Exhibit 99.2
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN
AND TO THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.
THE OPTION GRANTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL AUTOMATICALLY EXPIRE ON THE DATE
DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND CONTAINS A LIMITATION ON THE
AMOUNT WHICH A HOLDER MAY REALIZE ON A SALE, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF
THE OPTION GRANTED HEREUNDER OR, IN CERTAIN EVENTS, OF THE SHARES WHICH MAY BE
ACQUIRED ON EXERCISE THEREOF (THE "OPTION SHARES"), PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT.
THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE OPTION AND THE OPTION SHARES IS ALSO RESTRICTED
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS HEREOF.
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of December 14, 2000, between Zions
Bancorporation, a Utah corporation ("GRANTEE"), and Eldorado Bancshares, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("ISSUER").
RECITALS
A. MERGER AGREEMENT. Grantee and Issuer have entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2000 (the "MERGER
AGREEMENT"), which agreement has been executed by the parties hereto immediately
prior to this Stock Option Agreement; and
B. OPTION. As a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger
Agreement and in consideration therefor and in consideration for the option
granted to Issuer by Grantee pursuant to an option agreement dated as of the
date hereof, 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 an
aggregate of 2,814,104 fully paid and nonassessable shares of the common stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of Issuer ("COMMON STOCK") at a price per share equal
to$10.00 (the "Option Price"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the
number of shares for which this Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock. 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 issued or
otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement (other than
pursuant to this Agreement and other than pursuant to an event described in the
second sentence of Section 5 hereof), the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the Option shall be increased so that, after such issuance, such
number together with any shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant
hereto, 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 l(b) or elsewhere in this
Agreement shall be deemed to authorize Issuer to issue shares in breach of any
provision of the Merger Agreement.
(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 Option Shares pursuant to
Section 7 hereof, less, in the case of any repurchase of Option Shares,
Grantee's purchase price for such Option Shares, and (ii) (y) the net cash
amounts or the fair market value of any property received by Grantee pursuant to
the sale of Option Shares including pursuant to a Repurchase Event (or (A) any
other securities into which such Option Shares are converted or exchanged or (B)
any property, cash or other securities received pursuant to adjustments made
under Section 8 hereof or otherwise delivered to Grantee), but in no case less
than the fair market value of such Option Shares, less (z) Grantee's purchase
price for such Option Shares.
(d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Profit" with respect to any
number of shares as to which Grantee or any affiliate of Grantee may propose to
exercise the Option shall mean the Total Profit determined as of the date of
such proposed exercise assuming that the Option was exercised on such date for
such number of shares and assuming that such shares, together with all other
Option Shares held by Grantee or any affiliate of Grantee as of such date, were
sold for cash at the closing market price for the Issuer Common Stock as of the
close of business on the preceding trading day (less customary brokerage
commissions).
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event
shall Grantee's Total Profit exceed $9,907,829 (the "MAXIMUM TOTAL PROFIT") and,
if it otherwise would exceed such amount, Grantee, at its sole election, shall
either (i) increase the Option Price with respect to the Option Shares, (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 the Maximum Total
Profit, taking into account the foregoing actions.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Option may
not be exercised for a number of shares as would, as of the date of exercise,
result in a Notional Total Profit of more than $9,907,829; PROVIDED, that
nothing in this sentence shall restrict any exercise of the Option permitted
hereby on any subsequent date on which the Notional Total Profit would be less
than $9,907,829.
2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the Option, in
whole or part, 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), PROVIDED that the Holder shall have sent the written
notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2) within
six (6) months following such Subsequent Triggering Event (or such later period
as provided in Section 10). Each of the following shall be an Exercise
Termination Event: (i) the Effective Time 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 8.01(b) of the Merger Agreement (a
"LISTED TERMINATION"); (iii) the passage of twelve (12) months (or such longer
period as provided in Section 10) after termination of the Merger Agreement if
such termination follows the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event or is a
Listed Termination; or (iv) the passage of twelve (12) months (or such longer
period as provided in Section 10 hereof) after a Subsequent Triggering Event.
Upon the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event, this Option (or such
portion hereof as to which the Holder has not theretofore given a notice of
exercise in accordance with paragraph (e) below) shall terminate and become
void, without notice or other action by any person. The term "HOLDER" shall mean
the holder or holders of the Option. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Option may not be exercised at any time when Grantee shall
be in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements contained in the
Merger Agreement such that Issuer shall be entitled to terminate the Merger
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b) thereof. Anything to the contrary
notwithstanding, at no point may the Option be exercised, as a whole or in part,
to the extent that such exercise (or the acquisition of Option Shares
thereunder) would, if it occurred on the date hereof, be inconsistent with any
provision of the Merger Agreement.
