AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Exhibit 2.1
Execution Version
DATED AS OF MAY 29, 2018
BY AND AMONG
ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY,
MNB BANCORP,
AND
THE MILFORD NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Table of Contents | ||||
Page | ||||
Article I | THE MERGER | 2 | ||
Section 1.01 | The Merger | 2 | ||
Section 1.02 | Articles of Organization and Bylaws | 2 | ||
Section 1.03 | Directors and Officers of Surviving Entity | 2 | ||
Section 1.04 | Effective Time; Closing | 2 | ||
Section 1.05 | Tax Consequences | 2 | ||
Section 1.06 | Additional Actions | 3 | ||
ARTICLE II | MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES | 3 | ||
Section 2.01 | Merger Consideration | 3 | ||
Section 2.02 | Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers | 4 | ||
Section 2.03 | Fractional Shares | 4 | ||
Section 2.04 | Election Procedures | 4 | ||
Section 2.05 | Exchange Procedures | 6 | ||
Section 2.06 | Anti-Dilution Provisions | 9 | ||
ARTICLE III | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY | 9 | ||
Section 3.01 | Making of Representations and Warranties | 9 | ||
Section 3.02 | Organization, Standing and Authority | 10 | ||
Section 3.03 | Capital Stock | 10 | ||
Section 3.04 | Subsidiaries | 11 | ||
Section 3.05 | Corporate Power; Minute Books | 11 | ||
Section 3.06 | Corporate Authority | 12 | ||
Section 3.07 | Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults | 12 | ||
Section 3.08 | Reports; Internal Controls | 13 | ||
Section 3.09 | Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities | 14 | ||
Section 3.10 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 15 | ||
Section 3.11 | Legal Proceedings | 16 | ||
Section 3.12 | Compliance With Laws | 16 | ||
Section 3.13 | Material Contracts; Defaults | 17 | ||
Section 3.14 | Agreements with Regulatory Agencies | 17 | ||
Section 3.15 | Brokers | 18 | ||
Section 3.16 | Employee Benefit Plans | 18 | ||
Section 3.17 | Labor Matters | 20 | ||
Section 3.18 | Environmental Matters | 20 | ||
Section 3.19 | Tax Matters | 22 | ||
Section 3.20 | Investment Securities | 24 | ||
Section 3.21 | Derivative Transactions | 24 | ||
Section 3.22 | Regulatory Capitalization | 24 | ||
Section 3.23 | Loans; Nonperforming and Classified Assets | 24 |
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Section 3.24 | Allowance for Loan Losses | 25 | ||
Section 3.25 | Trust Business; Administration of Fiduciary Accounts | 26 | ||
Section 3.26 | Investment Management and Related Activities | 26 | ||
Section 3.27 | Repurchase Agreements | 27 | ||
Section 3.28 | CRA, Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Information Security | 27 | ||
Section 3.29 | Transactions with Affiliates | 27 | ||
Section 3.30 | Tangible Properties and Assets | 28 | ||
Section 3.31 | Intellectual Property | 28 | ||
Section 3.32 | Insurance | 29 | ||
Section 3.33 | Anti-Takeover Provisions | 29 | ||
Section 3.34 | Fairness Opinion | 29 | ||
Section 3.35 | Proxy Statement-Prospectus | 29 | ||
Section 3.36 | Transaction Costs | 30 | ||
Section 3.37 | Information Security | 30 | ||
Section 3.38 | Disclosure | 30 | ||
Section 3.39 | No Other Representations or Warranties | 30 | ||
ARTICLE IV | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER | 30 | ||
Section 4.01 | Making of Representations and Warranties | 30 | ||
Section 4.02 | Organization, Standing and Authority | 31 | ||
Section 4.03 | Capital Stock | 31 | ||
Section 4.04 | Corporate Power; Minute Books | 32 | ||
Section 4.05 | Corporate Authority | 32 | ||
Section 4.06 | SEC Documents; Other Reports; Internal Controls | 32 | ||
Section 4.07 | Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities | 34 | ||
Section 4.08 | Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults | 34 | ||
Section 4.09 | Agreements with Regulatory Agencies | 35 | ||
Section 4.10 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 35 | ||
Section 4.11 | Compliance with Laws | 36 | ||
Section 4.12 | Proxy Statement-Prospectus Information; Registration Statement | 36 | ||
Section 4.13 | Legal Proceedings | 36 | ||
Section 4.14 | Brokers | 37 | ||
Section 4.15 | Employee Benefit Plans | 37 | ||
Section 4.16 | Labor Matters | 37 | ||
Section 4.17 | Tax Matters | 37 | ||
Section 4.18 | Loans: Nonperforming and Classified Assets | 39 | ||
Section 4.19 | CRA, Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Information Security | 39 | ||
Section 4.20 | Regulatory Capitalization | 40 | ||
Section 4.21 | Environmental Matters | 40 | ||
Section 4.22 | Administration of Trust and Fiduciary Accounts | 40 | ||
Section 4.23 | Information Security | 40 | ||
Section 4.24 | Disclosure | 40 | ||
Section 4.25 | No Other Representations or Warranties | 41 |
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ARTICLE V | COVENANTS | 41 | ||
Section 5.01 | Covenants of Company | 41 | ||
Section 5.02 | Covenants of Buyer | 46 | ||
Section 5.03 | Commercially Reasonable Effort | 47 | ||
Section 5.04 | Shareholder Approval | 47 | ||
Section 5.05 | Registration Statement; Proxy Statement-Prospectus; Nasdaq Listing | 48 | ||
Section 5.06 | Regulatory Filings; Consents | 49 | ||
Section 5.07 | Publicity | 50 | ||
Section 5.08 | Access; Information | 51 | ||
Section 5.09 | No Solicitation by Company | 51 | ||
Section 5.10 | Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance | 53 | ||
Section 5.11 | Employees; Benefit Plans | 55 | ||
Section 5.12 | Notification of Certain Changes | 57 | ||
Section 5.13 | Current Information | 57 | ||
Section 5.14 | Board Packages and Meetings | 57 | ||
Section 5.15 | Transition; Informational Systems Conversion | 58 | ||
Section 5.16 | Access to Customers and Suppliers | 58 | ||
Section 5.17 | Environmental Assessments | 59 | ||
Section 5.18 | Shareholder Litigation and Claims | 59 | ||
Section 5.19 | Director Resignations | 59 | ||
Section 5.20 | Third Party Consents | 60 | ||
Section 5.21 | Coordination | 60 | ||
Section 5.22 | Merger | 61 | ||
Section 5.23 | Charitable Foundation | 61 | ||
Section 5.24 | Certain Transactional Expenses | 61 | ||
ARTICLE VI | CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER | 61 | ||
Section 6.01 | Conditions to Obligations of the Parties to Effect the Merger | 61 | ||
Section 6.02 | Conditions to Obligations of Company | 62 | ||
Section 6.03 | Conditions to Obligations of Buyer | 63 | ||
Section 6.04 | Frustration of Closing Conditions | 63 | ||
ARTICLE VII | TERMINATION | 63 | ||
Section 7.01 | Termination | 63 | ||
Section 7.02 | Termination Fee; Reimbursement | 66 | ||
Section 7.03 | Effect of Termination | 68 | ||
ARTICLE VIII | DEFINITIONS | 68 | ||
Section 8.01 | Definitions | 68 | ||
ARTICLE IX | MISCELLANEOUS | 77 | ||
Section 9.01 | Survival | 77 |
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Section 9.02 | Waiver; Amendment | 78 | ||
Section 9.03 | Governing Law; Waiver | 78 | ||
Section 9.04 | Expenses | 78 | ||
Section 9.05 | Notices | 78 | ||
Section 9.06 | Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries | 79 | ||
Section 9.07 | Severability | 80 | ||
Section 9.08 | Enforcement of the Agreement | 80 | ||
Section 9.09 | Interpretation | 80 | ||
Section 9.10 | Assignment | 80 | ||
Section 9.11 | Counterparts | 81 |
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This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is dated as of May 29, 2018, by and among Independent Bank Corp. (“Buyer”), Rockland Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer (“Buyer Bank”), MNB Bancorp (“Company”), and The Milford National Bank and Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Company (“Company Bank”). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meaning set forth in Article VIII.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Buyer and the board of directors of Company has each (i) determined that this Agreement and the business combination and related transactions it contemplates are in the best interests of their respective entities, shareholders, and other constituencies; and (ii) approved this Agreement;
WHEREAS, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (i) Company will merge with and into Buyer, with Buyer the surviving entity (the “Merger”), and (ii) Company Bank will immediately thereafter merge with and into Buyer Bank, with Buyer Bank the surviving entity (the “Bank Merger”);
WHEREAS, as a material inducement to Buyer and Buyer Bank to enter into this Agreement, (a) each director of Company has entered into a voting agreement with Buyer dated as of this date (a “Voting Agreement”), substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, pursuant to which each has agreed to vote all Shares of Company Common Stock (as defined in this Agreement) he or she owns in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the transactions it contemplates; and (b) Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chairman of the board of directors of Company and the holder of a majority of Shares of Company Common Stock, has entered into a Shareholders Agreement with Buyer dated as of this date (the “Shareholders Agreement”), in the form attached as Exhibit B, concerning his ownership of Buyer Common Stock (as defined in this Agreement) following the Closing (as defined in this Agreement) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the parties intend that the Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code (as defined in this Agreement) and relevant Treasury Regulations, and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and relevant Treasury Regulations; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, and agreements and prescribe certain conditions in connection with the transactions described in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises in this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
THE MERGER
Section 1.01 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Company shall merge with and into Buyer in accordance with the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”), regulatory requirements, and other applicable law. Upon consummation of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Company shall cease and Buyer shall survive and continue to exist as a corporation incorporated under the MBCA. (Buyer, as the surviving entity in the Merger, is sometimes referred to in this Agreement as the “Surviving Entity”.)
Section 1.02 Articles of Organization and Bylaws. The Articles of Organization and Bylaws of the Surviving Entity upon consummation of the Merger shall be the Articles of Organization and Bylaws of Buyer as in effect immediately prior to consummation of the Merger.
Section 1.03 Directors and Officers of Surviving Entity. The directors of the Surviving Entity immediately after the Merger shall be the directors of Buyer in office immediately prior to the Effective Time. The Executive Officers of the Surviving Entity immediately after the Merger shall be the Executive Officers of Buyer immediately prior to the Merger. Each director and Executive Officer of the Surviving Entity immediately after the Merger shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or otherwise in accordance with the Articles of Organization and Bylaws of the Surviving Entity.
Section 1.04 Effective Time; Closing.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Buyer and Company shall make all such filings as may be required to consummate the Merger by applicable Laws. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in the articles of merger related to the Merger (the “Articles of Merger”) that shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the Closing Date. The “Effective Time” of the Merger shall be the date and time when the Merger becomes effective as set forth in the Articles of Merger.
(b) The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place immediately prior to the Effective Time by the electronic (PDF), facsimile, or overnight courier exchange of executed documents or at the offices of Xxx Xxxxxx LLP, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, on or before November 30, 2018 assuming the satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable law) of the conditions set forth in Article VI (the “Closing Conditions”), other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions (the “Closing Date”); provided, however, that if the Closing Conditions are not satisfied or waived until after November 30, 2018, the Closing Date shall occur no later than five (5) Business Days after such satisfaction or waiver (unless otherwise agreed to by the parties). At the Closing, there shall be delivered to Buyer and Company the certificates and other documents required to be delivered under Article VI of this Agreement.
Section 1.05 Tax Consequences. It is intended that the Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code and relevant Treasury Regulations, and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the
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Code and relevant Treasury Regulations. From and after the date of this Agreement and until the Closing, each party shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger and the Bank Merger each to qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code and shall refrain from taking any action that reasonably could be expected to cause the Merger and the Bank Merger each to fail to qualify as such a reorganization.
Section 1.06 Additional Actions. If, at any time after the Effective Time, Buyer shall consider or be advised that any further deeds, documents, assignments, or assurances in Law or any other acts are necessary or desirable to (i) vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in Buyer its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, properties, or assets of Company or any Company Subsidiary, or (ii) otherwise carry out the purposes of this Agreement, Company and its officers and directors shall be deemed to have granted to Buyer an irrevocable power of attorney to execute and deliver all deeds, assignments, documents, or assurances in Law and to perform any other acts as are necessary or desirable to (a) vest, perfect, or confirm, of record or otherwise, in Buyer its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, properties, or assets of Company or (b) otherwise carry out the purposes of this Agreement, and the officers and directors of Buyer are authorized in the name of Company or otherwise to take any and all additional actions they deem necessary or advisable.
ARTICLE II
MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
Section 2.01 Merger Consideration. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Buyer, Company or any shareholder of Company:
(a) Each share of Buyer Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding following the Effective Time and shall be unchanged by the Merger.
(b) Each share of Company Common Stock (i) held as treasury stock or (ii) owned directly by Buyer (other than, in the case of clause (ii), shares in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like for the benefit of customers or shares held in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted) shall be cancelled and retired immediately prior to the Effective Time without any conversion, and no payment shall be made with respect to them.
(c) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Dissenters’ Shares and shares described in Section 2.01(b) above) shall become and be converted into, as provided in and subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the right to receive at the election of the holder of such share of Company Common Stock either: (i) $275.00 in cash (the “Cash Consideration”); or 3.55 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of Buyer Common Stock (the “Stock Consideration”). The Cash Consideration, the Stock Consideration, and any cash in lieu of fractional shares paid pursuant to Section 2.03 are sometimes referred to collectively as the “Merger Consideration”.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Buyer shall not pay for any shares of Company Common Stock, the holders of which have exercised their rights under Part 13 of Chapter 156D of the MBCA (“Dissenters’ Shares”) and any holders of Dissenters’ Shares shall not be entitled to receive any Merger Consideration; provided, that if appraisal rights under Part 13 of Chapter 156D of the MBCA with respect to any Dissenters’ Shares shall have been effectively withdrawn or lost they will cease to be treated as Dissenters’ Shares and shall be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.01(c).
Section 2.02 Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers. All shares of Company Common Stock, if and when converted as provided in Section 2.01(c), shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each Certificate previously evidencing them shall represent only the right to receive for each share of Company Common Stock, the Merger Consideration. After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of Company of shares of Company Common Stock.
Section 2.03 Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no fractional shares of Buyer Common Stock will be issued in the Merger. Buyer shall instead pay to each holder of a fractional share of Buyer Common Stock an amount of cash (without interest) determined by multiplying the fractional share interest to which such holder would otherwise be entitled by the VWAP of the Buyer Common Stock for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending on the fifth trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date, rounded to the nearest whole cent.
Section 2.04 Election Procedures.
(a) An election form and other appropriate and customary transmittal materials (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of such Certificates to the Exchange Agent in such form as Company and Buyer shall mutually agree (the “Election Form”), shall be mailed no more than forty (40) and no less than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the anticipated Election Deadline (the “Mailing Date”) to each holder of record of Company Common Stock other than holders of Dissenters’ Shares. Each Election Form shall permit the holder of record of Company Common Stock, other than holders of Dissenters’ Shares (or in the case of nominee record holders, the beneficial owner through proper instructions and documentation), to (i) elect to receive the Cash Consideration for all or a portion of the holder’s shares (a “Cash Election”), (ii) elect to receive the Stock Consideration for all or a portion of the holder’s shares (a “Stock Election”), or (iii) make no election with respect to the receipt of the Cash Consideration or the Stock Consideration (a “Non-Election”); provided that, subject to Section 2.04(d), seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (such number of shares of Company Common Stock, the “Stock Conversion Number”), shall be converted into the Stock Consideration and twenty-five percent (25%) of such shares of Company Common Stock shall be converted into the Cash Consideration in accordance with the allocation procedures set forth in Section 2.04(c). In arriving at the Stock Conversion Number and the number of Shares converted into the Cash Consideration, treasury stock and other shares described Section 2.01(b) shall be excluded. A record holder acting in different capacities or acting on behalf of other Persons in any way will be entitled to submit an Election Form for each capacity in which such record holder so acts with respect to each Person for which it so acts. Shares of Company Common Stock as to which a Cash Election has been made are
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referred to as “Cash Election Shares”. Shares of Company Common Stock as to which a Stock Election has been made are referred to as “Stock Election Shares”. Shares of Company Common Stock as to which no election has been made (or as to which an Election Form is not properly completed and timely returned) are referred to as “Non-Election Shares”. The aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Election has been made is referred to herein as the “Stock Election Number”.
(b) To be effective, a properly completed Election Form shall be submitted to the Exchange Agent by or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a date no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Closing Date to be mutually agreed upon by the parties (the “Election Deadline”), accompanied by the Certificates as to which such Election Form is being made or by an appropriate guarantee of delivery of such Certificates, as set forth in the Election Form, from a member of any registered national securities exchange or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States (provided that Certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent by the time required by the guarantee of delivery; failure to deliver shares of Company Common Stock covered by the guarantee of delivery within the time set required shall invalidate any otherwise properly made election, unless otherwise determined by Buyer, in its sole discretion). Buyer shall publicly announce the Election Date as soon as practicable after it has been determined. For shares of Company Common Stock held in book entry form, Buyer shall establish delivery procedures which shall be reasonably acceptable to Company. If a holder of Company Common Stock either (i) does not submit a properly completed Election Form in a timely fashion or (ii) revokes the holder’s Election Form prior to the Election Deadline (without later submitting a properly completed Election Form prior to the Election Deadline), the shares of Company Common Stock of that holder shall be designated Non-Election Shares. In addition, all Election Forms shall automatically be revoked, and all Certificates returned, if the Exchange Agent is notified in writing by Buyer and Company that this Agreement has been terminated. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and of the Election Form, the Exchange Agent shall have reasonable discretion to determine whether any election, revocation, or change has been properly or timely made and to disregard immaterial defects in any Election Form, and any good faith decisions of the Exchange Agent shall be binding and conclusive. Neither Buyer nor the Exchange Agent shall be under any obligation to notify any Person of any defect in an Election Form.
(c) The allocation among the holders of shares of Company Common Stock of rights to receive the Cash Consideration and the Stock Consideration will be made as follows:
(i) If the Stock Election Number exceeds the Stock Conversion Number, then all Cash Election Shares and all Non-Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration, and, subject to Section 2.03 of this Agreement, each holder of Stock Election Shares will be entitled to receive the Stock Consideration in respect of that number of Stock Election Shares held by such holder equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of Stock Election Shares held by such holder by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Stock Conversion Number and the denominator of which is the Stock Election Number, with the remaining number of the holder’s Stock Election Shares being converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration;
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(ii) If the Stock Election Number is less than the Stock Conversion Number (the amount by which the Stock Conversion Number exceeds the Stock Election Number being referred to in this Agreement as the “Shortfall Number”), then all Stock Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration and the Non-Election Shares and the Cash Election Shares shall be treated in the following manner:
(A) if the Shortfall Number is less than or equal to the number of Non-Election Shares, then all Cash Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration and, subject to Section 2.03 of this Agreement, each holder of Non-Election Shares shall receive the Stock Consideration in respect of that number of Non-Election Shares held by the holder equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of Non-Election Shares held by the holder by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Shortfall Number and the denominator of which is the total number of Non-Election Shares, with the remaining number of the holder’s Non-Election Shares being converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration; or
(B) if the Shortfall Number exceeds the number of Non-Election Shares, then all Non-Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration, and, subject to Section 2.03 of this Agreement, each holder of Cash Election Shares shall receive the Stock Consideration in respect of that number of Cash Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of Cash Election Shares held by the holder by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by which (1) the Shortfall Number exceeds (2) the total number of Non-Election Shares and the denominator of which is the total number of Cash Election Shares, with the remaining number of the holder’s Cash Election Shares being converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration.
