EXHIBIT 99.2
THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO
CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN AND TO
RESALE RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated October 31, 2000, between Imperial Bancorp, a
California corporation ("Issuer"), and Comerica Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation ("Grantee").
W I T N E S S E T H :
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WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement"), which agreement has been
executed by the parties hereto immediately prior to this Stock Option Agreement
(this "Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger Agreement and
in consideration therefor and for Grantee's entering into the Option Agreement,
Issuer has agreed to grant Grantee the Option (as hereinafter defined);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable
option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up to 8,600,000
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Issuer's Common Shares ("Common Shares"),
at a price of $24.81 per share (the "Option Price"); provided, however, that in
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no event shall the number of Common Shares for which this Option is exercisable
exceed 19.9% of the Issuer's issued and outstanding Common Shares without giving
effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant to the Option. The number of
Common Shares that may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the
Option Price are subject to adjustment as herein set forth.
(b) In the event that any additional Common Shares are either (i) issued or
otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement (other than
pursuant to this Agreement) or (ii) redeemed, repurchased, retired or otherwise
cease to be outstanding after the date of the Agreement, the number of Common
Shares subject to the Option shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate, so
that, after such issuance, such number equals 19.9% of the number of Common
Shares then issued and outstanding without giving effect to any shares subject
or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained in this Section 1(b) or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize Issuer or Grantee to
breach any provision of the Merger Agreement.
2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the Option, in
whole or part, and from time to time, if, but only if, both an Initial
Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) and a Subsequent Triggering Event (as
hereinafter defined) shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise
Termination Event (as hereinafter defined), provided that the Holder shall have
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sent the written notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this
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Section 2) within 90 days following such Subsequent Triggering Event. Each of
the following shall be an "Exercise Termination Event": (i) the Effective Time
(as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger; (ii) termination of the
Merger Agreement in accordance with the provisions thereof if such termination
occurs prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event, except a
termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.1(d) of the Merger Agreement
(unless the breach by Issuer giving rise to such right of termination is non-
volitional); or (iii) the passage of 12 months after termination of the Merger
Agreement if such termination follows the occurrence of an Initial Triggering
Event or is a termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.1(d) of the Merger
Agreement (unless the breach by Issuer giving rise to such right of termination
is non-volitional) (provided that if an Initial Triggering Event continues or
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occurs beyond such termination and prior to the passage of such 12-month period,
the Exercise Termination Event shall be 12 months from the expiration of the
Last Triggering Event but in no event more than 18 months after such
termination). The "Last Triggering Event" shall mean the last Initial Triggering
Event to expire. The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the
Option.
(b) The term "Initial Triggering Event" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02
of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC")) (each an "Issuer Subsidiary"), without having received
Grantee's prior written consent, shall have entered into an agreement to
engage in an Acquisition Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any
person (the term "person" for purposes of this Agreement having the meaning
assigned thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and
regulations thereunder) other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries (each
a "Grantee Subsidiary") or the Board of Directors of Issuer shall have
recommended that the shareholders of Issuer approve or accept any
Acquisition Transaction. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition
Transaction" shall mean (w) a merger or consolidation, or any similar
transaction, involving Issuer or any Subsidiary of Issuer, (x) a purchase,
lease or other acquisition or assumption of all or a substantial portion of
the assets or deposits of Issuer or any Subsidiary of Issuer, (y) a
purchase or other acquisition (including by way of merger, consolidation,
share exchange or otherwise) of securities representing 10% or more of the
voting power of Issuer, or (z) any substantially similar transaction;
provided, however, that in no event shall any merger, consolidation,
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purchase or similar transaction involving only the Issuer and one or more
of its Subsidiaries or involving only any two or more of such Subsidiaries,
provided that any such transaction is not entered into in violation of the
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terms of the Merger Agreement, be deemed to be an Acquisition Transaction;
(ii) Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary, without having received
Grantee's prior written consent, shall have authorized, recommended,
proposed or publicly announced its intention to authorize, recommend or
propose, to engage in an Acquisition Transaction with any person other than
Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, or the Board of Directors of Issuer shall
have failed to recommend that the shareholders of Issuer approve the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby or shall have publicly
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withdrawn or modified, or publicly announced its interest to withdraw or
modify, in any manner adverse to Grantee, its recommendation that the
shareholders of Issuer approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby in anticipation of engaging in an Acquisition
Transaction;
(iii) Any person other than Grantee, any Grantee Subsidiary or
any Issuer Subsidiary acting in a fiduciary capacity in the ordinary course
of its business shall have acquired beneficial ownership or the right to
acquire beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares (the term "beneficial ownership" for purposes of this Agreement
having the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, and
the rules and regulations thereunder);
(iv) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
shall have made a bona fide proposal to Issuer or its shareholders by
public announcement or written communication that is or becomes the subject
of public disclosure to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;
(v) After an overture is made by a third party to Issuer or its
shareholders to engage in an Acquisition Transaction, Issuer shall have
breached any covenant or obligation contained in the Merger Agreement and
such breach (x) would entitle Grantee to terminate the Merger Agreement and
(y) shall not have been cured prior to the Notice Date (as hereinafter
defined); or
(vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary,
other than in connection with a transaction to which Grantee has given its
prior written consent, shall have filed an application or notice with the
Federal Reserve Board, or other federal or state bank regulatory authority,
which application or notice has been accepted for processing, for approval
to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.
