THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO
CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN AND TO
RESALE RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated August 30, 1999, between Reliance
Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Issuer"), and North Fork
Bancorporation, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Grantee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement"), which
agreement has been executed by the parties hereto immediately prior to this
Stock Option Agreement (this "Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger
Agreement and in consideration therefor, Issuer has agreed to grant Grantee
the Option (as hereinafter defined);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional,
irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof,
up to 1,708,297 fully paid and nonassessable shares of Issuer's Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), at a price of $29.00 per
share (the "Option Price"); provided, however, that in no event shall the
number of shares of Common Stock for which this Option is exercisable
exceed 19.9% of the Issuer's issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
without giving effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant to the
Option. The number of shares of Common Stock that may be received upon the
exercise of the Option and the Option Price are subject to adjustment as
herein set forth.
(b) In the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are
either (i) issued or otherwise become outstanding after the date of this
Agreement (other than pursuant to this Agreement) or (ii) redeemed,
repurchased, retired or otherwise cease to be outstanding after the date of
this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option
shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate, so that, after such
issuance, such number equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Common Stock
then issued and outstanding without giving effect to any shares subject or
issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained in this Section 1(b) or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize Issuer or Grantee
to breach any provision of the Merger Agreement.
2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the
Option, in whole or part, and from time to time, if, but only if, both an
Initial Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) and a Subsequent
Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) shall have occurred prior to the
occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as hereinafter defined) and
the Holder is not in material beach of the agreements or covenants
contained in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, provided that the
Holder shall have sent the written notice of such exercise (as provided in
subsection (e) of this Section 2) within six months following such
Subsequent Triggering Event (or such longer period as provided in Section
10), provided further, however, that if the Option cannot be exercised on
any day because of any injunction, order or similar restraint issued by a
court of competent jurisdiction, the period during which the Option may be
exercised shall be extended so that the Option shall expire no earlier than
on the tenth business day after such injunction, order or restraint shall
have been dissolved or when such injunction, order or restraint shall have
become permanent and no longer subject to appeal, as the case may be. Each
of the following shall be an "Exercise Termination Event": (i) the
Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger; (ii)
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the provisions
thereof if such termination occurs prior to the occurrence of an Initial
Triggering Event except a termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 9.1(f)
of the Merger Agreement (unless the breach by Issuer giving rise to such
right of termination is non-volitional); or (iii) the passage of 15 months
after termination of the Merger Agreement if such termination follows the
occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event or is a termination by Grantee
pursuant to Section 9.1(f) of the Merger Agreement (unless the breach by
Issuer giving rise to such right of termination is non-volitional).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall
any of Issuer's obligations under this Agreement continue six months beyond
an Exercise Termination Event. The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or
holders of the Option.
(b) The term "Initial Triggering Event" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (each an "Issuer
Subsidiary"), without having received Grantee's prior written consent,
shall have entered into an agreement to engage in an Acquisition
Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the term
"person" for purposes of this Agreement having the meaning assigned
thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and
regulations thereunder) other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries
(each a "Grantee Subsidiary") or the Board of Directors of Issuer
shall have recommended that the stockholders of Issuer approve or
accept any Acquisition Transaction with any person other than Grantee
or a Subsidiary of Grantee. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (w) a merger or consolidation, or
any similar transaction, involving Issuer or any Significant
Subsidiary (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")) of Issuer, (x) a
purchase, lease or other acquisition or assumption of all or a
substantial portion of the assets or deposits of Issuer or any
Significant Subsidiary of Issuer, (y) a purchase or other acquisition
(including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or
otherwise) of securities representing 10% or more of the voting power
of Issuer, or (z) any substantially similar transaction; provided,
however, that in no event shall any merger, consolidation, purchase or
similar transaction involving only the Issuer and one or more of its
Subsidiaries or involving only two or more of such Subsidiaries, be
deemed to be an Acquisition Transaction, provided that any such
transaction is not entered into in violation of the terms of the
Merger Agreement;
(ii) Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary, without having
received Grantee's prior written consent, shall have authorized,
recommended, proposed or publicly announced its intention to
authorize, recommend or propose, an Acquisition Transaction with any
person other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, or the Board of
Directors of Issuer shall have publicly withdrawn or modified, or
publicly announced its intent to withdraw or modify, in any manner