(d) If the tax opinions referred to in Section 6.01(e) cannot be rendered (as reasonably determined by Xxx Xxxxxx LLP and Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP, respectively) as a result of the Merger potentially failing to qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, then Buyer may, in its sole discretion, increase the number of shares of Company Common Stock entitled to receive the Stock Consideration by the minimum amount necessary to enable the tax opinions to be rendered.
Section 2.05 Exchange Procedures.
(a) At least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, for the benefit of the holders of Certificates (other than holders of Dissenters’ Shares), (i) Buyer shall cause to be delivered to the Exchange Agent, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, certificates representing the shares of Buyer Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Article II or evidence of shares in book entry form (“New Certificates”) and (ii) Buyer shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to the
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Exchange Agent cash equal to the aggregate amount of the Cash Consideration issuable pursuant to this Article II plus an estimated amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares of Buyer Common Stock (that cash and New Certificates, being referred to as the “Exchange Fund”).
(b) As promptly as practicable, but in any event no later than five (5) Business Days following the Effective Time, and provided that Company has delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Exchange Agent all information that is necessary for the Exchange Agent to perform its obligations, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a Certificate or Certificates who has not previously surrendered their Certificate of Certificates with an Election Form, a form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration as provided for in this Agreement. Upon proper surrender of a Certificate for exchange and cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of the Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange, as applicable, (i) a New Certificate representing that number of shares of Buyer Common Stock (if any) to which the former holder of Company Common Stock shall have become entitled pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) a check representing that amount of cash (if any) to which the former holder of Company Common Stock shall have become entitled pursuant to this Agreement and/or (iii) a check representing the amount of cash (if any) payable in lieu of a fractional share of Buyer Common Stock which the former holder has the right to receive in respect of the Certificate surrendered pursuant to this Agreement, and the Certificate so surrendered shall be cancelled. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.05(b), each Certificate (other than Certificates representing shares described in Section 2.01(b) and each Certificate representing Dissenters’ Shares) shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon surrender the Merger Consideration as provided for in this Agreement and any unpaid dividends and distributions as provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 2.05. No interest shall be paid or accrued on any cash constituting Merger Consideration (including any cash in lieu of fractional shares) and any unpaid dividends and distributions payable to holders of Certificates. For shares of Company Common stock held in book entry form, Buyer shall establish procedures for delivery which shall be reasonably acceptable to Company.
(c) No dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time with respect to Buyer Common Stock shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate until the holder shall surrender his or her Certificate in accordance with this Section 2.05. After the surrender of a Certificate in accordance with this Section 2.05, the record holder shall be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions, without any interest, which had become payable with respect to shares of Buyer Common Stock represented by the Certificate. None of Buyer, Company or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any shares of Company Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect to them) or cash from the Exchange Fund delivered, as required by Law, to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat, or similar Law.
(d) The Exchange Agent and Buyer, as the case may be, shall not be obligated to deliver cash and/or a New Certificate or New Certificates representing shares of Buyer Common Stock to which a holder of Company Common Stock would otherwise be entitled as a result of the
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Merger until such holder surrenders the Certificate or Certificates representing the shares of Company Common Stock for exchange as provided in this Section 2.05, or an appropriate affidavit of loss and indemnity agreement and a bond in such amount as shall be required in each case by Buyer (but not more than the amount required under Buyer’s contract with its transfer agent). If any New Certificates evidencing shares of Buyer Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that in which the Certificate evidencing Company Common Stock surrendered in exchange is registered, it shall be a condition of the issuance that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by an executed form of assignment separate from the Certificate and otherwise in proper form for transfer, and that the Person requesting the exchange pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other recordation tax required by reason of the issuance of a New Certificate for shares of Buyer Common Stock in any name other than that of the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or otherwise establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that any tax has been paid or is not payable.
(e) Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the shareholders of Company for six (6) months after the Effective Time (as well as any interest or proceeds from any investment of the Exchange Fund) shall be delivered by the Exchange Agent to Buyer. Any shareholders of Company who have not complied with Section 2.05(b) shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Entity for the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect of each share of Company Common Stock the shareholder holds as determined pursuant to this Agreement, in each case without any interest. If outstanding Certificates for shares of Company Common Stock are not surrendered or the payment for them is not claimed prior to the date on which such shares of Buyer Common Stock or cash would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any governmental unit or agency, the unclaimed items shall, to the extent permitted by abandoned property and any other applicable Law, become the property of Buyer (and to the extent not in its possession shall be delivered to it), free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled to the property. Neither the Exchange Agent nor any party to this Agreement shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock represented by any Certificate for any consideration paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat, or similar Laws. Buyer and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the stock transfer books of Company to establish the identity of those Persons entitled to receive the Merger Consideration specified in this Agreement, which books shall be deemed conclusive. In the event of a dispute with respect to ownership of any shares of Company Common Stock represented by any Certificate, Buyer and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to tender to the custody of any court of competent jurisdiction any Merger Consideration represented by the Certificate and file legal proceedings interpleading all parties to such dispute, and will thereafter be relieved with respect to any claims.
(f) Buyer (through the Exchange Agent, if applicable) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock any amounts as Buyer is required to deduct and withhold under applicable Law. Any amounts so deducted and withheld shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of Company Common Stock for whom the deduction and withholding was made by Buyer.
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Section 2.06 Anti-Dilution Provisions. In the event Buyer changes (or establishes a record date for changing) the number of, or provides for the exchange of, shares of Buyer Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, or similar transaction with respect to the outstanding Buyer Common Stock, the Exchange Ratio shall be proportionately and appropriately adjusted so as to provide the holders of the Company Common Stock the same economic benefit as contemplated by this Agreement prior to that event; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made with regard to Buyer Common Stock if (i) Buyer issues additional shares of Buyer Common Stock and receives consideration for such shares (including, without limitation, upon the exercise of outstanding stock options or other equity awards) or (ii) Buyer issues employee or director stock grants or similar equity awards in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
Section 3.01 Making of Representations and Warranties.
(a) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, Company has delivered to Buyer a schedule (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”) setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision of this Agreement or as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Article III or to one or more of its covenants contained in Article V; provided, however, that (a) the mere inclusion of an item on the Company Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by Company that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company, and (b) any disclosure made with respect to a section of this Article III shall be deemed to qualify any other section of this Article III specifically referenced or cross-referenced.
(b) Except as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule, Company and Company Bank represent and warrant, jointly and severally, to Buyer that the statements contained in this Article III are correct as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct as of the Closing Date (as though made on and as of the Closing Date), except as to any representation or warranty which specifically speaks as of an earlier date (including without limitation representations made as of “the date of this Agreement”), which only need be correct as of the specified earlier date. No representation or warranty of Company contained in this Article III shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and Company shall not be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, circumstance or event unless such fact, circumstance, or event, individually or taken together with all other facts, circumstances or events inconsistent with any section of this Article III, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company, disregarding for the purposes of this Section 3.01(b) any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification contained in any representation or warranty; provided, however, that the foregoing standard shall not apply to the representations and warranties contained
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in Sections 3.02, 3.03, 3.05, 3.06, 3.08, 3.10 and 3.15, which shall be deemed untrue, incorrect, and breached if not true and correct in all material respects.
Section 3.02 Organization, Standing and Authority.
(a) Company is a Massachusetts corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is duly registered with the FRB as a bank holding company under the BHC Act and meets the applicable requirements for qualification as a bank holding company under the BHC Act and the regulations of the FRB. Company has full corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted. Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and each other foreign jurisdiction where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Company Bank is a national banking association duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the United States. Company Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC in the manner and to the full extent permitted by law, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid to the FDIC have been paid by Company Bank when due. Company Bank is a member in good standing of the FHLB.
Section 3.03 Capital Stock. The authorized capital stock of Company consists of 1,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, there were (i) 198,845 shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, (ii) 1,215 shares held in treasury and (iii) no shares held by Company Subsidiaries. Company Disclosure Schedule 3.03 lists the holders of record identified by Company’s stock transfer books for each outstanding share of Company Common Stock as of the date of this Agreement and also describes any outstanding shares of Company Common Stock owned by Company directors and Executive Officers that, to Company’s Knowledge, are subject as of the date of this Agreement to any written agreement to be sold or subject to any other transfer of ownership or control prior to Closing Date. The outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. There are no options, warrants, or other similar rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom stock” rights, stock appreciation rights, stock based performance units, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which Company is a party, whether or not in writing, of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of Company or any of Company’s Subsidiaries or obligating Company or any of Company’s Subsidiaries to issue (whether upon conversion, exchange or otherwise) or sell any share of capital stock of, or other equity interests in or other securities of, Company or any of Company’s Subsidiaries. All shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance as set forth in this Section 3.03 or Company Disclosure Schedule 3.03 shall, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. There are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of Company or any of Company’s Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock or capital stock of any of Company’s Subsidiaries or any other securities of Company or any of Company’s Subsidiaries or to provide funds to or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution, or otherwise) in any such Subsidiary or any other entity. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of
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Company’s Subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.03, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any trust capital securities or other similar securities outstanding. No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness issued by Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) having the right to vote on any matters on which shareholders of Company may vote (or which is convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having such right), or (ii) the value of which is directly based upon or derived from the capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests of Company, are issued or outstanding.
Section 3.04 Subsidiaries.
(a) (i) Company Disclosure Schedule 3.04 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all of Company’s Subsidiaries, including the jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary, (ii) except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.04, Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of each Subsidiary, (iii) no equity securities of any of Company’s Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued (other than to Company) by reason of any contractual right, preemptive right, or otherwise, (iv) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements by which any of such Subsidiaries is or may be bound to sell or otherwise transfer any of its equity securities (other than to Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Company), (v) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements relating to Company’s rights to vote or to dispose of the securities of any Subsidiary and (vi) all of the equity securities of each Subsidiary held by Company, directly or indirectly, are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, are not subject to preemptive or similar rights and are owned by Company free and clear of all Liens.
(b) Company does not own (other than in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted) beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or similar interests of any Person, or any interest in a partnership or joint venture of any kind.
(c) Each of Company’s Subsidiaries has been duly organized and qualified and is in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and, as applicable, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in the jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified, except for those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. A complete and accurate list of all such jurisdictions, as applicable, is set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.04.
Section 3.05 Corporate Power; Minute Books. Company and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all its properties and assets; and each of Company and Company Bank has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the contemplated transactions, subject to receipt of all necessary approvals of Governmental Authorities and the approval of Company’s shareholders of this Agreement and Company of the Plan of Bank Merger. Company has made available to Buyer complete and correct copies of the minutes (or, in the case of draft minutes, the most recent drafts) of all meetings of the board of directors and each committee of the board of directors of Company and the board of directors and each committee of the boards of directors of Company’s Subsidiaries held since January 1, 2017;
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provided, that, such minutes did not contain any discussions related to deliberations of the boards of directors of Company and Company’s Subsidiaries with respect to the consideration of the sale of Company to Buyer and were redacted to exclude any discussions of regulatory examination ratings or other confidential supervisory information and other acquisition opportunities. The minute books of Company and each of its Subsidiaries contain true, complete and accurate records of all corporate actions taken by shareholders of Company and each of its Subsidiaries and the boards of directors of Company and each of its Subsidiaries (including committees of such boards of directors).
Section 3.06 Corporate Authority. Subject only to the approval of the Merger and this Agreement by the holders of at least two-thirds of the Company Common Stock entitled to vote (the “Requisite Company Shareholder Approval”) and the approval of the Bank Merger and Plan of Bank Merger by Company, the sole shareholder of Company Bank, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of Company and Company Bank and Company’s and Company Bank’s board of directors on or prior to the date of this Agreement. Company’s board of directors has directed that this Agreement be submitted to Company’s shareholders for approval and, except for the receipt of the Requisite Company Shareholder Approval in accordance with the MBCA, Company’s Articles of Organization and Bylaws, no other vote of the shareholders of Company is required by Law, Company’s Articles of Organization or Bylaws to approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of Company and Company Bank has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and, assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery by Buyer and Buyer Bank, this Agreement is a valid and legally binding obligation of Company and Company Bank, enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles).
Section 3.07 Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults.
(a) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.07, no consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or with any third party are required to be made or obtained by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery, or performance by Company of this Agreement or to consummate the contemplated transactions (including the Bank Merger), except for (i) as applicable, filings of, applications or notices with, and consents, approvals or waivers by, or the making of satisfactory arrangements with, the FRB, the FDIC, the OCC, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks, and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund; (ii) the Requisite Company Shareholder Approval, (iii) the approval of the Bank Merger and the Plan of Bank Merger by Company, the sole shareholder of Company Bank; (v) the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement with the SEC, and (vi) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Each consent, approval, receipt, or waiver by the FRB, the FDIC, the OCC, and The Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks as referred to in clause (i) is a “Regulatory Approval”. To Company’s Knowledge as of the date of this Agreement, there is no fact or circumstance relating to Company that could reasonably be expected to result in any of the approvals set forth above and referred to in Section 6.01(b) not being received in order to permit consummation of the Merger and Bank Merger on a timely basis.
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(b) Subject to receipt, or the making, of the consents, approvals, waivers and filings referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph, and the expiration of related waiting periods, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Company and Company Bank, as applicable, and the consummation of the contemplated transactions do not and will not (i) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the Articles of Organization or Bylaws (or similar governing documents) of Company or Company Bank, (ii) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to Company or Company Bank, or any of its properties or assets, or (iii) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Company or Company Bank under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Company or Company Bank is a party, or by which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations or creations which would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company.
Section 3.08 Reports; Internal Controls.
(a) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(b) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.08, Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed all reports, forms, schedules, registrations, statements and other documents, together with any required amendments, that they were required to file since December 31, 2014 with any Governmental Authority and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection with any filings Company was required to make. Except for normal examinations conducted by a Governmental Authority in the regular course of the business of Company and its Subsidiaries, no Governmental Authority has notified Company that it has initiated any proceeding or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened any investigation into the business or operations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2014. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.08, there is no material unresolved violation or exception by any Governmental Authority with respect to any report, form, schedule, registration, statement or other document filed by, or relating to any examinations by any such Governmental Authority of, Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) Based on its most recent evaluation prior to the date of this Agreement, Company has not had to disclose to Company’s outside auditors and the audit committee of Company’s board of directors (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
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(d) The records, systems, controls, data and information of Company and its Subsidiaries are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of Company or its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access to them), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the system of internal accounting controls described in the following sentence. Company and its Subsidiaries have devised and maintained and currently maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
(e) Company has designed, implemented, and has maintained and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to Company and its Subsidiaries is made known to the management of Company by others within those entities as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and as otherwise required by Law.
(f) Since December 31, 2014, (x) neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to Company’s Knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that Company or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (y) no attorney representing Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duties or similar violation by Company or any of its officers, directors, employees, or agents to the board of directors of Company or any committee of the board of directors or, to Company’s Knowledge, to any director or officer of Company.
Section 3.09 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The financial statements of Company (including any related notes and schedules) complied as to form, as of their respective dates, in all material respects, with all applicable accounting requirements, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be expressly disclosed in the financial statements or in the notes thereto), and fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Company and its Subsidiaries and the consolidated results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods shown. The books and records of Company and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions.
(b) Except for (i) those liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved for in the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Company as of March 31, 2018; (ii) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since March 31, 2018 in amounts consistent
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with past practice; (iii) liabilities that have been discharged or paid in full before the Effective Date; or (iv) liabilities or obligations incurred directly as a result of this Agreement, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued or contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due), and, there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement or that, either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in (i) or (ii), has had or would be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company.
Section 3.10 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.10, or as otherwise expressly permitted or expressly contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2017 (the “Company Balance Sheet Date”), there has not been (i) any change or development in the business, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, cash flows, or properties of Company or any of its Subsidiaries which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company, (ii) any change by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in its accounting methods, principles or practices, other than changes required by applicable Law or GAAP or regulatory accounting as concurred in by Company’s independent accountants, (iii) any entry by Company or any of its Subsidiaries into any contract or commitment of more than (A) $50,000 in the aggregate or (B) $25,000 per annum with a term of more than one year, other than borrowings, loans and loan commitments in the ordinary course of business, (iv) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or distribution in respect of any capital stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any of its securities, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (v) any increase in or establishment of any bonus, insurance, severance, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option (including, without limitation, the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, or restricted stock awards), stock purchase or other employee benefit plan, or any other increase in the compensation payable or to become payable to any directors, officers or employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any grant of severance or termination pay, or any contract or arrangement entered into to make or grant any severance or termination pay, any payment of any bonus (except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), or the taking of any action not in the ordinary course of business with respect to the compensation or employment of directors, officers, or employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (vi) any material election made by Company or any of its Subsidiaries for federal or state income tax purposes, (vii) any material change in the credit policies or procedures of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the effect of which was or is to make any such policy or procedure less restrictive, (viii) other than loans and loan commitments, investment securities, and other real estate owned in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, any material acquisition or disposition of any assets or properties, or any contract for any acquisition or disposition entered into, or (ix) any material lease of real or personal property entered into, other than in connection with foreclosed property or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
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Section 3.11 Legal Proceedings.
(a) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.11, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, nor are there any pending or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened, civil, criminal, administrative or regulatory actions, suits, demand letters, claims, hearings, notices of violation, arbitrations, investigations, orders to show cause, market conduct examinations, notices of non-compliance or other proceedings of any nature against Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company, or challenge the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) There is no injunction, order, judgment, or decree imposed upon Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or the assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised of, or is aware of, the threat of any such action.
Section 3.12 Compliance With Laws.
(a) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.12, Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and since December 31, 2014 has been in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local statutes, Laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees or applicable to Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective employees, including without limitation, all Laws related to data protection or privacy, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act and any other Law relating to discriminatory lending, financing or leasing practices, Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the Xxxx-Xxxxx Act, except where noncompliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company.
(b) Company and each of its Subsidiaries has all material permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and have made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental Authorities that are required in order to permit it to own or lease their properties and to conduct their business as presently conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to Company’s Knowledge, no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened.
(c) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.12, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received, since December 31, 2014, notification or communication from any Governmental Authority (i) asserting that it is not in compliance with any of the statutes, regulations or ordinances which such Governmental Authority enforces or (ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization (nor, to Company’s Knowledge, do any grounds for any of the foregoing exist).
(d) Company has not engaged in any activities permissible only for a financial holding company under Section 4(k) of the BHC Act.
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Section 3.13 Material Contracts; Defaults.
(a) Other than as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.13, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, bound by or subject to any agreement, contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) or amendment thereto (i) with respect to the employment of any directors, officers, employees or consultants, (ii) which would entitle any present or former director, officer, employee or agent of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to indemnification from Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) which grants any right of first refusal, right of first offer, or similar right with respect to any material assets or properties of Company and or Subsidiaries, (v) which provides for payments to be made by Company or any of its Subsidiaries upon a change in control, (vi) which provides for the lease of personal property having a value in excess of $25,000 individually or $50,000 in the aggregate, (vii) which relates to capital expenditures and involves future payments in excess of $25,000 individually or $50,000 in the aggregate, (viii) which relates to the disposition or acquisition of assets or any interest in any business enterprise outside the ordinary course of Company’s business, (ix) which is not terminable on sixty (60) days or less notice and involving the payment of more than $25,000 per annum, or (x) which materially restricts the conduct of any business by Company of any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Material Contracts”). Company has previously made available to Buyer true, complete, and correct copies of each Material Contract.
