JSB FINANCIAL, INC.
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of August 16, 1999
("Agreement"), by and between JSB Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Issuer"), and North Fork Bancorporation, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Grantee").
RECITALS
A. The Agreement and Plan of Merger. Grantee and Issuer have
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 16, 1999
("Merger Agreement"), providing for, among other things, the merger of Issuer
with and into Grantee, with Grantee being the surviving corporation.
B. Condition to Agreement and Plan of Merger. As a condition
and an inducement to Grantee's execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement,
Grantee has required that Issuer agree, and Issuer has agreed, to grant Grantee
the Option (as hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and 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 ("Option")
to purchase up to 1,848,092 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
("Issuer Common Stock"), of Issuer (as adjusted as set forth herein, the "Option
Shares," which shall include the Option Shares before and after any transfer of
such Option Shares, but in no event shall the number of Option Shares for which
this Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of
Issuer Common Stock), at a purchase price per Option Share (as adjusted as set
forth herein, the "Purchase Price") equal to $58.75.
3. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) Provided that (i) Grantee or Holder (as hereinafter
defined), as applicable, 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, the Holder may exercise the Option, in
whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, following the occurrence of
a Purchase Event (as hereinafter defined); provided, that, the Option shall
terminate and be of no further force or 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 thereof by Grantee pursuant to Section
6.1(b)(ii) of the Merger Agreement (a termination of the Merger Agreement by
Grantee pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) of the Merger Agreement, being referred
to herein as a "Default Termination"), (C) 18 months after a Default Termination
or (D) 18 months after termination of the Merger Agreement (other than a Default
Termination) following the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a Preliminary
Purchase Event; PROVIDED, however, that any purchase of shares upon exercise of
the Option shall be subject to compliance with applicable law; PROVIDED FURTHER,
HOWEVER, that if the Option cannot be exercised on any day because of an
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 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. The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or
holders of the Option from time to time, and which initially is Grantee. The
rights set forth in Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement shall terminate when the
right to exercise the Option and Substitute Option terminate (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:
(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 Issuer
shall have entered into an agreement with any person (other than
Grantee or any subsidiary of Grantee) to effect (A) a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction involving Issuer or any of its
significant subsidiaries, (B) the disposition, by sale, lease, exchange
or otherwise, of assets or deposits of Issuer or any of its significant
subsidiaries representing in either case 10% or more of the
consolidated assets or deposits of Issuer and its subsidiaries, other
than in the ordinary course of business, or (C) the issuance, sale or
other disposition by Issuer of (including by way of merger,
consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities
representing 10% or more of the voting power of Issuer or any of its
significant subsidiaries (each of (A), (B) or (C), 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 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended ("Exchange Act")) of, or the right to acquire beneficial
ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined in Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than a group of which Grantee or
any subsidiary of Grantee is a member, shall have been formed which
beneficially owns, or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of,
10% or more of the voting power of Issuer or any of its significant
subsidiaries.
(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 of 1933, as amended, ("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 10% or more of the then outstanding shares
of Issuer Common Stock (such an offer being referred to herein as a
"Tender Offer" or an "Exchange Offer," respectively); or
(ii) The stockholders of Issuer shall not have
approved the Merger Agreement by the requisite vote at the meeting of
the stockholders of the Issuer required to be called to approve the
Merger Agreement ("Issuer Meeting"), the Issuer 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 bona fide proposal to engage in an Acquisition
Transaction, (B) commenced a Tender Offer or filed a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to
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an Exchange Offer or (C) filed an application (or given a notice),
whether in draft or final form, under the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956, as amended ("BHC Act"), the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as
amended ("HOLA"), the Bank Merger Act, as amended ("BMA") or the Change
in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended ("CBCA"), for approval to
engage in an Acquisition Transaction; or
(iii) Any person (other than Grantee or any
subsidiary of Grantee) 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; or
(iv) After a proposal is made by a third party to
Issuer or its stockholders to engage in an Acquisition Transaction, or
such third party states its intention to the Issuer to make such a
proposal if the Merger Agreement terminates, and thereafter Issuer
shall have breached any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
contained in the Merger Agreement and such breach would entitle Grantee
to terminate the Merger Agreement under Section 6.1(b) thereof (without
regard to the cure period provided for therein unless such cure is
promptly effected without jeopardizing consummation of the Merger
pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement).
