EXHIBIT 99(b)
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as
of May 6, 1997, by and between VIRGINIA FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Virginia
corporation ("Issuer"), and SOUTHERN NATIONAL CORPORATION, a North Carolina
corporation ("Grantee").
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into that certain Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization, dated this date (the "Merger Agreement"), providing for,
among other things, the merger of Issuer with and into BB&T Financial
Corporation of Virginia ("BB&T Financial-Virginia"), a wholly owned Subsidiary
of Grantee, with BB&T Financial-Virginia as the surviving entity; and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's execution of the Merger
Agreement, Grantee has required that Issuer agree, and Issuer has agreed, to
grant Grantee the Option (as defined below);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger
Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Issuer and Grantee agree as
follows:
1. DEFINED TERMS. Capitalized terms which are used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
2. GRANT OF OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to
purchase up to 1,155,127 shares, as adjusted as set forth herein (the "Option
Shares," which shall include the Option Shares before and after any transfer of
such Option Shares), of common stock of Issuer, $1.00 par value per share
("Issuer Common Stock"), at a purchase price per Option Share (subject to
adjustment as set forth herein, the "Purchase Price") equal to $17.50.
3. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) Provided that (i) Grantee or Holder (as hereinafter defined), as
applicable, shall not be in material breach of its agreements or covenants
contained in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, and (ii) no preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order against the delivery of shares covered by
the Option issued by any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
shall be in effect, Holder may exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any
time and from time to time following the occurrence of a Purchase Event;
provided that the Option shall terminate and be of no further force and effect
upon the earliest to occur of (A) the Effective Time, (B) subject to clause (E)
below, termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof
prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a Preliminary Purchase Event
(other than a termination of the Merger Agreement by Grantee pursuant to Section
7.1(b) thereof (a "Default Termination")), (C) 12 months after a Default
Termination, (D) 12 months after any termination of the Merger Agreement (other
than a Default Termination) following the occurrence of a Purchase Event or a
Preliminary Purchase Event, and (E) subject to clause (D) above, six months
after termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(e) thereof
(but only in the event the shareholders of Issuer do not approve the Agreement
and Plan of Merger); provided further, that any purchase of shares upon exercise
of the Option shall be subject to compliance with applicable law, including,
without limitation, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC
Act"). The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the Option from
time to time, including initially Grantee.
(b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means any of the following
events subsequent to the date of this Agreement:
(i) without Grantee's prior written consent, Issuer shall have
authorized, recommended, publicly proposed or publicly announced an
intention to authorize, recommend or propose, or entered into an agreement
with any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) to effect
an Acquisition
Transaction (as defined below). As used herein, the term Subsidiary when used
with respect to Issuer shall have the meaning given that term in the Merger
Agreement. As used herein, the term "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (A) a
merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than transactions solely between Issuer's Subsidiaries and
other subsidiaries of Issuer), (B) the disposition, by sale, lease, exchange or
otherwise, of assets of Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries representing in either
case 15% or more of the consolidated assets of Issuer and its Subsidiaries
(other than a sale of loan receivables in a financing transaction in the normal
course of business consistent with past practices), or (C) the issuance, sale or
other disposition of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange
or any similar transaction) securities representing 15% or more of the voting
power of Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) any person (other than Grantee, any Subsidiary of Grantee
or any member of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group (as defined below)) shall have acquired
beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act) of or the right to acquire beneficial ownership of,
or any "group" (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act), other than
a group of which Grantee or any of the Subsidiaries of Grantee is a member,
shall have been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of, 15% or more of the then-outstanding shares of
Issuer Common Stock; or
(iii) any member of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group (as defined below) shall
have acquired beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of or the right to acquire beneficial
ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined under the Exchange
Act) of which any member of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group is a member, other than a
group of which Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee is a member, shall have
been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial
ownership of, 30% or more of the then-outstanding shares of Issuer Common
Stock. For the purpose of this Agreement, the "▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group" means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇., J. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Associates
Limited Partnership and any associate or affiliate of such person or
entity. As used in this Agreement, the terms "associate" and "affiliate"
shall have the meanings specified in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the
Exchange Act.
