Exhibit 10.7
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
The Shareholder Rights Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of
April 20, 1998, is entered into by and among PBOC Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (formerly known as SoCal Holdings, Inc.) (the "Company"),
People's Bank of California, a federally chartered savings bank and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (formerly known as Southern California
Federal Savings and Loan Association) (the "Bank"), and the Trustees of the
Estate of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, a trust organized under the laws of Hawaii
(the "▇▇▇▇▇▇ Estate"), BIL Securities (Offshore) Limited, a corporation
organized under the laws of New Zealand ("BIL Securities"), and ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation ("▇▇▇▇▇") (each, a Holder and collectively referred to
herein as the "Shareholders").
WHEREAS, in April 1987, the Company acquired the Bank and, in
connection therewith, the Bank was permitted to include in its regulatory
capital and recognize as supervisory goodwill $217.5 million of cash assistance
provided to the Bank by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, as
well as $79.7 million of goodwill which was recorded by the Bank under generally
accepted accounting principles;
WHEREAS, in August 1989, Congress enacted the Financial Institutions
Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 which provided, among other
things, that savings institutions such as the Bank were no longer permitted to
include goodwill in their regulatory capital (subject to a gradual phaseout
which expired on December 31, 1994);
WHEREAS, on January 28, 1993, the Company, the Bank and certain current
and former stockholders of the Company (collectively, the "Plaintiffs") sued the
United States of America in the United States Court of Federal Claims (the
lawsuit, which is entitled SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATION, ET AL. V. UNITED STATES, No. 93-52C, is hereinafter referred to as
the "Litigation") seeking damages for breach of contract and for deprivation of
property without just compensation and without due process of law;
WHEREAS, as of the date set forth above, the Shareholders are the
holders of all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share ("Common Stock"), of the Company;
WHEREAS, each of the parties hereto has determined that it would be in
its best interest to agree to the terms of the distribution of any recovery that
may be obtained in the Litigation as set forth below;
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NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Litigation Recovery. The term "Litigation Recovery" means
any aggregate cash payment or any cash resulting from the liquidation of
Non-Cash Proceeds (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof) (the "Cash Payment"), if
any, actually received by the Company and/or the Bank pursuant to a final,
nonappealable judgment in, or final settlement of, the Litigation (including any
post-judgment interest actually received by the Company and/or the Bank with
respect to any Cash Payment) after deduction of (i) (x) the aggregate fees and
expenses incurred from this date forward by the Company and the Bank in
prosecuting the Litigation and obtaining the Cash Payment (including any costs
and expenses incurred with respect to the monetization of any marketable assets
received and/or liquidation of Non-Cash Proceeds) and/or (y) the aggregate
liabilities, fees and expenses incurred from this date forward by the Company
and the Bank with respect to any claim specified in Section 6 hereof and/or (z)
the amount reimbursed to any Litigation Trustees under Section 7(c) hereof; (ii)
any income tax liability of the Company and/or the Bank, computed on a pro forma
basis, as a result of the Company's and/or the Bank's receipt of the Cash
Payment (net of any income tax benefit to the Company and/or the Bank from
making the Recovery Payment to the Shareholders, and disregarding for purposes
of this clause (ii) the effect of any net operating loss carryforwards or other
tax attributes held by the Company and the Bank or any of their respective
subsidiaries or affiliated entities); (iii) any portion of the Litigation
Recovery (calculated for purposes of this clause (iii) before the deduction of
the amounts calculated pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above and clause (iv)
below) which as of the date of distribution of any Recovery Payment is
determined to be owing to one or more of the Plaintiffs (other than the Company
and the Bank) or to any other third parties; and (iv) any portion of the
Litigation Recovery (calculated for purposes of this clause (iv) before the
deduction of the amounts calculated pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
above) which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is entitled to receive as a result of her
employment agreement with the Bank, dated as of April 11, 1995.
(b) Recovery Payment. The term "Recovery Payment" means 95% of
the aggregate amount of the Litigation Recovery to which the Shareholders are
entitled as a result of their ownership of Rights.
(c) Rights. The term "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 2 hereof.