(b) The term "INITIAL TRIGGERING EVENT" shall mean any of the following
events or transactions occurring on or after the date hereof:
(i) Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in
Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC")) (the "ISSUER SUBSIDIARIES"), 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 (the "ISSUER BOARD") shall have recommended that the
stockholders of Issuer approve or accept any Acquisition Transaction
other than as contemplated by the Merger Agreement. For purposes of this
Agreement, (a) "ACQUISITION TRANSACTION" shall mean (x) a merger or
consolidation, or any similar
transaction, involving Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary (other than
mergers, consolidations or similar transactions involving solely Issuer
and/or one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Issuer, PROVIDED, any
such transaction is not entered into in violation of the terms of the
Merger Agreement), (y) a purchase, lease or other acquisition of all or
any substantial part of the assets or deposits of Issuer or any Issuer
Subsidiary, or (z) 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 any Issuer
Subsidiary and (b) "SUBSIDIARY" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule
12b-2 under the 1934 Act;
(ii) Any person other than the Grantee, any Grantee Subsidiary or an
Existing Principal Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) shall have
acquired beneficial ownership or the right to acquire beneficial
ownership of 15% 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);
(iii) The stockholders of Issuer shall have voted and failed to
approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger at a meeting which has been
held for that purpose or any adjournment or postponement thereof, or such
meeting shall not have been held in violation of the Merger Agreement or
shall have been canceled prior to termination of the Merger Agreement if,
prior to such meeting (or if such meeting shall not have been held or
shall have been canceled, prior to such termination), it shall have been
publicly announced that any person (other than Grantee or any of its
Subsidiaries) shall have made, or disclosed an intention to make, a
proposal to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;
(iv) The Issuer Board shall have withdrawn, modified or qualified
(or publicly announced its intention to withdraw, modify or qualify) in
any manner adverse in any respect to Grantee its recommendation that the
shareholders of Issuer approve the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement, if prior to such action, it shall have been publicly
announced that any person (other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries)
shall have made, or disclosed an intention to make, a proposal to engage
in an Acquisition Transaction, or Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary shall
have authorized, recommended, proposed (or publicly announced its
intention to authorize, recommend or propose) an agreement to engage in
an Acquisition Transaction with any person other than Grantee or a
Grantee Subsidiary;
(v) Issuer shall have willfully breached any covenant or obligation
contained in the Merger Agreement in anticipation of an Acquisition
Transaction, and following such breach Grantee would be entitled to
terminate the Merger Agreement (whether immediately or after the giving
of notice or passage of time or both).
(c) The term "SUBSEQUENT TRIGGERING EVENT" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) The acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 40% or more of the then
outstanding Common Stock; or
(ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event described in
clause (i) of subsection (b) of this Section 2, except that the
percentage referred to in clause (z) of the second sentence thereof shall
be 25%.
(d) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the occurrence of
any Initial Triggering Event or Subsequent Triggering Event (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 (or any portion thereof), 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 Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (the "FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD") or any other regulatory
or antitrust agency is required in connection with such purchase, the Holder
shall promptly file the required notice or application for approval, shall
promptly notify Issuer of such filing 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 (i) 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 and (ii)
present and surrender this Agreement to Issuer at its principal executive
offices, PROVIDED that the failure or refusal of the Issuer to designate such a
bank account or accept surrender of this Agreement 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.
(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 of 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 in the opinion of counsel to the Holder,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer; 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 (f) 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.
(j) As used in this Agreement, the term "Existing Principal Stockholder"
means any shareholder of the Issuer that beneficially owns more than 5% of the
shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.
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 applicable 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 "BHCA"), or the Change in Bank Control Act
of 1978, as amended, or any state or other federal banking law, prior approval
of or notice to the Federal Reserve Board or to any state or other federal
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 or such state or other
federal 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 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 Common Stock by
reason of a stock dividend, stock split, split-up, recapitalization, stock
combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction, the type and number of
shares or securities subject to the Option, and the Option Price therefor, shall
be adjusted appropriately, and proper provision shall be made in the agreements
governing such transaction so that Grantee
shall receive, upon exercise of the Option, the number and class of shares or
other securities or property that Grantee would have received in respect of
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 Common
Stock are issued after the date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to this
Agreement or pursuant to an event described in the second sentence of this
Section 5), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option shall be
adjusted so that, after such issuance, it, together with any shares of Common
Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, equals 19.9% of the number of shares of
Common Stock then issued and outstanding, without giving effect to any shares
subject to or issued pursuant to the Option.