adverse to Grantee, its recommendation that the stockholders of Issuer
approve the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
(iii) Any person, other than Grantee, any Grantee Subsidiary
or any Issuer Subsidiary acting in a fiduciary capacity in the
ordinary course of its business, shall have acquired beneficial
ownership or the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 10% or more
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the term "beneficial
ownership" for purposes of this Agreement having the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, and the rules and
regulations thereunder);
(iv) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
shall have made a bona fide proposal to Issuer or its stockholders by
public announcement or written communication that is or becomes the
subject of public disclosure to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;
(v) After a proposal is made by a third party to Issuer or
its stockholders to engage in an Acquisition Transaction, Issuer shall
have breached any covenant or obligation contained in the Merger
Agreement and such breach (x) would entitle Grantee to terminate the
Merger Agreement and (y) shall not have been cured prior to the Notice
Date (as defined below); or
(vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary, other than in connection with a transaction to which
Grantee has given its prior written consent, shall have filed an
application or notice with the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of
Thrift Supervision or any other federal or state bank regulatory
authority for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.
(c) The term "Subsequent Triggering Event" shall mean either of
the following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) The acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of
20% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock; or
(ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event described
in paragraph (i) of subsection (b) of this Section 2, except that the
percentage referred to in clause (y) shall be 20%.
(d) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the
occurrence of any Initial Triggering Event or Subsequent Triggering Event
of which it has notice (together, a "Triggering Event"), it being
understood that the giving of such notice by Issuer shall not be a
condition to the right of the Holder to exercise the Option.
(e) In the event the Holder is entitled to and 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 shares it will purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii)
a place and date not earlier than three business days nor later than 60
business days from the Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (the
"Closing Date"); provided that if prior notification to or approval of the
Federal Reserve Board, the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS") or any
other regulatory agency is required in connection with such purchase, the
Holder shall promptly file the required notice or application for approval
and shall expeditiously process the same and the period of time that
otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence shall run instead from the
date on which any required notification periods have expired or been
terminated or such approvals have been obtained and any requisite waiting
period or periods shall have passed. Any exercise of the Option shall be
deemed to occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.
(f) At the closing referred to in subsection (e) of this Section
2, the Holder shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the
shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated
by Issuer, provided that failure or refusal of Issuer to designate such a
bank account shall not preclude the Holder from exercising the Option.
(g) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of
immediately available funds as provided in subsection (f) of this Section
2, Issuer shall deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates
representing the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by the Holder
and, if the Option should be exercised in part only, a new Option
evidencing the rights of the Holder thereof to purchase the balance of the
shares purchasable hereunder, and the Holder shall deliver to Issuer this
Agreement and a letter agreeing that the Holder will not offer to sell or
otherwise dispose of such shares in violation of applicable law or the
provisions of this Agreement.
(h) Certificates for Common Stock delivered at a closing
hereunder may be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read
substantially as follows:
"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
subject to certain provisions of an agreement between the
registered holder hereof and Issuer and to resale restrictions
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A copy of
such agreement is on file at the principal office of Issuer and
will be provided to the holder hereof without charge upon
receipt by Issuer of a written request therefor."
It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale
restrictions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), in
the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s)
without such reference if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy
of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such
legend is not required for purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to
the provisions to this Agreement in the above legend shall be removed by
delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the shares
have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement and under circumstances that do not require the retention of such
reference; and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its entirety if the
conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In
addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be required
by law.
(i) Upon the giving by the Holder to Issuer of the written
notice of exercise of the Option provided for under subsection (e) of this
Section 2 and the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately
available funds, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of record of
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding
that the stock transfer books of Issuer shall then be closed or that
certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall not then be
actually delivered to the Holder. Issuer shall pay all expenses, and any
and all United States federal, state and local taxes and other charges
that may be payable in connection with the preparation, issue and delivery
of stock certificates under this Section 2 in the name of the Holder or
its assignee, transferee or designee.