(c) The term "Subsequent Triggering Event" shall mean either of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:
(i) The acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of 20%
or more of the then-outstanding Common Shares; or
(ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event described in
paragraph (i) of subsection (b) of this Section 2, except that the percentage
referred to in clause (y) shall be 20%.
(d) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the
occurrence of any Initial Triggering Event or Subsequent Triggering Event of
which it has notice (together, a "Triggering Event"), it being understood that
the giving of such notice by Issuer shall not be a condition to the right of the
Holder to exercise the Option.
(e) In the event the Holder is entitled to and wishes to exercise
the Option, it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being
herein referred to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of
shares it will purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not
earlier than three business days nor later than 60 business days from the
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Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing Date"); provided that
if prior notification to or approval of the Federal Reserve Board or any other
regulatory agency is required in connection with such purchase, the Holder shall
promptly file the required notice or application for approval and shall
expeditiously process the same and the period of time that otherwise would run
pursuant to this sentence shall run instead from the date on which any required
notification periods have expired or been terminated or such approvals have been
obtained and any requisite waiting period or periods shall have passed. Any
exercise of the Option shall be deemed to occur on the Notice Date relating
thereto.
(f) At the closing referred to in subsection (e) of this Section 2,
the Holder shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the Common
Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately available
funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Issuer, provided that
failure or refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude
the Holder from exercising the Option.
(g) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of
immediately available funds as provided in subsection (f) of this Section 2,
Issuer shall deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing
the number of Common Shares purchased by the Holder and, if the Option should be
exercised in part only, a new Option evidencing the rights of the Holder thereof
to purchase the balance of the shares purchasable hereunder, and the Holder
shall deliver to Issuer a copy of this Agreement and a letter agreeing that the
Holder will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such shares in violation
of applicable law or the provisions of this Agreement.
(h) Certificates for Common Shares delivered at a closing hereunder
may be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read substantially as
follows:
"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is subject
to certain provisions of an agreement between the registered holder
hereof and Issuer and to resale restrictions arising under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A copy of such agreement is on
file at the principal office of Issuer and will be provided to the
holder hereof without charge upon receipt by Issuer of a written
request therefor."
It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale restrictions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), in the above legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff
of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such legend is not required for
purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions of this Agreement
in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s)
without such reference if the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance
with the provisions of this Agreement and under circumstances that do not
require the retention of such reference; and (iii) the legend shall be removed
in its entirety if the conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both
satisfied. In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be
required by law.
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(i) Upon the giving by the Holder to Issuer of the written notice
of exercise of the Option provided for under subsection (e) of this Section 2
and the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds,
the Holder shall be deemed, subject to the receipt of applicable regulatory
approvals, to be the holder of record of the Common Shares issuable upon such
exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of Issuer shall then be
closed or that certificates representing such Common Shares shall not then be
actually delivered to the Holder. Issuer shall pay all expenses, and any and
all United States federal, state and local taxes and other charges that may be
payable in connection with the preparation, issue and delivery of stock
certificates under this Section 2 in the name of the Holder or its assignee,
transferee or designee.