(b) To Company’s Knowledge, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under any contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument to which it is a party, by which its assets, business, or operations may be bound or affected, or under which it or its assets, business, or operations receives benefits, and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute a default. No power of attorney or similar authorization given directly or indirectly by Company is currently outstanding.
(c) To Company’s Knowledge, other than the consents, approvals, authorizations, notices or other actions (collectively, “Company Third Party Consents”) required under Material Contracts as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.13, no third party consent by any Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions it contemplates.
Section 3.14 Agreements with Regulatory Agencies. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or public memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Governmental Authority that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any manner relates to its capital adequacy, its credit or risk management policies, its dividend policies, its management, its business or its operations (each, a “Company Regulatory Agreement”), nor has Company or any of its Subsidiaries been advised in writing or orally, by any
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Governmental Authority that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting any such Company Regulatory Agreement. To Company’s Knowledge, there are no investigations relating to any material regulatory matters pending before any Governmental Authority with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.15 Brokers. Neither Company, Company Bank nor any of its officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions, or finder’s fees in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that Company has engaged, and will pay a fee or commission to, Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P. (“Sandler”) in accordance with the terms of a letter agreement between Sandler and Company, a true, complete, and correct copy of which has been delivered by Company to Buyer.
Section 3.16 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) All benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies, or arrangements (whether or not written) (i) covering current or former employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Company Employees”), (ii) covering current or former directors of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) with respect to which Company or any Subsidiary has or may have any liability or contingent liability (including liability arising from affiliation under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA) including, but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, and deferred compensation, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, stock based, incentive and bonus plans (the “Company Benefit Plans”), are identified on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.16. True and complete copies of all Company Benefit Plans including, but not limited to, any trust instruments and insurance contracts forming a part of any Company Benefit Plans and all amendments to them, IRS Forms 5500 (for the three most recently completed plan years), current summary plan descriptions, and the most recent IRS determination or opinion letters with respect to them, have been made available to Buyer, in each case, to the extent applicable.
(b) To Company’s Knowledge, all Company Benefit Plans are in compliance in form and operation with all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code. Each Company Benefit Plan which is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (a “Company Pension Plan”) and which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, has received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS that is currently in effect, and Company is not aware of any circumstance that would reasonably be expected to result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter or the loss of the qualification of the Company Pension Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code. There is no pending or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened litigation relating to the Company Benefit Plans. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in, or is aware of, a transaction with respect to any Company Benefit Plan or Company Pension Plan that, assuming the taxable period of the transaction expired as of the date of this Agreement, would reasonably be expected to subject Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a tax or penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA.
(c) Neither Company, any of its Subsidiaries, nor any entity which is considered one employer with Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (an “ERISA Affiliate”) has at any time during the six-year period ending on the Closing
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Date contributed to (or been obligated to contribute to) (i) a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or (ii) any employee benefit plan that is subject to Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has within the last six (6) years incurred, or could incur, any withdrawal liability with respect to a multiemployer plan under Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA (regardless of whether based on contributions of an ERISA Affiliate).
(d) All material contributions required to be made with respect to all Company Benefit Plans have been timely made or have been reflected on the financial statements of Company.
(e) Other than as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.16, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations for retiree health or life benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, other than coverage as may be required under Section 4980B of the Code or Part 6 of Title I of ERISA, or under the continuation of coverage provisions of the Laws of any state or locality. All Company Benefit Plans that are group health plans have been operated in compliance with the group health plan continuation requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and Sections 601-609 of ERISA, the certification of prior coverage and other requirements of Sections 701-702 and 711-713 of ERISA and the terms and conditions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Company may amend or terminate any such Company Benefit Plan at any time without incurring any liability thereunder, other than routine administrative costs.
(f) Other than as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.16 or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the execution of this Agreement, shareholder approval of this Agreement or consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) entitle any Company Employee to severance pay or any increase in severance pay upon any termination of employment after the date of this Agreement under any Company Benefit Plans, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other material obligation pursuant to, any of the Company Benefit Plans, (iii) result in any breach or violation of, or a default under, any of the Company Benefit Plans, (iv) result in any payment under any Company Benefit Plans that would be a “parachute payment” to a “disqualified individual” as those terms are defined in Section 280G of the Code, without regard to whether such payment is reasonable compensation for personal services performed or to be performed in the future, (v) limit or restrict the right of Company or Company Bank or, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, to merge, amend, or terminate any of the Company Benefit Plans, (vi) result in payments under any of the Company Benefit Plans which would not be deductible under Section 162(m) or Section 280G of the Code, or (vii) result in any accounting accruals under any Company Benefit Plans not in the ordinary course of business.
(g) Each Company Benefit Plan that is a deferred compensation plan is in compliance with Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. All elections made with respect to compensation deferred under an arrangement subject to Section 409A of the Code have been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 409(a)(4) of the Code, to the extent applicable. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has taken any action, or has failed to take any action, that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in the interest and tax penalties specified in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code being owed by any participant in a Company Benefit Plan or (ii)
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has agreed to reimburse or indemnify any participant or beneficiary in a Company Benefit Plan for any of the interest and the penalties specified in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code that may be currently due or triggered in the future.
(h) Company Disclosure Schedule 3.16 sets forth the monetary amounts payable as of the date specified, whether individually or in the aggregate (including good faith estimates of all amounts not subject to precise quantification as of the date of this Agreement, such as tax indemnification payments in respect of income or excise taxes), under any employment, change-in-control, severance or similar contract, plan or arrangement with or which covers any present or former director, officer, or employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries who may be entitled to any amount and identifying the types and estimated amounts of the in-kind benefits due under any Company Benefit Plans (other than a plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code) for each such person, specifying the assumptions in such schedule and providing estimates of other required contributions to any trusts for any related fees or expenses.
(i) To Company’s Knowledge, Company and its Subsidiaries have correctly classified all individuals who directly or indirectly perform services for Company or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of each Company Benefit Plan, ERISA, the Code, tax withholding, unemployment compensation Laws, workers’ compensation Laws and all other applicable Laws.
Section 3.17 Labor Matters. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract, or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is there any proceeding pending or, to Company’s Knowledge threatened, asserting that Company or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or seeking to compel Company or any of its Subsidiaries to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment, nor is there any strike or other labor dispute involving it pending or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened, nor, to Company’s Knowledge, is there any activity involving its employees seeking to certify a collective bargaining unit or engaging in other organizational activity.
Section 3.18 Environmental Matters.
(a) To Company’s Knowledge, no real property (including buildings or other structures) currently owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor, or any property in which Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds a security interest, Lien or a fiduciary or management role (“Company Loan Property”), has had any Release of, any Hazardous Substance in a manner that violates Environmental Law or requires reporting, investigation, remediation, or monitoring under Environmental Law.
(b) To Company’s Knowledge, no real property (including buildings or other structures) formerly owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries had, during such ownership or operation, any Release of any Hazardous Substance in a manner that violated Environmental Law or required reporting, investigation, remediation, or monitoring under Environmental Law.
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(c) To Company’s Knowledge, Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with applicable Environmental Law.
(d) To Company’s Knowledge, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries could be deemed the owner or operator of, or to have participated in the management of, any Company Loan Property which has had any Release of, any Hazardous Substance in a manner that violates Environmental Law or requires reporting, investigation, remediation, or monitoring under Environmental Law.
(e) To Company’s Knowledge, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any predecessor has any liability under Environmental Law arising from the Release or disposal of any Hazardous Substance on any real property currently or formerly owned by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor, or any Company Loan Property.
(f) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received (i) any written notice, demand letter, or claim alleging any violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Law or (ii) any written request for information reasonably indicating an investigation or other inquiry by any Government Authority concerning a possible violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Law.
(g) No Lien or encumbrance has been imposed on property owned by Company or on any Company Loan Property in connection with any liability or potential liability arising from or related to Environmental Law and to Company’s Knowledge, there is no action, proceeding, writ, injunction, or claim pending or threatened which could result in the imposition of any such Lien or encumbrance.
(h) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has been, subject to any order, decree, or injunction relating to a violation of or allegation of liability under any Environmental Law.
(i) To Company’s Knowledge, there are no circumstances or conditions (including the presence of asbestos, underground storage tanks, lead products, polychlorinated biphenyls, prior manufacturing operations, dry-cleaning, or automotive services) involving Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any predecessor, any currently or formerly owned or operated property, or any Company Loan Property, that would reasonably be expected pursuant to applicable Environmental Law to (i) result in any claim, liability, or investigation against Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) result in any restriction on the ownership, use, or transfer of any property, or (iii) adversely affect the value of any Company Loan Property.
(j) To Company’s Knowledge, it does not possess or have the right to obtain any environmental report, study, sampling data, correspondence, filing and other information relating to environmental conditions at or on any real property (including buildings or other structures) currently or formerly owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Loan Property.
(k) There is no litigation pending or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened against Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to any property now or formerly owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor or any Company Loan Property, before any
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court, or Governmental Authority (i) for alleged noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with any Environmental Law or (ii) relating to the Release of any Hazardous Substance.
(l) To Company’s Knowledge, there are no underground storage tanks on, in or under any property currently owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Company Loan Property and, to Company’s Knowledge, no underground storage tank has been closed or removed from any Company Loan Property except in compliance with Environmental Law.
Section 3.19 Tax Matters.
(a) Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed all income, franchise, and other material Tax Returns that it was required to file under applicable Laws prior to the Effective Time, other than Tax Returns that are not yet due or for which a request for extension was filed consistent with requirements of applicable Laws. All Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in substantial compliance with all applicable Laws. Taxes due and owing by Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid, other than any Taxes that have been reserved or accrued on the balance sheet of Company or which Company is contesting in good faith. Neither Company nor any Subsidiary is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries currently has any open tax years for which the applicable statute of limitations has been extended or suspended. No written claim has ever been made by an authority in a jurisdiction where Company or any Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no Liens for Taxes (other than statutory liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, or Taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate provision has been made on the balance sheet of Company) upon any of the assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Company and each Subsidiary have withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder, or other third party.
(c) No foreign, federal, state, or local tax audits or administrative or judicial Tax proceedings are being conducted or, to Company’s Knowledge, are pending with respect to Company or any Subsidiary. Other than with respect to audits that have already been completed and resolved, neither Company nor any Subsidiary has received from any foreign, federal, state, or local taxing authority (including in jurisdictions where Company or any Subsidiary has not filed Tax Returns) any (i) written notice indicating an intent to open an audit or other review, (ii) request for information related to Tax matters, or (iii) written notice of deficiency or proposed adjustment for any amount of Tax proposed, asserted, or assessed by any taxing authority against Company or any Subsidiary.
(d) Company has made available to Buyer true and complete copies of the United States federal, state, local, and foreign income Tax Returns filed with respect to Company for taxable periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. Company has made available to Buyer correct and complete copies of all examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by Company or any Subsidiary filed for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. Company and each Subsidiary have timely and properly taken such actions in response to and in compliance with notices Company or any Subsidiary has received from the IRS in respect of information reporting
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and backup and nonresident withholding as are required by Law. Company has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(e) Neither Company nor any Subsidiary has been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in Code Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii). Company and each Subsidiary have disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax within the meaning of Code Section 6662. Neither Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Tax allocation or sharing agreement (other than an unwritten agreement with Company Bank and its Subsidiaries). Neither Company nor any Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was Company), or (ii) has liability for the Taxes of any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, business trust, limited liability company, or unincorporated organization (other than Company or any Subsidiary) under IRS Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(f) The unpaid Taxes of Company and each Subsidiary (i) did not, as of December 31, 2017, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (which reserve is distinct and different from any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the financial statements of Company as of December 31, 2017 (rather than in any notes to such financial statements), and (ii) do not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Effective Time in accordance with the past practice of Company in filing its Tax Returns. Since December 31, 2017 neither Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any liability for Taxes arising from extraordinary gains or losses, as that term is used in GAAP.
(g) Neither Company nor any Subsidiary shall be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) “closing agreement” as described in Code Section 7121 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) intercompany transactions or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Code Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law); (iv) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; or (v) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date.
(h) Neither Company nor any Subsidiary has distributed stock of another Person or had its stock distributed by another Person in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(i) Neither Company nor any Subsidiary is or has been a party to any “listed transaction”, as defined in Code Section 6707A(c)(2) and Reg. Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
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(j) Company has not taken or agreed to take any action and has no Knowledge of any fact, agreement, plan, or other circumstance that is reasonably likely to prevent or impede the Merger and Bank Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 3.20 Investment Securities. Company Disclosure Schedule 3.20 sets forth, as of May 1, 2018, the investment securities, mortgage backed securities and any other securities owned by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as well as their descriptions, CUSIP numbers, book values, market values and coupon rates. Other than Company’s ownership of capital stock of Company Bank, neither Company nor any of its Affiliates owns in excess of 5% of any class of voting securities or the outstanding equity of any savings bank, savings and loan association, savings and loan holding company, credit union, bank or bank holding company, insurance company, mortgage or loan broker, or any other financial institution.
Section 3.21 Derivative Transactions.
(a) All Derivative Transactions entered into by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for the account of any of its customers were entered into in accordance with applicable rules, regulations and policies of any Governmental Authority, and in accordance with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and were entered into with counterparties believed at the time by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in consultation with its advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Transactions. Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly performed, in all material respects, all of their obligations under the Derivative Transactions to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, and, to Company’s Knowledge, there are no breaches, violations, or defaults or allegations or assertions of default by any party to the Derivative Transactions.
(b) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.21, no Derivative Transaction, were it to be a Loan held by Company, would be classified as “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,” “Criticized,” “Credit Risk Assets,” “Concerned Loans,” “Watch List” or words of similar import. Each Derivative Transaction is listed on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.21, and the financial position of Company under or with respect to each has been reflected in the books and records of Company in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and no open exposure of Company with respect to any such instrument (or with respect to multiple instruments with respect to any single counterparty) exceeds $25,000.
Section 3.22 Regulatory Capitalization. Company Bank is “well capitalized,” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations promulgated by the OCC.
Section 3.23 Loans; Nonperforming and Classified Assets.
(a) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.23, as of the date of this Agreement, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any written or oral loan, loan agreement, note or borrowing arrangement (including, without limitation, leases, credit enhancements, commitments, guarantees and interest-bearing assets) (collectively, “Loans”), under
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the terms of which the obligor was, as of March 31, 2018, more than sixty (60) days delinquent in payment of principal or interest or in default of any other material provision. Company Disclosure Schedule 3.23 identifies (x) each Loan that, as of March 31, 2018, was classified as “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,” “Criticized,” “Credit Risk Assets,” “Concerned Loans,” “Watch List” or words of similar import by Company, Company Bank, or any bank examiner, together with the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on each Loan and the identity of the borrower, and (y) each asset of Company that as of March 31, 2018 was classified as other real estate owned (“OREO”) and its book value as of the date of this Agreement. Set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.23 is a true and correct copy of Company’s Loan Exception Report as of March 31, 2018.
(b) Each Loan held in Company Bank’s loan portfolio (“Company Loan”) (i) is evidenced by notes, agreements, or other evidences of indebtedness that are true, genuine, and what they purport to be, (ii) to the extent secured, has been secured by valid Liens which have been perfected and (iii) to Company’s Knowledge, is a legal, valid, and binding obligation of the obligor named in such documents, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, and other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(c) All currently outstanding Company Loans were solicited, originated, and, currently exist in material compliance with all applicable requirements of Law and Company Bank’s lending policies at the time of origination or purchase of the Company Loans, and the loan documents with respect to each Company Loan are complete and correct in all material respects. There are no oral modifications or amendments or additional agreements related to the Company Loans that are not reflected in the written records of Company Bank. Other than loans pledged to the FHLB or the FRB, all such Company Loans are owned by Company Bank free and clear of any Liens. No claims of defense as to the enforcement of any Company Loan have been asserted in writing against Company Bank for which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination, and each of Company and Company Bank is aware of no acts or omissions which would give rise to any claim or right of rescission, set-off, counterclaim, or defense for which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination to Company Bank. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.23, none of the Company Loans are presently serviced by third parties, and there is no obligation which could result in any Loan becoming subject to any third-party servicing.
(d) Neither Company nor Company Bank is a party to any agreement or arrangement with (or otherwise obligated to) any Person that obligates Company to repurchase from that Person any Loan or other asset of Company or Company Bank, unless there is material breach of a representation or covenant by Company or its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.24 Allowance for Loan Losses. Company’s allowance for loan losses as reflected in Company’s audited balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 was, and the allowance shown on the balance sheets in Company financial statements for periods ending after such date, in the reasonable judgment of management, was as of their dates, in compliance with Company’s existing methodology for determining the adequacy of its allowance for loan losses as well as the standards established by applicable Governmental Authority, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and GAAP, and is adequate under all such standards.
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Section 3.25 Trust Business; Administration of Fiduciary Accounts.
(a) Each trust or wealth management customer of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been in all material respects originated and serviced (i) in conformity with the applicable policies of Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) in accordance with the terms of any applicable contract governing the relationship with such customer, (iii) in accordance with any instructions received from such customers and their authorized representatives and authorized signers, (iv) consistent with each customer’s risk profile, and (v) in compliance with all applicable Laws and Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ constituent documents, including any policies and procedures adopted by Company and/or its Subsidiaries. Each contract governing a relationship with a trust or wealth management customer of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Company and each Subsidiary and, to Company’s Knowledge, the other contracting parties, and each contract constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the parties, except as enforceability may be limited by (A) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium or other Laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally or (B) the rules governing the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies and general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and Company and its Subsidiaries and the other contracting parties have duly performed in all material respects their obligations, and Company and its Subsidiaries and, to Company’s Knowledge, all other contracting parties are in compliance with each of their obligations.
(b) No contract governing a relationship with a trust or wealth management customer of Company or any of its Subsidiaries provides for any material reduction of fees charged (or in compensation payable to Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder) by reason of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger.
(c) Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.25, (A) none of Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective directors, officers, or employees is the beneficial owner of any interest in any of the accounts maintained on behalf of any trust or wealth management customer of Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (B) none of the directors, officers and employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract pursuant to which it is obligated to provide service to, or receive compensation or benefits from, any of the trust or wealth management customers of Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date.
(d) Each account opening document, margin account agreement, any advisory contract and customer disclosure statement with respect to any trust or wealth management customer of Company or any of its Subsidiaries conforms in all material respects to the forms made available to Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement.
(e) All other books and records primarily related to the trust or wealth management businesses of Company and each of its Subsidiaries include documented risk appetite profiles signed by each such customer.
Section 3.26 Investment Management and Related Activities. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.26, none of Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Company’s or
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its Subsidiaries’ directors, officers, or employees is required to be registered, licensed, or authorized under the Laws issued by any Governmental Authority as an investment adviser, a broker or dealer, an insurance agency or company, a commodity trading adviser, a commodity pool operator, a futures commission merchant, an introducing broker, a registered representative or associated person, investment adviser, representative or solicitor, a counseling officer, an insurance agent, a sales person or in any similar capacity with a Governmental Authority.
