AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among Eastern Bank Corporation, Eastern Bank, Minuteman Acquisition Corp., MASSBANK Corp. and MASSBANK Dated as of March 10, 2008
Exhibit 2.1
by and among
Eastern Bank Corporation,
Eastern Bank,
Minuteman Acquisition Corp.,
and
MASSBANK
Dated as of March 10, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I THE MERGER |
1 | |||
1.1 The Merger |
1 | |||
1.2 Bank Merger |
2 | |||
1.3 Effective Date and Effective Time; Closing; Effects of the Merger |
2 | |||
1.4 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws |
2 | |||
1.5 Directors of the Surviving Corporation |
3 | |||
1.6 Officers of the Surviving Corporation |
3 | |||
ARTICLE II MERGER CONSIDERATION AND EXCHANGE PROCEDURES |
3 | |||
2.1 Merger Consideration |
3 | |||
2.2 Rights as Shareholders; Closing of the Company’s Transfer Books |
3 | |||
2.3 Exchange Procedures |
4 | |||
2.4 Options |
5 | |||
2.5 Tax Withholding |
6 | |||
2.6 Appraisal Rights |
6 | |||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY |
7 | |||
3.1 Making of Representations and Warranties |
7 | |||
3.2 Organization, Standing and Authority |
7 | |||
3.3 Capitalization |
8 | |||
3.4 Subsidiaries |
8 | |||
3.5 Corporate Power |
9 | |||
3.6 Corporate Authority |
9 | |||
3.7 Non-Contravention |
10 | |||
3.8 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws; Corporate Records |
10 | |||
3.9 Regulatory Approvals |
10 | |||
3.10 Compliance with Laws |
11 | |||
3.11 Litigation; Regulatory Action |
12 | |||
3.12 SEC Documents; Financial Reports; and Regulatory Reports |
12 | |||
3.13 Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
14 | |||
3.14 Taxes and Tax Returns |
15 | |||
3.15 Employee Benefit Plans |
17 | |||
3.16 Labor Matters |
21 | |||
3.17 Insurance |
22 | |||
3.18 Environmental Matters |
22 | |||
3.19 Intellectual Property |
25 | |||
3.20 Material Agreements; Defaults |
26 | |||
3.21 Property and Leases |
27 | |||
3.22 Regulatory Capitalization |
28 | |||
3.23 Loans; Nonperforming and Classified Assets |
28 | |||
3.24 Trust Business; Administration of Fiduciary Accounts |
29 | |||
3.25 Investment Management and Related Activities |
29 | |||
3.26 Risk Management Instruments |
29 | |||
3.27 Investment Securities and Commodities |
30 | |||
3.28 Repurchase Agreements |
30 | |||
3.29 Deposit Insurance |
30 |
3.30 CRA; Anti-money Laundering |
31 | |||
3.31 Transactions with Affiliates |
31 | |||
3.32 Inapplicability of Takeover Provisions |
31 | |||
3.33 Brokers; Fairness Opinion |
32 | |||
3.34 Rights Agreement |
32 | |||
3.35 Company Information |
32 | |||
3.36 Disclosure |
32 | |||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER |
33 | |||
4.1 Making of Representations and Warranties |
33 | |||
4.2 Organization, Standing and Authority |
33 | |||
4.3 Corporate Power |
34 | |||
4.4 Corporate Authority |
34 | |||
4.5 Regulatory Approvals |
34 | |||
4.6 Non-Contravention |
34 | |||
4.7 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws |
35 | |||
4.8 Compliance with Laws |
35 | |||
4.9 Litigation |
35 | |||
4.10 Regulatory Capitalization |
35 | |||
4.11 Deposit Insurance |
35 | |||
4.12 Sufficient Funds |
35 | |||
4.13 Net Worth |
36 | |||
4.14 Financial Condition of Buyer |
36 | |||
4.15 Brokers |
36 | |||
4.16 Information Supplied |
36 | |||
4.17 Disclosure |
36 | |||
ARTICLE V COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS |
36 | |||
5.1 Company Forbearances |
36 | |||
5.2 Buyer Forbearances |
40 | |||
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS |
40 | |||
6.1 Reasonable Best Efforts |
40 | |||
6.2 Shareholder Approval |
41 | |||
6.3 Publicity |
42 | |||
6.4 Access; Information |
43 | |||
6.5 No Solicitation |
43 | |||
6.6 Takeover Laws |
47 | |||
6.7 Regulatory Applications; Filings; Consents |
47 | |||
6.8 Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance |
48 | |||
6.9 Employees; Benefit Plans |
49 | |||
6.10 Notification of Certain Matters |
52 | |||
6.11 Confidentiality Agreement |
52 | |||
6.12 Current Information |
53 | |||
6.13 Transition; Informational Systems Conversion |
53 | |||
6.14 Access to Suppliers |
53 | |||
6.15 Environmental Assessments |
54 | |||
6.16 Stock Exchange De-listing |
54 | |||
6.17 Director Resignations |
54 |
6.18 Coordination |
54 | |||
6.19 Transactional Expenses |
55 | |||
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER |
56 | |||
7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the Merger |
56 | |||
7.2 Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer |
56 | |||
7.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company |
57 | |||
7.4 Frustration of Closing Conditions |
58 | |||
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION |
58 | |||
8.1 Termination |
58 | |||
8.2 Effect of Termination and Abandonment |
59 | |||
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS |
61 | |||
9.1 Survival |
61 | |||
9.2 Certain Definitions |
61 | |||
9.3 Waiver; Amendment |
68 | |||
9.4 Expenses |
68 | |||
9.5 Notices |
68 | |||
9.6 Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries |
69 | |||
9.7 Assignability; Binding Effect |
70 | |||
9.8 Headings; Interpretation |
70 | |||
9.9 Counterparts; Delivery |
70 | |||
9.10 Governing Law |
70 | |||
9.11 Jurisdiction |
70 | |||
9.12 Severability |
70 | |||
9.13 Enforcement |
70 |
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 10, 2008 (this “Agreement”) is by
and among Eastern Bank Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Buyer”), Eastern
Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered savings bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer (the “Buyer
Bank”), Minuteman Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Buyer (the “Merger Sub”), MASSBANK Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and MASSBANK, a Massachusetts-chartered savings bank and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
(the “Company Bank”).
BACKGROUND
A. The respective Boards of Directors of Buyer, Buyer Bank, Merger Sub, the Company and
Company Bank have determined that it is in the best interests of their respective corporations and
shareholders to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the strategic business combination
provided for herein, pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement: (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving
entity (the “Merger”); and (ii) after the Effective Time of the Merger at a date selected
by Buyer, Company Bank will merge with and into Buyer Bank, with Buyer Bank as the surviving entity
(the “Bank Merger”);
B. As a condition to the willingness of Buyer to enter into this Agreement, each of the
directors and executive officers of the Company (each a “Voting Agreement Shareholder” and
collectively, the “Voting Agreement Shareholders”) has entered into a Voting Agreement,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, dated as of the date hereof, with Buyer
(each a “Voting Agreement” and collectively, the “Voting Agreements”), pursuant to
which each Voting Agreement Shareholder has agreed, among other things, to vote such Voting
Agreement Shareholder’s shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company
(“Company Common Stock”) in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Voting
Agreement; and
C. The parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection
with the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and
agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth herein, and in reliance upon the
representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall
merge with and into the Company in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the “DGCL”). Upon consummation of the Merger, the separate corporate existence
of the Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall survive and continue to exist as a corporation
incorporated under the laws of Delaware (the Company, as the surviving corporation in the
Merger, sometimes being referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”).
1.2 Bank Merger. The Plan of Bank Merger, substantially in the form of Exhibit
B hereto, has been simultaneously entered into between Buyer Bank and Company Bank providing
for the Bank Merger, it being intended that the Bank Merger be consummated at a date selected by
Buyer in its sole discretion following consummation of the Merger, by, among other things, the
filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (the “Articles of Merger”).
1.3 Effective Date and Effective Time; Closing; Effects of the Merger.
(a) On the Closing Date, as promptly as practicable after all of the conditions set forth in
Article VII have been satisfied or, if permissible, waived by the party entitled to the benefit of
the same, Merger Sub and the Company shall execute and file with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware the certificate of merger related to the Merger (the “Certificate of
Merger”). The Merger provided for herein shall become effective upon the acceptance for filing
by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Merger or such later date
and time as may be set forth in the Certificate of Merger. The date of such filing or such later
effective date is herein called the “Effective Date.” The “Effective Time” of the
Merger shall be as specified in the Certificate of Merger.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall be consummated at a closing (the “Closing”) that will take place at
10:00 a.m., local time, on a date to be specified by the parties, which shall be no later than
three (3) Business Days after all of the conditions to the closing set forth in Article VII (other
than conditions to be satisfied at Closing, which are satisfied or waived (subject to applicable
law) at the Closing) have been satisfied or waived in accordance with terms hereof, at the
principal offices of Xxxxxx, XxXxxxxxx & Fish, LLP, in Boston, Massachusetts, or such other place
or on such other date as the parties may mutually agree upon in writing (such date, the
“Closing Date”), unless this Agreement has been theretofore terminated pursuant to its
terms or unless extended by mutual agreement of the parties. At the Closing, there shall be
delivered to Buyer and the Company the certificates and other documents required to be delivered
pursuant to Article VII.
(c) At and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in this
Agreement and in the appropriate provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall possess all
the rights, privileges, powers, and franchises, and be subject to all of the restrictions,
disabilities, and duties of the Company and Merger Sub, as provided under Section 259 of the DGCL.
1.4 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The Certificate of Incorporation of
Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (which shall contain such
provisions as are necessary to give full effect to the exculpation and indemnification provided for
in Section 6.8 hereof), shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation,
- 2 -
except the name of the Surviving Corporation shall continue to be MASSBANK Corp., until
thereafter amended as provided therein and in accordance with applicable law. The Bylaws of Merger
Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (which shall contain such provisions as
are necessary to give full effect to the exculpation and indemnification provided for in Section
6.8 hereof), shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided
therein and in accordance with applicable law.
1.5 Directors of the Surviving Corporation. The directors of Merger Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall become the directors of the Surviving Corporation, each of whom
shall serve in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation.
1.6 Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The officers of Merger Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall become the officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold
office in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE II
MERGER CONSIDERATION AND EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
2.1 Merger Consideration. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the
Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Buyer,
Merger Sub, the Company or any shareholder of the Company or Merger Sub:
(a) Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub that is issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one validly issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) Each share of Company Common Stock held as Treasury Stock immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be cancelled and retired at the Effective Time without any conversion thereof,
and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.
(c) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than Treasury Stock and Dissenting Shares) shall become and be converted
into, as provided in and subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the right to
receive $40.00 in cash (the “Merger Consideration”), payable to the holder thereof, in each
case without interest and less applicable Tax withholdings, if any, upon surrender of the
certificate formerly representing such share of the Company Common Stock and such other documents
as Buyer reasonably may require in accordance with Section 2.3.
2.2 Rights as Shareholders; Closing of the Company’s Transfer Books.
(a) All shares of Company Common Stock, when converted as provided in Section 2.1(c), shall no
longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist,
and each certificate (a “Certificate”) previously evidencing such shares,
- 3 -
and all uncertificated shares, shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the Merger
Consideration for each such share of Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, holders of
Company Common Stock shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as, shareholders of the Company,
other than the right to receive the Merger Consideration and the right to receive any unpaid
dividend with respect to the Company Common Stock with a record date occurring prior to the
Effective Time.
(b) At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and no
transfer of shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall thereafter be made, other than transfers of the Company Common Stock that have occurred
prior to the Effective Time.
2.3 Exchange Procedures.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, Buyer shall designate a bank or trust company reasonably
acceptable to the Company to act as paying agent in the Merger (the “Paying Agent”), and on
or before the Effective Time, Buyer shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Paying Agent
cash in an amount equal to the aggregate amounts payable under Section 2.1(c) (the “Exchange
Fund”). In the event the Exchange Fund shall be insufficient to make all such payments, Buyer
shall promptly deposit, or cause to be deposited, additional funds with the Paying Agent in an
amount that is equal to the deficiency in the amount of funds required to make such payments. The
Paying Agent shall make payments of the aggregate Merger Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in
accordance with this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose.
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time but in no event later than five
(5) Business Days after the date thereof, Buyer shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder
of record of Company Common Stock at the Effective Time (each an “Effective Date Holder”)
whose shares were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section
2.1(c): (i) a letter of transmittal in customary form for transactions of this nature (which shall
specify that for holders of shares issued in certificated form, delivery of such holder’s
Certificates shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only
upon actual delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent and shall be in such form and have
such other provisions as Buyer or the Paying Agent reasonably may specify), and (ii) instructions
for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration and
instructions for use by holders of shares issued in uncertificated form. Upon delivery to the
Paying Agent of a duly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as the Paying Agent
shall reasonably require, including where applicable delivery of Certificates, each Effective Date
Holder shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration for each share of
Company Common Stock covered by the letter of transmittal, in accordance with Section 2.1(c), and
the Certificates so surrendered shall be canceled. If a transfer of ownership of Company Common
Stock has occurred but has not been registered in the transfer records of the Company, a check
representing the proper amount of Merger Consideration may be issued to the transferee if the
Certificate representing such shares of Company Common Stock is presented to the Paying Agent
accompanied by all documents and endorsements required to evidence and effect such transfer and
evidence that any applicable
- 4 -
stock transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as provided in this Section 2.3, each
Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration for each share of Company Common Stock
represented thereby. No interest will be paid or accrue on any amounts payable upon surrender of
any Certificate.
(c) Promptly following the date that is one (1) year after the Effective Time, the Paying
Agent shall deliver to Buyer all cash and any documents in its possession or control relating to
the transactions described in this Agreement, and the Paying Agent’s duties shall terminate.
Thereafter, each holder of a Certificate may surrender such Certificate to Buyer and (subject to
applicable abandoned property, escheat or other similar laws) receive in exchange therefor the
Merger Consideration, payable upon due surrender of the Certificate without any interest thereon.
(d) If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, the
Paying Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger
Consideration deliverable in respect thereof determined in accordance with this Article II;
provided, however, that Buyer or the Paying Agent may, in its discretion, require
the delivery of an indemnity or bond in customary amount against any claim that may be made against
the Surviving Corporation with respect to such Certificate or ownership thereof.
(e) The Paying Agent shall invest any funds held by it for purposes of this Section 2.3 as
directed by Buyer, on a daily basis. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments
shall be paid to Buyer. To the extent that there are losses with respect to any such investments,
Buyer shall be responsible to ensure that the Paying Agent has access to funds sufficient to make
any required payments under this Article II promptly when due.
(f) None of Buyer, the Company, Buyer Bank, Company Bank, Merger Sub or the Paying Agent shall
be liable to any person in respect of any cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. If any Certificate shall not have been
surrendered prior to three (3) years after the Effective Time, or immediately prior to such earlier
date on which any of the Merger Consideration would otherwise escheat or become the property of any
Governmental Authority, the amount payable in respect thereof shall, to the extent permitted by
law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of
any Person previously entitled thereto.
2.4 Options.
(a) At the Effective Time, each option, warrant or other similar right to acquire shares of
Company Common Stock (each an “Option”) that then remains outstanding and originally was
granted under any Employee Program, whether or not then vested or exercisable, automatically shall
be terminated at the Effective Time and converted into the right of the holder thereof to receive
thereupon in full satisfaction of such Option as of the Effective Time, an amount in cash (subject
to any applicable withholding Taxes) equal to the product of (x) the excess, if any, of the Merger
Consideration over the applicable exercise price of such
- 5 -
Option and (y) the number (determined without reference to vesting requirements or other
limitations on exercisability) of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such
Option (the “Option Consideration”). For the avoidance of doubt, Buyer and the Company
acknowledge and agree that any Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
and has an exercise price greater than the Merger Consideration shall expire without the right to
receive any Company Common Stock or any payment in lieu thereof.
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, Buyer or the Surviving
Corporation shall mail to each holder of an Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, a check
in an amount equal to the Option Consideration due and payable to such holder pursuant to Section
2.4(a) in respect of such Option.
2.5 Tax Withholding. Each of Buyer, the Surviving Corporation, and the Paying Agent
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this
Agreement to any former holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Options, as the case may be,
such amounts as Buyer, the Surviving Corporation, or the Paying Agent is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”), or any other provision of federal, state, local or foreign Tax law.
To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Buyer, the Surviving Corporation, or the Paying
Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been
paid to the former holder of the shares of Company Common Stock or Options in respect of which such
deduction and withholding was made by Buyer, the Surviving Corporation, or the Paying Agent.
2.6 Appraisal Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any shares (the
“Dissenting Shares”) of Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time and that are held by Company Shareholders who, in accordance with
Section 262 of the DGCL (the “Appraisal Rights Provisions”), (i) have not voted in favor of
approving this Agreement, (ii) shall have demanded properly in writing appraisal for such shares,
(iii) have otherwise complied in all respects with the Appraisal Rights Provisions, and (iv) have
not effectively withdrawn, lost or failed to perfect their rights to appraisal (the “Dissenting
Shareholders”), will not be converted into Merger Consideration, but at the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, shall be cancelled
and shall cease to exist and shall represent the right to receive only those rights provided under
the Appraisal Rights Provisions; provided, however, that all shares of Company
Common Stock held by Company Shareholders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall
have withdrawn or lost their rights to appraisal of such shares of Company Common Stock under the
Appraisal Rights Provisions shall thereupon be deemed to have been cancelled and to have been
converted, as of the Effective Time, into the right to receive the Merger Consideration relating
thereto, without interest, in the manner provided in Sections 2.1 and 2.3.