As used in this Agreement, the term "person" shall have the
meaning specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the
occurrence of any Preliminary Purchase Event or Purchase Event of which it has
knowledge, it being understood that the giving of such notice by Issuer shall
not be a condition to the right of Holder to exercise the Option.
(e) In the event Holder wishes to exercise the Option, it
shall send to Issuer a written notice (the "Option 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 ("Closing") of such purchase ("Closing
Date"); provided, that the first Option Notice shall be sent to Issuer within
180 days after the first Purchase Event of which Grantee has been notified. If
prior notification to or approval of any Governmental Entity is required in
connection with any such purchase, Issuer shall cooperate with the Holder in the
filing of the required notice of application for approval and the obtaining of
such approval, and the Closing shall occur promptly following such regulatory
approvals and any mandatory waiting periods. Any exercise of the Option shall be
deemed to occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.
4. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES.
(a) On each Closing Date, Holder shall (i) pay to Issuer, in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by
Issuer, an amount equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Option
Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date and (ii) present and surrender this
Agreement to the Issuer at the address of the Issuer specified in Section 13(f)
of this Agreement.
(b) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of
immediately available funds and surrender of this Agreement as provided in
Section 4(a) of this Agreement, (i) Issuer shall deliver to Holder (A) a
certificate or certificates representing the Option Shares to be purchased at
such Closing, which Option Shares shall be free and clear of all liens (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) and subject to no preemptive rights, and (B) if
the Option is exercised in part only, an executed new agreement with the same
terms as this Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the balance of the
shares of Issuer Common Stock
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purchasable hereunder, and (ii) Holder shall deliver to Issuer a letter agreeing
that Holder shall not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such Option Shares
in violation of applicable federal and state law or of the provisions of this
Agreement.
(c) In addition to any other legend that is required by
applicable law, certificates for the Option Shares delivered at each Closing
shall be endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as
follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST
16, 1999. 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 portion of the above legend relating to the
Securities Act shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without
such legend if Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("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.
(d) Upon the giving by Holder to Issuer of an Option Notice,
the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds and
the tender of this Agreement to Issuer, Holder shall be deemed to be the holder
of record of the shares of Issuer 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 Issuer Common Stock shall not then
be actually delivered to 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, issuance and delivery of stock
certificates under this Section 4 in the name of Holder or its assignee,
transferee or designee.
(e) Issuer agrees (i) that it shall at all times maintain,
free from preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury
shares of Issuer Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised without
additional authorization of Issuer Common Stock after giving effect to all other
options, warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Issuer
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 (A) complying with all premerger notification, reporting
and waiting period requirements and (B) in the event prior approval of or notice
to any Governmental Entity is necessary before the Option may be exercised,
cooperating fully with Holder in preparing such applications or notices and
providing such information to such Governmental Entity as it may require) in
order to permit Holder to exercise the Option and Issuer duly and effectively to
issue shares of Issuer Common Stock pursuant hereto and (iv) promptly to take
all action provided herein to protect the rights of Holder against dilution.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ISSUER. Issuer hereby
represents and warrants to Grantee (and Holder, if different than Grantee) as
follows:
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(a) Corporate Authority. 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
contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Beneficial Ownership. To the best knowledge of Issuer, as
of the date of this Agreement, no person or group has beneficial
ownership of more than 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of
Issuer Common Stock.
(c) Shares Reserved for Issuance; Capital Stock. Issuer has
taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and reserve and
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 Issuer Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock at any time and from time to time purchasable upon
exercise of the Option, and all such shares, upon issuance pursuant to
the Option, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and will be delivered free and clear of all claims,
liens, encumbrances and security interests (other than those created by
this Agreement) and not subject to any preemptive rights.
(d) No Violations. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement does not and will not, and the consummation by Issuer of
any of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, constitute or
result in (i) a breach or violation of, or a default under, its
Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, or the comparable governing
instruments of any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) a breach or violation
of, or a default under, any agreement, lease, contract, note, mortgage,
indenture, arrangement or other obligation of it or any of its
subsidiaries (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time
or both) or under any law, rule, ordinance or regulation or judgment,
decree, order, award or governmental or non-governmental permit or
license to which it or any of its subsidiaries is subject, that would,
in any case, give any other person the ability to prevent or enjoin
Issuer's performance under this Agreement in any material respect.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GRANTEE. Grantee hereby
represents and warrants to Issuer that Grantee has full corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the approvals
referred to in this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement; 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; and this Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
7. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN ISSUER 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 any such transaction so that Holder shall receive, upon
exercise of the Option, the number and class of shares or other securities or
property that Holder would have received in respect of Issuer Common Stock if
the Option had been exercised immediately prior to such event, or the record
date therefor, as applicable. If any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
are issued after the date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to an event
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described in the first sentence of this Section 7(a), upon exercise of any
option to purchase Issuer Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof or upon
conversion into Issuer Common Stock of any convertible security of Issuer
outstanding on the date hereof), the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock
subject to the Option shall be adjusted so that, after such issuance, the
Option, 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. No provision of this Section 7 shall be deemed to
affect or change, or constitute authorization for any violation of, any of the
covenants or representations in the Merger Agreement.