2. DISTRIBUTION OF RIGHTS.
Pursuant to this Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, each Shareholder is entitled to one Contingent Goodwill Participation
Right (each a "Right" and collectively, the "Rights") for each share of Common
Stock held by such Shareholder as of the date hereof. Therefore, each
Shareholder will respectively be entitled to the following number of Rights
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corresponding to its pro rata share of Common Stock held as of the date hereof:
The ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Estate: 59,100 Rights (60%), BIL Securities: 29,550 Rights (30%),
▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.: 9,850 Rights (10%).
The parties hereto confirm and agree that, notwithstanding the
provisions of any judgment entered or settlement agreement entered into or
executed in connection with the Litigation, each Right entitles its owner to
receive 0.0009645% of the Litigation Recovery and the 98,500 Rights owned
collectively by the three Shareholders as of the date hereof account for and
represent in the aggregate 95% of the Litigation Recovery and 100% of the
Recovery Payment. It is not the intent of the parties to create a debt
obligation owed by the Company or the Bank to each Shareholder. Each Shareholder
does not have the right to receive any distribution or payment from the Company
and/or the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, nor does the Company and/or the Bank
have a duty to make any payment to each Shareholder or distribution pursuant to
this Agreement, except in each case to the extent of the Recovery Payment, if
any, and except as described herein.
3. THE REDEMPTION AND PAYMENT PROCEDURES.
(a) Payment Notice. Within 5 days of receipt by the Company
and/or the Bank of any Litigation Recovery, or the liquidation by the Company
and/or the Bank of any Non-Cash Proceeds (as required by Section 3(b) below)
received in connection with the Litigation Recovery, the Company shall deliver
to each Shareholder a written notice (the "Payment Notice") (i) specifying that
a Litigation Recovery has been paid, (ii) describing the amount of cash proceeds
received, (iii) describing the type and amount of any Non-Cash Proceeds
received, the amounts received by the Company and/or the Bank upon liquidation
of such Non-Cash Proceeds and the financial and other documentation supporting
such liquidation value (as required by Section 3(b) below), and (iv) subject to
Section 3(d) below, specifying the date and method by which the Company will
redeem the Rights by payment of the Recovery Payment.
(b) Non-Cash Proceeds. To the extent the Company and/or the
Bank receives all or a portion of the Litigation Recovery in the form of
non-cash proceeds (which does not include nonmarketable assets or assets which
are unable to be sold or liquidated) (the "Non-Cash Proceeds"), the Company and
the Bank shall liquidate the Non-Cash Proceeds. The Company shall provide to
each Shareholder financial and other documentation reasonably sufficient to
support the liquidation value of such Non-Cash Proceeds. With respect to
Non-Cash Proceeds in the form of marketable securities, such documentation shall
include at least two quoted market prices or dealer quotes. With respect to
Non-Cash Proceeds in a form other than marketable securities, such documentation
shall include a valuation from an investment banking or independent accounting
firm, provided that in no event shall the Bank be required to distribute to the
Company or the Company be required to distribute any amounts to the Shareholders
in connection with any liquidation of Non-Cash Proceeds which exceed the amounts
received by the Company and/or the Bank upon liquidation of such Non-Cash
Proceeds.
(c) Bank Distribution. Subject to Section 4 below, to the
extent all or any portion of the Litigation Recovery is received by the Bank,
the Bank shall distribute such Litigation
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Recovery to the Company (the "Bank Distribution"). To the extent any Litigation
Recovery is paid to the Bank in installments, the distribution to the Company
shall be made in similar installments. Any Cash Proceeds received in connection
with the Litigation Recovery shall be so distributed within 5 days of their
receipt, independently of the need for liquidation by the Bank of any Non-Cash
Proceeds. Any Non-Cash Proceeds received by the Bank will be liquidated in
accordance with section 3(b) hereof. The liquidation value of any such Non-Cash
Proceeds received in connection with the Litigation Recovery shall be
distributed within 5 days of their liquidation, independently of the
distribution of any Cash Proceeds.
