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EXHIBIT 2.2
EXECUTION COPY
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of September 11, 1997, between United
Bankshares, Inc., a West Virginia corporation ("Grantee"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Bankshares, Inc., a Virginia corporation ("Issuer").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement");
WHEREAS, as an inducement to the willingness of Grantee to continue to
pursue the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Issuer has agreed
to grant Grantee the Option (as hereinafter defined); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Issuer has approved the grant of the
Option and the Merger Agreement prior to the date hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable
option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up to an
aggregate of 1,018,000 fully paid and nonassessable shares of the common stock,
par value $1.11 per share, of Issuer ("Common Stock") at a price per share
equal to the average of last reported sale prices per share of Common Stock as
reported on the NASDAQ National Market System on September 4 and 5, 1997;
provided, however, that in the event Issuer issues or agrees to issue any
shares of Common Stock (other than shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to
stock options granted pursuant to any employee benefit plan prior to the date
hereof) at a price less than such average price per share (as adjusted pursuant
to subsection (b) of Section 5), such price shall be equal to such lesser price
(such price, as adjusted if applicable, the "Option Price"); provided, further,
that in no event shall the number of shares for which this Option is
exercisable exceed 19.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
The number of shares of Common Stock that may be received upon the exercise of
the Option and the Option Price are subject to adjustment as herein set forth.
(b) In the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are issued
or otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement (other than
pursuant to this Agreement and other than pursuant to an event described in
Section 5(a) hereof), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the
Option shall be increased so that, after such issuance, such number together
with any shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, equals 19.9%
of the number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding without
giving effect to any shares subject or issued
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pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained in this Section l(b) or elsewhere in
this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize Issuer to issue shares in breach
any provision of the Merger Agreement.
2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the Option, in
whole or part, if, but only if, both an Initial Triggering Event (as
hereinafter defined) and a Subsequent Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined)
shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event
(as hereinafter defined), provided that the Holder shall have sent the written
notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2)
within six (6) months following such Subsequent Triggering Event (or such later
period as provided in Section 10). Each of the following shall be an Exercise
Termination Event: (i) the Effective Time of the Merger; (ii) termination of
the Merger Agreement in accordance with the provisions thereof if such
termination occurs prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event
except a termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.01(b) or Section 8.01(e)
of the Merger Agreement (but only if the breach giving rise to the termination
was willful) (each, a "Listed Termination"); or (iii) the passage of eighteen
(18) months (or such longer period as provided in Section 10) after termination
of the Merger Agreement if such termination follows the occurrence of an
Initial Triggering Event or is a Listed Termination. The term "Holder" shall
mean the holder or holders of the Option. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, (i) the Option may not be exercised at any time when
Grantee shall be in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements
contained in the Merger Agreement such that Issuer shall be entitled to
terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b) thereof as a result
of a material breach and (ii) this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon
the proper termination of the Merger Agreement (x) by Issuer pursuant to
Section 8.01(b) thereof as a result of the material breach by Grantee of its
covenants or agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, (y) by Issuer or
Grantee pursuant to Section 8.01(d)(ii) if Grantee's shareholders do not
approve the Merger Agreement at the meeting, or (z) by Issuer or Grantee
pursuant to Section 8.01(d)(i).
