of the
outstanding shares and share equivalents of the merged company; or (iii) to
sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its Assets to any
person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each such
case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provisions so
that the Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon
the terms and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged for,
an option
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(the "Substitute Option"), at the election of Grantee, of either (x) the
Acquiring Corporation (as defined below), (y) any person that controls the
Acquiring Corporation, or (z) in the case of a merger described in clause (ii),
the Issuer (in each case, such person being referred to as the "Substitute
Option Issuer").
(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the
Option, provided that, if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal
reasons, be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible
and in no event less advantageous to Grantee. The Substitute Option Issuer
shall also enter into an agreement with the then-holder or holders of the
Substitute Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement, which shall
be applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number
of shares of the Substitute Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as is equal to
the Assigned Value (as hereinafter defined) multiplied by the number of shares
of the Issuer Common Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable,
divided by the Average Price (as hereinafter defined). The exercise price of
the Substitute Option per share of the Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute
Purchase Price") shall then be equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by a
fraction in which the numerator is the number of shares of the Issuer Common
Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is
the number of shares for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (x) the continuing
or surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if
other than Issuer), (y) Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the
continuing or surviving person, and (z) the transferee of all or any
substantial part of the Issuer's Assets (or the Assets of its
Subsidiaries).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock
issued by the Substitute Option Issuer upon exercise of the Substitute
Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (x) the
price per share of the Issuer Common Stock at which a Tender Offer or
Exchange Offer therefor has been made by any person (other than Grantee),
(y) the price per share of the Issuer Common Stock to be paid by any
person (other than the Grantee) pursuant to an agreement with Issuer, and
(z) the highest closing sales price per share of Issuer Common Stock
quoted on the Nasdaq National Market (or if Issuer Common Stock is not
quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, the highest bid price per share on
any day as quoted on the principal trading market or securities exchange
on which such shares are traded as reported by a recognized source chosen
by Grantee) within the six-month period immediately preceding the
agreement; provided, that in the event of a sale of less than all of
Issuer's Assets, the Assigned Value shall be the sum of the price paid in
such sale for such Assets and the current market value of the remaining
Assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by Grantee (or by a majority in interest of the
Grantees if there shall
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be more than one Grantee (a "Grantee Majority")), divided by the number
of shares of the Issuer Common Stock outstanding at the time of such
sale. In the event that an exchange offer is made for the Issuer Common
Stock or an agreement is entered into for a merger or consolidation
involving consideration other than cash, the value of the securities or
other property issuable or deliverable in exchange for the Issuer Common
Stock shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking
firm mutually selected by Grantee and Issuer (or if applicable, Acquiring
Corporation), provided that if a mutual selection cannot be made as to
such investment banking firm, it shall be selected by Grantee. (If there
shall be more than one Grantee, any such selection shall be made by a
Grantee Majority.)
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price
of a share of the Substitute Common Stock for the one year immediately
preceding the consolidation, merger, or sale in question, but in no event
higher than the closing price of the shares of the Substitute Common
Stock on the day preceding such consolidation, merger, or sale; provided
that if Issuer is the Issuer of the Substitute Option, the Average Price
shall be computed with respect to a share of common stock issued by
Issuer, the person merging into Issuer or by any company which controls
or is controlled by such merger person, as Grantee may elect.
(f) In no event pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs
shall the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate
of the shares of the Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of
the Substitute Option. In the event that the Substitute Option would be
exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the shares of Substitute
Common Stock but for this clause (f), the Substitute Option Issuer shall make a
cash payment to Grantee equal to the excess of (i) the value of the Substitute
Option without giving effect to the limitation in this clause (f) over (ii) the
value of the Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in this
clause (f). This difference in value shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by Grantee (or a Grantee Majority).
(g) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (b) of this Section 7 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any
person that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the
obligations of Issuer hereunder and take all other actions that may be
necessary so that the provisions of this Section 7 are given full force and
effect (including, without limitation, any action that may be necessary so that
the shares of Substitute Common Stock are in no way distinguishable from or
have lesser economic value than other shares of common stock issued by the
Substitute Option Issuer).
(h) The provisions of Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 shall apply, with
appropriate adjustments, to any securities for which the Option becomes
exercisable pursuant to this Section 7 and, as applicable, references in such
sections to "Issuer," "Option," "Purchase Price," and "Issuer Common Stock"
shall be deemed to be references to "Substitute Option Issuer," "Substitute
Option," "Substitute Purchase Price," and "Substitute Common Stock,"
respectively.