(d) Redemption of Rights. Subject to Section 4 hereof, as
promptly as practicable but in no event later than 5 days following the date of
the Payment Notice, the Company shall redeem all of the outstanding Rights of
each Shareholder by payment of the Recovery Payment to the Shareholders. To the
extent the Litigation Recovery is paid to the Company and/or the Bank in
installments, the redemption of the Rights and the distribution of the Recovery
Payment shall be paid in similar installments. However, the parties confirm and
agree that the Company shall not redeem any portion of the Rights less than
one-year from the date of an "ownership change" of the Company and/or the Bank
within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent
accounting firm which states that the redemption should not materially affect
the Company's and/or the Bank's limitation under Section 382 of the Code with
respect to such ownership change.
(e) Interest. The parties hereto agree that the Shareholders
will be entitled to any actual interest earned by the Company and/or the Bank
attributable to its investment of the Recovery Payment for the period of time
between the date on which the Company and/or the Bank receives any Litigation
Recovery in connection with the Litigation and the date on which the Company
either redeems the Rights pursuant to section 3(d) hereinabove or issues
Recovery Payment Preferred pursuant to Section 4.
4. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) The parties to this Agreement intend that the Bank be
obligated to distribute the Bank Distribution and that the Company be obligated
to redeem the Rights and distribute the Recovery Payment pursuant to the terms
hereof. Nevertheless, applicable laws, rules, regulations, directives or the
terms of any judgment or settlement may limit or prevent the Bank from
distributing the Bank Distribution and/or the Company from redeeming the Rights
and distributing all or a portion of the Recovery Payment. In any such event,
the Bank shall distribute such portion of the Bank Distribution and the Company
shall redeem those Rights (on a pro rata basis) and distribute such portion of
the Recovery Payment (on a pro rata basis), in each case to the extent not
otherwise restricted under applicable laws, rules, regulations, directives or
the terms of any judgment or settlement. The Bank has a continuing obligation
pursuant hereto to distribute the balance of any Bank Distribution which it has
been precluded from paying as soon as permissible under applicable laws, rules,
regulations or directives or the terms of any judgment or settlement and the
Company has a continuing obligation pursuant hereto to redeem the balance of the
Rights and distribute the
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balance of any Recovery Payment which it has been precluded from paying as soon
as permissible under applicable laws, rules, regulations or directives or the
terms of any judgment or settlement. In no event, however, will the Company's
redemption of the Rights result in an aggregate distribution of an amount
greater than the Recovery Payment.
(b) If the Bank is limited or prevented from distributing the
Bank Distribution and/or the Company is limited or prevented from redeeming all
or a portion of the Rights and distributing all or a portion of the Recovery
Payment, neither the Company nor the Bank will be deemed in default of this
Agreement or to have violated its obligations hereunder, provided the Company
shall have delivered to the Shareholders a certificate from the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company and the Bank specifying that portion of the Rights that
cannot be redeemed and that portion of the Recovery Payment that cannot be paid
and the applicable law, rule, regulation, directive, judgment, settlement or
action of a regulatory authority that is the source of the restrictions
described above, and either (i) an opinion of outside counsel substantially to
the effect that redemption of the Rights and the distribution of the Recovery
Payment, or the applicable portion thereof, as the case may be, would result in
the violation of the applicable law, rule, regulation, directive, judgment,
settlement, or action of a regulatory authority that is the source of the
restrictions described above or (ii) a copy of written documentation from the
applicable regulatory authority to the effect that the Bank may not distribute
the Bank Distribution, or any portion thereof, and/or the Company may not redeem
the Rights and distribute the Recovery Payment, or any portion thereof.
(c) (1) To the extent the Company is prohibited from
distributing the Recovery Payment, or any portion thereof, or cannot do so
because the Bank is prohibited from making the Bank Distribution to the Company,
the Company shall, upon the written request of any Shareholder, issue to such
Shareholder preferred stock of the Company with an aggregate liquidation
preference equal in value to the Recovery Payment or portion thereof which the
Company shall have been prohibited from distributing or unable to distribute
(the "Recovery Payment Preferred"). The terms of the Recovery Payment Preferred,
as provided in this Section 4(c)(1) shall be set forth in Certificate of
Designations and Preferences filed as a supplement to the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Company shall issue the Recovery
Payment Preferred upon surrender to the Company of such Shareholder's Rights.