(b) The Company shall give Buyer and Merger Sub prompt notice of any demands received by the
Company for the exercise of appraisal rights with respect to shares of
- 6 -
Company Common Stock, and Buyer shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company shall not, except with the prior written
consent of Buyer, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
3.1 Making of Representations and Warranties.
(a) As a material inducement to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and Company Bank jointly and
severally hereby make to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub the representations and warranties
contained in this Article III.
(b) On or prior to the date hereof, the Company has delivered to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger
Sub a schedule (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”) listing, among other things, items the
disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate in relation to any or all of the Company’s and
Company Bank’s representations and warranties contained in this Article III; provided,
however, that no such item is required to be set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule
as an exception to a representation or warranty if its absence is not reasonably likely to result
in the related representation or warranty being untrue or incorrect under the standards established
by Section 3.1(c).
(c) No representation or warranty of the Company and Company Bank contained in this Article
III shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and the Company and Company Bank shall not be deemed to
have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact,
circumstance or event unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with
all other facts, circumstances or events inconsistent with any section of this Article III, has had
or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; provided,
however, that the foregoing standard shall not apply to the representations and warranties
contained in Sections 3.3, 3.4(a), 3.5, 3.6, 3.9(a) and 3.32, as well as the first two sentences of
Section 3.2, and the last sentence of Section 3.15(g), which shall be deemed untrue, incorrect and
breached if they are not true and correct in all respects.
3.2 Organization, Standing and Authority. The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company is duly
registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended
(“BHCA”), and the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
“FRB”) promulgated thereunder. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good
standing in the jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its
business requires it to be so qualified. A complete and correct list of all such jurisdictions is
set forth on Schedule 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
- 7 -
3.3 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists solely of (i)
10,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which 4,233,079 shares are issued and outstanding,
and (ii) 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, none of which are issued
and outstanding. As of the date hereof, there were 60,000 shares of the Company’s preferred stock
designated as “Series B Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock” and reserved for issuance
pursuant to the Rights Agreement. In addition, as of the date hereof, there are 254,575 shares of
Company Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding Options. The outstanding
shares of the Company Common Stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable with no
personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof, and subject to no preemptive or similar
rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights). Other than shares
issuable under the Rights Agreement, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.3 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, (A) there are no additional shares of the Company’s capital stock authorized
or reserved for issuance, (B) the Company does not have any securities (including units of
beneficial ownership interest in any partnership or limited liability company) convertible into or
exchangeable for any additional shares of stock, any stock appreciation rights, or any other rights
to subscribe for or acquire shares of its capital stock issued and outstanding, and (C) the Company
does not have, and is not bound by, any commitment to authorize, issue or sell any such shares or
other rights.
(b) Except for the Rights Agreement and as set forth on Schedule 3.3 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the
Company, or to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital
contribution or otherwise) in any Subsidiary of the Company.
(c) Schedule 3.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date hereof,
for each Option, the name of the grantee, the date of grant, the type of grant, the status of the
Option grant as qualified or non-qualified under Section 422 of the Code, the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to each Option, the vesting schedule of each Option, the number of
shares of Company Common Stock that are currently exercisable with respect to such Option, the
expiration date of each Option, and the exercise price per share. Schedule 3.3 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule also sets forth the weighted average exercise price of all outstanding
Options.
3.4 Subsidiaries.
(a) (i) Schedule 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and
correct list of all of the Company’s Subsidiaries, including the jurisdiction of organization of
each such Subsidiary and the authorized and outstanding shares of capital stock of such Subsidiary,
(ii) the Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding equity securities
of each Subsidiary, (iii) no equity securities of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries are or may
become required to be issued, sold or otherwise transferred (other than to the Company) by reason
of any contractual right or otherwise, (iv) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or
arrangements by which any of such Subsidiaries is or
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may be bound to sell or otherwise transfer any of its equity securities (other than to the
Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company), (v) there are no contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements relating to the Company’s rights to vote or to dispose of such
securities, and (vi) all of the equity securities of each such Subsidiary held by the Company,
directly or indirectly, are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, not subject to preemptive
or similar rights and are owned by the Company free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens,
security interests, conditional and installment sale agreements, encumbrances, charges or other
claims of third parties of any kind (collectively, “Liens”).
(b) Except for equity interests held in the investment portfolios of the Company’s
Subsidiaries, equity interests held by the Company’s Subsidiaries in a fiduciary capacity, and
equity interests held in connection with the lending activities of the Company’s Subsidiaries,
including stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, in each case acquired in the ordinary
course of business consistent with recent past practice, and except as set forth on Schedule
3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own (other than in a bona fide
fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted) beneficially, directly or
indirectly, any equity securities or similar interests of any Person, or any interest in a joint
venture of any kind.
(c) Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries has been duly organized and qualified under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its organization and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in
the jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business
requires it to be so qualified. A complete and correct list of all such jurisdictions is set forth
on Schedule 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
3.5 Corporate Power. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has the requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all
of its properties and assets; and each of the Company and Company Bank has the requisite corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations under this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to obtaining the Company
Shareholder Approval.
3.6 Corporate Authority. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
subject to the Company Shareholder Approval, have been authorized by all necessary corporate action
of the Company and the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) and Company
Bank and the board of directors of Company Bank (the “Company Bank Board”). The Company
Board and the Company Bank Board (i) approved this Agreement and determined that this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are advisable and in the best interests
of the holders of Company Common Stock and (ii) resolved to recommend that the holders of Company
Common Stock vote for the approval of this Agreement at the Company Meeting. The Plan of Bank
Merger has been approved by the Company as the holder of all of the outstanding shares of Company
Bank common stock. Each of the Company and Company Bank has duly executed and delivered this
Agreement and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Buyer, Buyer Bank, and
Merger Sub, this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company and Company Bank,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may
be limited by
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bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by a court’s application of
general equitable principles (the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”).
3.7 Non-Contravention. Subject to the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals, the
required filings under federal and state securities laws, the receipt of the Company Shareholder
Approval and the filing of the Certificate of Merger, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.7
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the
Merger) by each of the Company and Company Bank do not and will not (i) constitute a breach or
violation of, or a default under, result in a right of termination or the acceleration of any right
or obligation under, any law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order, permit, license,
credit agreement, indenture, loan, note, bond, mortgage, reciprocal easement agreement, lease,
instrument, concession, franchise or other agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, properties or assets is subject or bound, (ii)
constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the Company’s Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws or Company Bank’s Articles of Organization or Bylaws, or (iii) require the
consent or approval of any third party under any such law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree,
order, permit, license, credit agreement, indenture, loan, note, bond, mortgage, reciprocal
easement agreement, lease, instrument, concession, franchise or other agreement.
3.8 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws; Corporate Records. The Company has made
available to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub a complete and correct copy of the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended
to date, of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. The Company is not in violation of any of the
terms of its Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. The minute books of the Company and
each of its Subsidiaries contain complete and accurate records of all meetings held, and complete
and accurate records of all other corporate actions of their respective shareholders and boards of
directors (including committees of their respective boards of directors).
3.9 Regulatory Approvals.
(a) No consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with, any
Governmental Authority are required to be made or obtained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) filings of
applications or notices with, and consents, approvals or waivers by the FRB, the FDIC, the Office
of the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks and the Massachusetts Board of Bank Incorporation, (ii)
the obtaining by Buyer of a letter from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund (the
“MHPF”) to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks stating that Buyer has made
“satisfactory arrangements” with the MHPF, (iii) obtaining by Buyer from the Depositors Insurance
Fund (the “DIF”) a letter to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks stating that
“arrangements satisfactory to the Depositors Insurance Fund” have been made in connection with the
Bank Merger, (iv) the filing of the Certificate of Merger, (v) the filing with the SEC of a proxy
statement (as amended and supplemented, the “Proxy Statement”) and related proxy
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materials to be used in soliciting the Company Shareholders approval and the filing of such
other reports under and such other compliance with the Exchange Act as may be required in respect
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (vi) the approval of this Agreement by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the “Company
Shareholder Approval”), and (vii) compliance with the rule and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock
Market.
(b) As of the date hereof, the Company is not aware of any reason relating to the Company or
Company Bank (including, without limitation, Community Reinvestment Act compliance or the USA
Patriot Act) (i) why all of the Regulatory Approvals shall not be procured from the applicable
Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or (ii) why any Burdensome Condition would be imposed.
3.10 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries:
(a) to the Knowledge of the Company, is in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders or decrees applicable thereto or to the employees conducting their businesses,
including, without limitation, state usury laws, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Truth in Lending Act,
the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Homeowners Ownership and Equity Protection Act,
the Fair Debt Collections Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Home
Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Truth in Savings Act, and all other applicable consumer protection
laws, fair lending laws and other laws relating to discriminatory business practices. In addition,
each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable
laws, privacy policies and terms of use or other contractual obligations relating to privacy, data
security, and the collection, storage, use and dissemination of consumer information, including
nonpublic personal information. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have reasonable data
security and consumer information protections in place, in compliance with the Interagency
Guidelines Establishing Information Security Standards, and there has been no material breach
thereof or loss of data since December 31, 2005;
(b) has all material permits, licenses, authorizations, orders, franchises and approvals of,
and has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental Authorities that
are required in order to permit them to own or lease their properties and to conduct their
businesses as presently conducted; all such material permits, licenses, authorizations, orders,
franchises and approvals are in full force and effect and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no
suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened; and
(c) has not received, since December 31, 2004, any written, or to the Knowledge of the
Company, oral, notification from any Governmental Authority (i) asserting that the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is not in material compliance with any statute, law, regulation, ordinance,
rule, judgment, order or decree, or threatening an investigation with respect to possible
violations of same, (ii) threatening revocation of any license, authorization, order, franchise or
approval, (iii) threatening revocation or limitation of, or which would have the effect of revoking
or limiting, federal deposit insurance (nor, to the Knowledge of the
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Company, is there any fact or circumstance reasonably apparent that would reasonably be
expected to give rise to such revocation or termination), or (iv) failing to approve any proposed
acquisition, or stating its intention not to approve acquisitions, proposed to be effected by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries within a certain time period or indefinitely.
3.11 Litigation; Regulatory Action.
(a) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed or furnished prior to the date of
this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no
litigation, claim, suit, investigation or other proceeding before any court, Governmental Authority
or arbitrator is pending against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and, to the Knowledge of
the Company, no such litigation, claim, suit, investigation or other proceeding has been threatened
and there are no facts that are reasonably apparent that would reasonably be expected to give rise
to any litigation, claim, suit, investigation or other proceeding that would result in a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective properties is
a party to or is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order or enforcement action, assistance
agreement, board resolution, order, decree, supervisory agreement, memorandum of understanding,
condition or similar arrangement with, or a commitment letter or similar submission to, any
Governmental Authority charged with the supervision or regulation of financial institutions or
issuers of securities or engaged in the insurance of deposits (including, without limitation, the
FRB, the FDIC, and the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks) or the supervision or regulation of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been subject to any order
or directive by, or been ordered to pay any civil money penalty by, or has been since December 31,
2004, a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or since December 31, 2004, has adopted any
policies, procedures or board resolutions at the request or suggestion of, any Governmental
Authority that currently regulates in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in
any manner relates to its capital adequacy, its ability to pay dividends, its credit or risk
management policies, its management or its business, other than those of general application that
apply to similarly-situated bank or financial holding companies or their Subsidiaries.
(c) No Governmental Authority has advised the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in writing,
or to the Knowledge of the Company, orally, that it will issue any such order, decree, agreement,
board resolution, memorandum of understanding, supervisory letter, commitment letter, condition or
similar submission, nor to the Knowledge of the Company is there any fact or circumstance
reasonably apparent that would reasonably be expected to give rise to the issuance of any such
order, decree, agreement, board resolution, memorandum of understanding, supervisory letter,
commitment letter, condition or similar submission.
3.12 SEC Documents; Financial Reports; and Regulatory Reports.
(a) The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended through the date hereof, for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (the “Company 2006 Form 10-K”), and
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all other reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements or information
statements required to be filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries subsequent to December
31, 2004 under the Securities Act, or under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
(collectively, the “Company SEC Documents”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), and all of the Company SEC Documents filed with the SEC after the date hereof, in
the form filed or to be filed, (i) complied or will comply, at the time filed, in all material
respects as to form with the applicable requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
as the case may be, and (ii) did not and will not contain, at the time filed, any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(b) The Company has provided to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub a complete and correct copy
of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Company
Balance Sheet”) as of December 31, 2007 (the “Company Balance Sheet Date”) and the
audited consolidated statements of income and changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows or
equivalent statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2007 (together with the Company Balance Sheet, the “2007 Company
Financial Statements”). The Company Balance Sheet, and each of the balance sheets contained in
or incorporated by reference into any Company SEC Document filed with the SEC after the date hereof
(including the related notes and schedules thereto) fairly presents and will fairly present the
financial position of the entity or entities to which such balance sheet relates as of its date;
and each statement of income and changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows or equivalent
statements in the 2007 Company Financial Statements and each such statement contained in or
incorporated by reference into any Company SEC Document filed with the SEC after the date hereof
(including any related notes and schedules thereto) fairly present and will fairly present the
results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and changes in cash flows, as the case may
be, of the entity or entities to which such statement relates for the periods to which it relates,
in each case in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except in
each case as may be noted therein, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of
unaudited statements. Since December 31, 2007, except for (i) liabilities that are fully reflected
or reserved against in the Company Balance Sheet, (ii) liabilities discharged or otherwise
satisfied in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practices, and (iii)
liabilities incurred since the Company Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business
consistent with recent past practices or in connection with this Agreement, neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has any liability or obligation of any nature (whether accrued, absolute,
contingent or otherwise) required by GAAP to be set forth on its consolidated balance sheet or in
the notes thereto. The books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been, and will
be, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and
accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions. Each of the balance sheets contained
in or incorporated by reference into any Company SEC Document, and each of the statements of income
and changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows or equivalent statements in such Company SEC
Document has been prepared from, and is in accordance with, the books and records of the Company
and its Subsidiaries.
- 13 -
(c) The records, systems, controls, data and information of the Company and its Subsidiaries
are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or
photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and
direct control of the Company or its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access
thereto and therefrom), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would
not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the system of internal accounting
controls described below in Section 3.12(d).
(d) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries, officers and directors are in compliance with,
and have complied, with (1) the applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended
(“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx”) and the related rules and regulations promulgated under such act and the
Exchange Act and (2) the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the
Nasdaq Stock Market. The Company (i) has established and maintained disclosure controls and
procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs
(e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under
the Exchange Act, and (ii) has disclosed based on its most recent evaluations, to its outside
auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (A) all significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (B) any fraud, whether or not
material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting. Since December 31, 2006, (i) neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee,
auditor, accountant or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received or
otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim
regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged
in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (ii) no attorney representing the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has
reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar
violation by the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the Company
Board or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Company.
(e) Since December 31, 2004, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
SEC comment letter.
(f) Since December 31, 2004, the Company and its Subsidiaries have duly filed with the FRB,
the FDIC, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks and any other applicable Governmental Authority,
in correct form, the reports required to be filed under applicable laws and regulations and such
reports were in all material respects complete and accurate in compliance with the requirements of
applicable laws and regulations
3.13 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. As of the date of this Agreement and except
as disclosed in Schedule 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company
- 14 -
SEC Documents filed or furnished prior to the date of this Agreement, or as otherwise
expressly permitted or expressly contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2007, there has
not been (i) any change or development in the business, operations, assets, liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, cash flows or properties of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any change by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in its accounting principles, or any material change by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in its accounting methods or practices, in each case other than changes required by
applicable law or GAAP or regulatory accounting, (iii) any entry by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries into any contract or commitment of (A) more than $100,000 or (B) $50,000 per annum
with a term of more than one year, other than loans and loan commitments and investments and
investment commitments that in each case were entered into in the ordinary course of business
consistent with recent past practice, (iv) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
dividend or distribution in respect of any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or any redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any of its securities, other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice, (v) other than the payment of
year-end bonuses for 2007 in the approximate aggregate amount set forth on Schedule 3.13 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, and except as would be permitted by Section 5.1(d) after the date
hereof, any increase in or establishment of any bonus, insurance, severance, deferred compensation,
pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option (including, without limitation, the granting of
stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, or restricted stock awards), stock
purchase or other employee benefit plan, or any other increase in the compensation payable or to
become payable to any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
any grant of severance or termination pay, or any contract or arrangement entered into to make or
grant any severance or termination pay, any payment of any bonus, or the taking of any action not
in the ordinary course of business with respect to the compensation or employment of any director,
officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (vi) any material election made by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for federal or state income Tax purposes, (vii) any material
change in the credit policies or procedures of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the effect
of which was or is to make any such policy or procedure less restrictive in any respect, (viii) any
material acquisition or disposition of any assets or properties, or any contract for any such
acquisition or disposition entered into other than loans and loan commitments, or (ix) any material
lease of real or personal property entered into, other than in connection with foreclosed property
or in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice.
3.14 Taxes and Tax Returns. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule:
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed (or have caused to be timely
filed on their behalf) (after taking into account any extension of time within which to file) in
correct form all Tax Returns that were required to be filed by any of them, and have paid (or have
caused to be paid on their behalf) all Taxes shown as due on any Tax Returns, except for Taxes that
are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.