(b) The term "Initial Triggering Event" shall mean any of the following
events or transactions occurring on or after the date hereof:
(i) Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (as defined in Rule 1-02
of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC")) (an "Issuer Subsidiary"), without having received Grantee's
prior written consent, shall have entered into an agreement to engage in
an Acquisition Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the
term "person" for purposes of this Agreement having the meaning assigned
thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations
thereunder) other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries (each a
"Grantee Subsidiary") or the Board of Directors of Issuer (the "Issuer
Board") shall have recommended that the shareholders of Issuer approve or
accept any Acquisition Transaction other than as contemplated by the
Merger Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) "Acquisition
Transaction" shall mean (x) a merger or consolidation, or any similar
transaction, involving Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary (other than
mergers, consolidations or similar transactions (i) involving solely
Issuer and/or one or more wholly-owned (except for directors'
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qualifying shares and a de minimis number of other shares) Subsidiaries
of the Issuer, provided, any such transaction is not entered into in
violation of the terms of the Merger Agreement or (ii) in which the
shareholders of Issuer immediately prior to the completion of such
transaction own at least 50% of the Common Stock of the Issuer (or the
resulting or surviving entity in such transaction) immediately after
completion of such transaction, provided any such transaction is not
entered into in violation of the terms of the Merger Agreement), (y) a
purchase, lease or other acquisition of all or any substantial part of
the assets or deposits of Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary, or (z) a
purchase or other acquisition (including by way of merger, consolidation,
share exchange or otherwise) of securities representing 10% or more of
the voting power of Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary and (b) "Subsidiary"
shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the 1934 Act;
(ii) Any person other than the Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
shall have acquired beneficial ownership or the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for purposes of this Agreement
having the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, and
the rules and regulations thereunder);
(iii) The shareholders of Issuer shall have voted and failed to
approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger at a meeting which has been
held for that purpose or any adjournment or postponement thereof, or such
meeting shall not have been held in violation of the Merger Agreement or
shall have been cancelled prior to termination of the Merger Agreement
if, prior to such meeting (or if such meeting shall not have been held or
shall have been cancelled, prior to such termination), it shall have been
publicly announced that any person (other than Grantee or any of its
Subsidiaries) shall have made, or publicly disclosed an intention to
make, a proposal to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;
(iv) The Issuer Board shall have withdrawn or modified (or publicly
announced its intention to withdraw or modify) in any manner adverse in
any respect to Grantee its recommendation that the shareholders of Issuer
approve the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or Issuer
or any Issuer Subsidiary shall have authorized, recommended, proposed (or
publicly announced its intention to authorize, recommend or propose) an
agreement to engage in an Acquisition Transaction with any person other
than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary;
(v) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary shall
have made a proposal to Issuer or its shareholders to engage in an
Acquisition Transaction and such proposal shall have been publicly
announced;
(vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary shall
have filed with the SEC a registration statement or tender offer
materials with respect to a potential exchange or tender offer that would
constitute an Acquisition Transaction (or filed a preliminary proxy
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statement with the SEC with respect to a potential vote by its
shareholders to approve the issuance of shares to be offered in such an
exchange offer);
(vii) Issuer shall have willfully breached any covenant or
obligation contained in the Merger Agreement in anticipation of engaging
in an Acquisition Transaction, and following such breach Grantee would be
entitled to terminate the Merger Agreement (whether immediately or after
the giving of notice or passage of time or both); or
(viii) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary shall
have filed an application or notice with the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board") or other federal or
state bank regulatory or antitrust authority, which application or notice
has been accepted for processing, for approval to engage in an
Acquisition Transaction.
(c) The term "Subsequent Triggering Event" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) The acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or any
Grantee Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the then
outstanding Common Stock; or
(ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event described in
clause (i) of subsection (b) of this Section 2, except that the
percentage referred to in clause (z) of the second sentence thereof shall
be 25%.
(d) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the occurrence of
any Initial Triggering Event or Subsequent Triggering Event (together, a
"Triggering Event"), it being understood that the giving of such notice by
Issuer shall not be a condition to the right of the Holder to exercise the
Option.
(e) In the event the Holder is entitled to and wishes to exercise the
Option (or any portion thereof), it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the
date of which being herein referred to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the
total number of shares it will purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a
place and date not earlier than three business days nor later than 60 business
days from the Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing
Date"); provided, that if prior notification to or approval of the Federal
Reserve Board or any other regulatory or antitrust agency is required in
connection with such purchase, the Holder shall promptly file the required
notice or application for approval, shall promptly notify Issuer of such
filing, and shall expeditiously process the same and the period of time that
otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence shall run instead from the date
on which any required notification periods have expired or been terminated or
such approvals have been obtained and any requisite waiting period or periods
shall have passed. Any exercise of the Option shall be deemed to occur on the
Notice Date relating thereto.
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(f) At the closing referred to in subsection (e) of this Section 2, the
Holder shall (i) pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of
Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Issuer and
(ii) present and surrender this Agreement to Issuer at its principal executive
offices, provided that the failure or refusal of the Issuer to designate such a
bank account or accept surrender of this Agreement shall not preclude the
Holder from exercising the Option .