(b) In the event that Issuer shall enter into an agreement (i)
to consolidate with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its
subsidiaries, and Issuer shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation or merger, (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee or
one of its subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing
or surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then
outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other securities of Issuer or any other person or cash or any other
property, or the outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock immediately prior to
such merger shall, after such merger, represent less than 50% of the outstanding
shares and share equivalents of the merged company or (iii) to sell or otherwise
transfer all or substantially all of its assets or deposits 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
("Substitute Option"), at the election of Holder, to purchase shares of either
(A) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined), (B) any person that
controls the Acquiring Corporation or (C) in the case of a merger described in
clause (ii), Issuer (such person being referred to as "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 Holder. The Substitute Option Issuer shall
also enter into an agreement with Holder 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 hereinafter defined) as is equal to the
Assigned Value (as hereinafter defined) multiplied by the number of shares of
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 Substitute Common Stock ("Substitute Option Price") shall
then be equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by a fraction in which the
numerator is the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock for which the Option
was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is the number of shares of the
Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (A) the
continuing or surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with
Issuer (if other than Issuer), (B) Issuer in a merger in which Issuer
is the continuing or surviving person, or (C) the transferee of all or
substantially all of Issuer's assets (or a substantial part of the
assets of its subsidiaries taken as a whole).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the shares
of capital stock (or similar equity interest) with the greatest voting
power in respect of the election of directors (or
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persons similarly responsible for the direction of the business and
affairs) of the Substitute Option Issuer.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (A)
the price per share of Issuer Common Stock at which a Tender Offer or
an Exchange Offer therefor has been made, (B) the price per share of
Issuer Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to an
agreement with Issuer, (C) the highest closing price for shares of
Issuer Common Stock within the 60-day period immediately preceding the
consolidation, merger or sale in question and (D) in the event of a
sale of all or substantially all of Issuer's assets or deposits, an
amount equal to (x) the sum of the price paid in such sale for such
assets (and/or deposits) and the current market value of the remaining
assets of Issuer, as determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by Holder, divided by (y) the number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock outstanding at such time. In the event that a
Tender Offer or an Exchange Offer is made for 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 Issuer Common Stock
shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by Holder.
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing
price of a share of 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 Issuer, the person merging into Issuer or by any
company which controls such person, as Holder 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 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
outstanding but for the limitation in the first sentence of this Section 7(f),
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 the first sentence of this Section 7(f) over (ii) the value of the
Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in the first sentence of
this Section 7(f). This difference in value shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by Holder.
(g) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
Section 7(b) of this Agreement 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 holders of the other
shares of common stock issued by Substitute Option Issuer are not entitled to
exercise any rights by reason of the issuance or exercise of the Substitute
Option and the shares of Substitute Common Stock are otherwise in no way
distinguishable from or have lesser economic value (other than any diminution in
value resulting from the fact that the shares Substitute Common Stock are
restricted securities, as defined in Rule 144, promulgated under the Securities
Act ("Rule 144"), or any successor provision) than other shares of common stock
issued by Substitute Option Issuer).
8. REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3(a) of this
Agreement, at the request of Holder at any time commencing upon the first
occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as defined in Section 8(d)
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hereof) and ending 12 months immediately thereafter, Issuer shall repurchase
from Holder (i) the Option and (ii) all shares of Issuer Common Stock purchased
by Holder pursuant hereto with respect to which Holder then has beneficial
ownership. The date on which Holder exercises its rights under this Section 8 is
referred to as the "Request Date." Such repurchase shall be at an aggregate
price ("Section 8 Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:
(i) The aggregate Purchase Price paid by Holder for
any shares of Issuer Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Option with
respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership;
(ii) The excess, if any, of (A) the Applicable Price
(as defined below) for each share of Issuer Common Stock over (B) the
Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7 of this
Agreement), 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 of
this Agreement) paid (or, in the case of Option Shares with respect to
which the Option has been exercised but the Closing Date has not
occurred, payable) by Holder for each share of Issuer Common Stock with
respect to which the Option has been exercised and with respect to
which Holder then has beneficial ownership, multiplied by the number of
such shares.