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8. REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF GRANTEE.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3(a), at the request
of Grantee at any time commencing upon the first occurrence of a Repurchase
Event (as defined in Section 8(d)) and ending 12 months immediately thereafter,
Issuer shall repurchase from Grantee the Option and all shares of Issuer Common
Stock purchased by Grantee pursuant hereto with respect to which Grantee then
has beneficial ownership. The date on which Grantee exercises its rights under
this Section 8 is referred to as the "Request Date." Such repurchase shall be
at an aggregate price (the "Section 8 Repurchase Consideration") equal to the
sum of:
(i) the aggregate Purchase Price paid by Grantee for any
shares of Issuer Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Option with
respect to which Grantee then has beneficial ownership;
(ii) the excess, if any, of (x) the Applicable Price (as
defined below) for each share of Issuer Common Stock over (y) the
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7), multiplied
by the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the
Option has not been exercised; and
(iii) the excess, if any, of the Applicable Price over the
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7) paid (or,
in the case of Option Shares with respect to which the Option has been
exercised but the Closing Date has not occurred, payable) by Grantee for
each share of Issuer Common Stock with respect to which the Option has
been exercised and with respect to which Grantee then has beneficial
ownership, multiplied by the number of such shares.
(b) If Grantee exercises its rights under this Section 8, Issuer
shall, within ten business days after the Request Date, pay the Section 8
Repurchase Consideration to Grantee in immediately available funds, and
contemporaneously with such payment Grantee shall surrender to Issuer the
Option and the certificates evidencing the shares of Issuer Common Stock
purchased thereunder with respect to which Grantee then has beneficial
ownership, and Grantee shall warrant that it has sole record and beneficial
ownership of such shares and that the same are then free and clear of all
liens, claims, charges, and encumbrances of any kind whatsoever.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that prior notification to or
approval of the Federal Reserve Board or other regulatory authority is required
in connection with the payment of all or any portion of the Section 8
Repurchase Consideration, Grantee shall have the ongoing option to revoke its
request for repurchase pursuant to Section 8, in whole or in part, or to
require that Issuer deliver from time to time that portion of the Section 8
Repurchase Consideration that it is not then so prohibited from paying and
promptly file the required notice or application for approval and expeditiously
process the same (and each party shall cooperate with the other in the filing
of any such notice or application and the obtaining of any such approval). If
the Federal Reserve Board or any other regulatory authority disapproves of any
part of Issuer's proposed repurchase pursuant to this Section 8, Issuer shall
promptly give notice of such fact to Grantee. If the Federal Reserve Board or
other agency prohibits the repurchase in part but not in whole, then Grantee
shall have the right (i) to revoke the repurchase request or (ii) to the extent
permitted by
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the Federal Reserve Board or other agency, determine whether the repurchase
should apply to the Option and/or Option Shares and to what extent to each, and
Grantee shall thereupon have the right to exercise the Option as to the number
of Option Shares for which the Option was exercisable at the Request Date less
the sum of the number of shares covered by the Option in respect of which
payment has been made pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) and the number of shares
covered by the portion of the Option (if any) that has been repurchased.
Grantee shall notify Issuer of its determination under the preceding sentence
within five business days of receipt of notice of disapproval of the
repurchase.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all of
Grantee's rights under this Section 8 shall terminate on the date of
termination of this Option pursuant to Section 3(a).
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the "Applicable Price" means
the highest of (i) the highest price per share of Issuer Common Stock paid for
any such share by the person or groups described in Section 8(d)(i), (ii) the
price per share of Issuer Common Stock received by holders of Issuer Common
Stock in connection with any merger or other business combination transaction
described in Section 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii), or 7(b)(iii), or (iii) the highest
closing sales price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq
National Market (or if Issuer Common Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market, the highest bid price per share as quoted on the principal trading
market or securities exchange on which such shares are traded as reported by a
recognized source chosen by Grantee) during the 60 business days preceding the
Request Date; provided, however, that in the event of a sale of less than all
of Issuer's Assets, the Applicable Price shall be the sum of the price paid in
such sale for such Assets and the current market value of the remaining Assets
of Issuer as determined by an independent nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by Grantee and reasonably acceptable to Issuer (which
determination shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement), divided
by the number of shares of the Issuer Common Stock outstanding at the time of
such sale. If the consideration to be offered, paid, or received pursuant to
either of the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall be other than in cash, the
value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith by an independent
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Grantee and
reasonably acceptable to Issuer, which determination shall be conclusive for
all purposes of this Agreement.