6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that occurs
prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the request of
Grantee, deliver within twelve (12) months (or such later period as provided
in Section 10) of such Subsequent Triggering Event (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), promptly prepare, file
and keep current a registration statement under the 1933 Act covering 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 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 promptly 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. The Issuer
shall bear the costs of such registrations (including, but not limited to,
Issuer's attorneys' fees, printing costs and filing fees, except for
underwriting discounts or commissions, brokers' fees and the fees and
disbursements of Grantee's counsel related thereto). The foregoing
notwithstanding, if, at the time of any request by Grantee for registration
of Option Shares as provided above, Issuer is in registration with respect to
an underwritten public offering by Issuer 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 offer and sale of the 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 33 1/3% 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
Issuer shall file a registration statement for the balance as promptly as
practicable thereafter as to which no reduction pursuant to this Section 6
shall be permitted or 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 such underwriting agreements for 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 the number of registrations that Issuer is obligated to effect be
increased by reason of the fact that there shall be more than one Holder as a
result of any assignment or division of this Agreement.
7. (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as defined
below) (i) at the request of the Holder, delivered prior to an Exercise
Termination Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10), and subject
in all events to paragraph (c) hereof, 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 prior to an Exercise
Termination Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10), Issuer (or
any successor thereto) 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 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 any substantial part
of Issuer's assets or deposits, the sum of the net price paid in such sale for
such assets or deposits and the current market value of the remaining net 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 on a pro forma basis, giving effect to the
exercise or conversion of all Common Stock equivalents (including this Option),
computed by the so-called "treasury method." 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, a copy of 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. The Holder shall also represent and warrant that it has sole record
and beneficial ownership of such Option Shares and that such Option Shares are
then free and clear of all liens. As promptly as practicable, and in
any event within twenty (20) business days after the surrender of the Option
and/or certificates representing Option Shares and the receipt of such notice or
notices relating thereto, 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 from so delivering, or permitted not then to repurchase, each in
accordance with paragraph (c).
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy or order or other
binding obligation with a governmental body or agency, including without
limitation any resolution adopted at the direction or request of any
governmental body or agency (collectively, a "Regulatory Impediment"), from
repurchasing the Option and/or the Option Shares in full or to the extent that
the Issuer would not have been "adequately capitalized" (as such term is defined
by the Federal Reserve Board) as of last day of the Issuer's most recent fiscal
quarter had the Issuer repurchased the Option and/or the Option Shares in full
as of such date, 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 twenty (20) business days after the date on
which Issuer is no longer so prohibited, or that it can deliver while remaining
adequately capitalized; 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 from delivering as a consequence of a Regulatory Impediment, or is
permitted not to deliver pursuant to this paragraph (c) as a consequence of its
capital ratios, 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 reasonable 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 and/or the Option Shares
whether 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 and/or the Option Share
Repurchase Price that Issuer is not prohibited from delivering, or that it can
deliver while remaining adequtely capitalized; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate,
either (A) to the Holder, a new 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 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, and/or (B) to the Owner, a certificate for the Option Shares
it is not then repurchasing. If an Exercise Termination Event shall have
occurred prior to the date of the notice by Issuer described in the first
sentence of this subsection (c), or shall be scheduled to occur at any time
before the expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such date,
the Holder shall nonetheless have the right to exercise the Option until the
expiration of such 30-day period.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, a "REPURCHASE EVENT" shall be deemed
to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following events or
transactions after the date hereof:
(i) the acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then
outstanding Common Stock, or
(ii) the acquisition by any person (other than Grantee, any Grantee
Subsidiary, Owner or any subsidiary of Owner) beneficial ownership of 40%
more of the then outstanding Common Stock if Issuer shall have violated
Section 6.07 of the Merger Agreement; or
(iii) the consummation of any Acquisition Transaction described in
Section 2(b)(i) hereof, except that the percentage referred to in clause
(z) shall be 25%.