(2) The stated value of each share of Recovery Payment
Preferred shall be $1,000.
(3) (A) The holders of the Recovery Payment Preferred shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors and out
of the assets of the Company which are by law available for the payment of
dividends, cumulative preferential cash dividends payable quarterly on the last
day of each calendar quarter commencing with the first full quarter following
issuance thereof at a fixed rate per share of 9-3/4 %.
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(B) Each quarterly dividend shall be fully cumulative
and dividends shall accrue, whether or not earned, declared or the Company shall
have funds or assets available for the payment of dividends, from the first day
of the quarter in which such dividends may be payable, except that with respect
to the first quarterly dividend, such dividend shall accrue from the date of
issue of the Recovery Payment Preferred.
(C) So long as any Recovery Payment Preferred remains
outstanding: (i) no dividend shall be declared or paid upon or set apart for
payment, and no distribution shall be ordered or made in respect of the
Company's Common Stock, or (ii) any other class of stock or series thereof; and
(b) no shares of Common Stock and no shares of any other class of stock or
series thereof; and (c) no moneys, funds or other assets shall be paid to or
made available for a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of any shares
of: (i) Common Stock; or (ii) any other class of stock or series thereof;
unless, in each instance, full dividends on all outstanding shares of Recovery
Payment Preferred: (i) for all past dividend periods shall have been paid; and
(ii) for the then current calendar quarter shall have been paid or declared and
set aside for payment.
(4) In the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up
of the affairs of the Company, after payment or provision for payment of the
debts and other liabilities of the Company, the holders of the Recovery Payment
Preferred shall be entitled to receive, out of the net assets of the Company
available for distribution to its stockholders and before any distribution shall
be made to the holders of Common Stock or to the holders of any other class of
stock or series thereof an amount equal to $1,000 per share, plus an amount
equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid on each share of Recovery Payment
Preferred to but excluding the date fixed for distribution, and no more. If upon
such voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the
affairs of the Company, the net assets of the Company shall be insufficient to
permit payment in full of the amounts required to be paid to the holders of the
Recovery Payment Preferred, then a pro rata portion of the full amount required
to be paid upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up shall be paid to the
holders of Recovery Payment Preferred.
(5) The Company shall have the right, at its option and by
resolution of its Board of Directors, to redeem at any time and from time to
time the Recovery Payment Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, upon payment in
cash in respect to each Share of Recovery Payment Preferred redeemed at $1,000
per share, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to
but excluding the date fixed for redemption.
If less than all of the outstanding shares of Recovery Payment Preferred
shall be redeemed, the particular shares to be redeemed shall be allocated by
the Company among the respective holders of Recovery Payment Preferred, pro
rata.
(6) The holders of the Recovery Payment Preferred shall have no voting
power except as set forth in this Section 4(C)(6). If at any time the equivalent
of six or more full quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive) payable on
any shares of Recovery Payment Preferred shall be in default, the number of
directors constituting the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
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increased by two, and the holders of all Recovery Payment Preferred shall have
the exclusive right, voting together as one class, to elect two directors to
fill such newly-created directorships. This right shall remain vested until all
dividends in default on all outstanding Recovery Payment Preferred have been
paid, or declared and set apart for payment, at which time: (i) the right shall
terminate (subject to revesting in the case of any subsequent default of the
kind described above); (ii) the term of the directors then in office elected by
the holders of the outstanding Recovery Payment Preferred as a class shall
terminate; and (iii) the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors
of the Company shall be reduced by two.
(7) No sinking fund or funds shall be established for the
retirement or redemption of the Recovery Payment Preferred.
(8) Shares of the Recovery Payment Preferred shall not be
convertible into Common Stock or any other class of capital stock of the
Company.
(9) For purposes hereof, any class or classes of stock of the
Company, including Common Stock and other preferred stock, whether now existing
or hereafter created shall be junior to the Recovery Payment Preferred, as to
dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon redemption, liquidation,
dissolution or winding up.