(b) If Holder exercises its rights under this Section 8,
Issuer shall, within 10 business days after the Request Date, pay the Section 8
Repurchase Consideration to Holder in immediately available funds, and
contemporaneously with such payment, Holder shall surrender to Issuer the Option
and the certificates evidencing the shares of Issuer Common Stock purchased
thereunder with respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership, and
Holder shall warrant that it has sole record and beneficial ownership of such
shares and that the same are then free and clear of all Liens. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, to the extent that prior notification to or approval of any
Governmental Entity is required in connection with the payment of all or any
portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration, Holder shall have the ongoing
option to revoke its request for repurchase pursuant to this 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 any Governmental Entity disapproves of any part of Issuer's
proposed repurchase pursuant to this Section 8, Issuer shall promptly give
notice of such fact to Holder and Holder shall have the right (i) to revoke the
repurchase request or (ii) to the extent permitted by such Governmental Entity,
determine whether the repurchase should apply to the Option and/or Option Shares
and to what extent to each, and Holder shall thereupon have the right to
exercise the Option as to the number of Option Shares for which the Option was
exercisable at the Request Date less the number of shares covered by the Option
in respect of which payment has been made pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) of this
Agreement. Holder shall notify Issuer of its determination under the preceding
sentence within five business days of receipt of notice of disapproval of the
repurchase. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that
Issuer delivers to the Holder written notice accompanied by a certification of
Issuer's independent auditor each stating that a requested repurchase of Issuer
Common Stock would result in the recapture of Issuer's bad debt reserves under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), Holder's repurchase
request shall be deemed to be automatically revoked. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, all of Holder's rights under this Section 8 shall
terminate on the date of termination of this Option pursuant to Section 3(a) of
this Agreement.
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(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the "Applicable Price"
means the highest of (i) the highest price per share of Issuer Common Stock paid
for any such share by the person or groups described in Section 8(d)(i) hereof,
(ii) the price per share of Issuer Common Stock received by holders of Issuer
Common Stock in connection with any merger, sale or other business combination
transaction described in Section 7(b)(i), 7(b)(ii) or 7(b)(iii) of this
Agreement, or (iii) the highest closing sales price per share of Issuer Common
Stock as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), the American Stock
Exchange ("AMEX") or the National Market System of The Nasdaq Stock Market
("Nasdaq") (or if Issuer Common Stock is not quoted on the NYSE, AMEX or Nasdaq,
the highest bid price per share as quoted on the principal trading market or
securities exchange on which such shares are traded as reported by a recognized
source chosen by Holder) during the 40 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 a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by
Holder, divided by the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock outstanding at
the time of such sale. If the consideration to be offered, paid or received
pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall be other than in
cash, the value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith by an
independent nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Holder and
reasonably acceptable to Issuer, which determination shall be conclusive for all
purposes of this Agreement.
(d) As used herein, "Repurchase Event" shall occur if (i) any
person (other than Grantee or any subsidiary of Grantee) shall have acquired
beneficial ownership of (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3, promulgated
under the Exchange Act), 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,
more than 25% 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) of this
Agreement shall be consummated.
9. REPURCHASE OF SUBSTITUTE OPTION.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3(a) of this
Agreement, at the request of Holder at any time commencing upon the first
occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as defined in Section 8(d) hereof) and ending
12 months immediately thereafter, Substitute Option Issuer (or any successor
entity thereof) shall repurchase from Holder (i) the Substitute Option and (ii)
all shares of Substitute Common Stock purchased by Holder pursuant hereto with
respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership. The date on which Holder
exercises its rights under this Section 9 is referred to as the "Section 9
Request Date." Such repurchase shall be at an aggregate price ("Section 9
Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:
(i) The aggregate Purchase Price paid by Holder for
any shares of Substitute Common Stock acquired pursuant to the
Substitute Option with respect to which Holder then has beneficial
ownership;
(ii) The excess, if any, of (A) the Highest Closing
Price (as defined below) for each share of Substitute Common Stock over
(B) the Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7 of
this Agreement), multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute
Common Stock with respect to which the Substitute Option has not been
exercised; and
(iii) The excess, if any, of the Highest Closing
Price over the Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 7 of this Agreement) paid (or, in the case of Substitute Option
Shares with respect to which the Substitute Option has been exercised
but the Closing Date has not occurred, payable) by Holder for each
share of Substitute Common Stock with respect to
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which the Substitute Option has been exercised and with respect to
which Holder then has beneficial ownership, multiplied by the number of
such shares.