(g) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately
available funds as provided in subsection (f) of this Section 2, Issuer shall
deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the number of
shares of Common Stock purchased by the Holder and, if the Option should be
exercised in part only, a new Option evidencing the rights of the Holder
thereof to purchase the balance of the shares purchasable hereunder.
(h) Certificates for Common Stock delivered at a closing hereunder may
be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read substantially as follows:
"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
subject to certain provisions of an agreement, dated as of ________,
199_, between the registered holder hereof and Issuer and to resale
restrictions arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A
copy of such agreement is on file at the principal office of Issuer and
will be provided to the holder hereof without charge upon receipt by
Issuer of a written request therefor."
It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale restrictions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") in the above legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such
reference if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from
the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such legend is not
required for purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions of
this Agreement in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute
certificate(s) without such reference if the shares have been sold or
transferred in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and under
circumstances that do not require the retention of such reference in the
opinion of Counsel to the Holder; and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its
entirety if the conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both
satisfied. In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may
be required by law.
(i) Upon the giving by the Holder to Issuer of the written notice of
exercise of the Option provided for under subsection (e) of this Section 2 and
the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds, the
Holder shall be deemed subject to the receipt of any necessary regulatory
approvals to be the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon such exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of Issuer
shall then be closed or that certificates representing such shares of Common
Stock shall not then be actually delivered to the Holder. Issuer shall pay all
expenses, and any and all United States federal, state and local taxes and
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other charges that may be payable in connection with the preparation, issue and
delivery of stock certificates under this Section 2 in the name of the Holder
or its assignee, transferee or designee.
3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free from
preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury shares of
Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised without additional
authorization of Common Stock after giving effect to all other options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock;
(ii) that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization,
consolidation, merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary
act, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the
covenants, stipulations or conditions to be observed or performed hereunder by
Issuer; (iii) promptly to take all action as may from time to time be required
(including (x) complying with all applicable premerger notification, reporting
and waiting period requirements specified in 15 U.S.C. Section 18a and
regulations promulgated thereunder and (y) in the event, under the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHCA"), or the Change in Bank Control Act
of 1978, as amended, or any state or other federal banking law, prior approval
of or notice to the Federal Reserve Board or to any state or other federal
regulatory authority is necessary before the Option may be exercised,
cooperating fully with the Holder in preparing such applications or notices and
providing such information to the Federal Reserve Board or such state or other
federal regulatory authority as they may require) in order to permit the Holder
to exercise the Option and Issuer duly and effectively to issue shares of
Common Stock pursuant hereto; and (iv) promptly to take all action provided
herein to protect the rights of the Holder against dilution.
4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable,
without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender
of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements
providing for Options of different denominations entitling the holder thereof
to purchase, on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are set
forth herein, in the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein
include any Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and the
Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably
satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of this
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of
like tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall
constitute an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether
or not the Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall at any time
be enforceable by anyone.
5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of Common
Stock that are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of
this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 5.
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(a) In the event of any change in, or distributions in respect of, the
Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, split-ups, mergers,
recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions, conversions, exchanges of shares
or the like, the type and number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise hereof shall be appropriately adjusted and proper provision shall be
made so that, in the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are to be
issued or otherwise become outstanding as a result of any such change (other
than pursuant to an exercise of the Option), the number of shares of Common
Stock that remain subject to the Option shall be increased so that, after such
issuance and together with shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant to
the exercise of the Option (as adjusted on account of any of the foregoing
changes in the Common Stock), it equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Common
Stock then issued and outstanding.
(b) Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise hereof is adjusted as provided in this Section 5, the Option Price
shall be adjusted by multiplying the Option Price by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable
prior to the adjustment and the denominator of which shall be equal to the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable after the adjustment.
6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that occurs
prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the request of Grantee
delivered within twelve (12) months (or such later period as provided in
Section 10) of such Subsequent Triggering Event (whether on its own behalf or
on behalf of any subsequent holder of this Option (or part thereof) or any of
the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant hereto), promptly prepare, file and
keep current a registration statement under the 1933 Act covering any shares
issued and issuable pursuant to this Option and shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and remain
current in order to permit the sale or other disposition of any shares of
Common Stock issued upon total or partial exercise of this Option ("Option
Shares") in accordance with any plan of disposition requested by Grantee.
Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration
statement promptly to become effective and then to remain effective for such
period not in excess of 180 days from the day such registration statement first
becomes effective or such shorter time as may be reasonably necessary to effect
such sales or other dispositions. Grantee shall have the right to demand two
such registrations. The Issuer shall bear the costs of such registrations
(including, but not limited to, Issuer's attorneys' fees, printing costs and
filing fees, except for underwriting discounts or commissions, brokers' fees
and the fees and disbursements of Grantee's counsel related thereto). The
foregoing notwithstanding, if, at the time of any request by Grantee for
registration of Option Shares as provided above, Issuer is in registration with
respect to an underwritten public offering by Issuer of shares of Common Stock,
and if in the good faith judgment of the managing underwriter or managing
underwriters, or, if none, the sole underwriter or underwriters, of such
offering the offer and sale of the Option Shares would interfere with the
successful marketing of the shares of Common Stock offered by Issuer, the
number of Option Shares otherwise to be covered in the registration statement
contemplated hereby may be reduced; provided, however, that after any such
required reduction the number of Option Shares to be included in such offering
for the account of the Holder shall constitute at least 25% of the total number
of shares to be sold by the Holder and
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Issuer in the aggregate; and provided further, however, that if such reduction
occurs, then Issuer shall file a registration statement for the balance as
promptly as practicable thereafter as to which no reduction pursuant to this
Section 6 shall be permitted or occur and the Holder shall thereafter be
entitled to one additional registration and the twelve (12) month period
referred to in the first sentence of this section shall be increased to
twenty-four (24) months. Each such Holder shall provide all information
reasonably requested by Issuer for inclusion in any registration statement to
be filed hereunder. If requested by any such Holder in connection with such
registration, Issuer shall become a party to any underwriting agreement
relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the extent of obligating
itself in respect of representations, warranties, indemnities and other
agreements customarily included in such underwriting agreements for Issuer.
Upon receiving any request under this Section 6 from any Holder, Issuer agrees
to send a copy thereof to any other person known to Issuer to be entitled to
registration rights under this Section 6, in each case by promptly mailing the
same, postage prepaid, to the address of record of the persons entitled to
receive such copies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, in no event shall the number of registrations that Issuer is obligated
to effect be increased by reason of the fact that there shall be more than one
Holder as a result of any assignment or division of this Agreement.
7. (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as
defined below) (i) at the request of the Holder, delivered prior to an Exercise
Termination Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10), Issuer (or
any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option from the Holder at a price
(the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by which (A) the
market/offer price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option Price, multiplied
by the number of shares for which this Option may then be exercised and (ii) at
the request of the owner of Option Shares from time to time (the "Owner"),
delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period as
provided in Section 10), Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase
such number of the Option Shares from the Owner as the Owner shall designate at
a price (the "Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to the market/offer price
multiplied by the number of Option Shares so designated. The term
"market/offer price" shall mean the highest of (i) the price per share of
Common Stock at which a tender or exchange offer therefor has been made, (ii)
the price per share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to
an agreement with Issuer, (iii) the highest closing price for shares of Common
Stock within the six-month period immediately preceding the date the Holder
gives notice of the required repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives
notice of the required repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv)
in the event of a sale of all or any substantial part of Issuer's assets or
deposits, the sum of the net price paid in such sale for such assets or
deposits and the current market value of the remaining net assets of Issuer as
determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Holder or the Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to Issuer,
divided by the number of shares of Common Stock of Issuer outstanding at the
time of such sale. In determining the market/offer price, the value of
consideration other than cash shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by the Holder or Owner, as the case may be,
and reasonably acceptable to Issuer.