Section 3.27 Repurchase Agreements. With respect to all agreements pursuant to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries has purchased securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has a valid, perfected first lien or security interest in the government securities or other collateral securing the repurchase agreement, and, as of the date of this Agreement, the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the amount of the debt it secures.
Section 3.28 CRA, Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Information Security. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement with any individual or group regarding Community Reinvestment Act matters and, to Company’s Knowledge, none of Company and its Subsidiaries has been advised of, or has any reason to believe (because of Company Bank’s Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the FDIC, or otherwise) that any facts or circumstances exist which would cause Company Bank: (i) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act and its implementing regulations, or to be assigned a rating for Community Reinvestment Act purposes by federal or state bank regulators of lower than “Satisfactory”; or (ii) to be deemed to be operating in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 103), the USA PATRIOT Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule, or regulation; or (iii) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy Laws, including, without limitation, in Title V of the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act of 1999 and its implementing regulations, as well as the provisions of the information security program adopted by Company Bank pursuant to Appendix B to 12 C.F.R. Part 364. Furthermore, the board of directors of Company Bank has adopted and Company Bank has implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures that has not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meets the requirements of Sections 352 and 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act. Company Bank has implemented a program with respect to the beneficial ownership requirements set forth in the final rule on Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Financial Institutions found in 81 Federal Register 29397 (July 11, 2016) and 31 C.F.R. § 1010 et seq.
Section 3.29 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.29, there are no outstanding amounts payable to or receivable from, or advances by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is otherwise a creditor or debtor to, any director, Executive Officer, five percent or greater shareholder, or other Affiliate of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to Company’s Knowledge, any person, corporation or enterprise controlling, controlled by or under common control with any of the foregoing, other than part of the normal and customary terms of such persons’ employment or service as a director
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with Company or any of its Subsidiaries and other than deposits held by Company Bank in the ordinary course of business. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.29, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any transaction or agreement with any of its respective directors, Executive Officers, or other Affiliates other than deposit accounts of those individuals at Company Bank. All agreements between Company and any of its Affiliates comply, to the extent applicable, with Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and the FRB’s Regulation W (12 C.F.R. Part 223).
Section 3.30 Tangible Properties and Assets.
(a) Company Disclosure Schedule 3.30 sets forth a true, correct, and complete list of all personal property owned by Company and each of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.30, and except for properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business or as permitted by this Agreement, and except as would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company, Company or its Subsidiary has good, valid, and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in or otherwise legally enforceable rights to use all of the real property, personal property, and other assets (tangible or intangible), used, occupied, and operated or held for use by it in connection with its business as presently conducted in each case, free and clear of any Lien, except for (i) statutory Liens for amounts not yet delinquent and (ii) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business or imperfections of title, easements, and encumbrances, if any, that, individually and in the aggregate, are not material in character, amount or extent, and do not materially detract from the value and do not materially interfere with the present use, occupancy, or operation of any material asset.
(b) Company Disclosure Schedule 3.30 sets forth a true, correct, and complete schedule of all leases, subleases, licenses and other agreements under which Company uses or occupies or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, real property (the “Leases”). Each of the Leases is valid, binding, and in full force and effect and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received a written notice of, and otherwise has no Knowledge of any, default or termination with respect to any Lease. There has not occurred any event and no condition exists that would constitute a termination event or a material breach by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, or material default by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in, the performance of any covenant, agreement, or condition contained in any Lease, and to Company’s Knowledge, no lessor under a Lease is in material breach or default in the performance of any material covenant, agreement, or condition contained in such Lease. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 3.30, there is no pending or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceeding, claim, action, or governmental or regulatory investigation of any nature with respect to the real property that Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses or occupies or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, including without limitation a pending or threatened taking of any real property by eminent domain. Company and each of its Subsidiaries has paid all rents and other charges to the extent due under the Leases.
Section 3.31 Intellectual Property. Company Disclosure Schedule 3.31 sets forth a true, complete, and correct list of all Company Intellectual Property. Company or its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid license to use all Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens, royalty, or other payment obligations (except for royalties or payments with respect to off-the- shelf
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Software at standard commercial rates). The Company Intellectual Property constitutes all of the Intellectual Property necessary to carry on the business of Company as currently conducted. The Company Intellectual Property owned by Company, and to Company’s Knowledge, all other Company Intellectual Property, is valid and enforceable and has not been cancelled, forfeited, expired, or abandoned, and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice challenging the validity or enforceability of Company Intellectual Property. To Company’s Knowledge, the conduct of the business of Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not violate, misappropriate, or infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of the right of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to own or use any of Company Intellectual Property.
Section 3.32 Insurance.
(a) Company Disclosure Schedule 3.32 identifies all of the material insurance policies, binders, or bonds currently maintained by Company and its Subsidiaries, other than credit-life policies (the “Insurance Policies”), including the insurer, policy numbers, amount of coverage, effective and termination dates and any pending claims involving more than $25,000. Company and each of its Subsidiaries is insured with reputable insurers against such risks and in amounts as the management of Company reasonably has determined to be prudent in accordance with industry practices. All the Insurance Policies are in full force and effect, and neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material default of them and all claims under the Insurance Policies have been filed in a timely fashion.
(b) Company Disclosure Schedule 3.32 sets forth a true, correct and complete description of all bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) owned by Company or its Subsidiaries, including the value of BOLI as of March 31, 2018. The value of such BOLI is and has been fairly and accurately reflected in Company’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.
Section 3.33 Anti-Takeover Provisions. The board of directors of Company has taken all necessary and appropriate action to render Chapters 110D and 110F of the MBCA inapplicable to this Agreement, the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.34 Fairness Opinion. The board of directors of Company has received the written opinion of Sandler to the effect that, subject to the terms, conditions and qualifications set forth therein, as of the date of this Agreement the Merger Consideration is fair to the holders of Company Common Stock from a financial point of view.
Section 3.35 Proxy Statement-Prospectus. As of the date of the Proxy Statement- Prospectus and the date of the Company Meeting to which such Proxy Statement-Prospectus relates, none of the information supplied or to be supplied by Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that information as of a later date shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date.
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Section 3.36 Transaction Costs. Company Disclosure Schedule 3.36 sets forth the attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accounting fees and other costs or fees that Company and its Subsidiaries have accrued through March 31, 2018, and to Company’s Knowledge as of the most reasonable practicable date, a good faith estimate of the attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, and accounting fees that Company and its Subsidiaries expect to pay to retained representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All accounting and attorney fees will be billed at no more than current standard hourly rates.
Section 3.37 Information Security. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Company, to Company’s Knowledge, since January 1, 2015, no third party has gained unauthorized access to any information technology networks controlled by and material to the operation of the business of Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.38 Disclosure. The representations and warranties contained in this Article III, when considered as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements and information contained in this Article III not misleading.
Section 3.39 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except as expressly set forth in this Article III, none of Company, any Subsidiary of Company, their respective representatives or any other Person is making or has made, and none of them shall have liability in respect of, any written or oral representation or warranty, express or implied, at law, in equity or otherwise, with respect to Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise, and whether express or implied at law, in equity or otherwise, in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or in respect of any other matter whatsoever.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Section 4.01 Making of Representations and Warranties.
(a) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, Buyer has delivered to Company a schedule (the “Buyer Disclosure Schedule”) setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision of this Agreement or as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Article IV or to one or more of its covenants contained in Article V; provided, however, that (a) the mere inclusion of an item on the Buyer Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by Buyer that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer, and (b) any disclosure made with respect to a section of this Article III shall be deemed to qualify any other section of this Article IV specifically referenced or cross-referenced.
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(b) Except as set forth in the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, Buyer and Buyer Bank represent and warrant, jointly and severally, to Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are correct as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct as of the Closing Date (as though made on and as of the Closing Date), except as to any representation or warranty which specifically relates to an earlier date, which only need be correct as of the earlier date. No representation or warranty of Buyer contained in this Article IV shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and Buyer shall not be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, circumstance, or event unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other facts, circumstances, or events inconsistent with any section of this Article IV, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer, disregarding for the purposes of this Section 4.01(b) any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification contained in any representation or warranty; provided, however, that the foregoing standard shall not apply to the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05 and 4.12, which shall be deemed untrue, incorrect, and breached if they are not true and correct in all material respects.
Section 4.02 Organization, Standing and Authority. Buyer is a Massachusetts corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is duly registered with the FRB as a bank holding company under the BHC Act and meets the applicable requirements for qualification as such under the BHC Act and the regulations of the FRB. Buyer has full corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted. Buyer is duly licensed or qualified to do business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and each other foreign jurisdiction where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Buyer Bank is a Massachusetts-chartered bank and trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Buyer Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC in the manner and to the full extent permitted by Law, and all premiums and FDIC assessments required to be paid have been paid by Buyer Bank when due. Buyer Bank is a member in good standing of the FHLB.
Section 4.03 Capital Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Buyer consists solely of (a) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which no shares are outstanding and (b) 75,000,000 shares of Buyer Common Stock, of which (i) 27,579,460 shares are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (including 48,647 shares in the form of unvested performance based restricted stock awards without dividend or voting rights), (ii) no shares are held by Buyer Subsidiaries and (iii) 61,000 shares are reserved for future issuance pursuant to outstanding options granted under the Buyer Benefit Plans. The outstanding shares of Buyer Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Buyer’s Subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights, and all such shares are owned by Buyer or another Subsidiary of Buyer free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, taking actions, agreements, limitations in Buyer’s voting rights, charges or other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever. There are no options, warrants, or other similar rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom stock” rights, stock appreciation rights, stock based
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performance units, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which Buyer is a party, whether or not in writing, of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of Buyer or any of Buyer’s Subsidiaries or obligating Buyer or any of Buyer’s Subsidiaries to issue (whether upon conversion, exchange, or otherwise) or sell any share of capital stock of, or other equity interests in or other securities of, Buyer or any of Buyer’s Subsidiaries, except for (i) shares of Buyer Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Buyer Benefits Plans and (ii) by virtue of this Agreement. The shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable and will not be subject to preemptive rights.
Section 4.04 Corporate Power; Minute Books. Buyer and Buyer Bank have the corporate power and authority to carry on their business as it is now being conducted and to own all their properties and assets; and Buyer and Buyer Bank have the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform their obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject to receipt of all necessary approvals of Governmental Authorities and Buyer of the Plan of Bank Merger. Buyer has made available to Company complete and correct copies of the minutes (or, in the case of draft minutes, the most recent drafts) of all meetings of the board of directors held since January 1, 2017, with any discussions of regulatory examination ratings and acquisition opportunities redacted. The minute books of Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries contain true, complete, and accurate records of all corporate actions taken by shareholders of Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries and the board of directors of Buyer (including committees of Buyer’s board of directors) and each of its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.05 Corporate Authority. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of Buyer and Buyer Bank on or prior to the date of this Agreement. No vote of the shareholders of Buyer is required by Law, the Articles of Organization of Buyer, the Bylaws of Buyer or otherwise to approve this Agreement and the transactions it contemplates. Buyer and Buyer Bank each has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and, assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery by Company and Company Bank, this Agreement is a valid and legally binding obligation of Buyer and Buyer Bank, enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles).
Section 4.06 SEC Documents; Other Reports; Internal Controls.
(a) Except as set forth on Buyer Disclosure Schedule 4.06(a), Buyer has filed all required reports, forms, schedules, registration statements and other documents with the SEC since December 31, 2014 (the “Buyer Reports”) and has paid all associated fees and assessments due and payable. As of their respective dates of filing with the SEC (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing, as of the date of that subsequent filing), the Buyer Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to such Buyer Reports, and none of the Buyer Reports when filed with the SEC, and if amended, as of the date of the amendment, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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There are no outstanding comments from or unresolved issues raised by the SEC, as applicable, with respect to any of the Buyer Reports. None of Buyer’s Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(b) Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, registrations, statements and other documents, together with any amendments required to be made with respect to them, that they were required to file since December 31, 2014 with any Governmental Authority (other than Buyer Reports) and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable. Except for normal examinations conducted by a Governmental Authority in the regular course of the business of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, no Governmental Authority has notified Buyer that it has initiated any proceeding or, to Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened an investigation into the business or operations of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2014, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer. There is no material unresolved violation or exception by any Governmental Authority with respect to any report, form, schedule, registration, statement or other document filed by, or relating to any examinations by any such Governmental Authority of, Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) Buyer has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to the date of this Agreement, to Buyer’s auditors and the audit committee of Buyer’s board of directors and has listed on the Buyer Disclosure Schedule 4.06(c) (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect Buyer’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Buyer’s internal controls over financial reporting.
(d) The records, systems, controls, data, and information of Buyer and its Subsidiaries are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical, or photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of Buyer or its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access to and from), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the system of internal accounting controls described in the following sentence. Buyer and its Subsidiaries have devised and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
(e) Buyer has designed, implemented, and has maintained and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures (within the meaning of Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to Buyer and its Subsidiaries is made known to the management of Buyer by others within those entities as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications required by the Exchange Act with respect to the Buyer Reports.
(f) Since December 31, 2014, (x) neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to Buyer’s Knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant, or representative of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material
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complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies, or methods of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion, or claim that Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (y) no attorney representing Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty, or similar violation by Buyer or any of its officers, directors, employees, or agents to the board of directors of Buyer or any board committee or to any director or officer of Buyer.
Section 4.07 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The financial statements of Buyer (including any related notes and schedules) included in the Buyer Reports complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing, as of the date of such subsequent filing), in all material respects, with all applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the rules of the SEC), have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be otherwise disclosed), and fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Buyer and its Subsidiaries and the consolidated results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods shown. The books and records of Buyer and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions.
(b) Except for (i) those liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved for in the consolidated financial statements of Buyer included in its Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC, (ii) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2017 in amounts consistent with past practice (including such liabilities contained in the Buyer Reports); (iii) liabilities that have been discharged or paid in full before the Effective Date; or (iv) liabilities or obligations incurred directly as a result of this Agreement, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued or contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due), and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in such a liability that, either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clause (i) or (ii), has had, or would be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect Buyer.
Section 4.08 Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults.
(a) No consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or with any third party are required to be made or obtained by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Buyer of this Agreement, or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) as applicable, filings of, applications or notices with, and consents, approvals or waivers by, or the making of satisfactory arrangements with, the FRB, the FDIC, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks; (ii) the approval of the Bank Merger
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and Plan of Bank Merger by Buyer, as sole shareholder of Buyer Bank, (iii) the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement with the SEC; (iv) the approval of the listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) of the Buyer Common Stock to be issued in the Merger and (v) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To Buyer’s Knowledge as of the date of this Agreement, there is no fact or circumstance relating to Buyer that could reasonably be expected to result in any of the approvals set forth above and referred to in Section 6.01(b) not being received in order to permit consummation of the Merger and Bank Merger on a timely basis or in the imposition of a Burdensome Condition as defined in Section 5.06.
(b) Subject to receipt, or the making, of the consents, approvals, waivers and filings referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph and expiration of the related waiting periods, the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by Buyer and Buyer Bank, as applicable, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not and will not (i) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the articles of organization or bylaws (or similar governing documents) of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (ii) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets or (iii) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates under, any of the terms, conditions, or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.
Section 4.09 Agreements with Regulatory Agencies. Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of (each, whether or not set forth in the Buyer Disclosure Schedule 4.09, “Buyer Regulatory Agreement”), any Governmental Authority that restricts, or by its terms in the future will restrict, the conduct of its business or that in any manner relates to its capital adequacy, its credit or risk management policies, its dividend policy, its management, its business or its operations, nor has Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries been advised by any Governmental Authority that it is considering issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any Buyer Regulatory Agreement. To Buyer’s Knowledge, there are no investigations relating to any material regulatory matters pending before any Governmental Authority with respect to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.10 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as reflected in Buyer’s audited balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 or in the Buyer Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, since December 31, 2017, there has been no change or development or combination of changes or developments which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries, and to Buyer’s Knowledge,
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no fact or condition exists which is reasonably likely to cause a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer in the future.
Section 4.11 Compliance with Laws.
(a) Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries is and since December 31, 2014 has been in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, Laws, judgments, orders or decrees applicable to it and its employees conducting such businesses, including, without limitation, any applicable Law, including without limitation, all Laws related to data protection or privacy, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act and any other Law relating to discriminatory lending, financing or leasing practices, Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the Xxxx-Xxxxx Act.
(b) Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries has all material permits, licenses, authorizations, orders, and approvals of, and have made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental Authorities that are required in order to permit it to own or lease their properties and to conduct their business as presently conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders, and approvals are in full force and effect and, to Buyer’s Knowledge, no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened.
(c) Except as set forth on Buyer Disclosure Schedule 4.11, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has received, since December 31, 2014, notification or communication from any Governmental Authority (i) asserting that it is not in compliance with any of the statutes, regulations, or ordinances which such Governmental Authority enforces or (ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit, or governmental authorization (nor, to Buyer’s Knowledge, do any grounds for any of the foregoing exist).
Section 4.12 Proxy Statement-Prospectus Information; Registration Statement. As of the date of the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the date of the Company Meeting to which such Proxy Statement-Prospectus relates, none of the information supplied or to be supplied by Buyer for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that that information as of a later date shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date.
Section 4.13 Legal Proceedings.
(a) Except as set forth on Buyer Disclosure Schedule 4.13, there are no civil, criminal, administrative or regulatory actions, suits, demand letters, demands for indemnification, claims, hearings, notices of violation, arbitrations, investigations, orders to show cause, market conduct examinations, notices of non-compliance or other proceedings of any nature pending or, to Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened against Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(b) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, nor are there any pending or, to Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened, civil, criminal, administrative or regulatory actions, suits, demand letters, claims, hearings, notices of violation, arbitrations, investigations, orders to show cause, market conduct examinations, notices of non-compliance or other proceedings of any nature against Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries in which, to Buyer’s Knowledge, there is a reasonable probability of any material recovery against or other Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or which challenges the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.14 Brokers. None of Buyer, Buyer Bank, or any of their officers or trustees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Buyer has engaged Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx Inc. to render a fairness opinion to be considered by the Buyer’s Board of Directors in connection with approval of this Agreement.
Section 4.15 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) All material benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies or arrangements covering current or former employees of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries and current or former directors of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries including, but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, and deferred compensation, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, stock based, incentive and bonus plans (the “Buyer Benefit Plans”), including, but not limited to, any trust instruments and insurance contracts forming a part of any Buyer Benefit Plans and all amendments to them, have been made available to Company.
(b) All Buyer Benefit Plans are in substantial compliance in form and operation with all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code.
Section 4.16 Labor Matters. Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract, or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is there any proceeding pending or, to Buyer’s Knowledge threatened, asserting that Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or seeking to compel Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment, nor is there any strike or other labor dispute involving it pending or, to Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened, nor is Buyer aware of any activity involving its employees seeking to certify a collective bargaining unit or engaging in other organizational activity.
Section 4.17 Tax Matters.