(c) As used herein, a "Preliminary Purchase Event" means any of the
following events:
(i) any person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of
Grantee) shall have commenced (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under
the Exchange Act), or shall have filed a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to, a tender offer or exchange offer to
purchase any shares of Issuer Common Stock such that, upon consummation of
such offer, such person would own or control 15% or more of the then-
outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock (such an offer being referred to
herein as a "Tender Offer" or an "Exchange Offer," respectively); or
(ii) the holders of Issuer Common Stock shall not have approved
the Merger Agreement at the meeting of such shareholders held for the
purpose of voting on the Merger Agreement, such meeting shall not have been
held or shall have been canceled prior to termination of the Merger
Agreement, or Issuer's Board of Directors shall have withdrawn or modified
in a manner adverse to Grantee the recommendation of Issuer's Board of
Directors with respect to the Merger Agreement, in each case after any
person (other than Grantee or any Subsidiary of Grantee) shall have (A)
made, or disclosed an intention to make, a proposal to engage in an
Acquisition Transaction, (B) commenced a Tender Offer or filed a
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an Exchange
Offer, or (C) filed an application (or given a notice), whether in draft or
final form, under any federal or state statute or regulation (including an
application or notice filed under the BHC Act, the Bank Merger Act, the
Home Owner's Loan Act or the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978) seeking
the Consent to an Acquisition Transaction from any federal or state
governmental or regulatory authority or agency.
As used in this Agreement, "person" shall have the meaning specified in Sections
3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
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(d) In the event Holder wishes to exercise the Option, it shall send
to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein referred to as the
"Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of Option Shares it intends to
purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier than
three business days nor later than 15 business days from the Notice Date for the
closing (the "Closing") of such purchase (the "Closing Date"). If prior Consent
of any governmental or regulatory agency or authority is required in connection
with such purchase, Issuer shall cooperate with Holder in the filing of the
required notice or application for such Consent and the obtaining of such
Consent, and the Closing shall occur not earlier than three business days nor
later than 15 business days following receipt of such Consents (and expiration
of any mandatory waiting periods).
4. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES.
(a) On each Closing Date, Holder shall (i) pay to Issuer, in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by
Issuer, an amount equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Option
Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date, and (ii) present and surrender this
Agreement to the Issuer at the address of the Issuer specified in Section 11(f)
hereof.
(b) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately
available funds and surrender of this Agreement as provided in Section 4(a), (i)
Issuer shall deliver to Holder (A) a certificate or certificates representing
the Option Shares to be purchased at such Closing, which Option Shares shall be
free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances of any kind
whatsoever and subject to no pre-emptive rights, and (B) if the Option is
exercised in part only, an executed new agreement with the same terms as this
Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the balance of the shares of Issuer
Common Stock purchasable hereunder, and (ii) Holder shall deliver to Issuer a
letter agreeing that Holder shall not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such
Option Shares in violation of applicable federal and state law or of the
provisions of this Agreement.
(c) In addition to any other legend that is required by applicable
law, certificates for the Option Shares delivered at each Closing shall be
endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 6, 1997.
A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT
CHARGE UPON RECEIPT BY THE ISSUER OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR.
It is understood and agreed that the above legend shall be removed by delivery
of substitute certificate(s) without such legend if Holder shall have delivered
to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and its counsel, to the
effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the Securities Act.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ISSUER. Issuer hereby represents
and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals referred to herein, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Issuer.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other action to
authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue, and, at all times from the date
hereof until the obligation to deliver Issuer Common Stock upon the exercise of
the Option terminates, will have reserved for issuance, upon exercise of the
Option, the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock necessary for Holder to
exercise the Option, and Issuer will take all necessary corporate action to
authorize and reserve for issuance all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities which may be issued pursuant to Section 7 upon exercise of
the Option. The shares of Issuer Common Stock to be issued upon due
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exercise of the Option, including all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities which may be issuable pursuant to Section 7, upon issuance
pursuant hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable, and shall be delivered free and clear of all liens, claims,
charges, and encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any
preemptive rights of any shareholder of Issuer.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GRANTEE. Grantee hereby represents
and warrants to Issuer that:
(a) Grantee has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals or consents referred to
herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of Grantee. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
(b) This Option is not being, and any Option Shares or other
securities acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be, acquired
with a view to the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or
otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from
registration under the Securities Laws.
7. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, ETC.
(a) In the event of any change in Issuer Common Stock by reason of a
stock dividend, stock split, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange
of shares or similar transaction, the type and number of shares or securities
subject to the Option and the Purchase Price therefor shall be adjusted
appropriately, and proper provision shall be made in the agreements governing
such transaction so that Holder shall receive, upon exercise of the Option, the
number and class of shares or other securities or property that Holder would
have received in respect of Issuer Common Stock if the Option had been exercised
immediately prior to such event, or the record date therefor, as applicable. If
any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock are issued after the date of this
Agreement (other than pursuant to an event described in the first sentence of
this Section 7(a)), the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to the
Option shall be adjusted so that, after such issuance, it, together with any
shares of Issuer Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, equals 19.9% of
the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock then issued and outstanding, without
giving effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant to the Option.
(b) In the event that Issuer shall enter into an agreement: (i) to
consolidate with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries, and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger; (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee or one of
its Subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then outstanding
shares of Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of Issuer or any other person or cash or any other property or
the outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock immediately prior to such merger
shall after such merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares and
share equivalents of the merged company; (iii) to permit any person, other than
Grantee or one of the Subsidiaries, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of
Issuer Common Stock pursuant to a statutory share exchange; or (iv) to sell or
otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any person, other
than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the
agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provisions so that the
Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged for, an option
(the "Substitute Option"), at the election of Grantee, of either (x) the
Acquiring Corporation (as defined below), (y) any person that controls the
Acquiring Corporation, or (z) in the case of a merger described in clause (ii),
the Issuer (in each case, such person being referred to as the "Substitute
Option Issuer").
(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option,
provided that, if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons,
be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no
event less advantageous to Grantee. The Substitute Option Issuer shall also
enter into an agreement with the then-holder or holders of the Substitute Option
in substantially the same form as this Agreement, which shall be applicable to
the Substitute Option.
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(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of
shares of the Substitute Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as is equal to
the Assigned Value (as hereinafter defined) multiplied by the number of shares
of the Issuer Common Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable,
divided by the Average Price (as hereinafter defined). The exercise price of
the Substitute Option per share of the Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute
Purchase Price") shall then be equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by a
fraction in which the numerator is the number of shares of the Issuer Common
Stock for which the Option was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is
the number of shares for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean the continuing or
surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other
than Issuer), Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the continuing or
surviving person, the corporation that shall acquire all of the outstanding
shares of Issuer Common Stock pursuant to a statutory share exchange, the
transferee of all or any substantial part of the Issuer's assets (or the
assets of its Subsidiaries).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock
issued by the Substitute Option Issuer upon exercise of the Substitute
Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (x) the price
per share of the Issuer Common Stock at which a Tender Offer or Exchange
Offer therefor has been made by any person (other than Grantee), (y) the
price per share of the Issuer Common Stock to be paid by any person (other
than the Grantee) pursuant to an agreement with Issuer, and (z) the highest
closing sales price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq
Stock Market within the six-month period immediately preceding the
agreement; provided, that in the event of a sale of less than all of
Issuer's assets, the Assigned Value shall be the sum of the price paid in
such sale for such assets and the current market value of the remaining
assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by Grantee (or by a majority in interest of the
Grantees if there shall be more than one Grantee (a "Grantee Majority")),
divided by the number of shares of the Issuer Common Stock outstanding at
the time of such sale. In the event that an exchange offer is made for the
Issuer Common Stock or an agreement is entered into for a merger or
consolidation involving consideration other than cash, the value of the
securities or other property issuable or deliverable in exchange for the
Issuer Common Stock shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm mutually selected by Grantee and Issuer (or if
applicable, Acquiring Corporation). (If there shall be more than one
Grantee, any such selection shall be made by a Grantee Majority.)
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of a
share of the Substitute Common Stock for the one year immediately preceding
the consolidation, merger, share exchange or sale in question, but in no
event higher than the closing price of the shares of the Substitute Common
Stock on the day preceding such consolidation, merger, share exchange or
sale; provided that if Issuer is the issuer of the Substitute Option, the
Average Price shall be computed with respect to a share of common stock
issued by Issuer, the person merging into Issuer or by any company which
controls or is controlled by such merger person, as Grantee may elect.