- 15 -
(b) No assessment that has not been settled or otherwise resolved has been made with respect
to Taxes, other than such additional Taxes as are being diligently contested in good faith and
which are described on Schedule 3.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. The Tax Returns of
the Company and its Subsidiaries have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”)
or other taxing authority, as applicable, for all years through December 31, 2003 (or the statute
of limitations has closed without examination) and any liability with respect thereto has been
satisfied. There is no dispute pending or written claim asserted for Taxes or assessments upon
either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries been
requested to give, or has given, any currently effective waiver extending the statutory period of
limitation applicable to any Tax assessment or deficiency. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax
Return. No deficiency in Taxes or other proposed adjustment that has not been settled or otherwise
resolved has been asserted in writing by any taxing authority against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Tax Return of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is now under examination by any applicable taxing authority. There is no Lien for
Taxes (other than current Taxes not yet due and payable) on any of the assets of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries.
(c) Adequate provision has been made on the Company Balance Sheet for all Taxes of the Company
and its Subsidiaries in respect of all periods through the Company Balance Sheet Date. In addition,
(A) proper and accurate amounts have been withheld by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries from
its respective employees for all prior periods in compliance in all respects with the Tax
withholding provisions of applicable federal, state, county and local laws; (B) federal, state,
county and local Tax Returns, which are complete and accurate in all material respects, have been
filed by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries for all periods for which Tax Returns were due
with respect to income Tax withholding, Social Security and unemployment Taxes; and (C) the amounts
shown on such Tax Returns to be due and payable have been paid in full or adequate provision
therefor has been included by the Company in its consolidated financial statements included in the
Company 2006 Form 10-K, or, with respect to Tax Returns filed after the date hereof, will be so
paid or provided for in the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the period covered
by such Tax Returns. Since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for Taxes arising from extraordinary gains or losses,
as that term is used in GAAP, outside the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past
practice. The Company has made available to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub correct and complete
copies of all federal income Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies
assessed against or agreed to by the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries filed or received since
December 31, 2003.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Tax
indemnification, Tax allocation or Tax sharing agreement with any Person or has any current or
potential contractual obligation to indemnify any other Person with respect to Taxes.
(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has filed or been included in a combined,
consolidated or unitary income Tax Return (including any consolidated federal income Tax Return)
other than one of which the Company was the parent.
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(f) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any payment, is obligated to make any payment, or
is a party to any agreement that could obligate it or its successor after the Merger to make any
payment that will not be deductible under Code Section 162(m) or Code Section 280G.
(g) No property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is property that is or will be
required to be treated as being owned by another Person pursuant to the provisions of Section
168(f)(8) of the Code (as in effect prior to its amendment by the Tax Reform Act of 1986) or is
“tax exempt use property” within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has been required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section
481 of the Code by reason of a voluntary change in accounting method initiated by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, and the IRS has not initiated or proposed any such adjustment or change in
accounting method.
(h) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries will be required to include any item of income in,
or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof)
ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (A) closing agreement as described in Code
Section 7121 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or foreign income Tax law)
executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (B) intercompany transactions or any excess loss account
described in Treasury Regulations under Code Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar
provision of state, local, or foreign income Tax law); (C) installment sale or open transaction
disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; or (D) prepaid amount received on or prior to the
Closing Date.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another Person,
or has had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended
to be governed in whole or in part by Code Section 355 or Section 361.
3.15 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Schedule 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of every
Employee Program that is currently maintained by the Company or an ERISA Affiliate, or with respect
to which the Company or an ERISA Affiliate has any liability, known or unknown.
(b) Each Employee Program which has ever been maintained by the Company or an ERISA Affiliate
and which has been intended to qualify under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(9) of the Code has received a
favorable determination or approval letter from the IRS regarding its qualification under such
section. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all
amendments and filings required to maintain the qualified status of any Employee Program after
initial qualification have been adopted or made on a timely basis. No event or omission has
occurred which would reasonably be likely to cause any Employee Program to lose its qualification
or otherwise fail to satisfy the relevant requirements to provide tax-favored benefits under the
applicable Code Section (including, without limitation, Code Sections 105, 106, 125, 132, 137,
401(a), 409A and 501(c)(9)). Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(b) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, each asset held under any such Employee Program may be liquidated or
terminated without the imposition of any redemption fee, surrender charge
- 17 -
or comparable liability. No partial termination (within the meaning of Section 411(d)(3) of
the Code) has occurred with respect to any Employee Program.
(c) Each Employee Program intended to qualify as an employee stock ownership plan within the
meaning of Section 4975(e) of the Code (an “ESOP”) satisfies the applicable requirements of
Section 409 of the Code including, without limitation, Section 409(e). Each ESOP provides that
shares of Company Common Stock held as a plan asset shall be voted by the ESOP’s trustee (or other
applicable named fiduciary) in a manner that conforms with the Code and the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any
failure of any party to comply with any laws applicable with respect to the Employee Programs
maintained by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate. With respect to any Employee Program maintained
by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, there has been no (i) “prohibited transaction,” as defined
in Section 406 of ERISA or Code Section 4975, (ii) failure to comply with any provision of ERISA,
other applicable law, or any agreement, or (iii) non-deductible contribution, which, in the case of
any of (i), (ii), or (iii), could subject the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to liability either
directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, through any obligation of indemnification or
contribution) for any damages, penalties, or Taxes, or any other loss or expense. No litigation or
governmental administrative proceeding (or investigation) or other proceeding (other than those
relating to routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened, with respect to any such Employee Program. All payments and contributions required to
have been made (under the provisions of any agreements or other governing documents or applicable
law) with respect to any and all Employee Programs ever maintained by the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate, for all periods prior to the Closing Date, inclusive, either have been made or have been
properly accrued.
(e) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever maintained, or contributed to (or
been obligated to contribute to) a Multiemployer Plan. Except as described in
Schedule 3.15(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any ERISA
Affiliate has ever maintained, or contributed to (or been obligated to contribute to) any Employee
Program which has been subject to Title IV of ERISA or Code Section 412 or ERISA Section 302.
Except as described in Schedule 3.15(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the
Employee Programs ever maintained by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has ever provided health
care or any other non-pension benefits to any employees after their employment is terminated (other
than as required by part 6 of subtitle B of Title I of ERISA) or has ever promised to provide such
post-termination benefits.
(f) With respect to each Employee Program, complete and correct copies of the following
documents (if applicable to such Employee Program) have been made available to Buyer, Buyer Bank
and Merger Sub: (i) all documents embodying or governing such Employee Program, and any funding
medium for the Employee Program (including, without limitation, trust agreements) as they may have
been amended to the date hereof; (ii) the most recent IRS determination or approval letter with
respect to such Employee Program under Code Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(9), and any applications for
determination or approval subsequently filed with the IRS; (iii) the two (2) most recently filed
IRS Forms 5500, with all applicable schedules and
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accountants’ opinions attached thereto; (iv) the two (2) most recent actuarial valuation
reports completed with respect to such Employee Program; (v) the summary plan description for such
Employee Program (or other descriptions of such Employee Program provided to employees) and all
modifications thereto; and (vi) any correspondence since December 31, 2001 from any Governmental
Authority with respect to any Employee Program that threatens any litigation, claim, suit,
investigation or other proceeding against the Company, any ERISA Affiliate or any Employee Program
or that refers to or alleges any fact or circumstance which could reasonably be expected to give
rise to any such litigation, claim, suit, investigation or other proceeding, together with any
response thereto by or on behalf of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Employee Program.
(g) Except as described in Schedule 3.15(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each
Employee Program required to be listed on Schedule 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule may be amended, terminated, or otherwise modified by the Company to the greatest extent
permitted by applicable law, including the elimination of any and all future benefit accruals under
any Employee Program and no employee communications or provision of any Employee Program document
has failed to effectively reserve the right of the Company or the ERISA Affiliate to so amend,
terminate or otherwise modify such Employee Program. Except as described in
Schedule 3.15(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of
this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or
in conjunction with any other event) result in, cause the accelerated vesting, funding or delivery
of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to any current or former employee,
officer, director or service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(h) Each Employee Program ever maintained by the Company (including each non-qualified
deferred compensation arrangement) has been maintained in compliance with all applicable
requirements of federal and state laws, including securities laws, including (without limitation,
if applicable) the requirements that the offering of interests in such Employee Program be
registered under the Securities Act and/or state “blue sky” laws.
(i) Each Employee Program ever maintained by the Company or an ERISA Affiliate has complied
with the applicable notification and other applicable requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, the Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of
1996, the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998, and
any other applicable federal or state law.
(j) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(j) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no
Employee Program is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, as such term is defined under
Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code and the guidance thereunder (a “409A Plan”) nor are there
any so-called “rabbi trusts” or “secular trusts” established to satisfy, in whole or in part, the
obligations of any such plan. Each 409A Plan has been operated in good faith compliance with
Section 409A of the Code since January 1, 2005. Each 409A Plan complies in all respects, in both
form and operation, with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations
and guidance thereunder. No payment to be made under any 409A Plan is, or to the
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Knowledge of the Company will be, includible in gross income of any participant in such 409A
Plan pursuant to Sections 409A(a)(1)(A) or 409A(b) of the Code or subject to interest or additional
tax pursuant to Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. No Option granted by the Company provides or
provided for a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, and all such Options
were granted with an exercise price equal to at least 100% of the fair market value of the
underlying Company Common Stock on the date the Option was granted based upon a reasonable
valuation method acceptable for purposes of both 409A and GAAP.
(k) The Company, Company Bank, and each of their Affiliates have complied in all respects with
the Massachusetts law known as “An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health
Care,” as amended, including, without limitation, timely adoption and administration in accordance
with 956 CMR 4.01 through 4.08 of a Section 125 plan for all employees for whom such plan is
required, filing of all reporting and disclosure requirements (including, without limitation, all
requirements with respect to Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure forms) and the
non-discriminatory offer and equal availability requirements.
(l) All Options have been granted in compliance with the terms of the applicable Employee
Program, with applicable law, and with the applicable provisions of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company as in effect at the applicable time, and all such Options
are accurately disclosed as required under applicable law in the Company SEC Documents, including
the financial statements contained therein or attached thereto (if amended or superseded by a
filing with the SEC made prior to the date of this Agreement, as so amended or superseded).
(m) No penalties have been imposed on the Company, any Subsidiary, any Employee Program, or
any employee, officer, director, administrator or agent thereof under Sections 1176 or 1177 of the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended.
(n) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15(n) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action to take corrective action or
make a filing under any voluntary correction program of the IRS, Department of Labor or any other
Governmental Authority with respect to any Employee Program, and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any Knowledge of any plan defect including, without limitation, any defect that
would qualify for correction under any such program.
(o) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15(o) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each
qualified defined benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has assets valued in
excess of the accumulated benefit obligations of such plan.
(p) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Employee Program” means (A) all employee benefit plans within the
meaning of ERISA Section 3(3), including, but not limited to, multiple employer
welfare arrangements (within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(40)), plans to which
more than one unaffiliated employer contributes and employee
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benefit plans (such as foreign or excess benefit plans) which are not subject
to ERISA; (B) all stock option plans, stock purchase plans, bonus or incentive award
plans, severance pay policies or agreements, deferred compensation agreements,
supplemental income arrangements, vacation plans, and all other employee benefit
plans, agreements, and arrangements (including any informal arrangements) not
described in (A) above, including, without limitation, any arrangement intended to
comply with Code Sections 105, 106, 120, 125, 127, 129, 132 or 137; and (C) all
plans or arrangements providing compensation to employees, non-employee directors or
other service providers (including, in each case, their beneficiaries), including,
without limitation, any employment agreements, severance agreements, change in
control agreements or similar agreements. In the case of an Employee Program funded
through a trust described in Code Section 401(a) or an organization described in
Code Section 501(c)(9), or any other funding vehicle, each reference to such
Employee Program shall include a reference to such trust, organization or other
vehicle.
(ii) An entity “maintains” an Employee Program if such entity sponsors,
contributes to, or provides benefits under or through such Employee Program, or has
any obligation (by agreement or under applicable law) to contribute to or provide
benefits under or through such Employee Program, or if such Employee Program
provides benefits to or otherwise covers employees of such entity (or their spouses,
dependents, or beneficiaries).
(iii) An entity is an “ERISA Affiliate” of the Company if it would have
ever been considered a single employer with the Company under ERISA Section 4001(b)
or part of the same “controlled group” as the Company for purposes of ERISA Section
302(d)(8)(C) or Code Section 414(b).
(iv) “Multiemployer Plan” means an employee pension or welfare benefit
plan to which more than one unaffiliated employer contributes and which is
maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements.
3.16 Labor Matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all
federal, state and local laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions
of employment, and wages and hours, and other than normal accruals of wages during regular payroll
cycles, there are no arrearages in the payment of wages. There are no complaints, lawsuits,
arbitrations, administrative proceedings, or other proceedings of any nature pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries brought by or
on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employee, any person alleging to
be a current or former employee, any class of the foregoing, or any Governmental Authority,
relating to any such law or regulation, or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of
employment, wrongful termination of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or
tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other
agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries the subject of a proceeding
- 21 -
asserting that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice
(within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or seeking to compel the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to bargain with any labor organization as to wages and conditions of employment.
No work stoppage involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is involved in, or, to
the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with, any dispute, arbitration, lawsuit or administrative
proceeding relating to labor or employment matters that would reasonably be expected to interfere
in any respect with the respective business activities of the Company or its Subsidiaries. To the
Knowledge of the Company, no labor union is attempting to organize employees of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries. The Company has made available to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub a copy of
all written policies and procedures related to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ employees.
3.17 Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is insured, and during each
of the past three (3) calendar years has been insured, for reasonable amounts with financially
sound and reputable insurance companies against such risks as companies engaged in a similar
business would, in accordance with good business practice, customarily be insured, and has
maintained all insurance required by applicable laws and regulations. Schedule 3.17 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule lists all insurance policies maintained by the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries as of the date hereof. All of the policies and bonds maintained by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect and, to the Knowledge of the Company, all claims
thereunder have been filed in a due and timely manner and no such claim has been denied. Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach of or default under any insurance policy, and
to the Knowledge of the Company, there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or
the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a breach or default.
3.18 Environmental Matters. Except as described in Schedule 3.18 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule:
(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and each property owned, leased or operated by
any of them (each, a “Company Property”) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, the Loan
Properties, are, and, since December 31, 2004, have been, in material compliance with all
Environmental Laws.
(b) The Company has not received any notice from the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, or any other Governmental
Authority claiming that (i) any Company Property or any use thereof violates any Environmental Law,
or (ii) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective employees or agents has
violated any Environmental Law with respect to any Company Property.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any outstanding liability to the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States of America or any other Governmental Authority
under any Environmental Law. No Lien against any Company Property has arisen due to any
Environmental Law.
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(d) There is no suit, claim, action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened, before any Governmental Authority in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
been or, with respect to threatened proceedings, may be, named as a defendant, responsible party or
potentially responsible party (A) for alleged noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with any
Environmental Law or (B) relating to the release or presence of any Hazardous Materials or Oil at,
on, affecting or from any Company Property or any previously owned, operated or leased property.
(e) To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received or been named in any written notice regarding a matter on which a suit, claim, action or
proceeding as described in Section 3.18(d) would reasonably be based.
(f) During the period of (i) the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ ownership or operation
of any Company Property or (ii) the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ holding of a security
interest in a Loan Property, to the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no release of
Hazardous Material or Oil at, on, affecting or from any Company Property or Loan Property, and no
Hazardous Material is present at, on, affecting or from any Company Property or Loan Property that
would reasonably be expected to result in any material liability or obligation pursuant to
Environmental Laws. To the Knowledge of the Company, prior to the period of the Company’s or any of
its Subsidiaries’ ownership or operation of any Company Property or any previously owned, operated
or leased property, there was no release or presence of Hazardous Material or Oil at, on, affecting
or from any Company Property or any previously owned, operated or leased property that would
reasonably be expected to result in any material liability or obligation pursuant to Environmental
Laws.
(g) No Hazardous Materials have been or are currently generated, stored, transported,
utilized, disposed of, managed, released or located at, on, affecting or from any Company Property,
whether or not in reportable quantities, or have been in any manner introduced onto any Company
Property, including, without limitation, any septic, sewage or other waste disposal systems
servicing any Company Property, in material violation of any Environmental Law.
(h) To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no underground storage tank on or under any
Company Property.
(i) The Company has obtained and is in compliance with every material permit, license and
approval required for any activity or operation at any Company Property by any Environmental Law.
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is an owner or operator (as such terms are
defined under any Environmental Law) of any Loan Property, and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any relationship to a Participation Facility.
(k) The Company has delivered to Buyer an accurate list, together with correct and complete
copies, of any and all environmental monitoring, sampling, tests or studies, and any report in
respect thereof, which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may have
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initiated, or were conducted by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any
and all environmental tests, studies or reports conducted or made by others which are in the
possession of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Company Property.