3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free from
preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued Common Shares (or, to the
extent necessary as provided below, sufficient authorized but unissued Preferred
Shares) so that the Option may be exercised without additional authorization of
Common Shares (or Preferred Shares, as the case may be) after giving effect to
all other options, warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase
Common Shares(it being understood and agreed that in the event that there are
not sufficient Common Shares authorized but not issued to permit the exercise in
full of the Option in accordance with the terms hereof, Issuer shall take all
such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for
issuance upon exercise of the Option; and in the event that the Company shall,
after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be so
necessary, Issuer shall substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise
be issuable upon exercise of the Option, a number of Preferred Shares of the
Company (or fractions thereof) having the same rights, privileges and
preferences (including without limitation with respect to dividends, voting and
rights upon liquidation or dissolution of Issuer) as each Common Share and which
Preferred Shares (or applicable fractions thereof) have a market price that is
as equal as practicable to the market price of each Common Share as of the date
of issuance of such Preferred Shares (or applicable fractions thereof)); (ii)
that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation,
merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary act, avoid or
seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the covenants,
stipulations or conditions to be observed or performed hereunder by Issuer;
(iii) promptly to take all action as may from time to time be required
(including (x) complying with all premerger notification, reporting and waiting
period requirements specified in 15 U.S.C. (S) 18a and regulations promulgated
thereunder and (y) in the event, under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended (the "BHCA"), or the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, or
any state banking law, prior approval of or notice to the Federal Reserve Board
or to any state regulatory authority is necessary before the Option may be
exercised, cooperating fully with the Holder in preparing such applications or
notices and providing such information to the Federal Reserve Board or such
state regulatory authority as they may require) in order to permit the Holder to
exercise the Option and Issuer duly and effectively to issue Common Shares
pursuant hereto; and (iv) promptly to take all action provided herein to protect
the rights of the Holder against dilution.
4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable,
without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender of
this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements providing
for Options of different denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase,
on the same terms and subject to the same
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conditions as are set forth herein, in the aggregate the same number of Common
Shares purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein
include any Stock Option Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement
(and the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of
reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of
this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of
like tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall
constitute an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether
or not the Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall at any time
be enforceable by anyone.
5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of Common Shares that
are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of this
Agreement, the number of Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the
Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in this Section 5. In the event of any change in, or distributions in
respect of, the Common Shares by reason of stock dividends, split-ups, mergers,
recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions, conversions, exchanges of shares,
distributions on or in respect of the Common Shares, or the like, the type and
number of Common Shares purchasable upon exercise hereof and the Option Price
shall be appropriately adjusted in such manner as shall fully preserve the
economic benefits provided hereunder and proper provision shall be made in any
agreement governing any such transaction to provide for such proper adjustment
and the full satisfaction of the Issuer's obligations hereunder.
6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that occurs
prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the request of Grantee
delivered within 90 days of such Subsequent Triggering Event (whether on its own
behalf or on behalf of any subsequent holder of this Option (or part thereof) or
any of the Common Shares issued pursuant hereto), promptly prepare, file and
keep current a shelf registration statement under the 1933 Act covering this
Option and any shares issued and issuable pursuant to this Option and shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective and remain current in order to permit the sale or other disposition of
this Option and any Common Shares issued upon total or partial exercise of this
Option ("Option Shares") in accordance with any plan of disposition requested by
Grantee. Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration
statement first to become effective and then to remain effective for such period
not in excess of 180 days from the day such registration statement first becomes
effective or such shorter time as may be reasonably necessary to effect such
sales or other dispositions. Grantee shall have the right to demand two such
registrations. The foregoing notwithstanding, if, at the time of any request by
Grantee for registration of the Option or Option Shares as provided above,
Issuer is in registration with respect to an underwritten public offering of
Common Shares, and if in the good faith judgment of the managing underwriter or
managing underwriters, or, if none, the sole underwriter or underwriters, of
such offering the inclusion of the Holder's Option or Option Shares would
interfere with the successful marketing of the Common Shares offered by Issuer,
the number of Option Shares otherwise to be covered in the registration
statement contemplated hereby may be reduced; and provided, however, that after
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any such required reduction the number of Option Shares to be included in such
offering for the account of the Holder shall constitute at least 25% of the
total number of shares to be sold by the Holder and Issuer in the aggregate; and
provided further, however, that if such reduction occurs, then the
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Issuer shall file a registration statement for the balance as promptly as
practical and no reduction shall thereafter occur. Each such Holder shall
provide all information reasonably requested by Issuer for inclusion in any
registration statement to be filed hereunder. If requested by any such Holder in
connection with such registration, Issuer shall become a party to any
underwriting agreement relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the
extent of obligating itself in respect of representations, warranties,
indemnities and other agreements customarily included in secondary offering
underwriting agreements for the Issuer. Upon receiving any request under this
Section 6 from any Holder, Issuer agrees to send a copy thereof to any other
person known to Issuer to be entitled to registration rights under this Section
6, in each case by promptly mailing the same, postage prepaid, to the address of
record of the persons entitled to receive such copies. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall Issuer be obligated to
effect more than two registrations pursuant to this Section 6 by reason of the
fact that there shall be more than one Grantee as a result of any assignment or
division of this Agreement.