5. FEES AND EXPENSES. The parties hereto agree that, from the date of
this Agreement, the Company shall promptly pay directly all legal, accounting,
consulting and all other fees and expenses incurred by the Company and the Bank
and approved by the Litigation Committee (as defined in Section 9(a) hereof) in
connection with the Litigation or any litigation against the Bank and/or the
Company with respect to any claim specified in Section 6 hereof ("Ancillary
Litigation"). In accordance with Section 1 hereof, such fees and expenses shall
be deducted from the Recovery Payment distributed to the Shareholders.
6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR CERTAIN CLAIMS. The Shareholders shall indemnify
the Bank and/or the Company for 95% of liability incurred for claims specified
in clause (1) below and 100% of the liability incurred for claims specified in
clause (2) below (including in both instances for any amounts paid in any
judgment or settlement of such claims or any portion of the Litigation Recovery
which is determined to be owing to parties other than a Shareholder, the
Company, and the Bank):
(1) Any claim by a party now pending or hereafter brought,
seeking in whole or in part any amounts paid or to be paid as the Litigation
Recovery; and
(2) Any claim by a party, other than the Company or the Bank,
challenging the validity or binding effect of this Agreement.
In no event shall the Shareholders be liable, with respect to any and all claims
or indemnities provided for in this Section 6, for an amount in excess of the
actual monies recovered or awarded in the Litigation and paid over to that
Shareholder as part of the Recovery Payment. To the extent
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any liability, fees and expenses incurred for a matter covered by this Section
6, are incurred subsequent to the distribution of the Recovery Payment to the
Shareholders, each Shareholder will bear responsibility and shall reimburse the
Company and/or the Bank for a share of such indemnification in the same
proportion as its pro rata share of the Rights outstanding. The obligations and
duties set forth in this Section 6 shall survive and continue as obligations of
the Shareholders irrespective of whether the Shareholders assign any or all of
the Rights pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
7. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
(a) The Company's and the Bank's claims against the Government
that are the basis for the Litigation are, and shall remain, an asset of the
Company and the Bank. In the event of any acquisition, merger or consolidation
of the Company or the Bank in which the Company and/or the Bank will not be the
surviving entity, the Company and the Bank shall require its respective
successors to assume, and such respective successors shall assume, the rights
and obligations of the Company and the Bank under this Agreement.
(b) The Rights of any Shareholder are assignable, in whole or in
part, without charge to each Shareholder hereof upon surrender of this Agreement
with a properly executed assignment at the principal office of the Company,
provided that any such assignee shall execute this Agreement with respect to the
number of Rights assigned and agree to the terms and conditions hereof. Upon any
partial assignment, the Company and the Bank will at their expense issue and
deliver to the Shareholder a new Agreement of like tenor, in the name of the
Shareholder, which shall entitle such Shareholder to such number of Rights which
were not so assigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Rights may not be sold,
transferred or otherwise disposed of, except in accordance with and subject to
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) (1) To the extent that the Company enters into a definitive
agreement providing for the acquisition, merger, or consolidation of the Company
or the Bank, in which the Company or the Bank is not the surviving entity (the
"Acquisition Agreement"), such Acquisition Agreement shall be required to
specifically incorporate and provide for the terms set forth in this Section
7(c).
(2) Effective upon consummation of the transaction
contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement, the Company (or any successor
thereto) shall create a Litigation Trust (the "Litigation Trust"). The
Litigation Trust shall be a statutory business trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to a Declaration of Trust and the filing of a Certificate of Trust with
the Delaware Secretary of State. The Litigation Trust shall have five Trustees
designated by the Shareholders as follows: The ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Estate shall designate
three Trustees; BIL Securities alone shall designate one Trustee; and BIL
Securities together with ▇▇▇▇▇ shall jointly designate one Trustee. In the event
a Trustee dies, resigns or is otherwise unable or unwilling to perform his or
her duties, such Trustee's replacement shall be designated by the party or
parties that designated the Trustee being replaced.
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(3) Effective upon consummation of the transaction
contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement, the Company (or any successor
thereto) shall be contractually obligated to assume all duties and obligations
of the Company and the Bank with respect to the Litigation Recovery and the
redemption of the Rights under this Agreement.