(a) Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all income, franchise, and other material Tax Returns that they were required to file under applicable Laws prior to the Effective Time, other than Tax Returns that are not yet due or for which a request for extension was filed consistent with requirements of applicable Laws. All Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in substantial compliance with all applicable Laws. All Taxes due and owing by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid other than any Taxes that have been reserved or accrued on the balance sheet of Buyer or
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which Buyer is contesting in good faith. Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiary is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, and neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries currently has any open tax years. No written claim has ever been made by an authority in a jurisdiction where Buyer or any Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no Liens for Taxes (other than statutory liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, or Taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate provision has been made on the balance sheet of Buyer or a Subsidiary of Buyer) upon any of the assets of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Buyer has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder, or other third party.
(c) No foreign, federal, state, or local tax audits or administrative or judicial Tax proceedings are being conducted or to Buyer’s Knowledge are pending with respect to Buyer or any Subsidiary. Other than with respect to audits that have already been completed and resolved, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has received from any foreign, federal, state, or local taxing authority (including jurisdictions where Buyer or its Subsidiaries has not filed Tax Returns) any (i) notice indicating an intent to open an audit or other review, (ii) request for information related to Tax matters, or (iii) written notice of deficiency or proposed adjustment for any amount of Tax proposed, asserted, or assessed by any taxing authority against Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) The unpaid Taxes of Buyer (i) did not, as of the end of the most recent period covered by the Buyer Reports filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (which reserve is distinct and different from any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the financial statements included in the Buyer Reports filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement (rather than in any notes), and (ii) do not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Effective Time in accordance with the past practice of Buyer in filing its Tax Returns. Since the end of the most recent period covered by the Buyer Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, Buyer has not incurred any liability for Taxes arising from extraordinary gains or losses, as that term is used in GAAP, outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
(e) Buyer and each Subsidiary have disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax within the meaning of Code Section 6662. Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Tax allocation or sharing agreement (other than an unwritten agreement with Buyer Bank and its Subsidiaries). Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was Buyer), or (ii) has liability for the Taxes of any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, business trust, limited liability company, or unincorporated organization (other than Buyer or any Subsidiary) under IRS Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
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(f) Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiary shall be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) “closing agreement” as described in Code Section 7121 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) intercompany transactions or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Code Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law); (iv) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; or (v) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date.
(g) Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiary is or has been a party to any “listed transaction”, as defined in Code Section 6707A(c)(2) and Reg. Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(h) Buyer has not taken or agreed to take any action and has no Knowledge of any fact, agreement, plan or other circumstance that is reasonably likely to prevent or impede the Merger and Bank Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 4.18 Loans: Nonperforming and Classified Assets.
(a) Except as set forth on Buyer Disclosure Schedule 4.18, as of the date of this Agreement, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to (i) any Loans under the terms of which the obligor was, as of March 31, 2018, over sixty (60) days delinquent in payment of principal or interest or in default of any other material provision, or (ii) Loan with any director, Executive Officer or five percent or greater shareholder of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, or to Buyer’s Knowledge, any person, corporation or enterprise controlling, controlled by, or under common control with any of the foregoing. Buyer Disclosure Schedule 4.18 identifies (x) each Loan that as of March 31, 2018 was classified as “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,” “Criticized,” “Credit Risk Assets,” “Concerned Loans,” “Watch List” or words of similar import by Buyer, Buyer Bank, or any bank examiner, together with the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on each such Loan and the identity of the borrower, and (y) each asset of Buyer that as of March 31, 2018 was classified as OREO and its book value as of the date of this Agreement.
(b) Each Loan held in Buyer Bank’s loan portfolio (i) is evidenced by notes, agreements or other evidences of indebtedness that are true, genuine, and what they purport to be, (ii) to the extent secured, has been secured by valid Liens which have been perfected and (iii) to Buyer’s Knowledge, is a legal, valid, and binding obligation of the obligor named, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, and other Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
Section 4.19 CRA, Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Information Security. Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement with any individual or group regarding Community Reinvestment Act matters and, to Buyer’s Knowledge, none of Buyer and its Subsidiaries has been advised of, or has any reason to believe (because of Buyer Bank’s Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the FDIC, or otherwise) that any facts or circumstances exist which would cause Buyer Bank: (i) to be deemed
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not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, and its implementing regulations, or to be assigned a rating for Community Reinvestment Act purposes by federal or state bank regulators of lower than “Satisfactory”; (ii) to be deemed to be operating in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 103), the USA PATRIOT Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule, or regulation; or (iii) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy Laws, including, without limitation, in Title V of the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act of 1999 and its implementing regulations, as well as the provisions of the information security program adopted by Buyer Bank pursuant to 12 C.F.R. Part 364. Furthermore, the board of directors of Buyer Bank has adopted and Buyer Bank has implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures that has not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meets the requirements of Sections 352 and 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act. Buyer Bank has implemented a program with respect to the beneficial ownership requirements set forth in the final rule on Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Financial Institutions found in 81 Federal Register 29397 (July 11, 2016) and 31 C.F.R. § 1010 et seq.
Section 4.20 Regulatory Capitalization. Buyer Bank is “well capitalized,” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations promulgated by the FDIC. Buyer is “well capitalized,” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations promulgated by the FRB.
Section 4.21 Environmental Matters. To Buyer’s Knowledge, no real property (including buildings or other structures) currently owned or operated by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor, or any property in which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries holds a security interest, Lien or a fiduciary or management role, has had any Release of any Hazardous Substance in that would create a material liability to Buyer or its Subsidiaries caused by a violation of Environmental Law.
Section 4.22 Administration of Trust and Fiduciary Accounts. Buyer has administered all accounts for which it acts as a fiduciary or agent, including but not limited to accounts for which it serves as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor, in accordance with the terms of the governing documents and applicable state and federal Law and regulation and common law in all material respects, and Buyer has not received any written customer demands, complaints, or other communications that are unresolved and which assert facts or circumstances that would, if true, constitute a breach of trust with respect to any fiduciary or agency account.
Section 4.23 Information Security. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer, to Buyer’s Knowledge, since January 1, 2015, no third party has gained unauthorized access to any information technology networks controlled by and material to the operation of the business of Buyer and its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.24 Disclosure. The representations and warranties contained in this Article IV, when considered as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
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omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements and information contained in this Article IV not misleading.
Section 4.25 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except as expressly set forth in this Article IV, none of Buyer, any Subsidiary of Buyer, their respective representatives or any other Person is making or has made, and none of them shall have liability in respect of, any written or oral representation or warranty, express or implied, at law, in equity or otherwise, with respect to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise, and whether express or implied at law, in equity or otherwise, in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or in respect of any other matter whatsoever.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.01 Covenants of Company. During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Buyer, Company shall carry on its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and consistent with prudent banking practice and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws. Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) preserve its business organization intact, (ii) keep available to itself and Buyer the present services of the current officers and employees of Company and its Subsidiaries and (iii) preserve for itself and Buyer the goodwill of the customers of Company and others with whom business relationships exist. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule or as otherwise expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or consented to in writing (which may include electronic mail) by Buyer neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall:
(a) Stock. (i) Issue, sell or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional shares of its stock, any Rights, or any securities (including units of beneficial ownership interest in any partnership or limited liability company), (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing, (iii) accelerate the vesting of any existing Rights, or (iv) change (or establish a record date for changing) the number of, or provide for the exchange of, shares of its stock, any securities (including units of beneficial ownership interest in any partnership or limited liability company) convertible into or exchangeable for any additional shares of stock, any Rights issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, or similar transaction with respect to its outstanding stock or any other such securities.
(b) Dividends; Other Distributions. Make, declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make other distributions (whether in cash or otherwise) in respect of any of its capital stock, except dividends by Subsidiaries of Company to the Subsidiary’s parent or another Subsidiary of Company.
(c) Compensation; Employment Agreements, Etc. Enter into or amend or renew any employment, consulting, severance, retention, change-in-control or similar agreements or
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arrangements with any director, officer, or employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or grant any salary or wage increase or increase any employee benefit or pay any incentive, commission or bonus payments, or grant any equity compensation except for (i) normal increases in base compensation to employees, including officers, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and pursuant to written policies currently in effect, provided that such increases shall not result in an annual adjustment in total annual cash compensation of more than 3% for any individual or 3% in the aggregate for all employees of Company other than as disclosed on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(c), (ii) as may be required by Law, or (iii) to satisfy written contractual obligations existing as of the date of this Agreement and disclosed on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(c). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5.01(c), neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall provide compensation of any type to any “disqualified individual” to the extent such compensation would be an “excess parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Code.
(d) Hiring; Promotions. (i) Hire any person as an employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for at will employees at an annual rate of salary not to exceed $50,000 to fill vacancies that may arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) promote any employee, except to fill vacancies that may arise in the ordinary course of business or to satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the date of this Agreement and set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(d) unless Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(e) Benefit Plans. Enter into, establish, adopt, amend, modify or terminate (except (i) as may be required by or to make consistent with applicable Law, subject to the provision of prior written notice to and consultation with Buyer, or (ii) to satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the date of this Agreement and set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(e) or as may be required by this Agreement), any Company Benefit Plan or other pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, savings, profit sharing, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group insurance or other employee benefit, incentive or welfare contract, plan or arrangement, or any related trust agreement (or similar arrangement), in respect of any current or former director, officer, or employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(f) Transactions with Officers and Directors. Except pursuant to agreements or arrangements in effect on the date of this Agreement and set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(f), pay, loan, or advance any amount to, or sell, transfer or lease any properties or assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) to, or enter into any agreement or arrangement with, any of its officers or directors or any of their immediate family members or any Affiliates or associates (as such terms are defined under the Exchange Act) of any of its officers or directors other than compensation or business expense reimbursement in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
(g) Dispositions. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(g), sell, transfer, mortgage, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of or discontinue any of its assets, deposits, business or properties, other real estate owned, or cancel or release any indebtedness owed to Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(h) Acquisitions. Acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good faith, in each case in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past practice) all or any portion of the assets, business, deposits, or properties of any other entity.
(i) Capital Expenditures. Make any capital expenditures other than capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and expenditures reasonably necessary to maintain existing assets in good repair, each in amounts not exceeding $25,000 in the aggregate, unless such capital expenditure is consented to in writing by Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his designee(s) (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(j) Governing Documents. Amend Company’s Articles of Organization or Bylaws or any equivalent documents of Company’s Subsidiaries.
(k) Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by applicable Laws, GAAP, or at the written direction of a Governmental Authority.
(l) Contracts. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(l), enter into, materially amend, modify, terminate or waive any material provision of, any Material Contract, Lease, or Insurance Policy.
(m) Claims. Except for the matters and, as applicable, the amounts set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(m), enter into any settlement or similar agreement with respect to any action, suit, proceeding, order or investigation to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries or directors or Executive Officers is a party or becomes a party after the date of this Agreement, which settlement or agreement involves payment by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of an amount which exceeds $50,000 individually or $100,000 in the aggregate (provided that, in connection with such settlement or agreement, such individual and aggregate amounts shall be exclusive of any amount of proceeds indirectly paid under any Insurance Policy but inclusive of any amount of proceeds paid by Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a deductible or retention), unless Buyer acting through it General Counsel or his designee(s) first consents in writing.
(n) Banking Operations. Enter into any new material line of business or change in any material respect its lending, investment, underwriting, risk and asset liability management and other banking and operating policies, except as required by applicable Law imposed by any Governmental Authority.
(o) Derivative Transactions. Enter into any Derivative Transaction unless Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(p) Indebtedness. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(p), incur, modify, extend or renegotiate any indebtedness for borrowed money (other than deposits, FHLB borrowings, or federal funds purchased, in each case in the ordinary course of business
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consistent with past practice) or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other Person unless Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(q) Investment Securities. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(q), acquire (other than (i) by way of foreclosures or acquisitions in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or (ii) in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good faith), sell or otherwise dispose of any debt security or equity investment, unless Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(r) Deposits. Make any changes to deposit pricing that are not in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice unless Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(s) Loans. Except as expressly permitted below, take any actions with respect to loans. Loans or transactions already approved as of the date of this Agreement that are listed on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(s) are excluded from the following requirements:
(i) | Commercial Loans: Company Bank may make or renew any commercial loan, commercial loan commitment, commercial letter of credit, or other extension of commercial credit up to $1,000,000 that is made in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with Company Bank’s current policies and procedures and recent past practice. Company Bank may not make or renew any commercial loan, commercial loan commitment, commercial letter of credit, or other extension of commercial credit that is greater than $1,000,000 unless Buyer acting through its President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer or his designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). |
(ii) | Residential Loans: Company Bank may make or renew any residential loan or residential loan commitment up to $750,000 that is made in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with Company Bank’s current policies and procedures and recent past practice so long as (A) any residential loan or residential loan commitment has a loan-to-value ratio that is in compliance with Company Bank’s current policies and procedures and is priced for residential loans at an interest rate that is no less than the Xxxxxxx Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey rate plus 0.125% and is priced for jumbo residential loans at an interest rate that is no less than the Xxxxxxx Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey rate plus 0.375% and (B) is a “qualified mortgage” under applicable regulatory guidelines. Company Bank may not make or renew any residential loan or residential loan commitment greater than $750,000 unless Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his |
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designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(iii) | Home Equity Loans, Consumer Loans, Loan Participations, Loan Modifications, Loan Purchases, and Other Loans: With the sole and only exception of consumer overdraft protection lines up to $10,000 associated with consumer deposit accounts, unless Buyer, acting through either its President and Chief Commercial Officer or its Chief Financial Officer, acting singly, or their designee(s), consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Company and Company Bank shall not: (a) sell any loan participations to, or enter into any loan participations with, any third party; (b) renegotiate, increase, extend or modify any loan, loan commitment, letter of credit or other extension of credit; and, shall not (c) purchase loans of any type; (d) make or renew any home equity loan or consumer loan. |
(t) Investments in Real Estate. Make any investment or commitment to invest in real estate or in any real estate development project other than by way of foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure.
(u) Taxes.
(i) Make or change any income Tax election, file any amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle or compromise any liability with respect to Taxes, agree to any adjustment of any Tax attribute, file any claim for a refund of Taxes, or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Tax claim or assessment.
(ii) Knowingly take any action that would prevent or impede the Merger or Bank Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(v) Compliance with Agreements. Commit any act or omission which constitutes a material breach or default by Company under any agreement with any Governmental Authority or under any Material Contract, Lease or other material agreement or material license to which it is a party or by which it or its properties is bound or under which it or its assets, business, or operations receives benefits.
(w) Environmental Assessments. Except for foreclosures in process as of the date of this Agreement, foreclose on or take a deed or title to any real estate other than single-family residential properties without first conducting an ASTM 1527-13 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of the property that satisfies the requirements of the all appropriate inquiries standard of CERCLA § 101(35) (“Phase I Assessment”), 42 U.S.C. § 9601(35), or foreclose on or take a deed or title to any real estate other than single-family residential properties if such environmental assessment indicates the presence of Hazardous Substances regulated under Environmental Laws.
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(x) Adverse Actions. Take any action or fail to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors in support of, any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in (i) any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time at or prior to the Effective Time, (ii) any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied or (iii) a material violation of any provision of this Agreement, except, in each case, as may be required by applicable Laws or GAAP.
(y) Capital Stock Purchase. Directly or indirectly repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock.
(z) Restructuring. Except as set forth on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.01(z), merge or consolidate itself or any of its Subsidiaries with any other person, or restructure, reorganize or completely or partially liquidate or dissolve it or any of its Subsidiaries.
(aa) Facilities. Except as required by Law or otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, make application for the opening, relocation or closing of any, or open, relocate or close any, branch office, loan production or servicing facility, or automated banking facility.
(bb) Loan Workouts. Compromise, resolve, or otherwise “workout” any delinquent or troubled loan unless any such loan workout is done in the ordinary course of business, consistent with Company Bank’s current policies and procedures and recent past practice unless Buyer acting through its Chief Financial Officer or his designee(s) first consents in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(cc) Investment Management Operations. Enter into any new material line of business in connection with, or change in any material respect, its investment management business, its trust services business, its retirement, estate, investment or educational planning business, its insurance business, its brokerage services business, and any other services related to its wealth management business or any operating policies relating to any of the foregoing, except as required by applicable Law imposed by any Governmental Authority.
(dd) Commitments. Enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise agree or commit to do, any of the foregoing.
Section 5.02 Covenants of Buyer.
(a) Affirmative Covenants. From the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, Buyer will (i) carry on its business consistent with prudent banking practices and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws, and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization, properties, leases, employees and advantageous business relationships and retain the service of its officer and key employees.
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(b) Negative Covenants. From the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of Company, Buyer will not, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to:
(i) Adverse Actions. Take any action or fail to take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in (A) a delay in the consummation of the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) any impediment to Buyer’s ability to consummate the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (C) any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time at or prior to the Effective Time, (D) any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied, or (E) a material violation of any provision of this Agreement except, in each case, as may be required by applicable Law or regulation,
(ii) Tax Free Reorganization. Knowingly take any action that would prevent or impede the Merger or Bank Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, or
(iii) Commitments. Enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise agree or commit to do, any of the foregoing.
Section 5.03 Commercially Reasonable Effort. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws, so as to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable, including the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article VI of this Agreement, and shall cooperate fully to that end.
Section 5.04 Shareholder Approval. Company agrees to take, in accordance with applicable Law, the Articles of Organization of Company and the Bylaws of Company, all action necessary to convene a meeting of its shareholders to consider and vote upon the approval of this Agreement and any other matters required to be approved by Company’s shareholders in order to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any adjournment or postponement, the “Company Meeting”) and, subject to Section 5.09, shall take all lawful action to solicit such approval by such shareholders. Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to convene the Company Meeting within forty-five (45) days following the time when the Registration Statement becomes effective. Except with the prior approval of Buyer, no other matters shall be submitted for the approval of Company shareholders at the Company Meeting. Company’s board of directors shall at all times prior to and during the Company Meeting recommend approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of Company and shall not withhold, withdraw, amend, or modify such recommendation in any manner adverse to Buyer or take any other action or make any other public statement inconsistent with such recommendation, except as and to the extent expressly permitted by Section 5.09 (a “Change in Recommendation”). In the event that there is present at the Company Meeting, in person or by proxy, sufficient favorable voting power to secure the Requisite Company Shareholder Approval, Company will not adjourn or postpone the Company Meeting unless Company is advised by counsel that failure to do so would result in a breach of the U.S. federal securities Laws or fiduciary duties of Company’s board of directors. Company shall keep Buyer
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updated with respect to the proxy solicitation results in connection with the Company Meeting as reasonably requested by Buyer.
Section 5.05 Registration Statement; Proxy Statement-Prospectus; Nasdaq Listing.
(a) Buyer and Company agree to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement to be filed by Buyer with the SEC in connection with the issuance of the Buyer Common Stock in the Merger (including the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and all related documents). Each of Buyer and Company agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be filed with the SEC within 45 days after the date hereof and to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable after its filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger and the transactions it contemplates. Buyer also agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary state securities Law or “blue sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Company agrees to cooperate with Buyer and Buyer’s counsel and accountants in requesting and obtaining appropriate opinions, consents, and letters from the financial advisor and Company’s independent auditors in connection with the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement-Prospectus. After the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, Company, at its own expense, shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed the Proxy Statement-Prospectus to its shareholders.
(b) Buyer will promptly advise Company after Buyer received notice thereof of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of Buyer Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement or for additional information.