(d) As used herein, "Repurchase Event" shall occur if (i) any
person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) shall have acquired
beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, or any "group"
(as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) shall have been formed which
beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 50% or
more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock, or (ii) any of the
transactions described in Section 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii), or 7(b)(iii) shall be
consummated.
10. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Issuer shall, subject to the conditions of subparagraph (c)
below, if requested by Grantee (or if applicable, a Grantee Majority), as
expeditiously as possible prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Laws if necessary in order to permit the sale or other
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disposition of any or all shares of Issuer Common Stock or other securities
that have been acquired by or are issuable to Grantee upon exercise of the
Option in accordance with the intended method of sale or other disposition
stated by Grantee in such request, including, without limitation, a "shelf"
registration statement under Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor
provision, and Issuer shall use its best efforts to qualify such shares or
other securities for sale under any applicable state securities laws.
(b) If Issuer at any time after the exercise of the Option
proposes to register any shares of Issuer Common Stock under the Securities
Laws in connection with an underwritten public offering of such Issuer Common
Stock, Issuer will promptly give written notice to Grantee (and any permitted
transferee) of its intention to do so and, upon the written request of Grantee
(or any such permitted transferee of Grantee) given within 30 days after
receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock intended to be included in such underwritten public
offering by Grantee (or such permitted transferee)), Issuer will cause all such
shares, the holders of which shall have requested participation in such
registration, to be so registered and included in such underwritten public
offering; provided, that Issuer may elect to not cause any such shares to be so
registered (i) if the underwriters in good faith object for valid business
reasons, or (ii) in the case of a registration solely to implement a dividend
reinvestment or similar plan, an employee benefit plan or a registration filed
on Form S-4; provided, further, that such election pursuant to clause (i) may
only be made one time. If some but not all the shares of Issuer Common Stock,
with respect to which Issuer shall have received requests for registration
pursuant to this subparagraph (b), shall be excluded from such registration,
Issuer shall make appropriate allocation of shares to be registered among
Grantee (and any such permitted transferee desiring to register their shares)
and any other person (other than Issuer) who or which is permitted to register
their shares of Issuer Common Stock in connection with such registration pro
rata in the proportion that the number of shares requested to be registered by
each such holder bears to the total number of shares requested to be registered
by all such holders then desiring to have Issuer Common Stock registered for
sale.
(c) Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to cause each
registration statement referred to in subparagraph (a) above to become
effective and to obtain all consents or waivers of other parties which are
required therefor and to keep such registration statement effective, provided,
that Issuer may delay any registration of Option Shares required pursuant to
subparagraph (a) above for a period not exceeding 90 days provided Issuer shall
in good faith determine that any such registration would adversely affect an
offering or contemplated offering of other securities by Issuer, and Issuer
shall not be required to register Option Shares under the Securities Laws
pursuant to subparagraph (a) above:
(i) prior to the earliest of (a) termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1 thereof, (b) failure to obtain
the requisite stockholder approval pursuant to Section 9.1(a) of the
Merger Agreement, and (c) a Purchase Event or a Preliminary Purchase
Event;
(ii) on more than two occasions;
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(iii) more than once during any calendar year;
(iv) within 90 days after the effective date of a
registration referred to in subparagraph (b) above pursuant to which
the holder or holders of the Option Shares concerned were afforded the
opportunity to register such shares under the Securities Laws and such
shares were registered as requested; and
(v) unless a request therefor is made to Issuer by the
holder or holders of at least 25% or more of the aggregate number of
Option Shares then outstanding.
In addition to the foregoing, Issuer shall not be required
to maintain the effectiveness of any registration statement after the
expiration of nine months from the effective date of such registration
statement. Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to make any filings, and
take all steps, under all applicable state securities laws to the extent
necessary to permit the sale or other disposition of the Option Shares so
registered in accordance with the intended method of distribution for such
shares, provided, that Issuer shall not be required to consent to general
jurisdiction or qualify to do business in any state where it is not otherwise
required to so consent to such jurisdiction or to so qualify to do business.