7. (a) Immediately prior to the occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as
hereinafter defined), (i) following a request of the Holder, delivered prior to
an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall
repurchase the Option from the Holder at a price (the "Option Repurchase Price")
equal to the amount by which (A) the Market/Offer Price (as hereinafter defined)
exceeds (B) the Option Price, multiplied by the number of shares for which this
Option may then be exercised and (ii) at the request of the owner of Option
Shares from time to time (the "Owner"), delivered within 90 days of such
occurrence (or such later period as provided in Section 10), Issuer shall
repurchase such number of the Option Shares from the Owner as the Owner shall
designate at a price (the "Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to the
Market/Offer Price multiplied by the number of Option Shares so designated. The
term "Market/Offer Price" shall mean the highest of (i) the price per Common
Share at which a tender offer or exchange offer therefor has been made, (ii) the
price per Common Share to be paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement
with Issuer, (iii) the highest closing price for Common Shares within the six-
month period immediately preceding the date the Holder gives notice of the
required repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives notice of the required
repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv) in the event of a sale
of all or a substantial portion of Issuer's assets, the sum of the price paid in
such sale for such assets and the current market value of the remaining assets
of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Holder or the Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably
acceptable to the Issuer, divided by the number of Common Shares of Issuer
outstanding at the time of such sale. In determining the Market/Offer Price, the
value of consideration other than cash shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder or Owner, as the case
may be, and reasonably acceptable to the Issuer.
(b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may exercise its
right to require Issuer to repurchase the Option and any Option Shares pursuant
to this Section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at its principal
office, a copy of this Agreement or certificates for Option Shares, as
applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the Holder
or the Owner, as the case may be, elects to require Issuer to repurchase this
Option and/or the Option Shares in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7. Within the latter to occur of (x) five business days after the
surrender of the Option and/or certificates representing Option Shares and the
receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto and (y) the
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time that is immediately prior to the occurrence of a Repurchase Event, Issuer
shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder the Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the Owner the Option Share Repurchase Price therefor or the portion
thereof, if any, that Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and
regulation from so delivering.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation from repurchasing the Option and/or the Option Shares in full, Issuer
shall immediately so notify the Holder and/or the Owner and thereafter deliver
or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the Holder and/or the Owner, as
appropriate, the portion of the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, that it is no longer prohibited from delivering,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so
prohibited; provided, however, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
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notice of repurchase pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 7 is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation from delivering to the Holder and/or the
Owner, as appropriate, the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and Issuer hereby undertakes to use its
best efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file
any required notices, in each case as promptly as practicable in order to
accomplish such repurchase), the Holder or Owner may revoke its notice of
repurchase of the Option or the Option Shares either in whole or to the extent
of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer shall promptly (i)
deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, that portion of the
Option Repurchase Price or the Option Share Repurchase Price that Issuer is not
prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the
Holder, a new Stock Option Agreement evidencing the right of the Holder to
purchase that number of Common Shares obtained by multiplying the number of
Common Shares for which the surrendered Stock Option Agreement was exercisable
at the time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore
delivered to the Holder and the denominator of which is the Option Repurchase
Price, or (B) to the Owner, a certificate for the Option Shares it is then so
prohibited from repurchasing.
(d) For purposes of this Section 7, a Repurchase Event shall be
deemed to have occurred (i) upon the consummation of any merger, consolidation
or similar transaction involving Issuer or any purchase, lease or other
acquisition of all or a substantial portion of the assets of Issuer, other than
any such transaction which would not constitute an Acquisition Transaction
pursuant to the provisos to Section 2(b)(i) hereof or (ii) upon the acquisition
by any person of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then outstanding
Common Shares, provided that no such event shall constitute a Repurchase Event
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unless a Subsequent Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an Exercise
Termination Event. The parties hereto agree that Issuer's obligations to
repurchase the Option or Option Shares under this Section 7 shall not terminate
upon the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event unless no Subsequent
Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise
Termination Event.