(f) In no event pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs shall the
Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the
shares of the Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of the
Substitute Option. In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable
for more than 19.9% of the aggregate of the shares of Substitute Common Stock
but for this clause (f), the Substitute Option Issuer shall make a cash payment
to Grantee equal to the excess of (i) the value of the Substitute Option without
giving effect to the limitation in this clause (f) over (ii) the value of the
Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in this clause (f).
This difference in value shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by Grantee (or a Grantee Majority).
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(g) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (b) of this Section 7 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder and take all other actions that may be necessary so that the
provisions of this Section 7 are given full force and effect (including, without
limitation, any action that may be necessary so that the shares of Substitute
Common Stock are in no way distinguishable from or have lesser economic value
than other shares of common stock issued by the Substitute Option Issuer).
(h) The provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 10 shall apply, with
appropriate adjustments, to any securities for which the Option becomes
exercisable pursuant to this Section 7 and, as applicable, references in such
sections to "Issuer," "Option," "Purchase Price" and "Issuer Common Stock" shall
be deemed to be references to "Substitute Option Issuer," "Substitute Option,"
"Substitute Purchase Price" and "Substitute Common Stock," respectively.
8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Following termination of the Merger Agreement, Issuer shall,
subject to the conditions of subparagraph (c) below, if requested by any Holder,
including Grantee and any permitted transferee ("Selling Holder"), as
expeditiously as possible prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Laws if necessary in order to permit the sale or other disposition of
any or all shares of Issuer Common Stock or other securities that have been
acquired by or are issuable to Selling Holder upon exercise of the Option in
accordance with the intended method of sale or other disposition stated by
Holder in such request, including, without limitation, a "shelf" registration
statement under Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor provision,
and Issuer shall use its best efforts to qualify such shares or other securities
for sale under any applicable state securities laws.
(b) If Issuer at any time after the exercise of the Option proposes
to register any shares of Issuer Common Stock under the Securities Laws in
connection with an underwritten public offering of such Issuer Common Stock,
Issuer will promptly give written notice to Holder of its intention to do so
and, upon the written request of Holder given within 30 days after receipt of
any such notice (which request shall specify the number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock intended to be included in such underwritten public offering by
Selling Holder), Issuer will cause all such shares, the holders of which shall
have requested participation in such registration, to be so registered and
included in such underwritten public offering; provided, that Issuer may elect
to cause any such shares not to be so registered (i) if the underwriters in good
faith object for a valid business reason, or (ii) in the case of a registration
solely to implement a dividend reinvestment or similar plan, an employee benefit
plan or a registration filed on Form S-4 or any successor form, or a
registration filed on a form which does not permit registration of resales;
provided, further, that such election pursuant to clause (i) may be made only
one time. If some but not all the shares of Issuer Common Stock, with respect
to which Issuer shall have received requests for registration pursuant to this
subparagraph (b), shall be excluded from such registration, Issuer shall make
appropriate allocation of shares to be registered among Selling Holders and any
other person (other than Issuer or any person exercising demand registration
rights in connection with such registration) who or which is permitted to
register their shares of Issuer Common Stock in connection with such
registration pro rata in the proportion that the number of shares requested to
be registered by each Selling Holder bears to the total number of shares
requested to be registered by all persons then desiring to have Issuer Common
Stock registered for sale.
(c) Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to cause each
registration statement referred to in subparagraph (a) above to become effective
and to obtain all consents or waivers of other parties which are required
therefor and to keep such registration statement effective, provided, that
Issuer may delay any registration of Option Shares required pursuant to
subparagraph (a) above for a period not exceeding 90 days provided Issuer shall
in good faith determine that any such registration would adversely affect an
offering or contemplated offering of other securities by Issuer, and Issuer
shall not be required to register Option Shares under the Securities Laws
pursuant to subparagraph (a) above:
(i) prior to the earliest of (A) termination of the Merger
Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof, (B) failure to obtain the
requisite shareholder approval of the holders of Issuer Common Stock
pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Merger Agreement, and (C) a Purchase Event
or a Preliminary Purchase Event;
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(ii) on more than two occasions;
(iii) more than once during any calendar year;
(iv) within 90 days after the effective date of a registration
referred to in subparagraph (b) above pursuant to which the Selling Holders
concerned were afforded the opportunity to register such shares under the
Securities Laws and such shares were registered as requested; and
(v) unless a request therefor is made to Issuer by Selling
Holders holding at least 25% or more of the aggregate number of Options
Shares then outstanding.