(b) If Holder exercises its rights under this Section 9,
Substitute Option Issuer shall, within 10 business days after the Section 9
Request Date, pay the Section 9 Repurchase Consideration to Holder in
immediately available funds, and contemporaneously with such payment, Holder
shall surrender to Substitute Option Issuer the Substitute Option and the
certificates evidencing the shares of Substitute Common Stock purchased
thereunder with respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership, and
Holder shall warrant that it has sole record and beneficial ownership of such
shares and that the same are then free and clear of all Liens. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, to the extent that prior notification to or approval of any
Governmental Entity is required in connection with the payment of all or any
portion of the Section 9 Repurchase Consideration, Holder shall have the ongoing
option to revoke its request for repurchase pursuant to this Section 9, in whole
or in part, or to require that Substitute Option Issuer deliver from time to
time that portion of the Section 9 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 any Governmental Entity disapproves of any part of
Substitute Option Issuer's proposed repurchase pursuant to this Section 9,
Substitute Option Issuer shall promptly give notice of such fact to Holder and
Holder shall have the right (i) to revoke the repurchase request or (ii) to the
extent permitted by such Governmental Entity, determine whether the repurchase
should apply to the Substitute Option and/or Substitute Option Shares and to
what extent to each, and Holder shall thereupon have the right to exercise the
Substitute Option as to the number of Substitute Option Shares for which the
Substitute Option was exercisable at the Section 9 Request Date less the number
of shares covered by the Substitute Option in respect of which payment has been
made pursuant to Section 9(a)(ii) of this Agreement. Holder shall notify
Substitute Option 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, in the event that Substitute
Option Issuer delivers to the Holder written notice accompanied by a
certification of Substitute Option Issuer's independent auditor each stating
that a requested repurchase of Substitute Common Stock would result in the
recapture of Substitute Option Issuer's bad debt reserves under the Code,
Holder's repurchase request shall be deemed to be automatically revoked.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all of Holder's rights under
this Section 9 shall terminate on the date of termination of this Substitute
Option pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the "Highest Closing
Price" means the highest of the closing sales price per share of Substitute
Common Stock, as quoted on the NYSE, AMEX or Nasdaq (or if the Substitute Common
Stock is not quoted on the NYSE, AMEX or Nasdaq, 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) during the six-month
period preceding the Section 9 Request Date.
10. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Demand Registration Rights. Issuer shall, subject to the
conditions of Section 10(c) of this Agreement, if requested by any Holder,
including Grantee and any permitted transferee ("Selling Shareholder"), as
expeditiously as possible, prepare and file and keep current a registration
statement under the Securities Act if such registration is necessary in order to
permit the sale or other disposition of any or all shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities that have been acquired by or are issuable to the Selling
Shareholder upon exercise of the Option in accordance with the intended method
of sale or other disposition stated by the Selling Shareholder in such request,
including without limitation a "shelf" registration statement under Rule 415,
promulgated 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.
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(b) Additional Registration Rights. If Issuer at any time
after the exercise of the Option proposes to register any shares of Issuer
Common Stock under the Securities Act in connection with an underwritten public
offering of such Issuer Common Stock, Issuer will promptly give written notice
to the Selling Shareholders of its intention to do so and, upon the written
request of any Selling Shareholder 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 the
Selling Shareholder), Issuer will cause all such shares for which a Selling
Shareholder requests participation in such registration, to be so registered and
included in such underwritten public offering; provided, however, that Issuer
may elect to not cause some or all of such shares to be so registered (i) if the
underwriters in the Public Offering in good faith object for valid business
reasons, or (ii) in the case of a registration solely to implement an employee
benefit agreement or a registration filed on Form S-4 of the Securities Act or
any equivalent or successor Form. 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 Section 10(b), shall be excluded from such
registration, Issuer shall make appropriate allocation of shares to be
registered among the Selling Shareholders desiring to register their shares pro
rata in the proportion that the number of shares requested to be registered by
each such Selling Shareholder bears to the total number of shares requested to
be registered by all such Selling Shareholders then desiring to have Issuer
Common Stock registered for sale.