3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free
from preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury
shares of Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised without
additional authorization of Common Stock after giving effect to all other
options, warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase
Common Stock; (ii) that it will not, by charter amendment or through
reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or
by any other voluntary act, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or
performance of any of the covenants, stipulations or conditions to be
observed or performed hereunder by Issuer; (iii) promptly to take all
action as may from time to time be required (including (x) complying with
all premerger notification, reporting and waiting period requirements
specified in 15 U.S.C. section 18a and regulations promulgated thereunder
and (y) in the event, under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended, the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, or any other
federal or state banking law, prior approval of or notice to the Federal
Reserve Board, the OTS or to any state regulatory authority is necessary
before the Option may be exercised, cooperating fully with the Holder in
preparing such applications or notices and providing such information to
the Federal Reserve Board, the OTS or such state regulatory authority as
they may require) in order to permit the Holder to exercise the Option and
Issuer duly and effectively to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant
hereto; and (iv) promptly to take all action provided herein to protect
the rights of the Holder against dilution.
4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are
exchangeable, without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon
presentation and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of
Issuer, for other Agreements providing for Options of different
denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase, on the same terms
and subject to the same conditions as are set forth herein, in the
aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.
The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include any Stock Option
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.
5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of
Common Stock that are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to
Section 1 of this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 5. In
the event of any change in, or distributions in respect of, the Common
Stock by reason of stock dividends, split-ups, mergers, recapitalizations,
combinations, subdivisions, conversions, exchanges of shares,
distributions on or in respect of the Common Stock that would be
prohibited under the terms of the Merger Agreement, or the like, the type
and number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise hereof and
the Option Price shall be appropriately adjusted in such manner as shall
fully preserve the economic benefits provided hereunder and proper
provision shall be made in any agreement governing any such transaction to
provide for such proper adjustment and the full satisfaction of the
Issuer's obligations hereunder.
6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that
occurs prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the
request of Grantee (whether on its own behalf or on behalf of any
subsequent holder of this Option (or part thereof) or any of the shares of
Common Stock issued pursuant hereto) delivered within six months of such
Subsequent Triggering Event (or such longer period as provided in Section
10), promptly prepare, file and keep current a shelf registration
statement under the 1933 Act covering this Option and any shares issued
and issuable pursuant to this Option and shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and
remain current in order to permit the sale or other disposition of this
Option and any shares of Common Stock issued upon total or partial
exercise of this Option ("Option Shares") in accordance with any plan of
disposition requested by Grantee. Issuer will use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such registration statement first to become effective and
then to remain effective for such period not in excess of 180 days from
the day such registration statement first becomes effective or such
shorter time as may be reasonably necessary to effect such sales or other
dispositions. Grantee shall have the right to demand two such
registrations. The foregoing notwithstanding, if, at the time of any
request by Grantee for registration of the Option or Option Shares as
provided above, Issuer is in registration with respect to an underwritten
public offering of shares of Common Stock, and if in the good faith
judgment of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, or, if
none, the sole underwriter or underwriters, of such offering the inclusion
of the Holder's Option or Option Shares would interfere with the
successful marketing of the shares of Common Stock offered by Issuer, the
number of Option Shares otherwise to be covered in the registration
statement contemplated hereby may be reduced; provided, however, that
after any such required reduction the number of Option Shares to be
included in such offering for the account of the Holder shall constitute
at least 25% of the total number of shares to be sold by the Holder and
Issuer in the aggregate; and provided further, however, that if such
reduction occurs, then the Issuer shall file a registration statement for
the balance as promptly as practicable and no reduction shall thereafter
occur. Each such Holder shall provide all information reasonably requested
by Issuer for inclusion in any registration statement to be filed
hereunder. If requested by any such Holder in connection with such
registration, Issuer shall become a party to any underwriting agreement
relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the extent of obligating
itself in respect of representations, warranties, indemnities and other
agreements customarily included in secondary offering underwriting
agreements for the Issuer. Upon receiving any request under this Section 6
from any Holder, Issuer agrees to send a copy thereof to any other person
known to Issuer to be entitled to registration rights under this Section
6, in each case by promptly mailing the same, postage prepaid, to the
address of record of the persons entitled to receive such copies.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event
shall Issuer be obligated to effect more than two registrations pursuant
to this Section 6 by reason of the fact that there shall be more than one
Grantee as a result of any assignment or division of this Agreement.