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 a Grantee Subsidiary, or engage in a plan of exchange with
any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary and Issuer shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger or the
acquirer in such plan of exchange, (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee
or a Grantee Subsidiary, to merge into Issuer or be acquired by Issuer in a plan
of exchange and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving or acquiring
corporation, but, in connection with such merger or plan of exchange, 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 or plan of
exchange represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares and share equivalents
of the merged or acquiring company, or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all
or a substantial part of its or any Issuer Subsidiary's assets or deposits to
any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, 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") of (A) if the common stock of the Acquiring
Corporation (as defined hereinafter defined) is registered under the Securities
Act or is otherwise publicly traded, then the Acquiring Corporation, (B) if
clause (A) above is not applicable and the common stock of any Person that
controls the Acquiring Corporation is registered under the Securities Act or is
otherwise publicly traded, then such controlling Person, and (C) in neither the
Acquiring Corporation nor any controlling Person thereof has common stock that
is registered under the Securities Act or that is otherwise publicly traded,
then either the Acquiring Corporation or a Person controlling the Acquiring
Corporation, at the election of the Holder.
(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "ACQUIRING CORPORATION" shall mean (i) the continuing or
surviving person of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other than
Issuer), (ii) the acquiring person in a plan of exchange in which Issuer
is acquired, (iii) the Issuer in a merger or plan of exchange in which
Issuer is the continuing or surviving or acquiring person and (iv) the
transferee of all or a substantial part of Issuer's assets or deposits
(or the assets or deposits of any Issuer Subsidiary).
(ii) "SUBSTITUTE COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock issued by
the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the Substitute
Option.
(iii) "ASSIGNED VALUE" shall mean the market/offer price, as defined
in Section 7.
(iv) "AVERAGE PRICE" shall mean the average closing price of a share
of the Substitute Common Stock for one (1) 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 (after giving effect for
such purpose to the provisions of Section 9), which agreement 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 was exercisable
immediately prior to the event described in the first sentence of Section 8(a),
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 was exercisable immediately prior to the
event described in the first sentence of Section 8(a) 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.
(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 issuer of the Substitute Option (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 rights 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/or 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 (5) 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 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, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from
repurchasing the Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in part or in
full, the Substitute Option Issuer 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 Option
Repurchase Price and/or the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively,
which it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five (5) 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, or as a consequence of
administrative policy, 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 reasonable best efforts to receive all
required regulatory and legal approvals as promptly as practicable in order to
accomplish such repurchase), the Substitute Option Holder and/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 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, and/or (B) to the Substitute Share Owner, a certificate for
the Substitute Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing. If an
Exercise Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the date of the notice
by the Substitute Option Issuer described in the first sentence of this
subsection (c), or shall be scheduled to occur at any time before the expiration
of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such date, the Substitute Option
Holder shall nevertheless have the right to exercise the Substitute Option until
the expiration of such 30-day period.
10. The periods for exercise of certain rights under Sections 2, 6, 7, 9
and 14 shall be extended: (i) to the extent necessary to obtain all regulatory
approvals for the exercise of such rights (for so long as the Holder, Owner,
Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as the case may be, is using
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such regulatory approvals), and for
the expiration of all statutory waiting periods; (ii) to the extent necessary to
avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise;
and (iii) when there exists an injunction, order or judgment that prohibits or
delays exercise of such right.
11. (a) Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(i) Issuer has the requisite 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
Issuer Board prior to the date hereof 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.
(ii) 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 thereto, 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.
(b) Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer as follows: Grantee
has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement by the Grantee and the performance of its obligations
hereunder by the Grantee have been duly and validly authorized by the Board of
Directors of Grantee and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the
Grantee are necessary to authorize this Agreement or for Grantee to perform its
obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by Grantee.
(c) This Option is not being, and any Option Shares or other securities
acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be, acquired with a
view to the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or otherwise
disposed or except in a transaction registered or exempt from registration under
the 1933 Act.
12. 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; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that until the date fifteen (15) days following the date on which the Federal
Reserve Board has approved 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. Each Holder of this Option agrees and covenants to Issuer
that it will comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws in
effecting any assignment of this Option, and agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless Issuer and Issuer's officers and directors against any liability
arising thereunder in connection with any such assignment.
13. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its reasonable 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, applying to the
Federal Reserve Board under the BHCA 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.
14. 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. In connection therewith, both
parties waive the posting of any bond or similar requirement.
15. 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 l(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section l(b) or Section
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.
16. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
fax, telecopy, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) at the respective addresses of the parties set forth in the
Merger Agreement.
17. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law
principles thereof (except to the extent that mandatory provisions of federal
law are applicable).
18. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement.
19. 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.
20. 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 assignees.
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors except as
assignees, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason
of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
21. 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.
ZIONS BANCORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
ELDORADO BANCSHARES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