(l) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Loan Property” means any property in which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries holds a security interest, and, where required by the context (as a
result of foreclosure), said term means the owner or operator of such property;
(ii) “Participation Facility” means any facility in which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries participates or has participated in the management and,
where required by the context, said term means the owner or operator of such
property, pursuant to any Environmental Law;
(iii) “Hazardous Material” means any compound, chemical, pollutant,
contaminant, toxic substance, hazardous waste, hazardous material, or hazardous
substance (whether solid, liquid or gas), as any of the foregoing may be defined,
identified or regulated under or pursuant to any Environmental Laws, and including
without limitation, asbestos, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated
biphenyls, toxic mold, or fungi, or any other material that may pose a threat to the
Environment or to human health and safety but excludes substances in kind and
amounts used or stored for cleaning purposes or other maintenance or for the
operation of motor vehicles used by tenants (if applicable) or guests, and otherwise
in compliance with Environmental Laws;
(iv) “Oil” means oil or petroleum of any kind or origin or in any form,
as defined in or pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et
seq., the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention and Response
Act, X.X. x. 21E, or any other Environmental Law;
(v) “Environment” means any air, water vapor, surface water,
groundwater, drinking water supply, surface soil, subsurface soil, sediment, surface
or subsurface strata, plant and animal life, and any other environmental medium or
natural resource; and
(vi) “Environmental Law” means any federal, state, regional or local
law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, approval, consent
order, judgment, decree, injunction or agreement with any Governmental Authority
relating to (1) the protection, preservation or restoration of the Environment,
and/or (2) the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation,
processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of Hazardous
Material or Oil. The term “Environmental Law” includes without limitation
(a) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.; the Clean Air Act, as
- 24 -
amended, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as
amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15
U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Xxxx Xxx, 00
X.X.X. § 00000, et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f, et seq.; and
all comparable state, regional and local laws, regulations, policies or guidance,
and (b) any common law (including, without limitation, common law that may impose
strict liability) that may impose liability or obligations for injuries or damages
to persons or property due to the presence of or exposure to any Hazardous Material
or Oil as in effect on or prior to the date of this Agreement.
3.19 Intellectual Property.
(a) Schedule 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and correct
list of all Company Intellectual Property. The Company or its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid
license to use all Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of any Lien, royalty or other
payment obligation (except for royalties or payments with respect to off-the-shelf software at
standard commercial rates). To the Knowledge of the Company, the conduct of the business of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not violate, misappropriate or infringe upon the
intellectual property rights of any third party. The consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of the right of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to own or use any Company Intellectual Property. All renewal and maintenance
fees, Taxes, and other fees required to be paid and applicable to the Company Intellectual Property
have been paid in full through the date of this Agreement and will be paid in full through the
Effective Time.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Company Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property
used in or held for use in the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries that is material to the financial condition, results of operations or
business of the Company.
(ii) “Intellectual Property” means (A) trademarks, service marks, trade
names, Internet domain names, designs, logos, slogans, and general intangibles of
like nature, together with all goodwill, registrations and applications related to
the foregoing; (B) patents and industrial designs (including any continuations,
divisionals, continuations-in-part, renewals, reissues, and applications for any of
the foregoing); (C) copyrights (including any registrations and applications for any
of the foregoing); and (D) technology, trade secrets and other confidential
information, know-how, proprietary processes, formulae, algorithms, models, and
methodologies.
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3.20 Material Agreements; Defaults.
(a) Except as filed as an exhibit to any Company SEC Document, Schedule 3.20 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, and except for this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by (i) any
agreement, arrangement, or commitment that is material to the financial condition, results of
operations or business of the Company; (ii) any written (or oral) agreement, arrangement, or
commitment in excess of $100,000 per annum relating to the employment, including, without
limitation, engagement as a consultant of any Person, or the election or retention in office or
severance of any present or former director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(iii) any agreement by and among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and/or any of its
directors or executive officers or any of their immediate family members or any Person controlled
by any of them (except as set forth on the Company’s Regulation O report dated as of February 29,
2008, which has been provided to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub); (iv) any contract or agreement
or amendment thereto that would be required to be filed as an exhibit to a Form 10-K filed by the
Company as of the date hereof that has not been filed as an exhibit to the Company 2006 Form 10-K;
(v) any agreement, arrangement, or commitment (whether written or oral) which, upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, would result in any payment
(whether of severance pay or otherwise) becoming due from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
any director, officer or employee thereof; (vi) any agreement, arrangement or commitment (whether
written or oral) which is a consulting or other agreement (including agreements entered into in the
ordinary course and data processing, software programming and licensing contracts) not terminable
on sixty (60) days or less notice or involving the payment of in excess of $100,000 per annum;
(vii) any agreement, arrangement or commitment (whether written or oral) which restricts the
conduct of any line of business by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (viii) any agreement,
arrangement or commitment (whether written or oral) (including any stock option plan, stock
appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan or stock purchase plan) any of the benefits of
which will be increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the
occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or the value of any of the
benefits of which will be affected by, or calculated on the basis of, any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding of the type
described in this Section 3.20(a) is referred to herein as a “Company Material Contract.”
The Company has previously made available to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub complete and correct
copies of all of the Company Material Contracts, including any and all amendments and modifications
thereto.
(b) Each Company Material Contract is legal, valid and binding upon the Company or its
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and to the Knowledge of the Company, all other parties thereto,
and is in full force and effect and is enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as such
enforceability may be limited by the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception). Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is in breach of or default under any Company Material Contract and, to the
Knowledge of the Company, there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the
giving of notice or both, would constitute such a breach or default. To the Knowledge of the
Company, no other party to any Company Material Contract is in breach of or default under such
Company Material Contract, and there has not occurred any
- 26 -
event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a
breach or default.
3.21 Property and Leases.
(a) Schedule 3.21(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all real property leased
or subleased to or by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company has made available to
Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub complete and correct copies of the leases and subleases (each as
amended to date) of the properties listed in Schedule 3.21(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule. With respect to each such lease and sublease of the properties listed in Schedule
3.21(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule:
(i) the lease or sublease is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the
Company or its Subsidiary, as the case may be, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity
Exception;
(ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of
the Company, any other party, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any
such lease or sublease, and no event has occurred, is pending or to the Knowledge of
the Company, is threatened which, after the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both, would constitute a breach or default by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has assigned,
transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered any interest in any
leasehold or subleasehold; and
(iv) there are no Liens, easements, covenants or other restrictions applicable
to the real property subject to such lease or sublease, except for recorded
easements, covenants, and other restrictions, which do not, individually or in the
aggregate, materially impair the current uses or the occupancy by the Company or its
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, of the property subject thereto.
(b) The Company owns fee simple title to the real property listed on Schedule 3.21(b)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of any Liens, easements, covenants, or other
restrictions applicable to such real property, except for recorded easements, covenants, and other
restrictions, which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the current uses or
the occupancy by the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, of the property subject
thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.21(b), no tenant or other party in possession of any of
such property has any right to purchase, or holds any right of first refusal to purchase, such
properties.
(c) To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the properties listed on Schedules 3.21(a) or (b)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, or the buildings, structures, facilities, fixtures or other
improvements thereon, or the use thereof, contravenes or violates any building, zoning,
administrative, occupational safety and health or other applicable statute, law
- 27 -
ordinance, rule or regulation in any respect that could reasonably be expected to require
material expenditures by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to result in a material
impairment in or limitation on the activities presently conducted there.
(d) The plants, buildings, structures and equipment located on the property listed on
Schedules 3.21(a) and (b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and used by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries are in good operating condition and in a state of good maintenance and repair,
ordinary wear and tear excepted, are adequate and suitable for the purposes for which they are
presently being used and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no condemnation or
appropriation proceedings pending or threatened against any of the Company Real Property or any
plants, buildings or other structures thereon.
(e) To the Knowledge of the Company and except as set forth on Schedule 3.21(e) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries own good title, free and clear of all
Liens, to all personal property and other non-real estate assets, in all cases excluding
Intellectual Property assets, necessary to conduct the business of the Company as currently
conducted, except for (i) Liens reflected in the Company Financial Statements, (ii) Liens or
imperfections of title that do not materially detract from the value or materially interfere with
the present use of the assets subject thereto or affected thereby, (iii) Liens for current Taxes
not yet due and payable, and (iv) Liens on the landlord’s interest in the premises. The Company
and its Subsidiaries, as lessees, have the right under valid and subsisting leases to use, possess,
and control all personal property leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries as now used, possessed,
and controlled by the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable.
3.22 Regulatory Capitalization. The Company Bank is, and immediately after the
Effective Time will be, “well capitalized”, as such term is defined in the rules and regulations
promulgated by the FDIC. The Company is, and immediately prior to the Effective Time will be, “well
capitalized” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations promulgated by the FRB.
3.23 Loans; Nonperforming and Classified Assets.
(a) Each loan agreement, note or borrowing arrangement, including, without limitation,
portions of outstanding lines of credit and loan commitments (collectively, “Loans”), on
the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ books and records, (i) was made and has been serviced in
accordance with the Company’s lending standards in the ordinary course of business; (ii) is
evidenced by appropriate and sufficient documentation; (iii) to the extent secured, has been
secured by valid liens and security interests which have been perfected; and (iv) constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor named therein, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. The Company has made available to Buyer,
Buyer Bank and Merger Sub complete and correct copies of its lending policies. The deposit and loan
agreements of the Company and its Subsidiaries comply with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations. The allowance for loan losses reflected in the Company SEC Documents and financial
statements filed therewith, as of their respective dates, is adequate under GAAP and all regulatory
requirements applicable to financial institutions.
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(b) Schedule 3.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule discloses as of December 31, 2007
and February 29, 2008: (A) any Loan under the terms of which the obligor is sixty (60) or more days
delinquent in payment of principal or interest, or to the Knowledge of the Company, in default of
any other provision thereof; (B) each Loan which has been classified as “other loans specially
maintained,” “classified,” “criticized,” “substandard,” “doubtful,” “credit risk assets,” “watch
list assets,” “loss” or “special mention” (or words of similar import) by the Company, its
Subsidiaries or a Governmental Authority (the “Classified Loans”); (C) a listing of the
real estate owned, acquired by foreclosure or by deed-in-lieu thereof, including the book value
thereof; and (D) each Loan with any director, executive officer or five percent (5%) or greater
shareholder of the Company, or to the Knowledge of the Company, any Person controlling, controlled
by or under common control with any of the foregoing. All Loans which are classified as “Insider
Transactions” by Regulation O of the FRB have been made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
in an arms-length manner made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and
collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other Persons and do
not involve more than normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.
3.24 Trust Business; Administration of Fiduciary Accounts. The Company Bank (i) has
been duly appointed to all fiduciary or representative capacities it holds with respect to the
Trust Business, all such appointments are currently in effect, and (ii) has all authorizations,
approvals, licenses and permits necessary for the conduct of its Trust Business. For purposes of
this Section 3.24, “Trust Business” shall mean the trusts, executorships, administrations,
guardianships, conservatorships, and other representative capacities at Company Bank’s banking and
trust offices.
3.25 Investment Management and Related Activities. None of the Company, its
Subsidiaries or their respective directors, officers or employees is required to be registered,
licensed or authorized under the laws or regulations issued by any Governmental Authority as an
investment adviser, a broker or dealer, an insurance agency or company, a commodity trading
adviser, a commodity pool operator, a futures commission merchant, an introducing broker, a
registered representative or associated person, investment adviser, representative or solicitor, a
counseling officer, an insurance agent, a sales person or in any similar capacity with a
Governmental Authority.
3.26 Risk Management Instruments.
(a) “Derivative Contracts” means a derivative contract or derivative instrument as
such terms are used for purposes of reporting the same under the FFIEC Reports of Condition and
Income and related Glossary (each as revised as of June 2007); provided that, for
the avoidance of doubt, the term “Derivative Contracts” shall not include any Option.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have adopted policies and procedures consistent with the
publications of Governmental Authorities with respect to Derivative Contracts. All Derivative
Contracts, whether entered into for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for
the account of a customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, were entered into in the
ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice and in
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accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies of any Governmental Authority
and in accordance with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies,
practices and procedures employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and with counterparties
believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in
consultation with their advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Contracts. All of such
Derivative Contracts are valid and binding obligations of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries
enforceable against it in accordance with their terms (subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity
Exception), and are in full force and effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the
Knowledge of the Company, all other parties thereto, have duly performed their obligations under
the Derivative Contracts to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued and, to the
Knowledge of the Company, there is no breach, violation or default or allegation or assertion of
such by any party thereunder.
3.27 Investment Securities and Commodities.
(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has good title to all securities and commodities
owned by it (except those sold under repurchase agreements or held in any fiduciary or agency
capacity), free and clear of any Lien, except to the extent such securities or commodities are
pledged in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations of the Company or its
Subsidiaries. Such securities and commodities are valued on the books of the Company in accordance
with GAAP in all material respects.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses employ investment,
securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures (the
“Policies, Practices and Procedures”) which the Company believes are prudent and reasonable
in the context of such businesses. Prior to the date hereof, the Company has made available to
Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub the material Policies, Practices and Procedures.
(c) The Company has provided to Buyer a correct and complete listing of Company Bank’s
investment securities portfolio as of February 29, 2008.
3.28 Repurchase Agreements. With respect to all agreements pursuant to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has purchased securities subject to an agreement to resell, if
any, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has a valid, perfected first lien
or security interest in the government securities or other collateral securing the repurchase
agreement, and, as of the date hereof, the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the amount of
the debt secured thereby.
3.29 Deposit Insurance.
(a) The deposits of Company Bank are insured by the FDIC in accordance with the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”) to the fullest extent permitted by law, and Company Bank has
paid all premiums and assessments and filed all reports required by the FDIA. No proceeding for the
revocation or termination of such FDIC deposit insurance is pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened.
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(b) The deposits of Company Bank are insured, in excess of FDIC limits, by the DIF to the
fullest extent permitted by law, and Company Bank has paid all premiums and assessments and filed
all reports required by the DIF. No proceeding for the revocation or termination of such DIF
deposit insurance is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.
3.30 CRA; Anti-money Laundering. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to any agreement with any individual or group regarding Community Reinvestment Act matters
and the Company is not aware of, and none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been advised of,
or has any reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, which would cause Company Bank:
(i) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, or to be assigned a rating for Community Reinvestment Act
purposes by federal or state bank regulators of lower than “satisfactory”; or (ii) to be deemed to
be operating in violation of the federal Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, and its implementing
regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 103), the USA Patriot Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder (the “USA Patriot Act”), any order issued with respect
to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control,
or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation. Furthermore, the Company
Bank Board has adopted and Company Bank has implemented an anti-money laundering program that
contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures that has not been
deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meets the requirements of Sections 352
and 326 of the USA Patriot Act.
3.31 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.31 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding amounts payable to or receivable from, or
advances by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is otherwise a creditor or debtor to, any shareholder, director, employee or Affiliate
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than as part of the normal and customary terms of
such persons’ employment or service as a director with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. All
agreements between the Company and any of its Affiliates comply, to the extent applicable, with
Regulation W of the FRB.
3.32 Inapplicability of Takeover Provisions.
(a) The Company has taken all action required to be taken by it in order to exempt this
Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby from, and
this Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are
exempt from, the requirements of any “moratorium,” “business combination,” “control share,” “fair
price” or other takeover defense laws and regulations (collectively, “Takeover Laws”), if
any, of the State of Delaware.
(b) In accordance with Section 4 of Article 7 of the Company’s Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company Board has determined that Buyer is not an Interested Person (as defined
in the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation).
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3.33 Brokers; Fairness Opinion. No action has been taken by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that would give rise to any valid claim against the Company for a brokerage
commission, finder’s fee or other like payment with respect to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, except in connection with the engagement of Friedman, Billings, Xxxxxx & Co., Inc.
(the “Financial Advisor”) by the Company. The fee payable to the Financial Advisor in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is accurately and completely
described in an engagement letter between the Company and the Financial Advisor, a complete and
correct copy of which has been made available to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub (the
“Engagement Letter”). The Company Board has received the opinion of the Financial Advisor,
to the effect that, as of the date hereof, and based upon and subject to the factors and
assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration to be received by the Company Shareholders
pursuant to the Merger is fair from a financial point of view to such Company Shareholders, and
such opinion has not been amended or rescinded, and remains in full force and effect. The Company
has been authorized by the Financial Advisor to permit the inclusion of such opinion in its
entirety in the Proxy Statement.
3.34 Rights Agreement. The Company or the Board of Directors of the Company, as the
case may be, has (a) taken all necessary actions so that the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in a
“Distribution Date” (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or result in Buyer being an
“Acquiring Person” (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and (b) amended the Rights
Agreement to (i) render it inapplicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
and (ii) provide that the “Final Expiration Date” (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
shall occur immediately prior to the Closing.
3.35 Company Information. The information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries
that is provided by the Company or its representatives for inclusion in the Proxy Statement or in
any application, notification or other document filed with any other Governmental Authority in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not, on the date the Proxy
Statement is first mailed to the Company Shareholders or at the time of the Company Meeting or the
date such application notification or other document is filed, as applicable, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading. The portions of the
Proxy Statement relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries and other portions within the
reasonable control of the Company and its Subsidiaries will comply in all material respects with
the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
3.36 Disclosure. No representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, and no
statement contained in any certificate delivered hereunder, in the Company Disclosure Schedule or
in any Company SEC Document as the same may be updated as of the date hereof, furnished to Buyer
pursuant to the provisions hereof, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements herein or
therein not misleading.
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
4.1 Making of Representations and Warranties.
(a) As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub jointly and severally hereby
make to the Company the representations and warranties contained in this Article IV.
(b) On or prior to the date hereof, Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub have delivered to the
Company a schedule (the “Buyer Disclosure Schedule”) listing, among other things, items the
disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate in relation to any or all of its representations
and warranties; provided, however, that no such item is required to be set forth on
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty if its absence is not
reasonably likely to result in the related representation or warranty being untrue or incorrect
under the standards established by Section 4.1(c).