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(b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may exercise its right
to require Issuer to repurchase the Option and any Option Shares pursuant to
this Section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at its principal
office, a copy of this Agreement or certificates for Option Shares, as
applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the Holder
or the Owner, as the case may be, elects to require Issuer to repurchase this
Option and/or the Option Shares in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7. As promptly as practicable, and in any event within five business
days after the surrender of the Option and/or certificates representing Option
Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto, Issuer shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder the Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the Owner the Option Share Repurchase Price therefor or the portion
thereof that Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation
from so delivering.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from repurchasing the
Option and/or the Option Shares in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify the
Holder and/or the Owner and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from
time to time, to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the portion of
the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price,
respectively, that it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five
business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so prohibited;
provided, however, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a notice of
repurchase pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 7 is prohibited under
applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy,
from delivering to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the Option
Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in full
(and Issuer hereby undertakes to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all
required regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required notices as
promptly as practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Holder or
Owner may revoke its notice of repurchase of the Option and/or the Option
Shares whether in whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the
latter case, Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner,
as appropriate, that portion of the Option Repurchase Price and/or the Option
Share Repurchase Price that Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and (ii)
deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the Holder, a new Agreement evidencing
the right of the Holder to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock
obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock for which the
surrendered Agreement was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of
repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Option Repurchase Price
less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the Holder and the
denominator of which is the Option Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to the Owner, a
certificate for the Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.
If an Exercise Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the date of the
notice by Issuer described in the first sentence of this subsection (c), or
shall be scheduled to occur at any time before the expiration of a period
ending on the thirtieth day after such date, the Holder shall nonetheless have
the right to exercise the Option until the expiration of such 30-day period.
(d) For purposes of this Section 7, a "Repurchase Event" shall be deemed
to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following events or
transactions after the date hereof:
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(i) the acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or any
Grantee Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then
outstanding Common Stock; or
(ii) the consummation of any Acquisition Transaction described in
Section 2(b)(i) hereof, except that the percentage referred to in clause
(z) shall be 50%.
8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event,
Issuer shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any
person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, or engage in a plan of
exchange with any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary and Issuer
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or
merger or the acquirer in such plan of exchange, (ii) to permit any person,
other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, to merge into Issuer or be acquired
by Issuer in a plan of exchange and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving
or acquiring corporation, but, in connection with such merger or plan of
exchange, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any
other property or the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall after such
merger or plan of exchange represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares
and share equivalents of the merged or acquiring company, or (iii) to sell or
otherwise transfer all or a substantial part of its or the Issuer Subsidiary's
assets or deposits to any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary,
then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such transaction shall
make proper provision so that the Option shall, upon the consummation of any
such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, be
converted into, or exchanged for, an option (the "Substitute Option"), at the
election of the Holder, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter
defined) or (y) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation.
(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the continuing or
surviving person of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other than
Issuer), (ii) the acquiring person in a plan of exchange in which Issuer
is acquired, (iii) the Issuer in a merger or plan of exchange in which
Issuer is the continuing or surviving or acquiring person, and (iv) the
transferee of all or a substantial part of Issuer's assets or deposits
(or the assets or deposits of the Issuer Subsidiary).
(ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock issued
by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the Substitute
Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the market/offer price, as defined
in Section 7.
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of a
share of the Substitute Common Stock for one year immediately preceding
the consolidation, merger or sale in question, but in no event higher
than the closing price of the shares of Substitute Common Stock on the
day preceding such consolidation, merger or sale; provided that if Issuer
is the
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issuer of the Substitute Option, the Average Price shall be computed with
respect to a share of common stock issued by the person merging into
Issuer or by any company which controls or is controlled by such person,
as the Holder may elect.
(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option,
provided that if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons,
be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no
event less advantageous to the Holder. The issuer of the Substitute Option
shall also enter into an agreement with the then Holder or Holders of the
Substitute Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement (after
giving effect for such purpose to the provisions of Section 9), which agreement
shall be applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares
of Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned Value multiplied by the
number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercisable
immediately prior to the event described in the first sentence of Section 8(a),
divided by the Average Price. The exercise price of the Substitute Option per
share of Substitute Common Stock shall then be equal to the Option Price
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of Common Stock for which the Option was exercisable immediately prior to the
event described in the first sentence of Section 8(a) and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the
Substitute Option is exercisable.
(e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall the
Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of
Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of the Substitute Option.
In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than
19.9% of the shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise
but for this clause (e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute
Option Issuer") shall make a cash payment to Holder equal to the excess of (i)
the value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the limitation in
this clause (e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving
effect to the limitation in this clause (e). This difference in value shall be
determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Holder.
(f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in subsection
(a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person that
controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder.