(d) Except where applicable state law prohibits such payments,
Issuer will pay all expenses (including without limitation registration fees,
qualification fees, blue sky fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses
of counsel), accounting expenses, legal expenses, including the reasonable fees
and expenses of one counsel to the holders whose Option Shares are being
registered, printing expenses, expenses of underwriters, excluding discounts
and commissions but including liability insurance if Issuer so desires or the
underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any necessary
special experts) in connection with each registration pursuant to subparagraph
(a) or (b) above (including the related offerings and sales by holders of
Option Shares) and all other qualifications, notifications or exemptions
pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) above. Underwriting discounts and
commissions relating to Option Shares, fees and disbursements of counsel to the
holders of Option Shares being registered, and any other expenses incurred by
such holders in connection with any such registration shall be borne by such
holders.
(e) In connection with any registration under subparagraph (a)
or (b) above Issuer hereby indemnifies the holder of the Option Shares, and
each underwriter thereof, including each person, if any, who controls such
holder or underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
against all expenses, losses, claims, damages, and liabilities caused by any
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement or
prospectus or notification or offering circular (including any amendments or
supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such expenses,
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities of such indemnified party are caused by
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement that was included by Issuer in
any such registration statement or prospectus or notification or offering
circular (including any amendments or supplements thereto) in reliance upon and
in conformity with, information furnished in writing to Issuer by such
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12
indemnified party expressly for use therein, and Issuer and each officer,
director, and controlling person of Issuer shall be indemnified by such holder
of the Option Shares, or by such underwriter, as the case may be, for all such
expenses, losses, claims, damages, and liabilities caused by any untrue, or
alleged untrue, statement, that was included by Issuer in any such registration
statement or prospectus or notification or offering circular (including any
amendments or supplements thereto) in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
information furnished in writing to Issuer by such holder or such underwriter,
as the case may be, expressly for such use.
Promptly upon receipt by a party indemnified under this
subparagraph (e) of notice of the commencement of any action against such
indemnified party in respect of which indemnity or reimbursement may be sought
against any indemnifying party under this subparagraph (e), such indemnified
party shall notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of
such action, but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve it of any liability which it may otherwise have to any indemnified
party under this subparagraph (e). In case notice of commencement of any such
action shall be given to the indemnifying party as above provided, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it
may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to
assume the defense of such action at its own expense, with counsel chosen by it
and satisfactory to such indemnified party. The indemnified party shall have
the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the
defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel (other than
reasonable costs of investigation) shall be paid by the indemnified party
unless (i) the indemnifying party either agrees to pay the same, (ii) the
indemnifying party falls to assume the defense of such action with counsel'
satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (iii) the indemnified party has been
advised by counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to the
indemnifying party that may be contrary to the interest of the indemnified
party, in which case the indemnifying party shall be entitled to assume the
defense of such action notwithstanding its obligation to bear fees and expenses
of such counsel. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement
entered into without its consent, which consent may not be unreasonably
withheld.
If the indemnification provided for in this subparagraph (e)
is unavailable to a party otherwise entitled to be indemnified in respect of
any expenses, losses, claims, damages, or liabilities referred to herein, then
the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such party otherwise entitled
to be indemnified, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such party
to be indemnified as a result of such expenses, losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by Issuer, the selling stockholders, and the underwriters
from the offering of the securities and also the relative fault of Issuer, the
selling stockholders, and the underwriters in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such expenses, losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the expenses, losses, claims,
damages, and liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal
or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim; provided, that in no case shall
the holders of the Option Shares be responsible, in the aggregate, for any
amount in excess of the net offering proceeds attributable to its Option Shares
included in the offering. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled
to contribution from
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13
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any
obligation by any holder to indemnify shall be several and not joint with other
holders.
In connection with any registration pursuant to subparagraph
(a) or (b) above, Issuer and each holder of any Option Shares (other than
Grantee) shall enter into an agreement containing the indemnification
provisions of this subparagraph (e).
(f) Issuer shall comply with all reporting requirements and will
do all such other things as may be necessary to permit the expeditious sale at
any time of any Option Shares by the holder thereof in accordance with and to
the extent permitted by any rule or regulation promulgated by the SEC from time
to time, including, without limitation, Rules 144 and 144A. Issuer shall at
its expense provide the holder of any Option Shares with any information
necessary in connection with the completion and filing of any reports or forms
required to be filed by them under the Securities Laws, or required pursuant to
any state securities laws or the rules of any stock exchange.