(c) No representation or warranty of Buyer, Buyer Bank or Merger Sub contained in this Article
IV shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and no party hereto shall be deemed to have breached a
representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, circumstance or event
unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other facts,
circumstances or events inconsistent with any section of this Article IV, has had or would
reasonably be expected to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect; provided, however,
that the foregoing standard shall not apply to the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.12 and the first two sentences of Section 4.2, which shall be deemed
untrue, incorrect and breached if they are not true and correct in all respects.
4.2 Organization, Standing and Authority. Buyer is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Buyer is
duly registered as a bank holding company under the BHCA and the regulations of the FRB thereunder.
Buyer is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in the jurisdictions where its
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.
Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the state of Delaware, and is qualified to do business and is in good standing in the jurisdictions
where its ownership of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.
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4.3 Corporate Power. Each of Buyer and its Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate
power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all of its
properties and assets; and each of Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations under this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.4 Corporate Authority. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have
been authorized by all necessary corporate action of Buyer and the Board of Directors of Buyer
(“Buyer Board”), Buyer Bank and the Board of Directors of Buyer Bank, and Merger Sub and
the Board of Directors of Merger Sub, including the approval of Buyer as the sole shareholder of
Merger Sub. Each of Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub has duly executed and delivered this Agreement
and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company and Company Bank, this
Agreement is a legal, valid and binding agreement of Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by the
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception).
4.5 Regulatory Approvals. No consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or
registrations with, any Governmental Authority or with any third party are required to be made or
obtained by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance by Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub of this Agreement, or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) filings of applications or notices with, and
consents, approvals or waivers by, the FDIC, the FRB, the Office of the Massachusetts Commissioner
of Banks and the Massachusetts Board of Bank Incorporation, (ii) the obtaining by Buyer of a letter
from the MHPF to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks stating that Buyer has made “satisfactory
arrangements” with the MHPF, (iii) obtaining by Buyer from the DIF a letter to the Massachusetts
Commissioner of Banks stating that “arrangements satisfactory to the Depositors Insurance Fund”
have been made in connection with the Bank Merger and (iv) the filing of the Certificate of Merger.
As of the date hereof, Buyer is not aware of any reason why the approvals set forth above will not
be received in a timely manner.
4.6 Non-Contravention.
(a) Subject to the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals, the required filings under federal and
state securities laws, and the filing of the Certificate of Merger, the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including, without limitation, the Merger) by Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub do not and will not
(i) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, result in a right of termination, or
the acceleration of any right or obligation under, any law, rule or regulation or any judgment,
decree, order, permit, license, credit agreement, indenture, loan, note, bond, mortgage, reciprocal
easement agreement, lease, instrument, concession, franchise or other agreement of Buyer or of any
of its Subsidiaries or to which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, properties or assets is subject
or bound, (ii) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, Buyer’s, Buyer Bank’s or
Merger Sub’s Articles of Organization or Bylaws, or (iii) require the consent or approval of any
third party or Governmental Authority under any such law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree,
order, permit, license, credit agreement, indenture, loan,
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note, bond, mortgage, reciprocal easement agreement, lease, instrument, concession, franchise
or other agreement.
(b) As of the date hereof, Buyer is not aware of any reason relating to Buyer or its
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Community Reinvestment Act compliance or the USA
Patriot Act) (i) why all of the Regulatory Approvals shall not be procured from the applicable
Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or (ii) why any Burdensome Condition(s) would be imposed.
4.7 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws. Buyer has made available to the Company and
Company Bank a complete and correct copy of its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as
amended to date, of Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries. None of Buyer, Buyer Bank nor Merger Sub is
in violation of any of the terms of its Articles of Incorporation or Certificate of Incorporation
or Bylaws.
4.8 Compliance with Laws. Each of Buyer and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all
applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders or decrees applicable thereto or to the employees conducting their businesses,
including, without limitation, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the
Community Reinvestment Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and all other applicable fair lending
laws and other laws relating to discriminatory business practices.
4.9 Litigation. No litigation, claim, suit, investigation or other proceeding before
any court, Governmental Authority or arbitrator is pending against Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries, and, to the Knowledge of Buyer, no litigation, claim, suit, investigation or other
proceeding has been threatened and there are no facts that are reasonably apparent that would
reasonably be expected to give rise to any litigation, claim, suit, investigation or other
proceeding that would result in a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
4.10 Regulatory Capitalization. Buyer Bank is, and immediately after the Effective
Time will be, “well capitalized” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations promulgated
by the FDIC. Buyer is, and immediately after the Effective Time will be, “well capitalized” as such
term is defined in the rules and regulations promulgated by the FRB.
4.11 Deposit Insurance. The deposits of Buyer Bank are insured by the FDIC in
accordance with the FDIA to the fullest extent permitted by law, and Buyer Bank has paid all
premiums and assessments and filed all reports required by the FDIA. No proceedings for the
revocation or termination of such deposit insurance are pending or, to the knowledge of Buyer,
threatened.
4.12 Sufficient Funds. As of the date of this Agreement, Buyer Bank has, and as of the
Closing Buyer will have, as a result of a dividend that Buyer Bank shall pay to Buyer (which
dividend has been authorized as of the date of this Agreement by all necessary action by the Board
of Directors of Buyer Bank), sufficient funds to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the payment of the aggregate Merger Consideration and the aggregate Option
Consideration, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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4.13 Net Worth. As of January 31, 2008, Buyer has a tangible net worth (determined in
accordance with GAAP) of at least $705,000,000.
4.14 Financial Condition of Buyer. Buyer has provided to the Company and Company Bank
complete and correct copies of the audited financial statements of Buyer and its Subsidiaries for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. Such financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present, in accordance with applicable requirements of
GAAP, the financial position of Buyer and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and the
consolidated statements of income and the consolidated statements of cash flows of Buyer and its
Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein.
4.15 Brokers. No action has been taken by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries that would
give rise to any valid claim against Buyer for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like
payment with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except in connection with
Buyer’s engagement of Sandler X’Xxxxx + Partners, L.P.
4.16 Information Supplied. None of the information to be provided by Buyer or Merger
Sub for inclusion in the Proxy Statement will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated in any such document or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
4.17 Disclosure. No representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, and no
statement contained in any certificate delivered hereunder or in the Buyer Disclosure Schedule as
the same may be updated as of the date hereof, furnished to the Company pursuant to the provisions
hereof, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements herein or therein not misleading.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
5.1 Company Forbearances. From the date hereof until the Effective Time or the date,
if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1, except as expressly set
forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, as expressly provided or expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, or as required by applicable law, without the prior written consent of Buyer, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, the Company will not, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries not to:
(a) Ordinary Course. Conduct its business other than in the ordinary and usual course
consistent with recent past practice or fail to use reasonable best efforts to preserve intact its
business organizations and assets and maintain its rights, franchises and existing relations with
customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, or take any action that would (i)
adversely affect the ability of any party to obtain any necessary approval of any Governmental
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Authority required for the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) adversely affect its
ability to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Stock. (i) Other than pursuant to Options or stock-based awards outstanding as of
the date hereof and listed on the Company Disclosure Schedule and other than existing deferral
elections made under the Company’s Director Deferred Compensation Plan, issue, sell or otherwise
permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional shares of stock, any
securities (including units of beneficial ownership interest in any partnership or limited
liability company) convertible into or exchangeable for any additional shares of stock, any stock
appreciation rights, any stock options, restricted shares, restricted stock units, deferred equity
units, awards based on the value of the Company’s capital stock or other equity-based award with
respect to shares of Company Common Stock, or any other rights to subscribe for or acquire shares
of stock, or take any action related to such issuance or sale, except with respect to grants of
Options to new hires or permitted employees in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
recent past practice, (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing, (iii) accelerate
the vesting of any existing stock options, stock appreciation rights or other rights to subscribe
for or acquire shares of stock, or (iv) change (or establish a record date for changing) the number
of, or provide for the exchange of, shares of its stock, any securities (including units of
beneficial ownership interest in any partnership or limited liability company) convertible into or
exchangeable for any additional shares of stock, any stock appreciation rights, or any other rights
to subscribe for or acquire shares of stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a
result of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, or similar transaction
with respect to its outstanding stock or any other such securities.
(c) Dividends, Etc. (i) Make, declare or pay any dividend on or in respect of, or
declare or make any distribution on, any shares of Company Common Stock other than (A) regular
quarterly cash dividends on Company Common Stock of no more than $0.29 per share with record and
payment dates set consistent with recent past practice (it being the intention of the parties
hereto that the Company Shareholders shall not receive more than one dividend in any calendar
quarter with respect to their shares of Company Common Stock), and (B) dividends from wholly-owned
Subsidiaries to the Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable or (ii)
directly or indirectly combine, redeem, reclassify, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of
its stock.
(d) Compensation; Employment Agreements; Etc. Enter into or amend any employment,
severance or similar agreements or arrangements with any of its directors, officers, employees or
consultants, or grant any salary or wage increase, or increase any employee benefit (including
incentive or bonus payments), except (i) for normal increases in compensation to non-executive
officer employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice;
provided that no such increase shall exceed fifteen percent (15%) of an individual’s
current annual compensation (unless in connection with a promotion consistent with recent past
practice) and five percent (5%) in the aggregate, (ii) as may be required by law, including Section
409A of the Code, (iii) to satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof and
disclosed on Schedule 3.15(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, or (iv) the hiring of
at-will employees at an annual rate of salary not to exceed $50,000 to fill vacancies that may
arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business.
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(e) Benefit Plans. Except (i) as may be required by applicable law, (ii) to satisfy
contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof and disclosed on Schedule 3.15 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, or (iii) as set forth on Schedule 5.1(e) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, enter into, establish, adopt or amend any pension, retirement, stock option,
stock purchase, savings, profit sharing, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group insurance
or other employee benefit, incentive or welfare contract, plan or arrangement, or any trust
agreement related thereto, in respect of any director, officer or other employee of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, taking any action that accelerates the
vesting or exercise of any benefits payable thereunder.
(f) Dispositions. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.1(f) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule:
(i) sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of or discontinue
any of its assets, deposits, business or properties except in the ordinary course of
business consistent with recent past practice and in a transaction that, together
with all other such transactions, is not material to the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(ii) transfer ownership, or grant any license or other rights, to any person or
entity of or in respect of any material Company Intellectual Property, other than
grants of non-exclusive licenses pursuant to license agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice.
(g) Governing Documents. Amend its Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (or
equivalent documents), or take any action to exempt any Person (other than Buyer or its
Subsidiaries), or any action taken by any Person, from any Takeover Laws or similarly restrictive
provisions of its organizational documents or terminate, amend or waive any provisions of any
confidentiality or standstill agreements in place with any Person.
(h) Acquisitions. Acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of
control in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good
faith, in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice) all or
any portion of the assets, business, deposits or properties of any other entity.
(i) Capital Expenditures. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.1(i) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule or as required pursuant to new contracts entered into in the ordinary
course of business consistent with recent past practice, make any capital expenditures other than
capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice in
amounts not exceeding $50,000 individually or $100,000 in the aggregate.
(j) Contracts. Enter into or terminate any Company Material Contract or amend or
modify in any material respect any of its existing Company Material Contracts.
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(k) Claims. Settle any action, suit, proceeding, or enter into any settlement or
similar agreement with respect to any order or investigation to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party as of the date hereof or becomes a party after the date of this Agreement.
(l) Banking Operations. Enter into any new material line of business; change its
material lending, investment, underwriting, risk and asset liability management and other material
banking and operating policies, except as required by applicable law, regulation or policies
imposed by any Governmental Authority; or file any application or make any contract with respect to
branching or site location or branching or site relocation.
(m) Derivative Contracts. Enter into any Derivative Contract.
(n) Indebtedness. Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money (other than deposits,
federal funds purchased, federal home loan bank advances, and securities sold under agreements to
repurchase, in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice)
or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the
obligations of any other Person, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
recent past practice, or cancel, release or assign any material amount of indebtedness, or any
claims held, to any other Person.
(o) Investment Securities. Acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of any debt, equity, or
other investment security, except (1) the acquisition, sale or other disposition of any such
investment security in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent 2008 past practice
(particularly with respect to the size and duration of the portfolio) and in accordance with the
Company Bank’s investment policy, which policy will not be amended or modified except to the extent
required by law or as the Company may, in good faith determine, is necessary to comply with safe
and sound banking practices (in which case the Company shall give Buyer notice thereof and shall
give due consideration to Buyer’s requests with respect thereto), (2) by way of foreclosure or
acquisitions or sales in a bona fide fiduciary capacity, or (3) in satisfaction of debts previously
contracted in good faith: provided, however, that any acquisition, sale or other disposition of any
such investment security made consistent with the request of Buyer pursuant to Section 6.18(b)
shall be deemed not to breach this Section 5.1(o).
(p) Loans. Make any loan, loan commitment, letter of credit or other extension of
credit other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice.
(q) Investments in Real Estate. Make any investment or commitment to invest in real
estate or in any real estate development project (other than by way of foreclosure or acquisitions
in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted in good faith,
in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice).
(r) Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any material change in its accounting
principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by changes in laws or regulations
or by GAAP.
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(s) Tax Matters. Make or change any Tax election, file any material amended Tax
Return, fail to timely file any material Tax Return, enter into any material closing agreement,
settle or compromise any material liability with respect to Taxes, agree to any material adjustment
of any Tax attribute, file any material claim for a refund of Taxes, or consent to any extension or
waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment.
(t) Loan Policies. Change its loan policies, practices and procedures in effect as of
the date of this Agreement, except as required by law or any Governmental Authority.
(u) Environmental Assessments. Foreclose on or take a deed or title to any Loan
Property without first conducting a Phase I Environmental Assessment of the property or foreclose
on any Loan Property if such environmental assessment indicates the presence of a Hazardous
Material in amounts which, if such foreclosure were to occur, would be material to Company Bank.
(v) Adverse Actions. Knowingly take any action that is intended or is reasonably
likely to result in (x) any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being
or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Effective Time, (y) any of the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied, or (z) a material violation
of any provision of this Agreement, except, in each case, as may be required by applicable law.
(w) Agreements. Agree or commit to do, or adopt any resolution of the Company Board in
support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.1.
5.2 Buyer Forbearances. From the date hereof until the Effective Time or the date, if
any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1, except as expressly set forth
in the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, as expressly permitted or expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, or as required by law, without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, Buyer will not, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to
knowingly take any action that would, or would be reasonably likely to result in (i) any of its
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material
respect at any time prior to the Effective Time, (ii) any of the conditions to the Merger set forth
in Article VII not being satisfied, or (iii) a material violation of any provision of this
Agreement, except, in each case, as may be required by applicable law.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
6.1 Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
each of the Company, Company Bank, Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub agree to use its reasonable
best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or desirable, or advisable under applicable laws, so as to permit consummation of
the Merger as promptly as practicable and otherwise to enable consummation
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of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, effecting all filings
and obtaining (and cooperating with the other party hereto to obtain) any permit, consent,
authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption by, any Governmental Authority (including,
but not limited to, the Regulatory Approvals) and any other third party that is required to be
obtained by the Company or Buyer or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and using reasonable best efforts
to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely affecting the
ability of the parties to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby, and using
reasonable best efforts to defend any litigation seeking to enjoin, prevent or delay the
consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby or seeking material damages,
and each shall cooperate fully with the other party hereto to that end.
6.2 Shareholder Approval.
(a) The Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event not more than
forty-five (45) days following the date of this Agreement, prepare and file a preliminary form of
the Proxy Statement with the SEC and each of the Company and Buyer shall use its reasonable best
efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or its staff, and to cause the Proxy Statement to be
mailed to the Company Shareholders as promptly as reasonably practicable after responding to all
such comments to the satisfaction of the SEC’s staff. The Company shall notify Buyer promptly of
the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its staff
for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or for additional information and shall supply
Buyer with copies of all correspondence between the Company or any of its representatives, on the
one hand, and the SEC or its staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement or the
Merger. If at any time prior to the Company Meeting there shall occur any event that is required to
be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Company shall promptly
prepare, and, after consultation with Buyer, mail to the Company Shareholders such an amendment or
supplement. Buyer shall cooperate with the Company in the preparation of the Proxy Statement, any
amendment or supplement thereto, and any other communication that could reasonably be deemed to be
proxy solicitation materials relating to the Merger (collectively, “Proxy Materials”), and
shall furnish the Company with all information reasonably requested by the Company for inclusion
in, or otherwise in respect of, the Proxy Materials. Buyer and its counsel shall be given a
reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon any Proxy Material prior to its filing with the
SEC or dissemination to the Company Shareholders.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the parties shall correct
promptly any information provided by it to be used specifically in the Proxy Statement, if and to
the extent any such information shall be or have become false or misleading in any material respect
and shall take all steps necessary to file with the SEC and have declared effective or cleared by
the SEC any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement so as to correct the same and to cause
the Proxy Statement as so corrected to be disseminated to the Company Shareholders, in each case to
the extent required by applicable law or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Company.
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(c) Following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall take, in accordance with
applicable law, applicable rules of Nasdaq and its Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws, and subject to any judgment, order, decree or injunction, all action necessary to convene a
meeting of its shareholders as promptly as practicable to consider and vote upon the approval of
this Agreement and any other matter required to be approved by the Company Shareholders in order to
consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby (including any adjournment or
postponement thereof, the “Company Meeting”).