(c) The Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the Registration Statement shall comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and their implementing rules and regulations. Buyer will notify Company promptly upon the receipt of any comments (whether written or oral) from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its staff or any government officials for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement-Prospectus, or for any other filing or for additional information and will supply Company with copies of all correspondence between Buyer or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, or its staff or any other government officials, on the other hand, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement-Prospectus, the Merger, or any other filing. If at any time prior to the Company Meeting there shall occur any event that should be disclosed in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement-Prospectus or the Registration Statement, Company and Buyer shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare, file with the SEC (if required under applicable Law) and mail to Company shareholders an amendment or supplement.
(d) Buyer will provide Company and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and all responses to requests for additional information by and replies to comments of the SEC prior to filing
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such with, or sending such to, the SEC, and will provide Company and its counsel with a copy of all SEC filings.
(e) Buyer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to list, prior to the Effective Date, on Nasdaq the shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger, subject to official notice of issuance prior to the Effective Time.
(f) Company acknowledges that Buyer is in or may be in the process of acquiring other bank holding companies, banks, financial institutions, and/or other entities and that in connection with other acquisitions, information concerning Company may be required to be included in the registration statements, if any, for the issuance of securities of Buyer or in Buyer Reports in connection with other acquisitions. Company agrees to provide Buyer with any information, certificates, documents or other materials about Company as are reasonably necessary to be included in such other SEC reports or registration statements, including the Registration Statements referenced in Section 5.05(a) and any other registration statements which may be filed by Buyer prior to the Effective Time. Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause its attorneys and accountants to provide Buyer and any underwriters for Buyer with any consents, opinion letters, reports or information which are necessary to complete the registration statements and applications for any other acquisition or issuance of securities. Buyer shall reimburse Company for all expenses reasonably incurred by Company if another acquisition is terminated for any reason. Buyer shall not file with the SEC any registration statement or amendment or supplement containing information regarding Company unless Company shall have consented to the disclosure contained in the filing, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld.
Section 5.06 Regulatory Filings; Consents.
(a) Each of Buyer and Company and their respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts (i) to promptly prepare all documentation (including the Proxy Statement-Prospectus), to effect all filings, to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Authorities necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, all Regulatory Approvals and all other consents and approvals of a Governmental Authority required to consummate the Merger, (ii) to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations and (iii) to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated as expeditiously as practicable (including by avoiding or setting aside any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order of any United States federal or state court of competent jurisdiction or any other Governmental Authority); provided, however, that in no event shall Buyer be required to agree to any prohibition, limitation, or other requirement which would prohibit or materially limit the ownership or operation by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, of all or any material portion of the business or assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Buyer or its Subsidiaries, or compel Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate all or any material portion of the business or assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (together, the “Burdensome Conditions”). Buyer and Company will furnish each other and each other’s counsel with all information concerning themselves, their Subsidiaries, directors, trustees, officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be necessary or advisable in connection with the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and any application, petition, or any other
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statement or application made by or on behalf of Buyer or Company to any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Provided that Company has cooperated as required herein, Buyer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to file the requisite applications with the FDIC and the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks within 45 days after the date hereof. Each party shall have the right to review and approve in advance all characterizations of the information relating to it and any of its Subsidiaries that appear in any filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with any Governmental Authority. In addition, Buyer and Company shall each furnish to the other for review a copy of each such filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with any Governmental Authority prior to its filing.
(b) Company will notify Buyer promptly and shall promptly furnish Buyer with copies of notices or other communications or summaries of oral communications received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of (i) any communication, written or oral, from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person (or another Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from Company, its Subsidiaries or its representatives), (ii) subject to applicable Laws and the instructions of any Governmental Authority, any communication, written or oral, from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from Company, its Subsidiaries or its representatives), and (iii) any legal actions threatened or commenced against or otherwise affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response from Company, its Subsidiaries or its representatives). With respect to any of the foregoing, Company will consult with Buyer and its representatives so as to permit Company and Buyer and their respective representatives to cooperate to take appropriate measures to avoid or mitigate any adverse consequences that may result from any of the foregoing.
(c) Buyer will notify Company promptly and shall promptly furnish Company with copies of notices or other communications or summaries of oral communications received by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries of (i) any communication, written or oral, from any Person alleging that the consent of that Person (or other Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response from Buyer or its representatives), (ii) subject to applicable Laws and the instructions of any Governmental Authority, any communication, written or oral, from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response from Buyer or its representatives), and (iii) any legal actions threatened or commenced against or otherwise affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response from Company, its Subsidiaries or its representatives).
Section 5.07 Publicity. Buyer and Company shall consult with each other before issuing any press release with respect to this Agreement or the transactions it contemplates and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the other party, which shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld; provided, however, that a party may, without the prior consent of the other party (but after such consultation, to the extent practicable in the circumstances), issue such press release or make such public statements as may upon the advice of outside counsel be required by Law. Without limiting the preceding sentence,
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Buyer and Company shall (i) cooperate to develop all public announcement materials; and (ii) make appropriate management available at presentations related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as reasonably requested by the other. In addition, Company and its Subsidiaries shall coordinate with Buyer regarding all communications with customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, and the community in general related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.08 Access; Information.
(a) Company and Buyer agree that upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, each shall afford the other party and its officers, employees, counsel, accountants, and other authorized representatives such access during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time to its books, records (including, without limitation, Tax Returns and work papers of independent auditors), properties, and personnel and to such other information relating to it as the other party may reasonably request and, during such period, shall furnish promptly to the other party all information concerning its business, properties, and personnel as the other party may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Company nor Buyer shall be required to provide access to or to disclose information, where such access or disclosure could reasonably be expected to (i) violate the rights of such entity’s customers, (ii) jeopardize the attorney-client privilege of the entity in possession or control of such information, (iii) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties; (iv) violate any obligation of Company or Buyer with respect to confidentiality (provided that the party who owes an obligation of confidentiality makes a reasonable effort to obtain a waiver of such obligation); (v) interfere with the prudent operation of such entity; or (iv) contravene any Law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement. The parties will make appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under circumstances in which the restrictions of the previous sentence apply.
(b) No investigation by a party or its representatives shall be deemed to modify or waive any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement of the other party set forth in this Agreement, or the conditions to the respective obligations of Buyer and Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.09 No Solicitation by Company.
(a) Company and its Subsidiaries shall immediately cease, and Company and its Subsidiaries shall cause each of their respective representatives to immediately cease, any discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted prior to the date of this Agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal. Except as permitted by this Section 5.09, after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Company and its directors, executive officers and Subsidiaries shall not, and Company shall cause each of its and its Subsidiaries’ representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or encourage any inquiry with respect to, or the making of, any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) participate in any negotiations regarding an Acquisition Proposal with, or furnish any nonpublic information relating to an Acquisition Proposal to, any Person that has made or, to Company’s Knowledge, is considering making an Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) engage in discussions regarding an Acquisition Proposal
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with any Person that has made, or, to Company’s Knowledge, is considering making, an Acquisition Proposal, except to notify such Person of the existence of the provisions of this Section 5.09.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.09(a), if, prior to the time Requisite Company Shareholder Approval is obtained, Company receives a written and unsolicited Acquisition Proposal that the board of directors of Company determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel) constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal, Company may take the following actions: (1) furnish nonpublic information with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries to the Person making such Acquisition Proposal, but only if (A) prior to so furnishing such information, Company has entered into a customary confidentiality agreement with such Person on terms no less favorable to Company than the confidentiality agreement by and between Company and Buyer dated as of April 19, 2018, and (B) all such information has previously been provided to Buyer or is provided to Buyer prior to or contemporaneously with the time it is provided to the Person making such Superior Proposal or such Person’s representatives; and (2) engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations with such Person with respect to the Superior Proposal. Company promptly (and in any event within 48 hours) shall advise Buyer orally and in writing of the receipt of (i) any proposal that constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to an Acquisition Proposal and the material terms of such proposal (including the identity of the party making such proposal and, if applicable, copies of any documents or correspondence evidencing such proposal), and (ii) any request for information relating to Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than requests for information not reasonably likely to be related to an Acquisition Proposal. Company shall keep Buyer informed on a reasonably current basis (and in any event at least once every two (2) Business Days) of the status of any such Acquisition Proposal (including any material change to its terms).
(c) Except as set forth in Section 5.09(d), the board of directors of Company shall not (i) withhold, withdraw, or modify (or publicly propose to withhold, withdraw or modify), in a manner adverse to Buyer, its recommendation referred to in Section 5.04, or (ii) approve or recommend (or publicly propose to approve or recommend) any Acquisition Proposal. Except as set forth in Section 5.09(d), Company shall not, and its board of directors shall not allow Company to, and Company shall not allow any of Company’s Subsidiaries to, enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, or other agreement (except for confidentiality agreements permitted under Section 5.09(b)) relating to any Superior Proposal.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the board of directors of Company may, prior to the time the Requisite Company Shareholder Approval is obtained, in response to a Superior Proposal which did not result from a breach of Section 5.09(a) or (b), (i) make a Change in Recommendation and/or (ii) terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01 (and concurrently with such termination cause Company to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the Superior Proposal), in each case of clauses (i) or (ii), if the board of directors of Company has determined in good faith, after consulting with its outside counsel, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law; provided that the board of directors may not take any such action in connection with an Acquisition Proposal unless (1) the board of directors has determined that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal, (2) prior to terminating this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(g), Company provides prior written notice to Buyer at least four (4) Business Days in advance (the “Notice Period”)
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of its intention to take such action, which notice shall specify all material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal (including the identity of the party making such Superior Proposal and copies of any documents or correspondence evidencing such Superior Proposal), and any material modifications to any of the foregoing, (3) during the Notice Period Company shall, and shall cause its financial advisors and outside counsel to, negotiate with Buyer in good faith should Buyer propose to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that such Superior Proposal ceases to constitute (in the good faith judgment of Company’s board of directors) a Superior Proposal and (4) such Superior Proposal continues to constitute (in the good faith judgment of Company’s board of directors) a Superior Proposal after taking into account any such amendments that Buyer shall have agreed to make prior to the end of the Notice Period.
(e) Nothing contained in this Section 5.09 shall prohibit Company from (i) making any disclosure to Company’s shareholders if, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, Company determines that such disclosure would be required under applicable Law; provided, however, that any such disclosure relating to an Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be a Change in Recommendation unless it is limited to a stop, look, and listen communication or Company’s board of directors reaffirms the recommendation referred to in Section 5.04 in such disclosure and does not recommend that Company shareholders tender their shares, or (ii) informing any Person of the existence of the provisions contained in this Section 5.09.
Section 5.10 Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, Buyer (the “Indemnifying Party”) shall indemnify and hold harmless, each present and former director or officer of Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Indemnified Parties”) and any person who becomes an Indemnified Party between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities and amounts paid in settlement incurred after the Effective Time in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, based in whole or in part, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to the fact that he or she was a director or officer of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is or was serving at the request of Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a director, officer, employee, trustee or other agent of any other organization or in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan of Company, including without limitation any matters arising in connection with or related to the negotiation, execution, and performance of this Agreement or any of the transactions it contemplates, to the full extent to which such Indemnified Parties would be entitled to have the right to advancements of expenses or to be indemnified under the Articles of Organization and Bylaws of Company as in effect on the date of this Agreement as though such Articles of Organization and Bylaws continue to remain in effect after the Effective Time and as permitted by applicable Law. Buyer’s obligations under this Section 5.10(a) shall continue in full force and effect for a period of six years from the Effective Time; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in respect of any claim asserted or made within such period shall continue until the final disposition of such claim.
(b) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 5.10, upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall promptly notify
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the Indemnifying Party, but the failure to so notify shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of any liability it may have to such Indemnified Party if such failure does not actually prejudice the Indemnifying Party and, if so, only to the extent of such actual prejudice. In the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense and the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Parties for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with the defense, except that if the Indemnifying Party elects not to assume defense or counsel for the Indemnified Parties advises that there are issues which raise conflicts of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Parties, the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel which is reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnifying Party shall pay, promptly as statements are received, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Indemnified Parties (which may not exceed one firm in any jurisdiction), (ii) the Indemnified Parties will cooperate in the defense of any such matter, (iii) the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent and (iv) the Indemnifying Party shall have no obligation hereunder in the event that a federal or state banking agency or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that indemnification of an Indemnified Party is prohibited by applicable Laws and regulations.
(c) Prior to the Closing, Company shall and if Company is unable to, Buyer shall cause the Surviving Entity as of the Effective Time to obtain and fully pay the premium for the extension of Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies, in each case for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six (6) years from and after the Effective Time from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (“D&O Insurance”) with terms, conditions, retentions, and limits of liability that are at least as favorable to the Indemnified Parties as Company’s existing policies with respect to any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against a director or officer of Company or any of its Subsidiaries by reason of him or her serving in such capacity that existed or occurred at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with this Agreement or the transactions or actions it contemplates); provided, however, that in no event shall Company expend, or Buyer or the Surviving Entity be required to expend, for such “tail” policy in the aggregate and on an annual basis a premium amount in excess of an amount (the “Maximum D&O Tail Premium”) equal to (x) 200% of the annual premiums paid by Company for D&O Insurance in effect as of the date of this Agreement less (y) the premium credit, if any, to which Company is entitled on account of the Merger under the D&O Insurance in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided further, that if the cost of such a tail policy exceeds the Maximum D&O Tail Premium, Company, Buyer or the Surviving Entity shall obtain a tail policy with the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding Maximum D&O Tail Premium.
(d) If Buyer or any of its successors or assigns shall consolidate with or merge into any other entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or shall transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other entity, then and in each case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Buyer shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.10.
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(e) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive, or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to Company or its officers, directors and employees, and that the indemnification of this Section 5.10 is not a substitute for any claims under any policies.
(f) Any indemnification payments made pursuant to this Section 5.10 are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. § 1828(k)) and the regulations promulgated by the FDIC (12 C.F.R. Part 359).
Section 5.11 Employees; Benefit Plans.
(a) All Company Employees who remain employed by Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time shall be subject to Buyer Bank’s normal and customary employment procedures and practices, including customary background screening and evaluation procedures, and satisfactory employment performance. In addition, Company and Company Bank agree, upon Buyer’s reasonable request, to facilitate discussions between Buyer and Company Employees regarding employment, consulting, or other arrangements to be effective prior to or following the Merger. Any interaction between Buyer and Company Employees shall be coordinated by Company.
(b) Company Employees (other than those who are parties to an employment, change of control, or other type of agreement which provides for severance) as of the date of this Agreement who remain employed by Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time and whose employment is terminated by Buyer (absent termination for cause as determined by the employer) within one year after the Effective Time shall, subject to the execution by each Company Employee of a standard release in favor of Buyer and Buyer Bank, (i) receive severance pay in the amount of two (2) weeks’ pay for every year of service with, in the aggregate, Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, with a minimum of eight (8) weeks’ severance, and up to a maximum of twenty-six (26) weeks’ severance, in lieu of any severance pay plans that may be in effect at Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) be offered outplacement assistance.
(c) Following the Closing Date, Buyer may choose to maintain any or all of the other Company Benefit Plans in its sole discretion, subject to the next sentence of this Section 5.11(c). For any Company Benefit Plan terminated for which there is a comparable Buyer Benefit Plan of general applicability, Company Employees shall be entitled to participate in such Buyer Benefit Plan to the same extent as similarly-situated employees of Buyer or Buyer Bank (it being understood that inclusion of Company Employees in the Buyer Benefit Plans may occur, if at all, at different times with respect to different plans). With respect to a comparable Buyer Benefit Plan, for purposes of determining eligibility to participate, vesting, entitlement to benefits and vacation entitlement (but not for accrual of benefits under any Buyer Benefit Plan, including any post-retirement welfare benefit plan of Buyer), service by a Company Employee shall be recognized to the same extent such service was recognized immediately prior to the Effective Time under a comparable Plan in which such Company Employee was a participant immediately before the Effective Time, or if there is no such comparable employee benefit plan, to the same extent such service was recognized under the Company 401(k) Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time to the extent applicable; provided, however, that
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such service shall not be recognized to the extent such recognition would result in a duplication of benefits.
(d) If employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries become eligible to participate in a medical, dental, or health plan of Buyer or Buyer Bank upon termination of a similar plan of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each plan to (i) waive any preexisting condition limitations to the extent such conditions are covered under the applicable medical, health, or dental plans of Buyer or Buyer Bank, (ii) provide full credit under such plans for any deductible, co-payment, and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the employees and their beneficiaries during the portion of the plan year prior to participation, and (iii) waive any waiting period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement which would otherwise be applicable to such employee on or after the Effective Time, in each case to the extent such employee had satisfied any similar limitation or requirement under an analogous plan prior to the Effective Time for the plan year in which the Effective Time occurs.
(e) Buyer shall honor, and the Surviving Entity shall continue to be obligated to perform, in accordance with their terms, all vested benefit obligations to, and contractual rights of, current and former employees and directors of Company existing as of the Effective Time, as well as all employment, severance, deferred compensation, retirement or “change-in-control” agreements, plans, or policies of Company but only if such obligations, rights, agreements, plans or policies are set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule. Buyer acknowledges that the consummation of the Merger will constitute a “change-in-control” of Company for purposes of any benefit plans, agreements, and arrangements of Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit the ability of Buyer or Buyer Bank to amend or terminate any of the Company Benefit Plans or Buyer Benefit Plans in accordance with their terms at any time after the Effective Time, subject to vested rights of employees and directors that may not be terminated pursuant to the terms of the Company Benefit Plans.
(f) In the event that Buyer or Buyer Bank terminates or lays off a sufficient number of employees following the Effective Date to trigger a notice requirement under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 or any similar applicable Law (“WARN”) with respect to (i) Company Employees employed during the 90-day period preceding the Effective Time, and (ii) Company Employees employed by Buyer or Buyer Bank after the Effective Time, Buyer shall be solely responsible for compliance with, and any liabilities incurred pursuant to, WARN. Company and Company Bank shall cooperate in providing information reasonably requested by Buyer that is necessary for Buyer to prepare and distribute notices that Buyer may desire to provide prior to the Effective Time under WARN.
(g) Nothing in this Section 5.11, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 5.11. Without limiting the foregoing, no provision of this Section 5.11 will create any third party beneficiary rights in any current or former employee, director, or consultant of Company or its Subsidiaries in respect of continued employment (or resumed employment) or any other matter. Nothing in this Section 5.11 is intended (i) to amend any Company Benefit Plan or any Buyer Benefit Plan, (ii) interfere with Buyer’s or the Surviving Entity’s right from and after the Closing Date to amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan or Buyer Benefit Plan or (iii) interfere with Buyer’s
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or the Surviving Entity’s right from and after the Effective Time to terminate the employment or provision of services by any director, employee, independent contractor, or consultant.
(h) Buyer and Company have agreed to actions regarding employees of Company Bank and directors of Company as set forth on Buyer Disclosure Schedule 5.11(h).
Section 5.12 Notification of Certain Changes. Buyer and Company shall promptly advise the other party of any change or event having, or which would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to it or which it believes would reasonably be expected to, cause or constitute a material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement. Prior to the Effective Time (and on the date prior to the Closing Date), Buyer and Company will supplement or amend their respective Disclosure Schedules delivered in connection with the execution of this Agreement to reflect any matter which, if existing, occurring or known at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set forth or described in such Disclosure Schedule or which is necessary to correct any information in such Disclosure Schedule which has been rendered materially inaccurate. No supplement or amendment to the Buyer Disclosure Schedule or Company Disclosure Schedule shall have any effect for the purpose of determining satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.02(a) or 6.03(a), or compliance by Buyer or Company with the respective covenants and agreements.