(c) Conditions to Required Registration. Issuer shall use all
reasonable efforts to cause each registration statement referred to in Section
10(a) of this Agreement 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, however, that Issuer may delay any
registration of Option Shares required pursuant to Section 10(a) of this
Agreement 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 Act pursuant to Section
10(a) hereof:
(i) Prior to the earliest of (A) termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to Article VI thereof, (B) failure to obtain
the requisite stockholder approval pursuant to Section 6.1(b) of the
Merger Agreement, and (C) a Purchase Event or a Preliminary Purchase
Event;
(ii) On more than one occasion during any calendar
year;
(iii) Within 90 days after the effective date of a
registration referred to in Section 10(b) of this Agreement pursuant to
which the Selling Shareholder or Selling Shareholders concerned were
afforded the opportunity to register such shares under the Securities
Act and such shares were registered as requested; and
(iv) Unless a request therefor is made to Issuer by
Selling Shareholders that hold at least 25% or more of the aggregate
number of Option Shares (including shares of Issuer Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Option) 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 or local 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, however, that Issuer
shall not be required to consent to general jurisdiction or qualify to do
business in any state or locality where it is not otherwise required to so
consent to such jurisdiction or to so qualify to do business.
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(d) Expenses. 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), legal expenses, including the reasonable fees and
expenses of one counsel to the holders whose Option Shares are being registered,
printing expenses and the costs of special audits or "cold comfort" letters,
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 Section 10(a) or 10(b) of this Agreement
(including the related offerings and sales by holders of Option Shares) and all
other qualifications, notifications or exemptions pursuant to Section 10(a) or
10(b) of this Agreement.
(e) Indemnification. (i) In connection with any registration
under Section 10(a) or 10(b) of this Agreement, Issuer hereby indemnifies the
Selling Shareholders, 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, or alleged 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, or alleged 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 indemnified
party expressly for use therein, and Issuer and each officer, director and
controlling person of Issuer shall be indemnified by such Selling Shareholders,
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.
(ii) Promptly upon receipt by a party indemnified under this
Section 10(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 Section 10(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
Section 10(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 (x) the indemnifying party either
agrees to pay the same, (y) the indemnifying party fails to assume the defense
of such action with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (z) 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.
(iii) If the indemnification provided for in this Section
10(e) is unavailable to a party otherwise entitled to be indemnified in respect
of any expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred
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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 Shareholders and the
underwriters from the offering of the securities and also the relative fault of
Issuer, the Selling Shareholders 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, however, that in no
case shall any Selling Shareholder be responsible, in the aggregate, for any
amount in excess of the net offering proceeds attributable to its Option Shares
included in the offering. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. Any obligation by any holder to indemnify shall be several
and not joint with other holders.
(iv) In connection with any registration pursuant to Section
10(a) or 10(b) of this Agreement, Issuer and each Selling Shareholder (other
than Grantee) shall enter into an agreement containing the indemnification
provisions of Section 10(e) of this Agreement.
(f) MISCELLANEOUS REPORTING. Issuer shall comply with all
reporting requirements and will do all such other things as may be necessary to
permit the expeditious sale at any time of any Option Shares by the Selling
Shareholders 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, Rule 144. Issuer shall at its expense provide the Selling
Shareholders 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 Act or the Exchange Act, or required pursuant to any state securities
laws or the rules of any stock exchange.
(g) ISSUE TAXES. 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 the Selling Shareholders 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 in connection with the exercise of the Option are then
authorized for quotation or trading or listing on the NYSE, AMEX, Nasdaq or any
other securities exchange, Issuer, upon the request of Holder, 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 NYSE, AMEX, Nasdaq or such other securities
exchange 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 Holder, upon
presentation and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer
for other Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling
the holder thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of
Issuer Common Stock purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as
used herein include any other Agreements and related Options for which this
Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by
Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction)
of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation
of this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement
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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.