In addition to the foregoing, Issuer shall not be required to maintain
the effectiveness of any registration statement after the expiration of nine
months from the effective date of such registration statement. Issuer shall use
all reasonable efforts to make any filings, and take all steps, under all
applicable state securities laws to the extent necessary to permit the sale or
other disposition of the Option Shares so registered in accordance with the
intended method of distribution for such shares, provided, that Issuer shall not
be required to consent to general jurisdiction or qualify to do business in any
state where it is not otherwise required to so consent to such jurisdiction or
to so qualify to do business.
(d) Except where applicable state law prohibits such payments, Issuer
will pay all expenses (including without limitation registration fees,
qualification fees, blue sky fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses
of counsel), accounting expenses, legal expenses, including reasonable fees and
expenses of one counsel to the Holders whose Option Shares are being registered,
printing expenses, expenses of underwriters, excluding discounts and commissions
but including liability insurance if Issuer so desires or the underwriters so
require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any necessary special experts)
in connection with each registration pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) above
(including the related offerings and sales by Selling Holders) and all other
qualifications, notifications or exemptions pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b)
above. Underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Option Shares and any
other expenses incurred by such Selling Holders in connection with any such
registration shall be borne by such Selling Holders.
(e) In connection with any registration under subparagraph (a) or (b)
above Issuer hereby indemnifies the Selling Holders, and each underwriter
thereof, including each person, if any, who controls such holder or underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all expenses,
losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any registration statement or prospectus or
notification or offering circular (including any amendments or supplements
thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such expenses, losses,
claims, damages or liabilities of such indemnified party are caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement that was included by Issuer in any
such registration statement or prospectus or notification or offering circular
(including any amendments or supplements thereto) in reliance upon and in
conformity with, information furnished in writing to Issuer by such indemnified
party expressly for use therein, and Issuer and each officer, director and
controlling person of Issuer shall be indemnified by such Selling Holder, or by
such underwriter, as the case may be, for all such expenses, losses, claims,
damages and liabilities caused by any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement, that
was included by Issuer in any such registration statement or prospectus or
notification or offering circular (including any amendments or supplements
thereto) in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished in
writing to Issuer by such holder or such underwriter, as the case may be,
expressly for such use.
Promptly upon receipt by a party indemnified under this subparagraph
(e) of notice of the commencement of any action against such indemnified party
in respect of which indemnity or reimbursement may be sought against any
indemnifying party under this subparagraph (e), such indemnified party shall
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action, but
the failure so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it of any
liability which it may otherwise have to any indemnified party under this
subparagraph (e). In case notice of commencement of any such action shall be
given to the indemnifying party as above provided, the indemnifying party
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shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it may wish, jointly with
any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of such
action at its own expense, with counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to such
indemnified party. The indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation)
shall be paid by the indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party agrees
to pay them, (ii) the indemnifying party fails to assume the defense of such
action with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party, or (iii) the
indemnified party has been advised by counsel that one or more legal defenses
may be available to the indemnifying party that may be contrary to the interest
of the indemnified party, in which case the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to assume the defense of such action notwithstanding its obligation to bear fees
and expenses of such counsel. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement entered into without its consent, which consent may not be
unreasonably withheld.
If the indemnification provided for in this subparagraph (e) is
unavailable to a party otherwise entitled to be indemnified in respect of any
expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, then the
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such party otherwise entitled to be
indemnified, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such party to be
indemnified as a result of such expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by Issuer, all Selling Holders and the underwriters from the offering of the
securities and also the relative fault of Issuer, all Selling Holders and the
underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the expenses, losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to
above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim; provided, that in no case shall any Selling Holder be responsible, in
the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the net offering proceeds
attributable to its Option Shares included in the offering. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any obligation by any holder to
indemnify shall be several and not joint with other holders.