Section 5.13 Current Information. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Company will cause one or more of its designated representatives to confer on a regular and frequent basis (not less than weekly) with representatives of Buyer and to report the general status of the ongoing operations of Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, (A) Company agrees to provide to Buyer (i) a copy of each report filed by Company or any of its Subsidiaries with a Governmental Authority (if permitted by Law) within one (1) Business Day following its filing, and (ii) a consolidated balance sheet and a consolidated statement of operations, without related notes, within twenty (20) days after the end of each month, prepared in accordance with Company’s current financial reporting practices, and (B) Company shall provide Buyer, on a monthly basis, with a schedule of all new loans, leases, extensions of credit, and renewal loans, leases and extensions of credit, or any increase in any customer’s aggregate credit outstanding or lease commitment (whether or not subject to prior approval under Section 5.01(s)), and provide Buyer with a copy of, and the opportunity to discuss upon request, the relevant documentation for any loan, extension of credit, lease, or renewal.
Section 5.14 Board Packages and Meetings.
(a) Company shall distribute by overnight mail or by electronic mail a copy of any Company or Company Bank board package, including the agenda and any draft minutes, to Buyer at the same time in which it distributes a copy to the board of directors of Company or Company Bank; provided, however, that Company shall not be required to provide to Buyer copies of any documents that disclose (i) confidential discussions of this Agreement or the transactions it contemplates or any third-party proposal to acquire control of Company, (ii) any matter that Company’s board of directors has been advised by counsel may violate a confidentiality obligation or fiduciary duty or any Law or regulation, including with respect to the disclosure of regulatory examination ratings or other confidential supervisory information, or may result in a waiver of
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Company’s attorney-client privilege or violate the privacy rights of any customer, or (iii) any information provided to Company’s or Company Bank’s board of directors or the Loan Committee of Company’s or Company Bank’s board of directors and any other loan- or credit-related information, including, but not limited to, loan pricing or credit decisions (collectively, “Confidential Matters”).
(b) Company, at the request of Buyer, shall allow a representative of Buyer to attend all Company and Company Bank board meetings, whether in person or by telephone conference call; provided, however, that the Buyer representative may be excluded from any meeting or portion of a meeting at which Confidential Matters are discussed.
Section 5.15 Transition; Informational Systems Conversion. From and after the date of this Agreement, Buyer and Company shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the integration of Company with the business of Buyer following consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall meet on a regular basis to discuss and plan for the conversion of the data processing and related electronic informational systems of Company and each of its Subsidiaries (the “Information Systems Conversion”) to those used by Buyer, which planning shall include, but not be limited to: (a) discussion of third-party service provider arrangements of Company and each of its Subsidiaries; (b) non-renewal, after the Effective Time, of personal property leases and software licenses used by Company and each of its Subsidiaries in connection with systems operations; (c) retention of outside consultants and additional employees to assist with the conversion; (d) outsourcing, as appropriate after the Effective Time, of proprietary or self-provided system services; and (e) any other actions necessary and appropriate to facilitate the conversion, as soon as practicable following the Effective Time. Buyer shall promptly reimburse Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket fees, expenses, or charges that Company may incur as a result of taking, at the request of Buyer, any action to facilitate the Information Systems Conversion.
Section 5.16 Access to Customers and Suppliers.
(a) Access to Customers. Company and Buyer will work together to promote good relations between Company Bank and its customers and to retain and grow Company Bank customer relationships prior to and after the Effective Time. Company and Buyer agree that it may be necessary or advisable from and after the date of this Agreement for representatives of Company Bank and/or of Buyer Bank to meet with Company Bank customers to discuss the business combination and related transactions contemplated by this Agreement with Company Bank customers. Company Bank shall promptly make arrangements for discussions and meetings between Company Bank customers and Buyer Bank as reasonably requested by Buyer Bank and Company Bank representatives shall have the right to participate in any discussions or meetings between Company Bank customers and Buyer Bank.
(b) Access to Suppliers. From and after the date of this Agreement, Company shall, upon Buyer’s reasonable request, introduce Buyer and its representatives to suppliers of Company and its Subsidiaries for the purpose of facilitating the integration of Company and its business into that of Buyer. Any interaction between Buyer and Company’s suppliers shall be coordinated by Company. Company shall have the right to participate in any discussions between Buyer and Company’s suppliers.
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Section 5.17 Environmental Assessments.
(a) Company shall cooperate with and grant access to an environmental consulting firm selected by Buyer and reasonably acceptable to Company, during normal business hours (and at such other times as may be agreed), to any real property (including buildings or other structures) currently owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Loan Property for the purpose of conducting (i) Phase I Assessments (which also may include an evaluation of asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead based paint, lead in drinking water, mold, and radon) ; (ii) Phase II Environmental Assessments, including subsurface investigation of soil, soil vapor, and groundwater (“Phase II Assessment”); and/or (iii) surveys and sampling of indoor air and building materials for the presence of radon, asbestos containing materials, mold, microbial matter, polychlorinated biphenyls, and other Hazardous Substances. Buyer and its environmental consulting firm shall conduct all environmental assessments pursuant to this Section 5.17 at mutually agreeable times and so as to eliminate or minimize to the greatest extent possible interference with Company’s operation of its business, and Buyer shall maintain or cause to be maintained reasonably adequate insurance with respect to any assessment conducted. Buyer shall be required to restore each property to substantially its pre-assessment condition. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Phase I or Phase II Assessment and any restoration and clean up shall be borne solely by Buyer.
(b) To the extent requested by Buyer, each environmental assessment shall include an estimate by the environmental consulting firm preparing such environmental assessment of the costs of investigation, monitoring, personal injury, property damage, clean up, remediation, penalties, fines or other liabilities, as the case may be, relating to the “potential environmental condition(s)” or “recognized environmental condition(s)” or other conditions which are the subject of the environmental assessment.
Section 5.18 Shareholder Litigation and Claims. In the event that any shareholder litigation related to this Agreement or the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement is brought or, to Company’s Knowledge, threatened, against Company and/or the members of the board of directors of Company prior to the Effective Time, Company shall consult with Buyer regarding the defense or settlement of the litigation, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without Buyer’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Company shall (i) promptly notify Buyer of any shareholder litigation brought, or threatened, against Company and/or members of the board of directors of Company, (ii) keep Buyer reasonably informed with respect to the litigation’s status, provided, however, that no information need to be provided if doing so would jeopardize the attorney-client privilege or contravene any Law or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, and (iii) give Buyer the opportunity to participate at its own expense in the defense or settlement of any shareholder litigation. Company shall consult with Buyer regarding the selection of counsel to represent Company in any such shareholder litigation.
Section 5.19 Director Resignations. Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Buyer resignations of all directors of Company, Company Bank, and any of their Subsidiaries to be effective as of the Effective Time.
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Section 5.20 Third Party Consents. Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the Company Third Party Consents prior to Closing.
Section 5.21 Coordination.
(a) Company and Company Bank shall take any actions Buyer may reasonably request prior to the Effective Time to facilitate the consolidation of the operations of Company Bank with Buyer Bank, including, without limitation, the preparation and filing of all documentation that is necessary or desirable to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of third parties or Governmental Authorities to close and/or consolidate any Buyer Bank or Company Bank branches or facilities. Without limiting the foregoing, senior officers of Company and Buyer shall meet as Buyer may reasonably request, and in any event not less than monthly, to review the financial and operational affairs of Company and Company Bank, and Company shall give due consideration to Buyer’s input, with the understanding that, notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, neither Buyer nor Buyer Bank shall under any circumstance be permitted to exercise control of Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time. Company and Company Bank shall permit representatives of Buyer Bank to be onsite at Company Bank during normal business hours to facilitate consolidation of operations and assist with any other coordination efforts as necessary.
(b) Upon Buyer’s reasonable request after the Determination Date (and prior to the Effective Time) and consistent with GAAP, the rules and regulations of the SEC and applicable banking Laws and regulations, (i) each of Company and its Subsidiaries shall modify or change its loan, OREO, accrual, reserve, tax, litigation, and real estate valuation policies and practices (including loan classifications and levels of reserves) so as to be applied on a basis that is consistent with that of Buyer and (ii) Company shall make such accruals under the Company Benefit Plans as Buyer may reasonably request to reflect the benefits payable under such Company Benefit Plans upon the completion of the Merger. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such modifications, changes, or divestitures of the type described in this Section 5.21(b) need be made prior to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b).
(c) Company and Company Bank shall, consistent with GAAP and regulatory accounting principles, use their commercially reasonable efforts to implement at Buyer’s request internal control procedures which are consistent with Buyer’s and Buyer Bank’s current internal control procedures to allow Buyer to fulfill its reporting requirement under Section 404 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, provided, however, that no such modifications, changes, or divestitures need be made prior to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b).
(d) No accrual or reserve or change in policy or procedure made by Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 5.21 shall constitute or be deemed to be a breach, violation, of or failure to satisfy any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement, condition, or other provision of this Agreement or otherwise be considered in determining whether any such breach, violation, or failure to satisfy shall have occurred. The recording of any such adjustment shall not be deemed to imply any misstatement of previously furnished financial statements or information and shall not be construed as concurrence of Company or its management with any such adjustments.
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(e) Subject to Section 5.21(b), Buyer and Company shall cooperate (i) to minimize any potential adverse impact to Buyer under ASC 805, and (ii) to maximize potential benefits to Buyer and its Subsidiaries under Code Section 382 in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case consistent with GAAP, the rules and regulations of the SEC, and applicable banking Laws.
(f) Buyer and Company have agreed to cooperate regarding a real estate matter as set forth on Buyer Disclosure Schedule 5.21(f).
Section 5.22 Merger. Buyer and Company agree to take all action necessary and appropriate, including causing the entering into of an appropriate Plan of Bank Merger, to cause Company Bank to merge with Buyer Bank in accordance with applicable Laws and the terms of the Plan of Bank Merger immediately following the Effective Time.
Section 5.23 Charitable Foundation. Subject to any notification and/or approval required by relevant Governmental or Regulatory Authorities, (i) Company agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to terminate or dissolve Company Charitable Foundation and contribute its remaining assets to Buyer Charitable Foundation prior to the Closing or (ii) Buyer and Company agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to, immediately after the Effective Time, consummate the merger of Company Charitable Foundation with and into Buyer Charitable Foundation, with Buyer Charitable Foundation the surviving entity.
Section 5.24 Certain Transactional Expenses. Company has provided on Company Disclosure Schedule 5.23 a good faith estimate of costs and fees that Company and its Subsidiaries expect to pay to retained representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, “Company Expenses”). Upon the reasonable request of Buyer, not more frequently than quarterly, Company shall promptly provide an updated budget of Company Expenses to Buyer. Company shall promptly notify Buyer if or when it determines that it expects to exceed its budget.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
Section 6.01 Conditions to Obligations of the Parties to Effect the Merger. Except for the conditions set forth in Section 6.01(e) which may not be waived in any circumstance, the respective obligations of Buyer and Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the fulfillment or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, written waiver by the parties prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:
(a) Shareholder Vote. This Agreement and the transactions it contemplates shall have received the Requisite Company Shareholder Approval at the Company Meeting.
(b) Regulatory Approvals. All Regulatory Approvals and all other consents and approvals of a Governmental Authority required to consummate the Merger shall have been obtained
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and shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods shall have expired or been terminated.
(c) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No judgment, order, injunction, or decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect. No statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction, or decree shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated, or enforced by any Governmental Authority that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) Effective Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC or any other Governmental Authority.
(e) Tax Opinions Relating to the Merger. Buyer and Company, respectively, shall have received opinions from Xxx Xxxxxx LLP and Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP, respectively, each dated as of the Closing Date, both in substance and form reasonably satisfactory to Company and Buyer, to the effect that, on the basis of the facts, representations, and assumptions set forth in such opinions, the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering their opinions, each of Xxx Xxxxxx LLP and Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP may require and rely upon representations contained in certificates of officers of each of Company and Buyer.
(f) Nasdaq Listing. The shares of Buyer Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Merger shall have been listed on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
Section 6.02 Conditions to Obligations of Company. The obligations of Company to consummate the Merger also are subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by Company prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, in any case subject to the standard set forth in Section 4.01. Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Buyer by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Buyer to that effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Buyer. Buyer shall have performed and complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects at or prior to the Closing Date, and Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Buyer by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Buyer to that effect.
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(c) Other Actions. Buyer shall have furnished Company with such certificates of their respective officers or others and such other documents to evidence fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as Company may reasonably request.
Section 6.03 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer. The obligations of Buyer to consummate the Merger are subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by Buyer prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:
(a) Company Common Stock. Notwithstanding the standard set forth in Section 3.01, the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding as of the Closing Date of this Agreement shall not exceed 198,845.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, in any case subject to the standard set forth in Section 3.01. Buyer shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Company by the Chief Executive Officer of Company to that effect.
(c) Performance of Obligations of Company. Company shall have performed and complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects at or prior to the Closing Date, and Buyer shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Company by the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Company to that effect.
(d) No Burdensome Regulatory Condition. No Burdensome Regulatory Condition shall exist with respect to Regulatory Approval required for consummation of the Merger and Bank Merger.
(e) Dissenters’ Shares. As of the Effective Time, the holders of no more than ten percent (10%) of Company Common Stock shall have taken the actions required by Part 13 of Chapter 156D of the MBCA to qualify their Company Common Stock as Dissenters’ Shares.
(f) Other Actions. Company shall have furnished Buyer with such certificates of its officers or others and such other documents to evidence fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01 and 6.03 as Buyer may reasonably request.
Section 6.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions. Neither Buyer nor Company may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.01, 6.02, or 6.03, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Merger, as required by and subject to Section 5.03.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
TERMINATION
Section 7.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger and the Bank Merger may be abandoned:
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(a) Mutual Consent. At any time prior to the Effective Time, by the mutual consent of Buyer and Company if the board of directors of Buyer and the board of directors of Company each so determines by a majority vote of its entire board of directors.
(b) No Regulatory Approval. By either Buyer or Company, if its board of directors so determines by a majority vote of the members of its entire board of directors, in the event the approval of any Governmental Authority required for consummation of the Merger or Bank Merger shall have been denied by final, nonappealable action by such Governmental Authority or an application seeking approval of the Merger or Bank Merger shall have been permanently withdrawn at the request of a Governmental Authority.
(c) No Shareholder Approval. By either Buyer or Company (provided in the case of Company that it shall not be in material breach of any of its obligations under Section 5.04), if the Requisite Company Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a duly held meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the shareholders meeting.
(d) Breach of Representations and Warranties. By either Buyer or Company (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or other agreement in this Agreement in a manner that would entitle the other party not to consummate the Merger or Bank Merger) if there shall have been a breach of any of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement by the other party (subject to the standard set forth in Sections 3.01 and 4.01, respectively) which is not cured prior to thirty (30) days following written notice to the party committing the breach from the other party, or if the breach, by its nature, cannot be cured prior to the Closing.
(e) Breach of Covenants. By either Buyer or Company (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or other agreement contained in this Agreement in a manner that would entitle the other party not to consummate the Merger or Bank Merger) if there shall have been a material breach of any of the covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement on the part of the other party which shall not have been cured prior to thirty (30) days following written notice to the party committing the breach from the other party, or if the breach, by its nature, cannot be cured prior to the Closing.
(f) Delay. By either Buyer or Company if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before March 31, 2019, unless the failure of the Closing to occur by that date shall be due to a material breach of this Agreement by the party seeking to terminate this Agreement.
(g) Superior Proposal. By Company if at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the Requisite Company Shareholder Approval, Company receives an Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that Company shall not terminate this Agreement pursuant to the foregoing clause unless:
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(i) Company shall have complied with Section 5.09 of this Agreement, including the conclusion by the board of directors of Company in good faith that the Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal;
(ii) the board of directors of Company concurrently approves, and Company concurrently enters into, a definitive agreement with respect to the Superior Proposal; and
(iii) Company concurrently pays the Termination Fee payable pursuant to Section 7.02.
(h) Failure to Recommend; Third-Party Acquisition Transaction; Etc. At any time prior to the Company Meeting, by Buyer if (i) Company shall have materially breached its obligations under Section 5.09, (ii) the board of directors of Company shall have failed to make its recommendation referred to in Section 5.04 or made a Change in Recommendation, whether or not permitted by Section 5.09, (iii) the board of directors of Company shall have recommended, proposed, or publicly announced its intention to recommend or propose, to engage in an Acquisition Transaction with any Person other than Buyer or a Subsidiary or Affiliate of Buyer, whether or not permitted by Section 5.09, (iv) a tender or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is commenced and the board of directors of Company shall have failed to publicly recommend against such tender or exchange offer within five (5) Business Days of being requested to do so by Buyer, or (v) Company shall have materially breached its obligations under Section 5.04 by failing to call, give notice of, convene, and hold the Company Meeting in accordance with Section 5.04.
(i) Price of the Buyer Common Stock. By Company, if the board of directors of Company so determines by a majority vote of its members, in the event that, as of the Determination Date, both of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) the Average Determination Price shall be less than 80% of the Buyer Starting Price; and
(ii) (A) the number obtained by dividing the Average Determination Price by the Buyer Starting Price (such number, the “Buyer Ratio”) is less than (B) the number obtained by dividing the Final Index Price by the Initial Index Price and subtracting 0.20 from such quotient (such number, the “Index Ratio”).
If Company elects to exercise its termination right pursuant to this Section 7.01(i), it shall give written notice to Buyer not later than the end of the third Business Day next following the Determination Date. During the five (5) Business Day period commencing with its receipt of such notice, Buyer may, at its option, increase the Exchange Ratio to a number equal to the lesser of (x) a quotient (rounded to the nearest one-ten-thousandth), the numerator of which is equal to the product of the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) and the Index Ratio, and the denominator of which is equal to the Buyer Ratio, or (y) a quotient (rounded to the nearest one-ten-thousandth), the numerator of which is the product of the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect), the Buyer Starting Price and 0.80, and the denominator of which is the Average Determination Price. If Buyer makes an election
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contemplated by the preceding sentence within such five (5) Business Day period, it shall give prompt written notice to Company of such election and the revised Exchange Ratio and no termination shall have occurred pursuant to this Section 7.01(i) and this Agreement shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms (except that the Exchange Ratio shall be modified), and any references in this Agreement to “Exchange Ratio” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the Exchange Ratio as adjusted pursuant to this Section 7.01(i).
If the outstanding shares of Buyer Common Stock or any company belonging to the Index shall be changed into a different number of shares by reason of any stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares, or similar transaction between the date of the Agreement and the Determination Date, the prices for the common stock of such company will be appropriately adjusted.
For purposes of this Section 7.01(i), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Buyer Starting Price” shall mean the average, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, of the VWAP of the Buyer Common Stock for the ten trading day period ending on the day immediately preceding the date of this Agreement.
“Average Determination Price” of the Buyer Common Stock shall mean the average, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, of the VWAP of the Buyer Common Stock for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading date immediately preceding the Determination Date.
“Determination Date” means the date on which the last required approval of a Governmental Entity is obtained with respect to the Merger, without regard to any requisite waiting period.
“Final Index Price” means the average, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, of the closing prices of the Index for the same trading days used in calculating the Average Determination Price.