9. (a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Holder"), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Issuer") shall repurchase the Substitute Option from the
Substitute Option Holder at a price (the "Substitute Option Repurchase Price")
equal to the amount by which (i) the Highest Closing Price (as hereinafter
defined) exceeds (ii) the exercise price of the Substitute Option, multiplied
by the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute
Option may then be exercised, and at the request of the owner (the "Substitute
Share Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute Shares"),
the Substitute
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Option Issuer shall repurchase the Substitute Shares at a price (the
"Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to the Highest Closing Price
multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so designated. The term "Highest
Closing Price" shall mean the highest closing price for shares of Substitute
Common Stock within the six-month period immediately preceding the date the
Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the required repurchase of the
Substitute Option or the Substitute Share Owner gives notice of the required
repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as applicable.
(b) The Substitute Option Holder and the Substitute Share Owner, as the
case may be, may exercise its respective rights to require the Substitute
Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute Shares
pursuant to this Section 9 by surrendering for such purpose to the Substitute
Option Issuer, at its principal office, the agreement for such Substitute
Option (or, in the absence of such an agreement, a copy of this Agreement)
and/or certificates for Substitute Shares accompanied by a written notice or
notices stating that the Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share
Owner, as the case may be, elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to
repurchase the Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 9. As promptly as practicable and in any
event within five business days after the surrender of the Substitute Option
and/or certificates representing Substitute Shares and the receipt of such
notice or notices relating thereto, the Substitute Option Issuer shall deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price and/or to the Substitute Share Owner the Substitute Share
Repurchase Price therefor or the portion thereof which the Substitute Option
Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so
delivering.
(c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is prohibited under
applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy,
from repurchasing the Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in part or
in full, the Substitute Option Issuer shall immediately so notify the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner and thereafter
deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the Substitute Option
Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the portion of the
Substitute Option Repurchase Price and/or the Substitute Share Repurchase
Price, respectively, which it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within
five (5) business days after the date on which the Substitute Option Issuer is
no longer so prohibited; provided, however, that if the Substitute Option
Issuer is at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase pursuant to
subsection (b) of this Section 9 prohibited under applicable law or regulation,
or as a consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to the Substitute
Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the Substitute
Option Repurchase Price and the Substitute Share Repurchase Price,
respectively, in full (and the Substitute Option Issuer shall use its
reasonable best efforts to receive all required regulatory and legal approvals
as promptly as practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), the
Substitute Option Holder and/or Substitute Share Owner may revoke its notice of
repurchase of the Substitute Option or the Substitute Shares either in whole or
to the extent of prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, the Substitute
Option Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the Substitute Option Holder or
Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, that portion of the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price or the Substitute Share Repurchase Price that the Substitute
Option Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver,
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as appropriate, either (A) to the Substitute Option Holder, a new Substitute
Option evidencing the right of the Substitute Option Holder to purchase that
number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock obtained by multiplying the
number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock for which the surrendered
Substitute Option was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of
repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the
Substitute Option Holder and the denominator of which is the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to the Substitute Share Owner, a certificate for
the Substitute Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing. If an
Exercise Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the date of the notice
by the Substitute Option Issuer described in the first sentence of this
subsection (c), or shall be scheduled to occur at any time before the
expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such date, the
Substitute Option Holder shall nevertheless have the right to exercise the
Substitute Option until the expiration of such 30-day period.
10. The 30-day, 6-month, 12-month, 18-month or 24-month periods for
exercise of certain rights under Sections 2, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 14 shall be
extended: (i) to the extent necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for
the exercise of such rights (for so long as the Holder, Owner, Substitute
Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as the case may be, is using
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such regulatory approvals), and for
the expiration of all statutory waiting periods; and (ii) to the extent
necessary to avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of
such exercise.
11. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the
Issuer Board prior to the date hereof and no other corporate proceedings on the
part of Issuer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and
reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from the date hereof
through the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms will
have reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Option, that number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock at
any time and from time to time issuable hereunder, and all such shares, upon
issuance pursuant thereto, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable, and will be delivered free and clear of all claims, liens,
encumbrance and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.
12. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any other
person, without the express written consent of the other party, except that in
the event a Subsequent Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an
Exercise Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express provisions hereof,
may assign in
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whole or in part its rights and obligations hereunder; provided, however, that
until the date 15 days following the date on which the Federal Reserve Board
has approved an application by Grantee to acquire the shares of Common Stock
subject to the Option, Grantee may not assign its rights under the Option
except in (i) a widely dispersed public distribution, (ii) a private placement
in which no one party acquires the right to purchase in excess of 2% of the
voting shares of Issuer, (iii) an assignment to a single party (e.g., a broker
or investment banker) for the purpose of conducting a widely dispersed public
distribution on Grantee's behalf or (iv) any other manner approved by the
Federal Reserve Board.
13. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to
make all filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and
governmental authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, applying to the
Federal Reserve Board under the BHCA for approval to acquire the shares
issuable hereunder, but Grantee shall not be obligated to apply to state
banking authorities for approval to acquire the shares of Common Stock issuable
hereunder until such time, if ever, as it deems appropriate to do so.
14. (a) Grantee may, at any time following a Repurchase Event and prior
to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period as
provided in Section 10), relinquish the Option (together with any Option
Shares issued to and then owned by Grantee) to Issuer in exchange for a cash
fee equal to the Surrender Price; provided, however, that Grantee may not
exercise its rights pursuant to this Section 14 if Issuer has repurchased the
Option (or any portion thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to Section 7.
The "Surrender Price" shall be equal to $9.0 million (i) plus, if applicable,
Grantee's purchase price with respect to any Option Shares and (ii) minus, if
applicable, the excess of (B) the net cash amounts, if any, received by Grantee
pursuant to the arms' length sale of Option Shares (or any other securities
into which such Option Shares were converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated
party, over (B) Grantee's purchase price of such Option Shares.
(b) Grantee may exercise its right to relinquish the Option and any
Option Shares pursuant to this Section 14 by surrendering to Issuer, at its
principal office, a copy of this Agreement together with certificates for
Option Shares, if any, accompanied by a written notice stating (i) that Grantee
elects to relinquish the Option and Option Shares, if any, in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 14 and (ii) the Surrender Price. The Surrender
Price shall be payable in immediately available funds on or before the second
business day following receipt of such notice by Issuer.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from paying the
Surrender Price to Grantee in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify Grantee
and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to Grantee,
the portion of the Surrender Price that it is no longer prohibited from paying,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so
prohibited; provided, however, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
notice of surrender pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 14 is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative
policy, from
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paying to Grantee the Surrender Price in full, (i) Issuer shall (A) use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals
and to file any required notices as promptly as practicable in order to make
such payments, (B) within five days of the submission or receipt of any
documents relating to any such regulatory and legal approvals, provide Grantee
with copies of the same, and (c) keep Grantee advised of both the status of any
such request for regulatory and legal approvals, as well as any discussions
with any relevant regulatory or other third party reasonably related to the
same and (ii) Grantee may revoke such notice of surrender by delivery of a
notice of revocation to Issuer and, upon delivery of such notice of revocation,
the Exercise Termination Date shall be extended to a date six months from the
date on which the Exercise Termination Date would have occurred if not for the
provisions of this Section 14(c) (during which period Grantee may exercise any
of its rights hereunder, including any and all rights pursuant to this Section
14).
15. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an inadequate
remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that the
obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief. In connection therewith both
parties waive the posting of any bond or similar requirement.
16. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this
Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory
agency determines that the Holder is not permitted to acquire, or Issuer is not
permitted to repurchase pursuant to Section 7, the full number of shares of
Common Stock provided in Section l(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section
l(b) or Section 5 hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the
Holder to acquire or to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of
shares as may be permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.
17. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
fax, telecopy, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) at the respective addresses of the parties set forth in the
Merger Agreement.
18. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of West Virginia, without regard to the conflict of law
principles thereof (except to the extent that mandatory provisions of Federal
law or of the VSCA are applicable).
19. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement.
20. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its
behalf in connection with the transactions
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contemplated hereunder, including fees and expenses of its own financial
consultants, investment bankers, accountants and counsel.
21. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Merger
Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes all
prior arrangements or understandings with respect thereof, written or oral.
The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assignees. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to
confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective
successors except as assignees, any rights, remedies, obligations or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided
herein.
22. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the
date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BANKSHARES, INC.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Secretary
UNITED BANKSHARES, INC.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
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