7. (a) Immediately prior to the occurrence of a Repurchase Event
(as defined below) and prior to twelve months thereafter, (i) following a
request of the Holder, delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event,
Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option from the
Holder at a price (the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by
which (A) the Market/Offer Price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option
Price, multiplied by the number of shares for which this Option may then
be exercised and (ii) at the request of the owner of Option Shares from
time to time (the "Owner"), delivered within 90 days of such occurrence
(or such longer period as provided in Section 10), Issuer shall repurchase
such number of the Option Shares from the Owner as the Owner shall
designate at a price (the "Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to the
Market/Offer Price multiplied by the number of Option Shares so
designated. The term "Market/Offer Price" shall mean the highest of (i)
the price per share of Common Stock at which a tender offer or exchange
offer therefor has been made, (ii) the price per share of Common Stock to
be paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement with Issuer, (iii) the
highest closing price for shares of Common Stock within the six-month
period immediately preceding the date the Holder gives notice of the
required repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives notice of the
required repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv) in the
event of a sale of all or a substantial portion of Issuer's assets, 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 the Holder or the Owner, as
the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to Issuer, divided by the
number of shares of Common Stock of Issuer outstanding at the time of such
sale. In determining the Market/Offer Price, the value of consideration
other than cash shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by the Holder or Owner, as the case may be, and
reasonably acceptable to Issuer.
(b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may exercise
its right to require Issuer to repurchase the Option and any Option Shares
pursuant to this Section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at
its principal office, this Agreement or certificates for Option Shares, as
applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the
Holder or the Owner, as the case may be, elects to require Issuer to
repurchase this Option and/or the Option Shares in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7. Within the latter to occur of (x) five
business days after the surrender of the Option and/or certificates
representing Option Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices
relating thereto and (y) the time that is immediately prior to the
occurrence of a Repurchase Event, Issuer shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Holder the Option Repurchase Price and/or to the Owner
the Option Share Repurchase Price therefor or the portion thereof that
Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so
delivering.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law
or regulation from repurchasing the Option and/or the Option Shares in
full, Issuer shall immediately so notify the Holder and/or the Owner and
thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the
Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the portion of the Option
Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively, that
it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five business days
after the date on which Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided,
however, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a notice of
repurchase pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 7 is prohibited under
applicable law or regulation from delivering to the Holder and/or the
Owner, as appropriate, the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and Issuer hereby undertakes to
use its best efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals
and to file any required notices as promptly as practicable in order to
accomplish such repurchase), the Holder or Owner may revoke its notice of
repurchase of the Option or the Option Shares either in whole or to the
extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer shall
promptly (i) deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, that
portion of the Option Repurchase Price or the Option Share Repurchase
Price that Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as
appropriate, either (A) to the Holder, a new Stock Option Agreement
evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase that number of shares of
Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock
for which the surrendered Stock Option Agreement was exercisable at the
time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof
theretofore delivered to the Holder and the denominator of which is the
Option Repurchase Price, or (B) to the Owner, a certificate for the Option
Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.
(d) For purposes of this Section 7, a Repurchase Event shall be
deemed to have occurred (i) upon the consummation of any merger,
consolidation or similar transaction involving Issuer or any purchase,
lease or other acquisition of all or a substantial portion of the assets
of Issuer, other than any such transaction which would not constitute an
Acquisition Transaction pursuant to the provisos to Section 2(b)(i) hereof
or (ii) upon the acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of 50%
or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, provided that no
such event shall constitute a Repurchase Event unless a Subsequent
Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an Exercise Termination
Event. The parties hereto agree that Issuer's obligations to repurchase
the Option or Option Shares under this Section 7 shall not terminate upon
the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event unless no Subsequent
Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an
Exercise Termination Event.