“Index” means the Nasdaq Bank Stock Index or, if such Index is not available, such substitute or similar index as substantially replicates the Nasdaq Bank Stock Index.
“Initial Index Price” means the average, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, of the closing prices of the Index for the same trading days used in calculating the Buyer Starting Price.
Section 7.02 Termination Fee; Reimbursement.
(a) In recognition of the efforts, expenses and other opportunities foregone by Buyer while structuring and pursuing the Merger, Company shall pay to Buyer by wire transfer of immediately available funds a termination fee equal to $1,600,000 (the “Termination Fee”)
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(i) in the event Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(g), in which case Company shall pay the Termination Fee at or prior to the time of such termination, and
(ii) in the event Buyer terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(h), in which case Company shall pay the Termination Fee as promptly as practicable (but in any event within three (3) Business Days).
(b) In the event that (A) (i) an Acquisition Proposal, whether or not conditional, shall have been publicly announced after the date of this Agreement (or any Person shall have, after the date of this Agreement, publicly announced an intention, whether or not conditional, to make an Acquisition Proposal) or (ii) the board of directors of Company has made a Change in Recommendation (or publicly proposed to make a Change in Recommendation), prior to or on the date of Company Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement at which the vote on the Merger is held), (B) this Agreement is thereafter terminated by either Buyer or Company pursuant to Section 7.01(c) or Section 7.01(f) or by Buyer pursuant to Section 7.01(d) or Section 7.01(e), and (C) within twelve (12) months following the date of such termination, Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to any Acquisition Transaction, the board of directors of Company recommends any Acquisition Transaction or Company consummates any Acquisition Transaction (whether or not such Acquisition Transaction resulted from or was related to the Acquisition Proposal referred to in the foregoing clause (A)(i), if applicable), then Company shall pay Buyer the Termination Fee, less the Buyer Reimbursement Amount (as defined in this Agreement) (but only to the extent that Company has actually paid to Buyer the Buyer Reimbursement Amount), which amount shall be payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds on or prior to the earlier of Company entering into a definitive agreement for or consummating such Acquisition Transaction, provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (C), all references in the definition of “Acquisition Transaction” to “20% or more” shall instead refer to “50% or more”.
(c) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Buyer under Section 7.01(d), Section 7.01(e) or Section 7.01(f) and a circumstance referred to in clause (A)(i) or (A)(ii) of Section 7.02(b) shall have occurred prior to such termination but the Termination Fee has not been paid and is not payable because the circumstances referred to in clause (C) of Section 7.02(b) shall not have occurred, then Company shall pay at Buyer’s direction as promptly as possible (but in any event within three (3) Business Days) following receipt of an invoice therefor up to $550,000 of Buyer’s and its Subsidiaries reasonably documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) actually incurred by Buyer and its Subsidiaries prior to the termination of this Agreement in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery, or performance of this Agreement by Buyer and Buyer Bank (the “Buyer Reimbursement Amount”).
(d) Company and Buyer each agree that the agreements contained in this Section 7.02 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, Buyer would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if Company fails promptly to pay any amounts due under this Section 7.02 and, in order to obtain such payment, Buyer commences a suit that results in a judgment against Company for such amounts, Company shall pay interest on such amounts from the date payment of such amounts were due to the date of actual payment at the rate of interest equal to the sum of (x) the rate of interest published from time to time in The Wall
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Street Journal, Eastern Edition (or any successor publication), designated therein as the prime rate on the date such payment was due, plus 200 basis points, together with the costs and expenses of Buyer (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) in connection with the suit.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if Company pays or causes to be paid to Buyer or to Buyer Bank the Termination Fee, neither Company nor Company Bank (or any successor in interest of Company or Company Bank) will have any further obligations or liabilities to Buyer or Buyer Bank with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except in the cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation. However, nothing in this Agreement shall in any way limit the right of Company to seek damages, specific performance, or any remedies at law or in equity, in the event of a breach of this Agreement by Buyer.
Section 7.03 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Article VII, no party to this Agreement shall have any liability or further obligation to any other party other than as set forth in Section 7.02, provided, however, that except as set forth in Section 7.02(e), termination will not relieve a breaching party from liability for any willful and material breach of any covenant, agreement, representation, or warranty of this Agreement giving rise to such termination and provided that in no event will a party be liable for any punitive damages. For purposes of this Agreement, “willful and material breach” shall mean a material breach that is a consequence of an act undertaken by the breaching party with the knowledge (actual or constructive) that the taking of such act would, or would be reasonably expected to, cause a breach of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
Section 8.01 Definitions. The following terms are used in this Agreement with the meanings set forth below:
“Acquisition Proposal” means any proposal or offer after the date of this Agreement with respect to any Acquisition Transaction or any public announcement by any Person (which shall include any regulatory application or notice) of a proposal, plan, or intention with respect to any Acquisition Transaction.
“Acquisition Transaction” means any of the following (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) involving Company: (a) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, or other similar transaction; (b) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge (excluding any FHLB or FRB pledges), transfer or other disposition of assets and/or liabilities that constitute 20% or more of the assets of Company in a single transaction or series of transactions; or (c) any tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of its capital stock or the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with
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its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” means this Agreement and Plan of Merger (including Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules), as amended or modified in accordance with Section 9.02.
“Articles of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).
“Average Determination Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Bank Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Bank Secrecy Act” means the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended.
“BHC Act” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
“BOLI” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.32(b).
“Burdensome Conditions” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except a legal holiday recognized as such by the U.S. government or any day on which banking institutions in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts are authorized or obligated to close.
“Buyer” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Buyer Bank” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Buyer Benefit Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(a).
“Buyer Charitable Foundation” means the Rockland Trust Company Charitable Foundation.
“Buyer Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of Buyer.
“Buyer Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(a).
“Buyer Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i)(ii).
“Buyer Regulatory Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09.
“Buyer Reimbursement Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(c).
“Buyer Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.06(a).
“Buyer Starting Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Cash Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
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“Cash Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Cash Election Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Certificate” means any certificate or book entry statement which immediately prior to the Effective Time represents shares of Company Common Stock.
“Change in Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04.
“Closing” and “Closing Date” have the meanings set forth in Section 1.04(b).
“Closing Conditions” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(b).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Community Reinvestment Act” or “CRA” means the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Company Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.
“Company Bank” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Company Benefit Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a).
“Company Charitable Foundation” means The Milford National Bank and Trust Company Charitable Foundation, Inc.
“Company Common Stock” means the common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of Company.
“Company Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
“Company Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a).
“Company Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.23.
“Company Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property used in or held for use in the conduct of the business of Company and its Subsidiaries.
“Company Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(b).
“Company Loan Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(a).
“Company Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04.
“Company Pension Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(b).
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“Company Regulatory Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14.
“Company Third Party Consents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(c).
“Confidential Matters” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(a).
“D&O Insurance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(c).
“Derivative Transaction” means any swap transactions, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transactions, futures transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, or collar transactions relating to one or more currencies, commodities, bonds, equity securities, loans, interest rates, catastrophe events, weather-related events, credit-related events, or conditions or any indexes, or any other similar transactions (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or combination of any of these transactions, including collateralized mortgage obligations or other similar instruments or any debt or equity instruments evidencing or embedding any such types of transactions, and any related credit support, collateral or other similar arrangements related to them.
“Determination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Dissenters’ Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d).
“Xxxx-Xxxxx Act” means the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).
“Election Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(b).
“Election Form” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Environmental Law” means any federal, state or local Law, regulation, order, decree, permit, authorization, opinion, or agency requirement relating to: (a) pollution, the protection or restoration of the indoor or outdoor environment, human health, or natural resources, (b) the handling, use, presence, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance, or (c) any injury or threat of injury to persons or property in connection with any Hazardous Substance. The term Environmental Law includes, but is not limited to, the following statutes, as amended, any successor law, and any implementing regulations, and any state or local statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations and the like addressing similar issues: (a) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.; the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1101, et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act; 42 U.S.C. § 300f, et seq.; (b) common law that may impose liability (including without limitation strict liability) or obligations for injuries or damages due to the presence of or exposure to any Hazardous Substance.
“Equal Credit Opportunity Act” means the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as amended.
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“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(c).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Agent” means such exchange agent as may be designated by Buyer and reasonably acceptable to Company to act as agent for purposes of conducting the exchange procedures described in Section 2.05(a) (which shall be Buyer’s transfer agent).
“Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).
“Exchange Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
“Executive Officer” means each officer of (i) Buyer who files reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, and (ii) those officers of Company set forth on Appendix A.
“Fair Credit Reporting Act” means the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended
“Fair Housing Act” means the Fair Housing Act, as amended.
“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“Federal Deposit Insurance Act” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Act of 1950, as amended.
“Federal Reserve Act” means the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, as amended.
“FHLB” means the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.
“Final Index Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“FRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state or local court, regulator, administrative agency, or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality.
“Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act of 1999” means the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, as amended, which is commonly referred to as the “Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act.”
“Hazardous Substance” means any and all substances (whether solid, liquid or gas) defined, listed, or otherwise regulated as pollutants, hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, flammable or explosive materials, radioactive materials, or words of similar meaning or regulatory effect under any present or future Environmental
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Law or that may have a negative impact on human health or the environment, including but not limited to petroleum and petroleum products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, radon, radioactive materials, flammables and explosives, mold, mycotoxins and airborne pathogens (naturally occurring or otherwise).
“Home Mortgage Disclosure Act” means Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, as amended.
“Indemnified Parties” and “Indemnifying Party” have the meanings set forth in Section 5.10(a).
“Index” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Index Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i)(ii).
“Initial Index Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Information Systems Conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15.
“Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.32(a).
“Intellectual Property” means (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, Internet domain names, designs, logos, slogans, and general intangibles of like nature, together with all goodwill, registrations and applications related to them; (b) patents and industrial designs (including any continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, renewals, reissues, and applications for any of them); (c) copyrights (including any registrations and applications for any of them); (d) Software; and (e) technology, trade secrets and other confidential information, know-how, proprietary processes, formulae, algorithms, models, and methodologies.
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge” of any Person (including references to a Person being aware of a particular matter) as used with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries means those facts that are actually known, after reasonable inquiry, by the Executive Officers of Company and the directors of Company and Company Bank, and as used with respect to Buyer and its Subsidiaries means those facts that are actually known, after reasonable inquiry, by the Executive Officers of Buyer and the directors of Buyer. Without limiting the scope of the immediately preceding sentence, the term “Knowledge” includes any fact, matter, or circumstance set forth in any written notice received by Company or Buyer, respectively, from any Governmental Authority.
“Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, or regulation of any Governmental Authority that is applicable to the referenced Person.
“Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.30(b).
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“Liens” means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, restriction, claim, lien or encumbrance, conditional and installment sale agreement, charge or other claim of third parties of any kind.
“Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“Mailing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Material Adverse Effect” means with respect to any Person, any effect, circumstance, occurrence or change that is material and adverse to the financial position, results of operations, or business of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or which would materially impair the ability of such Person to perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially impairs the ability of such Person to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of: (i) changes in banking and similar Laws of general applicability or interpretations of banking and similar Laws of general applicability by Governmental Authorities; (ii) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to banks or bank holding companies generally; (iii) any modifications or changes to Company valuation policies and practices in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or restructuring charges taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case in accordance with GAAP and with Buyer’s prior written consent; (iv) changes after the date of this Agreement in general economic or capital market conditions affecting financial institutions or their market prices generally and not disproportionately affecting Company or Buyer, including, but not limited to, changes in levels of interest rates generally; (v) the effects of compliance with this Agreement on the operating performance, business, or financial condition of Company or Buyer, including the expenses incurred by Company or Buyer in negotiating, documenting, effecting, and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (vi) the effects of any action or omission taken by Company with the prior consent of Buyer, and vice versa, or as otherwise expressly permitted or contemplated by this Agreement; (vii) the impact of the Agreement and the transactions it contemplates on relationships with customers or employees (including the loss of personnel subsequent to the date of this Agreement); (viii) any fact, change, event, development, effect or circumstance resulting from the public disclosure of this Agreement or the transactions it contemplates; (ix) transaction expenses incurred by Company of a type and in an amount customary for transactions of this nature; (x) changes in national or international political or social conditions including the engagement by the United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon or within the United States; and (xi) natural disaster or other force majeure event.
“Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).
“Maximum D&O Tail Premium” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(c).
“MBCA” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01.
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Merger Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
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“Nasdaq” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08(a).
“National Labor Relations Act” means the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, as amended.
“New Certificates” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).
“Non-Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Non-Election Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Notice Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(d).
“OCC” means the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
“OREO” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended.
“Person” means any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, business trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, or other organization or firm of any kind or nature.
“Phase I Assessment” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(w).
“Phase II Assessment” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(a).
“Plan of Bank Merger” means the agreement and plan of merger to be entered into between Buyer Bank and Company Bank providing for the merger of Company Bank with and into Buyer Bank, with Buyer Bank the surviving entity.
“Proxy Statement-Prospectus” means the proxy statement and prospectus and other proxy solicitation materials constituting a part of them, together with any amendments and supplements, to be delivered to holders of Company Common Stock in connection with the solicitation of their approval of this Agreement.
“Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.12.
“Regulatory Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).
“Release” means, with respect to any Hazardous Substance, any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the indoor or outdoor environment.
“Requisite Company Shareholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
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“Rights” means, with respect to any Person, warrants, options, rights, convertible securities, and other arrangements or commitments which obligate the Person to issue or dispose of any of its capital stock or other ownership interests.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act” means the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Shareholders Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Shortfall Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(c)(ii).
“Software” means computer programs, whether in source code or object code form (including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies), databases, and compilations (including any and all data and collections of data), and all documentation (including user manuals and training materials) related to them.
“Stock Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
“Stock Conversion Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Stock Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Stock Election Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Stock Election Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any party, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the capital stock or other ownership interest having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the party. For purposes of this Agreement any reference to a Company Subsidiary means, unless the context otherwise requires, any current or former Subsidiary of Company.
“Superior Proposal” means any bona fide written Acquisition Proposal with respect to more than 50% of the combined voting power of the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding or all or substantially all of the assets of Company that is (a) on terms which the board of directors of Company determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor, to be more favorable from a financial point of view to Company’s shareholders than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) that constitutes a transaction that, in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of Company, is reasonably likely to be consummated on the terms set forth, taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory, and other aspects of the proposal, and (c) for which financing, to the extent required, is then committed pursuant to a written commitment letter.
“Surviving Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01.
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“Tax” and “Taxes” mean all federal, state, local or foreign income, gross income, gains, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital, production, transfer, franchise, windfall profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, disability, employer health, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property, custom duties, unemployment or other tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever imposed by a Taxing Authority, together with any interest, additions or penalties, whether disputed or not.
“Taxing Authority” means any Governmental Authority responsible for the imposition, assessment or collection of any Tax.
“Tax Returns” means any return, declaration or other report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes required to be filed with a Taxing Authority, including any schedules or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
“Termination Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a).
“The date hereof” or “the date of this Agreement” shall mean May 29, 2018.
“Truth in Lending Act” means the Truth in Lending Act of 1968, as amended.
“Treasury” means the United States Department of Treasury.
“USA PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, and its implementing regulations.
“Voting Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“VWAP” means volume-weighted average trading price of a share of (i) Buyer Common Stock on Nasdaq (or if Buyer Common Stock is not then listed on Nasdaq, the principal securities market on which Buyer Common Stock is then listed or quoted), or (ii) the Index, in each case as reported by Bloomberg L.P.
“WARN Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(f).
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01 Survival. No representations, warranties, agreements, and covenants contained in this Agreement (other than agreements or covenants that by their express terms are to be performed after the Effective Time) shall survive the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement if this Agreement is terminated prior to the Effective Time (other than this Article IX, which shall survive any such termination). Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, no representations, warranties, agreements, and covenants contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be terminated or extinguished so as to deprive a party or any of its Affiliates of any defense at law or in equity which otherwise would be available against the claims of any Person, including without limitation any shareholder or former shareholder.
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Section 9.02 Waiver; Amendment. Prior to the Effective Time, except for the condition set forth in Section 6.01(e) and the introductory language of Section 6.01 relating to Section 6.01(e), which may not be waived in any circumstance, any provision of this Agreement may be (a) waived by the party benefited by the provision or (b) amended or modified at any time, by an agreement in writing among the parties executed in the same manner as this Agreement, except that after the Company Meeting no amendment shall be made which by Law requires further approval by the shareholders of Buyer or Company without obtaining that approval.
Section 9.03 Governing Law; Waiver.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard for the conflicts of law principles thereof.
(b) Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the transactions it contemplates. Each party certifies and acknowledges that (i) no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that any other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver, (ii) each party understands and has considered the implications of this waiver, (iii) each party makes this waiver voluntarily, and (iv) each party has been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 9.03.
Section 9.04 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5.05(f) and 7.02, each party will bear all expenses incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the transactions it contemplates, including fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, accountants and counsel, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall limit either party’s rights to recover any liabilities or damages arising out of the other party’s willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.
Section 9.05 Notices. All notices, requests, and other communications to a party shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if personally delivered, mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), by properly addressed electronic mail delivery, or sent by reputable courier service to the party at its address set forth below or such other address as such party may specify by notice. All notices shall be deemed effective upon delivery.
If to Buyer:
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Counsel
E-mail: xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
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With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxx Xxxxxx LLP
0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Rave, Esq.
E-mail: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
If to Company:
MNB Bancorp
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
E-mail: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
Section 9.06 Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, together with the Exhibits, the Disclosure Schedules, and the confidentiality agreements between Company and Buyer, dated April 19, 2018, represents the entire understanding of the parties with reference to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements previously made, except that the confidentiality agreements between the parties shall remain in full force and effect. Except for the Indemnified Parties’ rights under Section 5.10, which are expressly intended to be for the irrevocable benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and representatives, Buyer and Company agree that their respective representations, warranties, and covenants are solely for the benefit of the other party, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person (including any person or Employees who might be affected by Section 5.11), other than the parties, any rights or remedies, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties and are for the sole benefit of the parties. Any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties in accordance with Section 9.02 without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the Knowledge of any of the parties. Consequently, Persons other than the parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.
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Section 9.07 Severability. In the event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement and the parties shall use their reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal, and enforceable provision which, insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intentions of this Agreement.
Section 9.08 Enforcement of the Agreement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any federal or state court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, and that the party seeking an injunction shall not be required to post any bond. Each party to this Agreement (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents to and submits itself to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Business Litigation Session of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or in the event, but only in the event, that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (collectively, the “Massachusetts Courts”) in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined only in any such Massachusetts Courts, and (c) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such Massachusetts Courts. Each party to this Agreement waives any defense or inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought in any such Massachusetts Courts and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party in any such Massachusetts Courts with respect to such action or proceeding. To the full extent permitted by applicable law, any party may make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for the giving of notices in Section 9.05. Nothing in this Section 9.08, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law. EACH OF BUYER, BUYER BANK AND COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
Section 9.09 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to sections, exhibits, or schedules, the reference shall be to a section of, or exhibit or schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise expressly indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes,” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
Section 9.10 Assignment. No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other
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party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 9.11 Counterparts. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement, and any amendments or waivers hereto or thereto, may be executed by means of a facsimile machine or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile machine or e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file shall have the same effect as originals. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file to deliver a signature to this Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or waivers hereto or thereto or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file as a defense to the formation of a contract and each party hereto forever waives any such defense.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement in counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year on page one.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
MNB BANCORP
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
THE MILFORD NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]