(4) Effective upon consummation of the transaction
contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement, the Litigation Trustees shall assume
authority, identical to and succeeding to that of the Litigation Committee, to
make all decisions on behalf of the Company (and its successors) with respect to
the prosecution of the Litigation and in any Ancillary Litigation, including the
selection and supervision of existing and any new counsel or other persons
retained to assist in the prosecution of the Litigation or in any Ancillary
Litigation, and deciding whether or not to accept any settlement offer. Without
prejudice to any rights of the Shareholders, the Litigation Trustees shall have
the authority to bring suit on behalf of the Shareholders to enforce any
provision of this Agreement for the benefit of the Shareholders, including
specifically the redemption of the Rights under Section 3 hereof. The Litigation
Trustees may seek reimbursement by the Bank and/or the Company for any expenses,
costs or fees reasonably incurred for their own administration and for
management of the Litigation and any Ancillary Litigation, to include the
retention of professionals, consultants, or other persons to assist in the
management of the Litigation Trust or in the prosecution of the Litigation or in
any Ancillary Litigation. Any such reimbursement by the Bank and/or the Company
shall be deducted from the Litigation Recovery in accordance with Section
1(a)(i) hereof.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create any rights in
the Shareholders against the United States, except as such parties may have had
prior to the date of this Agreement or may have by operation of law.
8. COOPERATION AND RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS. The parties hereto agree
that the Shareholders are and shall remain the principal beneficiaries of the
Litigation so long as they retain their Rights under this Agreement, and that
the Shareholders do and shall retain a significant beneficial interest in the
direction and outcome of the Litigation. The parties also agree that they shall
cooperate in good faith with respect to the prosecution of the Litigation so as
to maximize the Litigation Recovery. The Rights (i) are junior to all debt
obligations (whether for borrowed money or otherwise) of the Company and the
Bank existing at the time of the redemption described in Section 3(d) except as
to an obligation that is expressly made junior to the Rights, (ii) do not have a
right to vote, and (iii) are a senior claim in relation to the right of the
holders of any stock of the Company, including common stock and other preferred
stock, whether now existing or hereafter created, as to dividends or as to the
distribution of assets upon redemption, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up
with respect to a Recovery Payment attributable to any Litigation Recovery
(although the Shareholders will continue to have such other rights on
liquidation attributable to their status as holders of Common Stock).
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9. MANAGEMENT OF THE LITIGATION
(a) The Company shall prosecute the Litigation vigorously following the
distribution of Rights with a view to resolution of the Litigation as promptly
as practicable. In furtherance of this prosecution of the Litigation, the Board
of Directors of the Company shall designate a special litigation committee of
the Board of Directors (the "Litigation Committee") comprised of three directors
which shall include the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, one Director
designated by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Estate, and one Director who shall be designated
jointly by BIL Securities and ▇▇▇▇▇. The Litigation Committee shall have the
exclusive right to oversee and to direct the prosecution of the Litigation (and
any Ancillary Litigation) and to consider and decide upon settlement of the
Litigation (and any Ancillary Litigation) as hereinafter provided. The
Litigation Committee shall be authorized to make final decisions relating to any
dismissal, settlement, or termination of the Litigation (and any Ancillary
Litigation) and to decline to pursue any appeal or to settle the Litigation (and
any Ancillary Litigation) prior to any Recovery Payment. In the event that any
or all of the Shareholders should lose their representation upon the Board of
Directors before the conclusion of the Litigation (or any Ancillary Litigation)
and the distribution of the Recovery Payment, the relevant Shareholder(s) shall
retain the right to designate member(s) of the Litigation Committee, which
designees may include persons not members of the Board of Directors of the
Company. If any such designee should not be simultaneously a member of the Board
of Directors, the Litigation Committee shall thereupon become an advisory
committee of the Company. The Litigation Committee's authority shall
thenceforward consist of making recommendations to the Board of Directors
relating to the prosecution of, and any dismissal, settlement, or termination of
the Litigation (and any Ancillary Litigation), in whole or in part. The
Litigation Committee shall present such recommendations in writing to the Board
of Directors of the Company and the Board of Directors shall not dismiss, settle
or terminate the Litigation (and any Ancillary Litigation), in whole or in part,
without first receiving the favorable recommendation to that effect from the
Litigation Committee. The adoption of any such recommendation to settle or
otherwise terminate the Litigation and any Ancillary Litigation by the Board of
Directors shall require an affirmative vote of 6 of the 7 members of the Board
of Directors of the Company. The Company, as the sole shareholder of the Bank,
shall cause the Bank to take no action which is inconsistent with any action
taken at the direction of the Litigation Committee.