8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event,
Issuer shall enter into 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 Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other
property or the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall after such
merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting shares and voting
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 provision so that
the Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon
the terms and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged
for, an option (the "Substitute Option"), at the election of the Holder,
of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) or (y)
any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation.
(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(1) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the continuing or
surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if
other than Issuer), (ii) Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the
continuing or surviving person, and (iii) the transferee of all or
substantially all of Issuer's assets.
(2) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock
issued by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the
Substitute Option.
(3) "Assigned Value" shall mean the Market/ Offer Price, as
defined in Section 7.
(4) "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 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 the person merging into Issuer or by any company
which controls or is controlled by such person, as the Holder may
elect.
(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 the Holder. The issuer of
the Substitute Option 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 Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned Value
multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option is
then exercisable, divided by the Average Price. The exercise price of the
Substitute Option per share of Substitute Common Stock shall then be equal
to the Option Price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall
be the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option is then
exercisable and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of
Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs,
shall the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the
shares of 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 shares of Substitute Common Stock
outstanding prior to exercise but for this clause (e), the issuer of the
Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option Issuer") shall make a cash
payment to Holder equal to the excess of (i) the value of the Substitute
Option without giving effect to the limitation in this clause (e) over
(ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving effect to the
limitation in this clause (e). This difference in value shall be
determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by
the Holder or the Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to
the Acquiring Corporation.
(f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any
person that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the
obligations of Issuer hereunder.
9. (a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option
(the "Substitute Option Holder"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall
repurchase the Substitute Option from the Substitute Option Holder at a
price (the "Substitute Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by
which (i) the Highest Closing Price (as hereinafter defined) exceeds (ii)
the exercise price of the Substitute Option, multiplied by the number of
shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option may then
be exercised, and at the request of the owner (the "Substitute Share
Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute Shares"),
the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the Substitute Shares at a
price (the "Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to the Highest
Closing Price multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so designated.
The term "Highest Closing Price" shall mean the highest closing price for
shares of Substitute Common Stock within the six-month period immediately
preceding the date the Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the
required repurchase of the Substitute Option or the Substitute Share Owner
gives notice of the required repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as
applicable.
(b) The Substitute Option Holder and the Substitute Share Owner,
as the case may be, may exercise its respective right to require the
Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the
Substitute Shares pursuant to this Section 9 by surrendering for such
purpose to the Substitute Option Issuer, at its principal office, the
agreement for such Substitute Option (or, in the absence of such an
agreement, a copy of this Agreement) and certificates for Substitute
Shares accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the
Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the case may
be, elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the
Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 9. As promptly as practicable, and in any event
within five business days after the surrender of the Substitute Option
and/or certificates representing Substitute Shares and the receipt of such
notice or notices relating thereto, the Substitute Option Issuer shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Substitute Option Holder the
Substitute Option Repurchase Price and/or to the Substitute Share Owner
the Substitute Share Repurchase Price therefor or, in either case, the
portion thereof which the Substitute Option Issuer is not then prohibited
under applicable law and regulation from so delivering.
(c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is
prohibited under applicable law or regulation from repurchasing the
Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in part or in full, the
Substitute Option Issuer following a request for repurchase pursuant to
this Section 9 shall immediately so notify the Substitute Option Holder
and/ or the Substitute Share Owner and thereafter deliver or cause to be
delivered, from time to time, to the Substitute Option Holder and/or the
Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the portion of the Substitute
Share Repurchase Price, respectively, which it is no longer prohibited
from delivering, within five business days after the date on which the
Substitute Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided, however,
that if the Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after delivery of a
notice of repurchase pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9
prohibited under applicable law or regulation from delivering to the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as
appropriate, the Substitute Option Repurchase Price and the Substitute
Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and the Substitute Option
Issuer shall use its best efforts to receive all required regulatory and
legal approvals as promptly as practicable in order to accomplish such
repurchase), the Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner may
revoke its notice of repurchase of the Substitute Option or the Substitute
Shares either in whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in
the latter case, the Substitute Option Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver
to the Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate,
that portion of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price or the Substitute
Share Repurchase Price that the Substitute Option Issuer is not prohibited
from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the
Substitute Option Holder, a new Substitute Option evidencing the right of
the Substitute Option Holder to purchase that number of shares of the
Substitute Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of
the Substitute Common Stock for which the surrendered Substitute Option
was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the Substitute Option Repurchase Price
less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the Substitute Option
Holder and the denominator of which is the Substitute Option Repurchase
Price, or (B) to the Substitute Share Owner, a certificate for the
Substitute Common Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.