(g) Issuer will pay all stamp taxes in connection with the
issuance and the sale of the Option Shares and in connection with the exercise
of the Option, and will save Grantee harmless, without limitation as to time,
against any and all liabilities, with respect to all such taxes.
11. QUOTATION; LISTING. If Issuer Common Stock or any other
securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option are then authorized for
quotation or trading or listing on the Nasdaq National Market or any other
securities exchange or any automated quotations system maintained by a
self-regulatory organization, Issuer, upon the request of Grantee, will
promptly file an application, if required, to authorize for quotation or
trading or listing the shares of Issuer Common Stock or other securities to be
acquired upon exercise of the Option on the Nasdaq National Market or any other
securities exchange or any automated quotations system maintained by a
self-regulatory organization and will use its best efforts to obtain approval,
if required, of such quotation or listing as soon as practicable.
12. DIVISION OF OPTION. This Agreement (and the Option granted
hereby) are exchangeable, without expense, at the option of Grantee, upon
presentation and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer
for other Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling
the holder thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option"
as used herein include any other Agreements and related Options for which this
Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by
Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft,
destruction, or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft,
or destruction) of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender
and cancellation of this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and
deliver a new Agreement of like tenor and date. Any such new Agreement
executed and delivered shall constitute an additional contractual obligation on
the part of Issuer, whether or not the Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed, or
mutilated shall at any time be enforceable by anyone.
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14
13. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) EXPENSES. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11, each
of the parties hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it
or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder,
including fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, investment
bankers, accountants, and counsel.
(b) WAIVER AND AMENDMENT. Any provision of this Agreement may
be waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such
provision. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered, or
supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement
executed by the parties hereto.
(c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY; SEVERABILITY.
This Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement and the other documents and
instruments referred to herein and therein, between Grantee and Issuer (a)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any person other
than the parties hereto (other than any transferees of the Option Shares or any
permitted transferee of this Agreement pursuant to Section 13(h)) any rights or
remedies hereunder. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or state
regulatory agency to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants, and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired, or
invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines that
the Option does not permit Grantee to acquire, or does not require Issuer to
repurchase, the full number of shares of Issuer Common Stock as provided in
Sections 3 and 8 (as adjusted pursuant to Section 7), it is the express
intention of Issuer to allow Grantee to acquire or to require Issuer to
repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible without any
amendment or modification hereof.
(d) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard
to any applicable conflicts of law rules.
(e) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings contained
herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (with confirmation), or mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested) to the parties at the following addresses (or at
such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
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If to Issuer to: First National Bancorp
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy Number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President, Chief Administrative, and
Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to: Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Xxxx Tower
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy Number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: X. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
and a copy to: Powell, Goldstein, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx
Sixteenth Floor
191 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy Number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx XX
If to Grantee to: Regions Financial Corporation
000 X. 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy Number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Vice Chairman and Executive
Financial Officer
with a copy to: Regions Financial Corporation
000 X. 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy Number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
General Counsel
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may
be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall
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16
become effective when both counterparts have been signed, it being understood
that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.
(h) ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests, or obligations hereunder or under the Option shall be assigned by
any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without
the prior written consent of the other party, except that Grantee may assign
this Agreement to a wholly owned Subsidiary of Grantee and Grantee may assign
its rights hereunder in whole or in part after the occurrence of a Purchase
Event. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding
upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the parties and their
respective successors and assigns.
(i) FURTHER ASSURANCES. In the event of any exercise of the
Option by Grantee, Issuer and Grantee shall execute and deliver all other
documents and instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably
necessary in order to consummate the transactions provided for by such
exercise.
(j) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that this
Agreement may be enforced by either party through specific performance,
injunctive relief, and other equitable relief. Both parties further agree to
waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection
with the obtaining of any such equitable relief and that this provision is
without prejudice to any other rights that the parties hereto may have for any
failure to perform this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Issuer and Grantee have caused this Stock Option
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the day and year first written above.
ATTEST: FIRST NATIONAL BANCORP
By: /s/ C. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------- -------------------
C. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Secretary President, Chief Administrative, and
Chief Financial Officer
[CORPORATE SEAL]
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ATTEST: REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. By: /s/ J. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------- ----------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. J. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Corporate Secretary Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
[CORPORATE SEAL]
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