8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event,
Issuer shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any
person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, and shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (ii) to
permit any person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, to merge into
Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but, in
connection with such merger, the then outstanding Common Shares shall be changed
into or
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exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or
any other property or the then outstanding Common Shares shall after such merger
represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting shares and voting share
equivalents of the merged company, or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all or
substantially all of its assets to any person, other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such
transaction shall make proper provision so that the Option shall, upon the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein, be converted into, or exchanged for, an option (the "Substitute
Option"), at the election of the Holder, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation
(as hereinafter defined) or (y) any person that controls the Acquiring
Corporation.
(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (A) the continuing or
surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other
than Issuer), (B) Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the continuing or
surviving person, and (C) the transferee of all or substantially all of
Issuer's assets.
(ii) "Substitute Common Shares" shall mean the common stock
issued by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the
Substitute Option.
(iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the Market/Offer Price, as
defined in Section 7.
(iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of a
share of the Substitute Common Shares for the one year immediately
preceding the consolidation, merger or sale in question, but in no event
higher than the closing price of the shares of Substitute Common Shares on
the day preceding such consolidation, merger or sale; provided that if
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Issuer is the issuer of the Substitute Option, the Average Price shall be
computed with respect to a share of common stock issued by the person
merging into Issuer or by any company that controls or is controlled by
such person, as the Holder may elect.
(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option,
provided, that if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons,
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be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no
event less advantageous to the Holder. The issuer of the Substitute Option
shall also enter into an agreement with the then Holder or Holders of the
Substitute Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement, which shall
be applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of
shares of Substitute Common Shares as is equal to the Assigned Value multiplied
by the number of Common Shares for which the Option is then exercisable, divided
by the Average Price. The exercise price of the Substitute Option per share of
Substitute Common Shares shall then be equal to the Option Price multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares for which
the Option is then exercisable and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Substitute Common Shares for which the Substitute Option is
exercisable.
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(e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall
the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of
Substitute Common Shares outstanding prior to exercise of the Substitute Option.
In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than 19.9%
of the shares of Substitute Common Shares outstanding prior to exercise but for
this clause (e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option
Issuer") shall make a cash payment to Holder equal to the excess of (i) the
value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the limitation in this
clause (e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving effect to
the limitation in this clause (e). This difference in value shall be determined
by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder or the
Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to the Acquiring
Corporation.
(f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder.
9. (a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Holder"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute Option from the Substitute Option Holder at a price (the "Substitute
Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by which (i) the Highest Closing
Price (as hereinafter defined) exceeds (ii) the exercise price of the Substitute
Option, multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute Common Shares for which
the Substitute Option may then be exercised, and at the request of the owner
(the "Substitute Share Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Shares (the
"Substitute Shares"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute Shares at a price (the "Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to
the Highest Closing Price multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so
designated. The term "Highest Closing Price" shall mean the highest closing
price for shares of Substitute Common Shares within the six-month period
immediately preceding the date the Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the
required repurchase of the Substitute Option or the Substitute Share Owner gives
notice of the required repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as applicable.
(b) The Substitute Option Holder and the Substitute Share Owner, as
the case may be, may exercise its respective right to require the Substitute
Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute Shares
pursuant to this Section 9 by surrendering for such purpose to the Substitute
Option Issuer, at its principal office, the agreement for such Substitute Option
(or, in the absence of such an agreement, a copy of this Agreement) and
certificates for Substitute Shares accompanied by a written notice or notices
stating that the Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the
case may be, elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the
Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 9. As promptly as practicable, and in any event within five
business days after the surrender of the Substitute Option and/or certificates
representing Substitute Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices
relating thereto, the Substitute Option Issuer shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the Substitute Share Owner the Substitute Share Repurchase Price
therefor or, in either case, the portion thereof which the Substitute Option
Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so
delivering.