(b) The Litigation Committee, regardless of its composition, shall
select counsel of its choice to represent the Company and the Bank in the
prosecution of the Litigation (or any Ancillary Litigation) and shall have the
right to replace counsel at any time. The Litigation Committee's authority to
hire or replace counsel shall include the authority to enter into compensation
agreements with counsel.
(c) Counsel designated by the Litigation Committee to prosecute the
Litigation (or any Ancillary Litigation) and other persons retained to assist in
the prosecution of the Litigation (or any Ancillary Litigation) shall be
authorized to accept direction and control from the Litigation Committee on all
matters concerning the Litigation (or any Ancillary Litigation).
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(d) In the event a member of the Litigation Committee dies, resigns, or
is otherwise unable or unwilling to perform his or her duties, such member's
replacement shall be designated by the party or parties that designated the
member being replaced. The Company or the Bank shall have the right to remove
any member from the Litigation Committee in the event such removal is required
by any federal or state regulator having jurisdiction over the Company or the
Bank or any of their subsidiaries. If any individual is so removed, his or her
replacement shall be designated by the party or parties that designated the
member being replaced. Any designation of a member under this subparagraph shall
be effective upon written notice from the designating party or parties to the
other parties to this Agreement.
10. WAIVER; AMENDMENT. Any provision of this Agreement may be (i)
waived by the party or parties benefited by the provision or (ii) amended or
modified at any time, by an agreement in writing between the parties hereto,
executed in the same manner as this Agreement.
11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and
the Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.
12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
between the Shareholders and the Company and the Bank with respect to the
subject matter hereof, supersedes all previous agreements, negotiations,
discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with
respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings
other than those set forth or referred to herein. Notwithstanding this section,
BIL Securities and ▇▇▇▇▇ may enter into agreements between themselves concerning
their shared representation on the Board of Directors of the Company, the
Litigation Committee, or the Litigation Trust.
13. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California, irrespective of the choice
of laws principles of the State of California, as to all matters, including
matters of validity, construction, assignment, enforceability, performance and
remedies.
14. DISPUTES. In any dispute between the Bank or the Company, on the one
hand, and one or more of the Shareholders, on the other hand, arising under this
Agreement, the prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to reimbursement of
its reasonable attorneys fees, costs, and expenses incurred in the prosecution
and resolution of the dispute.
15. SEVERABILITY. Any covenant, provision, agreement or term of this
Agreement that is prohibited or held to be void or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective as to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions
hereof.
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16. COMMUNICATIONS. All notices, demands and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery:
(a) If to the Company or the Bank, initially at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: President, Telephone (213)
▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇; Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, and thereafter at such other address,
notice of which is given in accordance with this Section 16; and
(b) If to the Holder, initially at the following addresses and
thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with
this Section 16:
Trustees of the Estate of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
BIL Securities (Offshore) Limited
Suite 4150
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
c/o ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Sons, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
business days after being sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, if
mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if
telecopied; and on the second following business day if timely delivered to an
air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
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17. NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Nothing in this Agreement expressed or
implied is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto or
their respective successors, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement.
18. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall be effective upon commencement
of the Company's public offering, as contemplated by the Registration Statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 1998.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first shown above.
PBOC HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
PEOPLE'S BANK OF CALIFORNIA
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: J. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
L:\DATA\1823\SRA-NBA.D2
14
TRUSTEES OF THE ESTATE OF
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Kofoad ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Trustee
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Trustee
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Hong ▇▇▇▇
Title: Trustee
BIL SECURITIES (OFFSHORE) LIMITED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President and Secretary
14