(d) Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, the Company shall ensure that the Company Meeting is
called, noticed, convened, held and conducted, and that all proxies solicited by the Company in
connection with the Company Meeting are solicited in compliance with the DGCL, the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, and all other applicable legal
requirements.
(e) Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, (i) the Company Board shall recommend that the Company
Shareholders vote to approve this Agreement and any other matters required to be approved by the
Company Shareholders for consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby (the
“Company Recommendation”), and (ii) the Proxy Statement shall include the Company
Recommendation.
(f) Participants in any ESOP maintained by the Company or Company Bank who have “pass-through”
voting rights under Section 409(e) of the Code shall be notified of such rights and may exercise
such rights subject to all requirements of the Code and ERISA.
6.3 Publicity.
(a) Except with respect to any action taken pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 6.5
or Article VIII, so long as this Agreement is in effect, Buyer and the Company will consult with
each other before issuing any press release with respect to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and will not issue any press release or written statement for general
circulation relating to the transactions contemplated hereby or make any such public statements
without the prior consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided, however, that a party may, without the prior consent of the other party
(but after consultation with the other party, to the extent practicable), issue such press release
or public statement as may be required by applicable law or the rules and regulations of any stock
exchange.
(b) Without limiting the scope of the Section 6.3(a), Buyer and the Company shall (i)
cooperate to develop all public announcement materials related to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement; and (ii) make appropriate management available at presentations related to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as reasonably requested by the other. In addition,
except with respect to any action taken pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 6.5 or Article
VIII, so long as this Agreement is in effect the Company and its Subsidiaries shall coordinate with
Buyer regarding all communications with customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, and the
community in general related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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6.4 Access; Information. Upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws
relating to the exchange of information, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to,
afford Buyer and its officers, employees, counsel, accountants, advisors and other authorized
representatives (collectively, “Buyer Representatives”), reasonable access, during normal
business hours throughout the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or
the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1, to all of its
properties, books, contracts, commitments and records (including, without limitation, work papers
of independent auditors but excluding confidential information contained in personnel files to the
extent the disclosure of such information is prohibited by privacy laws), and to its officers,
employees, accountants, counsel or other representatives, and, during such period, it shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to Buyer and the Buyer Representatives (i) a copy
of each material report, schedule and other document filed by it pursuant to the requirements of
federal or state securities laws (other than reports or documents that the Company, or its
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, are not permitted to disclose under applicable law), and (ii) all
other information concerning the business, properties and personnel of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as Buyer or any Buyer Representative may reasonably request. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to or to disclose information where
such access jeopardizes the attorney-client privilege of the institution in possession or control
of such information or may reasonably be deemed to contravene any law, rule, regulation, order,
judgment, decree, fiduciary duty or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this
Agreement. Buyer agrees to hold all information and documents obtained pursuant to this Section
6.4 in confidence (as provided in, and subject to the provisions of, the Confidentiality Agreement,
as if it were the party receiving the confidential information as described therein). No
investigation by Buyer of the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall affect
or be deemed to modify or waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this
Agreement, or the conditions to Buyer’s obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.4, the
Company shall not be obligated, and shall not be obligated to cause any of its Subsidiaries, to
afford to Buyer or the Buyer Representatives any access to any of its properties, books, contracts,
commitments, and records relating to, or in respect of, any pricing information, customer specific
information, or other similar competitively sensitive information.
6.5 No Solicitation.
(a) Except as authorized or permitted in this Section 6.5, the Company shall not and shall
cause its Subsidiaries and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the respective officers,
directors, employees, investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, consultants,
affiliates and other agents of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company
Representatives”) not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, induce, knowingly
encourage, or knowingly take any action that would reasonably be expected to materially facilitate
the making of, any offer, or proposal which constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead
to, an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any
Acquisition Proposal or furnish, or otherwise afford access, to any Person (other than Buyer, Buyer
Bank and Merger Sub) any information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal; (iii) release
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any Person from, waive any provisions of, or fail to enforce any confidentiality agreement or
standstill agreement to which the Company is a party; (iv) enter into any agreement, including,
without limitation, any agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or
similar arrangement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal; or (v) approve or recommend or resolve
to approve or recommend any Acquisition Proposal or any agreement, including without limitation,
any agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or similar arrangement
with respect to an Acquisition Proposal. Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of the Company
Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing discussions,
negotiations, and communications with any Persons with respect to any existing or potential
Acquisition Proposal. Any violation of the foregoing restrictions by any of the Company
Representatives, whether or not such Company Representative is so authorized and whether or not
such Company Representative is purporting to act on behalf of the Company or otherwise, shall be
deemed to be a breach of this Agreement by the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any offer or
proposal (other than an offer or proposal from Buyer), whether or not in writing, contemplating,
relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Transaction, and shall
include any public announcement by any Person (including any regulatory application or notice,
whether in draft or final form) of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any
agreement to engage in any of the foregoing. For purposes of this Agreement, “Acquisition
Transaction” shall mean (A) any transaction or series of transactions involving any merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) any transaction pursuant to which any third
party or group acquires or would acquire (whether through sale, lease or other disposition),
directly or indirectly, any assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries representing, in the
aggregate, fifteen percent (15%) or more of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis; (C) any issuance, sale or other disposition of (including by way of merger,
consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or
warrants to purchase or securities convertible into, such securities) representing fifteen percent
(15%) or more of the votes attached to the outstanding securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (D) any tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any
third party or group beneficially owning fifteen percent (15%) or more of any class of equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (E) any transaction which is similar in
form, substance or purpose to any of the foregoing transactions, or any combination of the
foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.5(a), the Company may take any of the actions described in
clause (ii) of Section 6.5(a) if, but only if, (i) the Company has received a bona fide unsolicited
written Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section 6.5; (ii) the
Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with and having considered the advice of
its outside legal counsel and a nationally recognized, independent financial advisor, that (A) such
Acquisition Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal and (B) the
failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the Company
Shareholders under applicable law; and (iii) prior to furnishing or affording access to any
information or data with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise
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relating to an Acquisition Proposal, the Company receives from such Person a confidentiality
agreement with terms no less favorable to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality
Agreement. The Company shall promptly provide to Buyer any non-public information regarding the
Company or its Subsidiaries provided to any other Person which was not previously provided to
Buyer, such additional information to be provided no later than the date of provision of such
information to such other party.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Superior Proposal” shall mean any bona fide written
proposal (on its most recently amended or modified terms, if amended or modified) made by a third
party to enter into an Acquisition Transaction on terms that the Company Board determines in its
good faith judgment, after consultation with and having considered the advice of outside legal
counsel and a nationally recognized, independent financial advisor (i) would, if consummated,
result in the acquisition of all, but not less than all, of the issued and outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock or all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (ii) would result in a transaction that (A) involves
consideration to the holders of the shares of Company Common Stock that is more favorable, from a
financial point of view, than the consideration to be paid to the Company Shareholders pursuant to
this Agreement, considering, among other things, the nature of the consideration being offered and
any material regulatory approvals or other risks associated with the timing of the proposed
transaction beyond or in addition to those specifically contemplated hereby, and any requirement to
obtain additional financing and (B) is, in light of the other terms of such proposal, more
favorable to the Company Shareholders than the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; and (iii) is reasonably likely to be completed on the terms proposed, in each case
taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal.
(c) The Company shall promptly (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) notify Buyer
in writing if any proposals or offers are received by, any information is requested from, or any
negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated or continued with, the Company or the
Company Representatives, in each case in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, and such notice
shall indicate the name of the Person initiating such discussions or negotiations or making such
proposal, offer or information request and the material terms and conditions of any proposals or
offers (and, in the case of written materials, providing copies of such materials (including
e-mails or other electronic communications) unless (i) such materials constitute confidential
information of the party making such offer or proposal under an effective confidentiality
agreement, (ii) disclosure of such materials jeopardizes the attorney-client privilege or (iii)
disclosure of such materials may reasonably be deemed to contravene any law, rule, regulation,
order, judgment or decree. The Company agrees that it shall keep Buyer informed, on a current
basis, of the status and terms of any such proposal, offer, information request, negotiations or
discussions (including any amendment or modification to such proposal, offer or request).
(d) Neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw, qualify or modify,
or propose to withdraw, qualify or modify, in a manner adverse to Buyer in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger), the Company Recommendation, or
make any statement, filing or release, in connection with the
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Company Meeting or otherwise, inconsistent with the Company Recommendation (it being
understood that taking a neutral position or no position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal
shall be considered an adverse modification of the Company Recommendation); (ii) approve or
recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into (or
cause the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into) any letter of intent, agreement in
principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement or other agreement (A) related to any
Acquisition Transaction (other than a confidentiality agreement entered into in accordance with the
provisions of Section 6.5(b)) or (B) requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to
consummate the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 6.5(d), prior to the date of the Company Meeting, the Company
Board may approve or recommend to the Company Shareholders a Superior Proposal and withdraw,
qualify or modify the Company Recommendation in connection therewith (a “Company Subsequent
Determination”) after the third (3rd) Business Day following Buyer’s receipt of a
notice (the “Notice of Superior Proposal”) from the Company advising Buyer that the Company
Board has decided that a bona fide unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal that it received (that
did not result from a breach of this Section 6.5) constitutes a Superior Proposal (it being
understood that the Company shall be required to deliver a new Notice of Superior Proposal in
respect of any revised Superior Proposal from such third party or its Affiliates that the Company
proposes to accept) if, but only if, (i) the Company Board has reasonably determined in good faith,
after consultation with and having considered the advice of outside legal counsel and a nationally
recognized, independent financial advisor, that the failure to take such action would be
inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the Company Shareholders under applicable law, (ii)
during the three (3) Business Day period after receipt of the Notice of Superior Proposal by Buyer,
the Company and the Company Board shall have cooperated and negotiated in good faith with Buyer to
make such adjustments, modifications or amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as
would enable the Company to proceed with the Company Recommendation without a Company Subsequent
Determination; provided, however, that Buyer shall not have any obligation to
propose any adjustments, modifications or amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
and (iii) at the end of such three (3) Business Day period, after taking into account any such
adjusted, modified or amended terms as may have been proposed by Buyer since its receipt of such
Notice of Superior Proposal, the Company Board has again in good faith made the determination (A)
in clause (i) of this Section 6.5(e) and (B) that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior
Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the changing, qualifying or modifying of the Company
Recommendation or the making of a Company Subsequent Determination by the Company Board shall not
change the approval of the Company Board for purposes of causing any Takeover Laws to be
inapplicable to this Agreement and the Voting Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby, including the Merger.
(f) Nothing contained in this Section 6.5 shall prohibit the Company or the Company Board from
(i) complying with the Company’s obligations required under Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated
under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that any such disclosure relating to an
Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed a change in the Company Recommendation unless the Company
Board reaffirms the Company Recommendation in such disclosure, or (ii) informing any Person of the
existence of the provisions contained in this Section 6.5.
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6.6 Takeover Laws. No party shall take any action that would cause the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover Law, as
applicable, and each party shall take all necessary steps within its control to exempt (or ensure
the continued exemption of) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from any applicable
Takeover Law, as now or hereafter in effect, that purports to apply to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
6.7 Regulatory Applications; Filings; Consents.
(a) Buyer and the Company and their respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use their
respective reasonable best efforts (a) to prepare all necessary documentation, to effect all
necessary filings, to obtain all necessary permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all
third parties and Governmental Authorities necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Regulatory Approvals, (b) to comply with the
terms and conditions of such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations and (c) to cause the
Merger to be consummated as expeditiously as practicable (including by avoiding or setting aside
any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order of any United States federal or state court
of competent jurisdiction or any other Governmental Authority); provided, however,
that in no event shall Buyer be required to agree to any prohibition, limitation, or other
requirement which would prohibit or materially limit the ownership or operation by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, of all or any material portion of
the business or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or Buyer or its
Subsidiaries, or compel Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate all or any
material portion of the business or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
or Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (together, the “Burdensome Conditions”). Provided the
Company has cooperated as required above, Buyer agrees to file the requisite applications to be
filed by it with the FRB, the FDIC, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks and the Governmental
Authorities of the states in which Buyer, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries operate.
Each of Buyer and the Company shall have the right to review in advance, and to the extent
practicable each will consult with the other, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to
the exchange of information, with respect to, all material written information submitted to any
third party or any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the parties hereto agrees to act reasonably
and as promptly as practicable. Each party hereto agrees that it will consult with the other
parties hereto with respect to the obtaining of all material permits, consents, approvals and
authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Authorities necessary or advisable to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each party will keep the other
parties apprised of the status of material matters relating to completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) The Company will notify Buyer promptly and shall promptly furnish Buyer with copies of
notices or other communications received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of (i) any
communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person (or another Person) is or
may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the
response thereto from the Company, its Subsidiaries or the Company Representatives), (ii) subject
to applicable laws and the instructions of any Governmental
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Authority, any communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from the Company, its
Subsidiaries or the Company Representatives) and (iii) any legal action threatened or commenced
against or otherwise affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are related to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from the Company, its
Subsidiaries or the Company Representatives). With respect to any of the foregoing, the Company
will consult with Buyer and the Buyer Representatives so as to permit the Company and Buyer and
their respective representatives to cooperate to take appropriate measures to avoid or mitigate any
adverse consequences that may result from any of the foregoing.
(c) Buyer will notify the Company promptly and shall promptly furnish the Company with copies
of notices or other communications received by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries of (i) any
communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person (or another Person) is or
may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the
response thereto from Buyer, its Subsidiaries or the Buyer Representatives), (ii) subject to
applicable laws and the instructions of any Governmental Authority, any communication from any
Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the
response thereto from Buyer, its Subsidiaries or the Buyer Representatives), and (iii) any legal
action threatened or commenced against or otherwise affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries
that are related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from
Buyer, its Subsidiaries or the Buyer Representatives). With respect to any of the foregoing, Buyer
will consult with the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Company Representatives so as to permit
Buyer and the Company and their respective representatives to cooperate to take appropriate
measures to avoid or mitigate any adverse consequences that may result from any of the foregoing.
6.8 Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.
(a) Buyer agrees that all rights to indemnification and all limitations of liability existing
in favor of each former and present director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company
or its Subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified
Parties”) as provided in the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or in
the similar governing documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries as in effect as of the date hereof
(including, without limitation, the right to the advancement of expenses) with respect to matters
occurring on or prior to the Effective Time shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full
force and effect, without any amendment thereto, for a period of six (6) years from the Effective
Time; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in respect of any Claim
asserted or made within such period shall continue until the final disposition of such Claim.
During such period, Buyer shall not amend, repeal or otherwise modify such provisions for
indemnification in any manner that would materially and adversely affect the rights thereunder of
individuals who at any time prior to the Effective Time was an Indemnified Party in respect of
actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation,
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), unless such modification is required by law;
provided, however, that in the event any claim or claims are asserted or made
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either prior to the Effective Time or within such six-year period, all rights to
indemnification in respect of any such claim or claims shall continue until disposition of any and
all such claims.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall purchase an extended reporting period
endorsement under the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage,
which, by its terms, shall survive the Merger, for the Company’s directors and officers in a form
acceptable to the Company which shall provide such directors and officers with coverage for six (6)
years following the Effective Time of not less than the existing coverage under, and have other
terms not materially less favorable to, the insured persons than the directors’ and officers’
liability insurance coverage presently maintained by the Company so long as the aggregate cost is
less than $200,000 (the “Maximum D&O Tail Premium”); provided that, if the cost of
such endorsement exceeds the Maximum D&O Tail Premium, the Company shall obtain such an endorsement
with the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding Maximum D&O Tail Premium.
(c) In the event Buyer or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or
assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or
surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all
or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, to
the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Buyer or
the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this
Section 6.8.
(d) The provisions of this Section 6.8 are intended to be for the benefit of, and to grant
third party rights to, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and
representatives.
6.9 Employees; Benefit Plans.
(a) For purposes of this Section 6.9, the term “Bank” shall refer to Company Bank
after the Merger and until such time as the Bank Merger in Section 1.2 occurs, after which the term
shall refer to Buyer Bank.
(b) For the 12 month period commencing on the Effective Date, Buyer shall cause, and cause
Bank to, maintain the current compensation levels, excluding any stock-based benefits, for the
employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company who remain employed by Bank after the
Effective Time (collectively, the “Company Employees”) at the same levels that are, in the
aggregate, comparable to those in effect for the Company Employees on the date hereof. With
respect to retirement, health, and welfare benefits, Buyer may cause or may cause the Bank to
cause, such Company Employees to be enrolled in plans of Buyer or Buyer Bank during such 12 month
period (instead of plans of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), provided that during
such 12 month period the retirement, health and welfare benefits offered shall be reasonably
comparable to those offered to similarly situated employees of Buyer Bank. For purposes of any
such plan, Buyer shall cause, and shall cause Buyer Bank or the Surviving Corporation to, treat,
and cause the applicable benefit plans to treat, the service of the Company Employees with the
Company or any Subsidiary of Company attributable to any
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period before the Effective Time as service rendered to Buyer or the Surviving Corporation for
purposes of eligibility to participate, vesting and for other appropriate benefits including, but
not limited to, applicability of minimum waiting periods for participation but excluding benefit
accrual under any defined benefit plan of Buyer. For purposes of determining any matching or other
employer contribution under the 401(k) plan of Buyer Bank, compensation prior to the Effective Time
will not be considered. Without limiting the foregoing, and subject to the consent of Buyer’s or
Buyer Bank’s health insurance carriers, Buyer shall cause any pre-existing conditions or
limitations, eligibility waiting periods or required physical examinations under any health or
similar plan of Buyer to be waived with respect to the Company Employees and their eligible
dependents, to the extent the Company Employees had satisfied any similar limitations or
requirements under the corresponding plan in which the Company Employees participated immediately
prior to the Closing Date, and any deductibles paid by the Company Employees under any of Company’s
or its Subsidiaries’ health plans in the plan year in which the Closing Date occurs shall be
credited towards deductibles under the health plans of Buyer or any Subsidiary of Buyer. Buyer
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to attempt and cause the Surviving Corporation to
attempt, to make appropriate arrangements with its insurance carrier(s) to ensure such result.