13. PROFIT LIMITATION.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, in
no event shall Grantee's Total Profit (as hereinafter defined) exceed $30
million, plus Grantee's documented, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including
fees and expenses of legal, financial and accounting advisors) incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and, if
it otherwise would exceed such amount, Grantee, at its sole election, shall
either (i) deliver to Issuer for cancellation Shares previously purchased by
Grantee, (ii) pay cash or other consideration to Issuer or (iii) undertake any
combination thereof, so that Grantee's Total Profit shall not exceed $30
million, plus Grantee's documented, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including
fees and expenses of legal, financial and accounting advisors) incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, 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
Notice Date, result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined below) of more than
$30 million, plus Grantee's documented, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including fees and expenses of legal, financial and accounting advisors)
incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, and, if exercise of the Option otherwise would exceed such amount,
Grantee, at its discretion, may increase the Purchase Price for that number of
Shares set forth in the Option Notice so that the Notional Total Profit shall
not exceed $30 million, plus Grantee's documented, reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses (including fees and expenses of legal, financial and accounting
advisors) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement; provided, that nothing in this sentence shall restrict any
exercise of the Option permitted hereby on any subsequent date at the Purchase
Price set forth in Section 2 hereof.
(c) As used herein, the term "Total Profit" shall mean the
aggregate amount (before taxes) of the following: (i) the amount of cash
received by Grantee pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Merger Agreement and Section
8(a)(ii) hereof, (ii) (x) the amount received by Grantee pursuant to the
repurchase of Option Shares pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9 hereof, less
Grantee's purchase price for such Option Shares, and (iii) 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 Grantee's purchase price for such Option Shares.
(d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Profit" with
respect to any number of Option Shares as to which Grantee may propose to
exercise this Option shall be the Total Profit determined as of the date of the
Option Notice assuming that this Option were exercised on such date for such
number of Shares and assuming that such Option 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).
14. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) EXPENSES. Except to the extent expressly provided for
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.
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(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 BENEFICIARIES;
SEVERABILITY. This Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement and the other
documents and instruments referred to herein and therein, between Grantee and
Issuer (i) 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 (ii) is not intended to confer upon any person
other than the parties hereto (other than the indemnified parties under Section
10(e) of this Agreement and any transferees of the Option Shares or any
permitted transferee of this Agreement pursuant to Section 14(h) of this
Agreement) any rights or remedies hereunder. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
Governmental Entity 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 Governmental Entity determines that the Option
does not permit Holder to acquire, or does not require Issuer to repurchase, the
full number of shares of Issuer Common Stock as provided in Section 3 of this
Agreement (as may be adjusted herein), it is the express intention of Issuer to
allow Holder 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 New York 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 addresses set forth in the Merger
Agreement (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice).
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may
be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been
signed, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same
counterpart.
(h) ASSIGNMENT. 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 Holder may assign this
Agreement to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holder and Holder 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 the Holder, Issuer, and the Holder shall execute and deliver all other
documents and instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably
necessary in order to consummate the transactions provided for by such exercise.
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(j) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that this
Agreement may be enforced by either party through specific performance,
injunctive relief and other equitable relief. Both parties further agree to
waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with
the obtaining of any such equitable relief and that this provision is without
prejudice to any other rights that the parties hereto may have for any failure
to perform this Agreement.
(k) LIMITATION ON RESALE OF ISSUER COMMON STOCK. Grantee
agrees that no shares of Issuer Common Stock acquired by it upon exercise of the
Option, if any, shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed by it prior to
the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof,
except as follows. If the Grantee shall determine to accept a bona fide offer to
purchase the Issuer Common Stock then held by it or to sell any such Stock on
the open market, the Grantee shall give notice thereof to the Issuer specifying
(i) the Issuer Common Stock to be sold and (ii) the purchase price to be offered
therefor (or in the case of open market sales, that the sales are to be at
prices prevailing on the market) and any other significant terms of the proposed
transaction. Upon receipt of such notice, the Issuer shall, for a period of
three business days immediately following such receipt, have the right of first
refusal to purchase the Issuer Common Stock then held by Grantee that is
proposed to be sold at the purchase price set forth in such notice or, if such
shares are to be sold in open market transaction, at a purchase price equal to
the average of the closing prices therefor (and if there is no such closing
price on any of such days, then the mean of the closing bid and the closing
asked prices on that day) on the principal market on which Issuer Common Stock
is traded for the five trading days immediately prior to the Issuer's receipt of
such notice. Payment for such shares shall be made to the Grantee in immediately
available funds within three business days immediately following receipt of the
notice of the proposed sale.
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.
JSB FINANCIAL, INC.
By: /s/ Park X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Park X. Xxxxxx
Chairman of the Board 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
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