10. The 90-day or six-month period for exercise of certain
rights under Sections 2, 6, 7 and 14 shall be extended: (i) to the extent
necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for the exercise of such
rights, and for the expiration of all statutory waiting periods; and (ii)
to the extent necessary to avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934
Act by reason of such exercise.
11. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Board of Directors of Issuer and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of Issuer are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions so contemplated. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize
and reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from the date
hereof through the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its
terms will have reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Option,
that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum number of
shares of Common Stock at any time and from time to time issuable
hereunder, and all such shares, upon issuance pursuant hereto, will be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and will be
delivered free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrance and security
interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.
(c) Issuer has taken all action (including if required redeeming
all of the Rights or amending or terminating the Rights Agreement) so that
the entering into of this Option Agreement, the acquisition of shares of
Common Stock hereunder and the other transactions contemplated hereby do
not and will not result in the grant of any rights to any person under the
Rights Agreement or enable or require the Rights to be exercised,
distributed or triggered.
12. 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) The Option is not being, and any shares of Common Stock 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 1933 Act.
13. (a) Grantee may, at any time following a Repurchase Event
and prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (or such
later period as provided in Section 10), relinquish the Option (together
with any Option Shares issued to and then owned by Grantee) to Issuer in
exchange for a cash fee equal to the Surrender Price (as defined below);
provided, however, that Grantee may not exercise its rights pursuant to
this Section 13 if Issuer has repurchased the Option (or any portion
thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to Section 7. The "Surrender Price"
shall be equal to $13,880,000 (i) plus, if applicable, Grantee's purchase
price with respect to any Option Shares and (ii) minus, if applicable, the
sum of (A) the excess of (1) the net cash amounts, if any, received by
Grantee pursuant to the arms' length sale of Option Shares (or any other
securities into which such Option Shares were converted or exchanged) to
any unaffiliated party, over (2) Grantee's purchase price of such Option
Shares and (B) the net cash amounts, if any, received by Grantee pursuant
to an arms' length sale of a portion of the Option to any unaffiliated
party.
(b) Grantee may exercise its right to relinquish the Option and
any Option Shares pursuant to this Section 13 by surrendering to Issuer,
at its principal office, this Agreement together with certificates for
Option Shares, if any, accompanied by a written notice stating (i) that
Grantee elects to relinquish the Option and Option Shares, if any, in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 13 and (ii) the Surrender
Price. The Surrender Price shall be payable in immediately available funds
on or before the second business day following receipt of such notice by
Issuer.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law
or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from paying
the Surrender Price to Grantee in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify
Grantee and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to
time, to Grantee, the portion of the Surrender Price that it is no longer
prohibited from paying, within five business days after the date on which
Issuer is no longer so prohibited, provided, however, that if Issuer at
any time after delivery of a notice of surrender pursuant to paragraph (b)
of this Section 13 is prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as
a consequence of administrative policy, from paying to Grantee the
Surrender Price in full, (i) Issuer shall (A) use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file
any required notices as promptly as practicable in order to make such
payments, (B) within five days of the submission or receipt of any
documents relating to any such regulatory and legal approvals, provide
Grantee with copies of the same, and (c) keep Grantee advised of both the
status of any such request for regulatory and legal approvals, as well as
any discussions with any relevant regulatory or other third party
reasonably related to the same and (ii) Grantee may revoke such notice of
surrender by delivery of a notice of revocation to Issuer and, upon
delivery of such notice of revocation, the Exercise Termination Date shall
be extended to a date six months from the date on which the Exercise
Termination Date would have occurred if not for the provisions of this
Section 13(c) (during which period Grantee may exercise any of its rights
hereunder, including any and all rights pursuant to this Section 13).
14. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights
or obligations under this Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any
other person, without the express written consent of the other party,
except that in the event a Subsequent Triggering Event shall have occurred
prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express
provisions hereof, may assign in whole or in part its rights and
obligations hereunder within 90 days following such Subsequent Triggering
Event (or such longer period as provided in Section 10); provided,
however, that until the date 15 days following the date on which the
Federal Reserve Board or the OTS, as applicable, approves an application
by Grantee to acquire the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option,
Grantee may not assign its rights under the Option except in (i) a widely
dispersed public distribution, (ii) a private placement in which no one
party acquires the right to purchase in excess of 2% of the voting shares
of Issuer, (iii) an assignment to a single party (e.g., a broker or
investment banker) for the purpose of conducting a widely dispersed public
distribution on Grantee's behalf, or (iv) any other manner approved by the
Federal Reserve Board or the OTS, as applicable.
15. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its best efforts to make
all filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and
governmental authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation making
application to list the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder on the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation/National
Market Securities (NASDAQ/NMS) upon official notice of issuance and
applying to the Federal Reserve Board and/or the OTS, as applicable, for
approval to acquire the shares issuable hereunder, but Grantee shall not
be obligated to apply to state banking authorities for approval to acquire
the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder until such time, if ever, as
it deems appropriate to do so.
16. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
in no event shall the Grantee's Total Profit (as hereinafter defined)
exceed $17,350,000 and, if it otherwise would exceed such amount, the
Grantee, at its sole election, shall either (i) reduce the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to this Option, (ii) deliver to the Issuer
for cancellation Option Shares previously purchased by Grantee, (iii) pay
cash to the Issuer, or (iv) any combination thereof, so that Grantee's
actually realized Total Profit shall not exceed $17,350,000 after taking
into account the foregoing actions.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this
Option may not be exercised for a number of shares as would, as of the
date of exercise, result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined below) of
more than $17,350,000; provided, that nothing in this sentence shall
restrict any exercise of the Option permitted hereby on any subsequent
date.
(c) As used herein, the term "Total Profit" shall mean the
aggregate amount (before taxes) of the following: (i) the amount received
by Grantee pursuant to Issuer's repurchase of the Option (or any portion
thereof) pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, (ii)(x) the amount
received by Grantee pursuant to Issuer's repurchase of Option Shares
pursuant to Section 7, less (y) the Grantee's purchase price for such
Option Shares, (iii)(x) the net cash amounts received by Grantee pursuant
to the sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such
Option Shares are converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated party, less
(y) the Grantee's purchase price of such Option Shares, (iv) any amounts
received by Grantee on the transfer of the Option (or any portion thereof)
to any unaffiliated party, and (v) any equivalent amount with respect to
the Substitute Option.
(d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Profit" with
respect to any number of shares as to which Grantee may propose to
exercise this Option shall be the Total Profit determined as of the date
of such proposed exercise assuming that this Option were exercised on such
date for such number of shares and assuming that such shares, together
with all other Option Shares held by Grantee and its affiliates as of such
date, were sold for cash at the closing market price for the Common Stock
as of the close of business on the preceding trading day (less customary
brokerage commissions).
17. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an
inadequate remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto
and that the obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by
either party hereto through injunctive or other equitable relief.
18. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in
this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions
contained in 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 Holder is not
permitted to acquire, or Issuer is not permitted to repurchase pursuant to
Section 7, the full number of shares of Common Stock provided in Section
1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section 1(b) or 5 hereof), it is the
express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire or to require
Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible,
without any amendment or modification hereof.
19. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when
delivered in person, by cable, telegram, telecopy or telex, or by
registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested)
at the respective addresses of the parties set forth in the Merger
Agreement.
20. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws
that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.
21. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute
one and the same agreement.
22. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the
parties hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or
on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder,
including fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, investment
bankers, accountants and counsel.
23. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the
Merger Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and
supersedes all prior arrangements or understandings with respect thereof,
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 and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties
hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement,
except as expressly provided herein.
24. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this
Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, all as of the date first above written.
RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
President and Chief Executive
Officer
NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
--------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