Except with respect to employees who have entered into employments agreements with the Company or
its Subsidiaries, and subject to Section 6.9(j) hereof, the Company Employees who remain employed
after the Effective Time shall be considered to be employed by Buyer “at will” and nothing shall be
construed to limit the ability of Buyer or the Surviving Corporation to terminate the employment of
any such Company Employee at any time.
(c) Following the Effective Date, Bank may choose to maintain any, all, or none of the
Employee Programs in its sole discretion. However, for any Employer Program terminated for which
there is a comparable Buyer Bank benefit plan of general applicability (meaning that the plan is
available to all employees satisfying uniformly applied age and service requirements), all Company
Employees shall be entitled to participate prospectively after the Effective Date in such Buyer
Bank benefit plan (or a comparable plan offered by Bank) to the same extent as similarly-situated
employees of Buyer or Buyer Bank (it being understood that inclusion of Company Employees in such
benefit plans may occur, if at all, at different times with respect to different plans). Nothing
herein shall limit the ability of Buyer, Buyer Bank or Bank to amend or terminate any of the
Employee Programs or Buyer Bank benefit plans in accordance with their terms at any time.
(d) With respect to each Employee Program subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Company
agrees to amend each such plan or cause each such plan to be amended to the extent, in Buyer’s
reasonable judgment, such an amendment is necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code (or to
cause such plan, in whole or in part, to avoid the application of Section 409A of the Code by
preserving the terms of such plan, and the law in effect, for benefits earned and vested as of
December 31, 2004) prior to the earlier of the Effective Time or the deadline imposed by the IRS
for such amendment. Such amendments shall be provided to Buyer and its counsel at least ten (10)
days prior to their proposed adoption by the Company or Company Bank and shall be subject to the
prior approval of Buyer, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(e) During the one-year period commencing as of the date on which the Effective Time occurs,
Buyer (or Bank) shall honor, with respect to Company Employees employed as of the Effective Time,
the Severance Pay Plan of Company Bank (the “Company Bank Severance Pay Plan”) (referenced
at page 6.49 of the Employee Handbook provided to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub as in effect as
of the date of this Agreement) in connection with the involuntary termination of employment, other
than for cause, of any Company Employee (excluding any employee who is party to an employment
agreement, change-in-control agreement or any other agreement which provides for severance payments
or who separates from service in connection with a business transaction between the Buyer or Bank
and another entity that offers employment to the employee immediately following the effective date
of the transaction), in such amounts, at such times and upon such conditions as set forth in the
Company Severance Pay Plan with respect to involuntary employment terminations for reasons other
than cause. Neither Buyer nor Bank shall be obligated to pay any amount to any Company Employee
who does not execute a general release and waiver of claims, in a form satisfactory to Buyer, of
any and all claims, known or unknown, against Buyer, Buyer Bank, the Company, Company Bank, and
officers, trustees, directors, employees, attorneys and affiliates of the above.
(f) Buyer shall honor, in accordance with their terms, all compensation, employment,
severance, change-of-control, and deferred compensation obligations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as set forth on Schedule 6.9(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(g) The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause its ESOP to be
terminated at the Effective Time.
(h) The Company shall not terminate prior to the Effective Time any Employee Program that is
an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to
Title IV of ERISA. After the Effective Time, at its sole election, Buyer will determine whether to
terminate any such Employee Program, merge it into a defined benefit pension plan of Buyer or Buyer
Bank in a transaction meeting all ERISA and Code requirements including, without limitation,
Section 414(l) of the Code, to maintain it separately and to freeze or modify further accruals
under such plan, or take other action. Upon Buyer’s reasonable request, the Company shall
cooperate with Buyer Bank to facilitate such action, on or after the Effective Date,
provided that any termination of such Employee Program is effected in a manner that does
not adversely affect such Employee Program’s qualification under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the
Code. Buyer Bank, Bank and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to effect such a
termination and the associated distribution of all assets of each such terminated Employee Program.
(i) Nothing in this Section 6.9, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any other
Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 6.9.
Without limiting the foregoing, no provision of this Section 6.9 will create any third party
beneficiary rights in any current or former employee, director or consultant of the Company or its
Subsidiaries in respect of continued employment (or resumed employment) or any other matter.
Nothing in this Section 6.9 is intended (i) to amend any Employee Program, (ii) interfere with
Buyer’s or Bank’s or the Surviving Corporation’s right from and after the
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Effective Date to amend or terminate any Employee Program or (iii) interfere with Buyer’s or
Bank’s or the Surviving Corporation’s right from and after the Effective Time to terminate the
employment or provision of services by any director, employee, independent contractor or
consultant.
(j) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the “employee welfare benefit
plan,” within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA, known as the Company Bank Severance Pay Plan
and referenced in Section 6.9(e) to be administered at all times in accordance with the
requirements for exemption from Section 409A of the Code available under Treasury Regulation
section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii).
6.10 Notification of Certain Matters.
(a) Each of Buyer and the Company shall give prompt notice to the other of any fact, event or
circumstance known to it that (a) is reasonably likely, individually or taken together with all
other facts, events and circumstances known to it, to result in any Buyer Material Adverse Effect
or Company Material Adverse Effect, respectively, or (b) notwithstanding the standards set forth in
Section 3.1(c) or 4.1(c), as applicable, would cause or constitute a material breach of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein. No such notice by Buyer or
the Company shall affect or be deemed to modify or waive any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement in this Agreement, or the conditions to Buyer’s or the Company’s obligations to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the contemplated Closing Date, the Company
shall supplement or amend the Company Disclosure Schedules delivered in connection with the
execution of this Agreement to reflect any material matter which, if existing, occurring or Known
at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set forth or described in the Company
Disclosure Schedules or that is necessary to correct any information in the Company Disclosure
Schedules which has been rendered materially inaccurate thereby; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to update the Company Disclosure Schedule to the extent such change
is as a result of any action taken at the request of Buyer. No supplement or amendment to the
Company Disclosure Schedules shall have any effect for the purpose of determining the accuracy of
the representations and warranties contained in Article III in order to determine the fulfillment
of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a), or the compliance by the Company with its covenants
and agreements contained herein.
6.11 Confidentiality Agreement.
(a) The Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in full force and effect after the date hereof
in accordance with its terms.
(b) With respect to Confidential Buyer Information, the Company shall not (i) use any
Confidential Buyer Information or Notes (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) except in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (b) disclose any Confidential
Buyer Information or Notes other than to those Company Representatives with a
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need to know the information contained therein; provided, that the Company
specifically informs each such Company Representative of the confidential nature of the
Confidential Buyer Information and the terms of this Agreement; and provided,
further, that the Company shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 6.11(b) by
any Company Representative. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Confidential Buyer
Information” shall mean confidential and proprietary information of Buyer and its Subsidiaries,
whether written or oral, including, without limitation, the trade secrets of Buyer and all
information, data, reports, analyses, compilations, studies, interpretations, projections,
forecasts, records and other materials (whether prepared by Buyer or otherwise and in whatever form
maintained, whether documentary, computerized or otherwise).
6.12 Current Information. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time or the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1,
the Company will cause one or more of its designated representatives to confer on a regular and
frequent basis (not less than weekly during normal business hours) with representatives of Buyer
and to report the general status of the ongoing operations of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company agrees to provide Buyer (i) a copy of
each report filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with a Governmental Authority within
one (1) Business Day following the filing thereof, (ii) a consolidated balance sheet and a
consolidated statement of operations, without related notes, within twenty-five (25) days after the
end of each month, prepared in accordance with the Company’s current financial reporting practices,
and (iii) promptly after the end of each quarter, a schedule comparable to Schedule 3.23 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule current as of the end of the most recent quarter or as recent as
practical.
6.13 Transition; Informational Systems Conversion. From and after the Company
Shareholder Approval, Buyer and the Company shall use their reasonable best efforts to facilitate
the integration of the Company with the business of Buyer following the Effective Time, and shall
meet on a regular basis during normal business hours to discuss and plan for the conversion of the
data processing and related electronic informational systems of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries (the “Informational Systems Conversion”) to those used by Buyer, which
planning shall include, but not be limited to, (a) discussion of third-party service provider
arrangements of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries; (b) non-renewal, after the Effective
Time, of personal property leases and software licenses used by the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the systems operations; (c) retention of outside consultants and
additional employees to assist with the conversion; (d) outsourcing, as appropriate after the
Effective Time, of proprietary or self-provided system services; and (e) any other actions
necessary and appropriate to facilitate the conversion, as soon as practicable following the
Effective Time. Buyer shall indemnify the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket fees, expenses
or charges that the Company may incur as a result of taking, at the request of Buyer, any action to
facilitate the Informational Systems Conversion.
6.14 Access to Suppliers. From and after the Company Shareholder Approval, the
Company shall, upon Buyer’s reasonable request, use commercially reasonable efforts to introduce
Buyer and its representatives to suppliers of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the purpose of
facilitating the integration of the Company and its business into that of Buyer. Any
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interaction between Buyer and the Company’s suppliers shall be coordinated by the Company.
The Company shall have the right to participate in any discussions between Buyer and the Company’s
suppliers.
6.15 Environmental Assessments.
(a) The Company shall cooperate with and grant access to an environmental consulting firm
selected by Buyer and reasonably acceptable to the Company, during normal business hours (and at
such other times as may be agreed), to any Company Property set forth on Schedule 3.21 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, as to which Buyer has elected to perform an environmental
assessment, for the purpose of conducting Phase I Environmental Assessments (which also may include
an evaluation of asbestos containing materials, lead based paint, lead in drinking water, mold and
radon).
(b) Each environmental assessment shall include an estimate by the environmental consulting
firm preparing such environmental assessment of the costs to investigate, monitor, clean up, or
remediate, as the case may be, the “potential environmental condition(s)” or “recognized
environmental condition(s)” identified in any Phase I Environmental Assessment.
(c) Buyer shall bear and pay the environmental consulting firm’s fees and expenses. With
respect to any Company Property as to which Buyer has elected to perform an environmental
assessment, within twenty (20) days after the date hereof, Buyer shall engage an environmental
consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Company to perform the Phase I Environmental
Assessments. Buyer shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its environmental consulting
firm to complete and provide Buyer with its written Phase I Environmental Assessment(s) within
forty-five (45) days after such consultant is retained.
6.16 Stock Exchange De-listing. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall
cooperate with Buyer and use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions,
and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under
applicable laws and rules and policies of Nasdaq and the other exchanges on which the common stock
of the Company is listed to enable the de-listing by the Surviving Corporation of the Company
Common Stock from Nasdaq and the other exchanges on which the Company Common Stock is listed and
the deregistration of the Company Common Stock under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable
after the Effective Time, and in any event no more than ten (10) days after the Closing Date.
6.17 Director Resignations. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause to be delivered to Buyer resignations of all the directors of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to be effective as of the Effective Time.
6.18 Coordination.
(a) The Company shall take any action Buyer may reasonably request prior to the Effective Time
to facilitate the consolidation of the operations of Company Bank with Buyer
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Bank. Without limiting the foregoing, senior officers of the Company and Buyer shall meet
from time to time as the Company may reasonably request, and in any event not less frequently than
monthly, to review the financial and operational affairs of the Company and Company Bank, and the
Company shall give due consideration to Buyer’s input on such matters, with the understanding that,
notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, (i) neither Buyer nor Buyer Bank
shall under any circumstance be permitted to exercise control of the Company, Company Bank or any
of its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) the Company shall not be under any
obligation to act in a manner that could reasonably be deemed to constitute anti-competitive
behavior under federal or state antitrust laws.
(b) Upon Buyer’s reasonable request, prior to the Effective Time and consistent with GAAP, the
rules and regulations of the SEC and applicable banking laws and regulations, the Company shall
give due consideration to Buyer’s request that the Company Bank divest itself of such investment
securities and loans as are identified by Buyer in writing from time to time prior to the Closing
Date, provided, however, that no such divestitures need be made prior to the Effective Time.
(c) No accrual or reserve or change in policy or procedure, or any divestiture of investment
securities or loans, made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the request of Buyer
pursuant to this Section 6.18 shall constitute or be deemed to be a breach, violation of or failure
to satisfy any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement, condition or other provision of this
Agreement or otherwise be considered in determining whether any such breach, violation or failure
to satisfy shall have occurred. The recording of any such adjustment shall not be deemed to imply
any misstatement of previously furnished financial statements or information and shall not be
construed as concurrence of the Company or its management with any such adjustments.
6.19 Transactional Expenses. The Company has provided on Schedule 6.19 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule a reasonable good faith estimate of costs and fees that the Company and
its Subsidiaries expect to pay to retained representatives in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement excluding for this purpose any litigation-related fees or expenses
(collectively, “Company Expenses”). Upon the reasonable request of Buyer, not more
frequently than quarterly, the Company shall promptly provide an updated budget of the Company
Expenses to Buyer. The Company shall not incur investment banking fees in connection with the
Merger other than those expressly provided for in the Engagement Letter.
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ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the Merger. The obligations of
each of the parties to consummate the Merger is conditioned upon the satisfaction (or waiver if
permissible under applicable law) at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions:
(a) Shareholder Vote. This Agreement shall have been approved by the requisite
affirmative vote of the Company Shareholders present and voting at the Company Meeting in
accordance with DGCL Section 251(c) and the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws.
(b) Regulatory Approvals; No Burdensome Condition. All Regulatory Approvals required
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and shall remain in
full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired. None
of such Regulatory Approvals shall impose any term, condition or restriction upon Buyer or any of
its Subsidiaries that Buyer reasonably determines is a Burdensome Condition; provided,
however, that no divestiture requirement or other term, condition, or restriction shall be
deemed to be materially burdensome if such divestiture, term, condition, or restriction is
consistent with Department of Justice or FDIC guidelines, policies and practices as applied in
recent bank merger transactions.
(c) No Injunction, Etc. No order, decree or injunction of any court or agency of
competent jurisdiction shall be in effect, and no law, statute or regulation shall have been
enacted or adopted, that enjoins, prohibits, materially restricts or makes illegal consummation of
any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
7.2 Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to consummate the
Merger is also conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver (in writing if permissible under
applicable law) by Buyer, at or prior to the Effective Time, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Company Capital Stock and Common Stock Equivalents. Notwithstanding the standard
set forth in Section 3.1, (i) the Company shall not have any outstanding shares of capital stock or
common stock equivalents outstanding at immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Options, and (ii) the number of shares of Company
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall not exceed 4,233,079, except
to the extent increased as a result of the exercise, after the date of this Agreement, of one or
more Options listed on the Company Disclosure Schedule, provided such exercise is in accordance
with the terms existing as of the date of this Agreement and such Option is disclosed on the
Company Disclosure Schedule; provided, however, that this condition shall be deemed
to be satisfied unless the consequence of its failure to be true would reasonably be expected to
increase the aggregate Merger Consideration and Option Consideration, taken as a whole, by more
than a de minimis amount.
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(b) Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company. (i) Each of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though all such representations and
warranties had been made on the Closing Date, except for any such representations and warranties
made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such date, in any case subject
to the standard set forth in Section 3.1(c), and (ii) each and all of the agreements and covenants
of the Company to be performed and complied with pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the
Closing Date shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.
(c) Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not
have occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Officer’s Certificate. Buyer shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing
Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the
effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.2(b) and (c) have been satisfied.
(e) Third Party Consents. All consents or approvals of all Persons (other than
Governmental Authorities) required for the consummation of the Merger shall have been obtained and
shall be in full force and effect, unless the failure to obtain any such consent or approval would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) Appraisal Rights. The aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock at the
Effective Time, the holders of which have demanded purchase of their shares of Company Common Stock
in accordance with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL, shall not exceed fifteen percent
(15%) of the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding as of the record date for the Company
Meeting.
(g) Other Actions. The Company shall have furnished Buyer with such customary
certificates of its officers to evidence fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1
and 7.2 as Buyer may reasonably request.
7.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to
consummate the Merger is also conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver (in writing if
permissible under applicable law) by the Company, at or prior to the Effective Time, of each of the
following conditions:
(a) Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Buyer. (i) Each of the
representations and warranties of Buyer contained herein shall be true and correct as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though all such representations and
warranties had been made on the Closing Date, except for any such representations and warranties
made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such date, in any case subject
to the standard set forth in Section 4.1(c), and (ii) each and all of the agreements and covenants
of Buyer to be performed and complied with pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Closing
Date shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.
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(b) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate, dated the
Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of Buyer, to the
effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.3(a) have been satisfied.