In connection with any registration pursuant to subparagraph (a) or
(b) above, Issuer and each Selling Holder (other than Grantee) shall enter into
an agreement containing the indemnification provisions of this subparagraph (e).
(f) Issuer shall comply with all reporting requirements and will do
all such other things as may be necessary to permit the expeditious sale at any
time of any Option Shares by Holder in accordance with and to the extent
permitted by any rule or regulation promulgated by the Commission from time to
time, including, without limitation, Rules 144 and 144A. Issuer shall at its
expense provide Holder with any information necessary in connection with the
completion and filing of any reports or forms required to be filed by them under
the Securities Laws, or required pursuant to any state securities laws or the
rules of any stock exchange.
(g) Issuer will pay all stamp taxes in connection with the issuance
and the sale of the Option Shares and in connection with the exercise of the
Option, and will save Holder harmless, without limitation as to time, against
any and all liabilities, with respect to all such taxes.
9. QUOTATION; LISTING. If Issuer Common Stock or any other securities to
be acquired upon exercise of the Option are then authorized for quotation or
trading or listing on the Nasdaq National Market or any other securities
exchange or any automated quotations system maintained by a self-regulatory
organization, Issuer will promptly file an application, if required, to
authorize for quotation or trading or listing the shares of Issuer Common Stock
or other securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option on the Nasdaq
National Market or any other securities exchange or any automated quotations
system maintained by a self-regulatory organization and will use its best
efforts to obtain approval, if required, of such quotation or listing as soon as
practicable.
10. DIVISION OF OPTION. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby)
is exchangeable, without expense, at the option of Holder, upon presentation and
surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer for other
Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling the holder
thereof to purchase in the
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aggregate the same number of shares of Issuer Common Stock purchasable
hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include any other
Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this
Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably
satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of this
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall constitute
an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether or not the
Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall at any time be
enforceable by anyone.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) EXPENSES. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the
parties hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on
its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including
fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers,
accountants and counsel.
(b) WAIVER AND AMENDMENT. Any provision of this Agreement may be
waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such
provision. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto.
(c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY; SEVERABILITY. This
Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement and the other documents and
instruments referred to herein and therein, between Grantee and Issuer (a)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any person other
than the parties hereto (other than any transferees of the Option Shares or any
permitted transferee of this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(h)) any rights or
remedies hereunder. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or a federal or state
governmental or regulatory agency or authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. If for any reason such court or
regulatory agency determines that the Option does not permit Holder to acquire,
or does not require Issuer to repurchase, the full number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock as provided in Sections 3 and 8 (as adjusted pursuant to Section
7), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow Holder to acquire or to
require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible
without any amendment or modification hereof.
(d) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina without
regard to any applicable conflicts of law rules, except to the extent that the
federal laws of the United States shall govern.
(e) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings contained herein
are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (with
confirmation) or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested) to the parties at the addresses set forth in the Merger Agreement (or
at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice).
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may be
executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been signed, it
being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.
(h) ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder or under the Option shall be assigned by any
of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the
prior written consent of the other party, except that Grantee may assign this
Agreement to a wholly owned
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subsidiary of Grantee and Grantee may assign its rights hereunder in whole or in
part after the occurrence of a Purchase Event. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
(i) FURTHER ASSURANCES. In the event of any exercise of the Option
by Holder, Issuer and Holder shall execute and deliver all other documents and
instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably necessary in order
to consummate the transactions provided for by such exercise.
(j) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that this
Agreement may be enforced by either party through specific performance,
injunctive relief and other equitable relief. Both parties further agree to
waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with
the obtaining of any such equitable relief and that this provision is without
prejudice to any other rights that the parties hereto may have for any failure
to perform this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Issuer and Grantee have caused this Stock Option Agreement
to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of
the day and year first written above.
VIRGINIA FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:-------------------------------
Name:------------------------
Title:-----------------------
SOUTHERN NATIONAL CORPORATION
By:-------------------------
Name:------------------
Title:-----------------
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