7.4 Frustration of Closing Conditions. Neither Buyer nor the Company may rely on the
failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be, to be satisfied
if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to use reasonable best efforts to consummate any
of the transactions contemplated hereby, as required by and subject to Section 6.1.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or
after the Company Shareholder Approval:
(a) by the mutual consent of Buyer and the Company in a written instrument;
(b) by Buyer or the Company (provided that the terminating party is not then in
material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein), in
the event of either: (i) a breach by the other party of any representation or warranty contained
herein (subject to the standards set forth in Section 3.1(c) or 4.1(c), as applicable), and such
breach shall be incapable of being cured or, if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured
within thirty (30) days after the giving of written notice to the breaching party of such breach;
or (ii) a material breach by the other party of any of the covenants or agreements contained
herein, and such breach shall be incapable of being cured or, if capable of being cured, shall not
have been cured within thirty (30) days after the giving of written notice to the breaching party
of such breach;
(c) by Buyer or the Company, in the event that the Merger is not consummated by November 1,
2008, except to the extent that the failure of the Merger to be consummated shall be due to the
failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the covenants and
agreements of such party set forth herein;
(d) by Buyer or the Company, in the event the approval of any Governmental Authority required
for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have
been denied by final nonappealable action of such Governmental Authority, or any governmental
entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final nonappealable order, injunction or
decree enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; provided that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement shall have used its
reasonable best efforts to have such order, injunction or decree lifted;
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(e) by Buyer or the Company, if either (x) the Company Meeting shall have been duly held and
the votes cast at the Company Meeting (including any adjournment thereof) shall be insufficient to
constitute the Company Shareholder Approval or (y) a vote on the approval of this Agreement shall
not have been duly taken at the Company Meeting (including by reason of the absence of a quorum) by
the Termination Date.
(f) by Buyer, if (i) the Company Board (A) modifies, qualifies, withholds or withdraws the
Company Recommendation (it being understood that taking a neutral position or no position with
respect to an Acquisition Proposal shall be considered an adverse modification of the Company
Recommendation), or makes any statement, filing or release, in connection with the Company Meeting
or otherwise, inconsistent with the Company Recommendation, (B) breaches its obligations to call,
give notice of and commence the Company Meeting under Section 6.2, (C) approves or recommends an
Acquisition Proposal, (D) fails to publicly recommend against a publicly announced Acquisition
Proposal within five (5) Business Days of being requested to do so by Buyer, or (E) resolves or
otherwise determines to take, or announces an intention to take, any of the foregoing actions or
(ii) there shall have been a material breach by the Company of Section 6.5; or
(g) by the Company, if, at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining
the Company Shareholder Approval, the Company receives a Superior Proposal; provided, however, that
the Company shall not terminate this Agreement pursuant to the foregoing clause unless:
(i) the Company shall have made a Company Subsequent Determination in
accordance with Section 6.5(e) and shall otherwise have complied in all material
respects with Section 6.5 of this Agreement;
(ii) the Company concurrently pays the Termination Fee payable pursuant to
Section 8.2(b); and
(iii) the Company Board concurrently approves, and the Company concurrently
enters into, a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal.
8.2 Effect of Termination and Abandonment.
(a) In the event of termination of this Agreement by either Buyer or the Company as provided
in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, and none of Buyer,
the Company, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of the officers or directors of any of
them shall have any liability of any nature whatsoever hereunder, or in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, except that Sections 6.4, 6.11 and 9.4 and this Section 8.2 and
all other obligations of the parties specifically intended to be performed after the termination of
this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement; provided, however,
that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (including Section 8.2(f)), neither Buyer nor
the Company shall be relieved or released from any liabilities or damages arising out of knowing,
intentional misrepresentation or fraud.
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(b) In the event this Agreement is terminated by Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(f) or by the
Company pursuant to Section 8.1(g), the Company shall pay to Buyer an amount equal to $5,000,000
(the “Termination Fee”).
(c) In the event (i) this Agreement is terminated by the Company or Buyer pursuant to Section
8.1(e) or Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(b) or 8.1(c), and (ii) on or before the date of any such
termination, (x) an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company shall have been publicly
disclosed or announced and not withdrawn (x) in the case of a termination pursuant to clause (x) of
Section 8.1(e), at least 10 days before the Company Meeting, (y) in the case of a termination
pursuant to Section 8.1(b), before the applicable breach by the Company, or (z) in the case of a
termination pursuant to Section 8.1(c) or clause (y) of Section 8.1(e), before the date specified
therein, and (iii) within one (1) year of such termination, the Company shall consummate a
transaction or have entered into a definitive agreement for a transaction with any third party that
involves the consummation of a transaction described in the definition of Acquisition Transaction
(but replacing references to “15% or more” with “50% or more”), then the Company shall pay to
Buyer, upon consummation of such transaction, the Termination Fee less the Expense Amount if
previously paid.
(d) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or by Buyer pursuant to Section
8.1(b), but the Termination Fee (or any portion thereof) has not been paid and is not then payable,
the Company shall pay at the direction of Buyer as promptly as practicable (but in any event within
two (2) Business Days after receipt of Buyer’s request therefor), $1,000,000 (the “Expense
Amount”) on account of the expenses and opportunity costs incurred by Buyer and its
Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(b), then Buyer
shall pay at the direction of the Company as promptly as practicable (but in any event within two
(2) Business Days after receipt of the Company’s request therefor) the Termination Fee.
(f) Any payment of the Termination Fee required to be made pursuant to this Section 8.2 shall
be made not more than two (2) Business Days after the date of the event giving rise to the
obligation to make such payment, unless the Termination Fee is payable as a result of the
termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(g), in which case, the
Termination Fee shall be payable concurrently with such termination. All payments under this
Section 8.2 shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated
by Buyer or the Company, as the case may be. The payment of the Termination Fee and/or Expense
Amount by the Company pursuant to Section 8.2(b), 8.2(c) or 8.2(d) shall be the sole and exclusive
remedy of Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub in connection with the termination of this Agreement
under the circumstances described thereunder. The payment of the Termination Fee by Buyer pursuant
to Section 8.2(e) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Company and Company Bank in
connection with the termination of this Agreement under the circumstances described thereunder.
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(g) Buyer, Buyer Bank, Merger Sub, the Company and Company Bank acknowledge that the
agreements contained in this Section 8.2 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and that, without these agreements, the parties would not enter into this Agreement.
Accordingly, if the Company or Buyer, as the case may be, fails promptly to pay any amount due
pursuant to this Section 8.2 and, in order to obtain such payment, Buyer or the Company, as the
case may be, commences a suit which results in a judgment against the Company or Buyer for the
amount set forth in this Section 8.2, the Company or Buyer, as the case may be, shall pay to the
other party its costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) in
connection with such suit, together with interest on all amounts due pursuant to this Section 8.2
at an interest rate equal to the prime rate of Citibank N.A. in effect on the date such payment was
required to be made plus 300 basis points.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Survival. No representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained in
this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This Section 9.1 shall not limit any covenant or
agreement of the parties that, by its terms, contemplates performance after the Effective Time or
relates to the delivery of the Exchange Fund.
9.2 Certain Definitions.
(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such Person. As used in this definition, “control”
(including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control
with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except any legal holiday
recognized as such by the U.S. Government or any day on which banking institutions in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts are authorized or obligated to close.
“Buyer Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any fact, change, event, development,
effect or circumstance that (a) individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to
materially delay or materially impair the ability of Buyer, Buyer Bank or Merger Sub to perform its
respective obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or (b) has a material adverse effect on the ability of Buyer to
obtain in a timely manner all Regulatory Approvals.
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“Company Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any fact, change, event, development,
effect or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, (a) are, or would reasonably be
expected to be, materially adverse to the business, operations, assets, liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, cash flows or properties of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) would reasonably be expected to prevent the Company from
performing its obligations under this Agreement or consummating the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the term
“Company Material Adverse Effect” shall not include (i) any fact, change, event,
development, effect or circumstance generally affecting comparable banks or their holding
companies or arising from changes in general business or economic conditions (and not specifically
relating to or having the effect of specifically relating to or having a materially
disproportionate effect (relative to most other comparable banks or their holding companies) on
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole); (ii) any fact, change, event, development,
effect or circumstance resulting from any change in law, GAAP or regulatory accounting, which
affects generally entities such as the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (and not
specifically relating to or having the effect of specifically relating to or having a materially
disproportionate effect (relative to most other comparable banks or their holding companies) on
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole); (iii) actions and omissions of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken with the prior written consent of Buyer in furtherance of the transactions
contemplated hereby or otherwise permitted to be taken by the Company under this Agreement; (iv)
any fact, change, event, development, effect or circumstance resulting from the announcement or
pendency of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (v) any failure by the Company to
meet any estimates of revenues or earnings for any period ending on or after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing; provided, however, that the exception in this clause (v) shall
not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any change, effect, circumstance or
development underlying such failure has resulted in, or contributed to, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
“Company Shareholders” shall mean the holders of Company Common Stock.
“Confidentiality Agreement” shall mean the letter dated February 6, 2008 from the
Financial Advisor, as the Company’s agent, and accepted by Buyer with respect to, among other
things, the parties’ obligations with respect to Evaluation Material (as defined therein).
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder.
“FDIC” shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean any department, agency, or other body or division
of any federal, state, regional or local government, commission, board, body, bureau or other
regulatory authority or agency, that exercises any form of jurisdiction or authority under federal,
state, regional, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments,
orders or decrees, including without limitation Environmental Laws, or any quasi-governmental or
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private body exercising any regulatory, taxing or other governmental or quasi-governmental
authority.
“Knowledge” or “Known” as used with respect to the Company and Company Bank
means the actual knowledge of any of the persons named in Schedule 9.2(a) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, and with respect to Buyer, Buyer Bank and Merger Sub, means the actual
knowledge of the persons named in Schedule 9.2(a) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule.
“Person” or “person” shall mean any individual, bank, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, business trust or
unincorporated organization.
“Regulatory Approvals” shall mean (a) the approval (or waiver) of the FRB, (b) the
approval of the Office of the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks, (c) notification to the
Massachusetts Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Healthcare Administration, and (d)
the approval of the Massachusetts Board of Bank Incorporation (including by the Massachusetts
Housing Partnership Fund with respect to an application for credit for affordable housing lending).
“Rights Agreement” shall mean the Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of January 18,
2000, between the Company and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, when used with reference to a party, any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, business trust or other
entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which such party or any other Subsidiary of such
party is a general partner or serves in a similar capacity, or with respect to such corporation or
other entity, at least twenty percent (20%) of the securities or other interests having by their
terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing
similar functions is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by any one of more
of its Subsidiaries, or by such party and one or more of its Subsidiaries.
“Tax Returns” shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or
information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto,
and including any amendment thereof.
“Taxes” shall mean (i) all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments,
including, without limitation, all net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
valorem, goods and services, capital, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll,
employment, employer health, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property or other
taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any taxing authority;
and (ii) any liability for the payment of amounts with respect to payments of a type described in
clause (i) as
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a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group, or as a
result of any obligation under any tax sharing arrangement or tax indemnity agreement.
“Treasury Stock” shall mean shares of Company Common Stock held (i) in the Company’s
treasury or (ii) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries,
in each case other than in a fiduciary capacity (including custodial or agency).
(b) The following terms are defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as indicated below:
“2007 Company Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.12(b).
“409A Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(j).
“Acquisition Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).
“Acquisition Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Appraisal Rights Provision” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
“Articles of Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
“Bank” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.9(a).
“Bank Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Bankruptcy and Equity Exception” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“BHCA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
“Burdensome Conditions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.7(a).
“Buyer” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Buyer Bank” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Buyer Board” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
“Buyer Disclosure Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b).
“Buyer Representatives” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.
“Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Certificate of Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
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“Classified Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(b).
“Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(b).
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(b).
“Code” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Company 2006 Form 10-K” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).
“Company Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b)
“Company Balance Sheet Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b)
“Company Bank” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this agreement.
“Company Bank Board” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“Company Bank Severance Pay Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.9(e).
“Company Board” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“Company Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“Company Disclosure Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
“Company Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.9(a).
“Company Expenses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.19.
“Company Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.19(b)(i).
“Company Material Contract” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).
“Company Meeting” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(c).
“Company Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(a).
“Company Recommendation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(e).
“Company Representatives” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).
“Company SEC Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).
“Company Shareholder Approval” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).
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“Company Subsequent Determination” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).
“Confidential Buyer Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.11(b).
“Derivative Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.26(a).
“DIF” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).
“Dissenting Shareholders” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
“Dissenting Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
“DGCL” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
“Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
“Effective Date Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).
“Effective Time” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
“Employee Program” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(p)(i).
“Engagement Letter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.33.
“Environment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(l)(v).
“Environmental Law” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(l)(vi).
“ERISA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(c).
“ERISA Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(p)(iii).
“ESOP” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(c).
“Exchange Fund” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
“Expense Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(d).
“FDIA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.29(a).
“Financial Advisor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.33.
“FRB” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
“Hazardous Material” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(l)(iii).
“Indemnified Party” and “Indemnified Parties” shall each have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.8(a).
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“Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(b)(ii).
“IRS” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(b).
“Liens” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).
“Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“maintains” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(p)(ii).
“Massachusetts Courts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.11.
“Maximum D&O Tail Premium” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(b).
“Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Merger Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
“Merger Sub” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“MHPF” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).
“Multiemployer Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(p)(iv).
“Notice of Superior Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).
“Oil” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(l)(iv).
“Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Option Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
“Policies, Practices and Procedures” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.27(b).
“Proxy Materials” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a).
“Proxy Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(d).
“SEC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).
“Superior Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(b).
“Surviving Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
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“Takeover Laws” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.32(a).
“Termination Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b).
“Trust Business” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.24.
“USA Patriot Act” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.30.
“Voting Agreement” and “Voting Agreements” shall each have the meaning set
forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Voting Agreement Shareholder” and “Voting Agreement Shareholders” shall each
have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
9.3 Waiver; Amendment. Subject to compliance with applicable law, prior to the
Effective Time, any provision of this Agreement may be (a) waived by the party intended to benefit
by the provision, or (b) amended or modified at any time, by an agreement in writing between the
parties hereto approved by their respective Boards of Directors and executed in the same manner as
this Agreement; provided, however, that after the approval of this Agreement by the
Company Shareholders, no amendment of this Agreement shall be made which by law requires further
approval of the Company Shareholders without obtaining such approval.
9.4 Expenses. Each party hereto will bear all expenses incurred by it in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
9.5 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
may be given by any of the following methods: (a) personal delivery; (b) facsimile transmission;
(c) registered or certified mail, postage prepaid return receipt requested; or (d) overnight
delivery service. Notices shall be sent to the appropriate party at its address or facsimile
number (or such other address or facsimile number for such party as shall be specified by such
party by notice given hereunder):
If to Buyer:
Eastern Bank
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Eastern Bank
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX0-00
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx, General Counsel
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX0-00
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx, General Counsel
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
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and
Xxxxxx, XxXxxxxxx & Fish, LLP
World Trade Center West
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
World Trade Center West
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. |
If to the Company, to:
MASSBANK Corp.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer and President
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer and President
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx Procter LLP
Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
All such notices and other communications shall be deemed received (i) in the case of personal
delivery, upon actual receipt by the addressee, (ii) in the case of overnight delivery, on the
first business day following delivery to the overnight delivery service, (iii) in the case of mail,
on the date of delivery indicated on the return receipt, and (iv) in the case of a facsimile
transmission, upon transmission by the sender and issuance by the transmitting machine of a
confirmation slip that the number of pages constituting the notice has been transmitted without
error. In the case of notices sent by facsimile transmission, the sender shall contemporaneously
mail by overnight delivery service a copy of the notice to the addressee at the address provided
for above; however, such mailing shall in no way alter the time at which the facsimile notice is
deemed received.
9.6 Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except for the Confidentiality
Agreement, which shall remain in effect, this Agreement represents the entire understanding of the
parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and supersedes
any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made. Except for Section 6.8 and the
provisions of Article II concerning payment of the Merger Consideration, which shall inure to the
Company Shareholders but, prior to the Effective Time, may only be enforced by the Company acting
on their behalf, 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.
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9.7 Assignability; Binding Effect. Prior to the Closing, this Agreement may not be
assigned by Buyer without the written consent of the Company and no such assignment shall release
Buyer of its obligations hereunder. After the Closing, Buyer’s rights and obligations hereunder
shall be freely assignable. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company without the prior
written consent of Buyer. This Agreement shall be binding upon and enforceable by, and shall inure
to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
9.8 Headings; Interpretation. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement. The word “including” and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the
context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified. Words of number may be read as singular
or plural, as required by context.
9.9 Counterparts; Delivery. 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 and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party. Signatures delivered by facsimile
or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.
9.10 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof.
9.11 Jurisdiction. Each of Buyer, Buyer Bank, the Company, Company Bank and Merger Sub
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents and agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of the United States of America located in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Massachusetts Courts”) for any litigation arising
out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to
commence any litigation relating thereto except in such courts), waives any objection to the laying
of venue of any such litigation in the Massachusetts Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any
Massachusetts Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an inconvenient forum;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9.11 is intended to waive the right
of any party to remove any such action or proceeding commenced in any such state court to an
appropriate federal court that is a Massachusetts Court to the extent the basis for such removal
exists under applicable law.
9.12 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid,
illegal or incapable of being enforced by reason of any law or public policy, all other terms and
provisions of this Agreement nevertheless shall remain in full force and effect and the parties
shall use their reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which,
insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.
9.13 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event
that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific
terms. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of
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the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law
or in equity.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be
executed in counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above
written.
BUYER | EASTERN BANK CORPORATION | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | Chairman, President, CEO | |||||
MERGER SUB | MINUTEMAN ACQUISITION CORP. | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Chairman | |||||
BUYER BANK | EASTERN BANK | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Chairman and CEO | |||||
COMPANY | MASSBANK CORP. | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President | |||||
COMPANY BANK | MASSBANK | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: | President |