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(c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation from repurchasing the Substitute Option
and/or the Substitute Shares in part or in full, the Substitute Option Issuer
following a request for repurchase pursuant to this Section 9 shall immediately
so notify the Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner and
thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the
portion of the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively, which it is no
longer prohibited from delivering, within five business days after the date on
which the Substitute Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided,
--------
however, that if the Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after delivery of a
- -------
notice of repurchase pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9 prohibited
under applicable law or regulation from delivering to the Substitute Option
Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price and the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in
full (and the Substitute Option Issuer shall use its best efforts to obtain all
required regulatory and legal approvals, in each case as promptly as
practicable, in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Substitute Option
Holder or Substitute Share Owner may revoke its notice of repurchase of the
Substitute Option or the Substitute Shares either in whole or to the extent of
the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, the Substitute Option Issuer
shall promptly (i) deliver to the Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share
Owner, as appropriate, that portion of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price or
the Substitute Share Repurchase Price that the Substitute Option Issuer is not
prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the
Substitute Option Holder, a new Substitute Option evidencing the right of the
Substitute Option Holder to purchase that number of shares of the Substitute
Common Shares obtained by multiplying the number of shares of the Substitute
Common Shares for which the surrendered Substitute Option was exercisable at the
time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the Substitute Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof
theretofore delivered to the Substitute Option Holder and the denominator of
which is the Substitute Option Repurchase Price, or (B) to the Substitute Share
Owner, a certificate for the Substitute Common Shares it is then so prohibited
from repurchasing.
10. The 90-day or 6-month periods for exercise of certain rights under
Sections 2, 6, 7, 13 and 15 shall be extended: (i) to the extent necessary to
obtain all regulatory approvals for the exercise of such rights, and for the
expiration of all statutory waiting periods; (ii) to the extent necessary to
avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise
and (iii) during any period in which Grantee is precluded from exercising such
rights due to an injunction or other legal restriction, plus in each case such
additional period as is reasonably necessary for the exercise of such rights
promptly following the obtaining of such approvals or the expiration of such
periods.
11. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:
(a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the
Board of Directors of Issuer and no other corporate proceedings on the part of
Issuer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
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transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize
and reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from the date hereof
through the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms will have
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Option, that number of Common
Shares (and, as contemplated by Section 3 hereof, Preferred Shares) equal to the
maximum number of Common Shares at any time and from time to time issuable
hereunder, and all such shares, upon issuance pursuant hereto, will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and will be delivered
free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrance and security interests and not
subject to any preemptive rights.
12. Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer that:
(a) Grantee has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals or consents referred to
herein, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of Grantee. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
(b) The Option is not being, and any Common Shares or other
securities acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be, acquired
with a view to the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred or
otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from
registration under the Securities Act.
13. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Option Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any
other person, without the express written consent of the other party, except
that in the event a Subsequent Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an
Exercise Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express provisions hereof,
may assign in whole or in part its rights and obligations hereunder within 90
days following such Subsequent Triggering Event (or such later period as
provided in Section 10); provided, however, that until the date 15 days
-------- -------
following the date on which the Federal Reserve Board approves an application by
Grantee under the BHCA to acquire the Common Shares subject to the Option,
Grantee may not assign its rights under the Option except in (i) a widely
dispersed public distribution, (ii) a private placement in which no one party
acquires the right to purchase in excess of 2% of the voting shares of Issuer,
(iii) an assignment to a single party (e.g., a broker or investment banker) for
----
the purpose of conducting a widely dispersed public distribution on Grantee's
behalf, or (iv) any other manner approved by the Federal Reserve Board.
14. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its best efforts to make all
filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and governmental
authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including without limitation making application to list the
Common Shares issuable hereunder on the New York Stock Exchange upon official
notice of issuance and applying to the Federal Reserve Board under the BHCA for
approval to acquire the shares issuable hereunder, but Grantee shall not be
obligated
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to apply to state banking authorities for approval to acquire the Common Shares
issuable hereunder until such time, if ever, as it deems appropriate to do so.
15. (a) Grantee in its sole discretion may, at any time during which
Issuer would be required to repurchase the Option or any Option Shares pursuant
to Section 7, surrender the Option (together with any Option Shares issued to
and then owned by the Holder) to Issuer in exchange for a cash payment equal to
the Surrender Price (as hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Grantee
-------- -------
may not exercise its rights pursuant to this Section 15 if Issuer has previously
repurchased the Option (or any portion thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to
Section 7. The "Surrender Price" shall be equal to (i) $43 million, plus (ii) if
applicable, the aggregate purchase price previously paid pursuant hereto by
Grantee with respect to any Option Shares, minus (iii) if applicable, the excess
of (A) the net cash, if any, received by Grantee pursuant to the arm's-length
sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such Option Shares
were converted or exchanged) to any party not affiliated with Grantee, over (B)
the purchase price paid by Grantee with respect to such Option Shares.
(b) Grantee may exercise its right to surrender the Option and any
Option Shares pursuant to this Section 15 by surrendering for such purpose to
Issuer, at its principal office, a copy of this Agreement, together with
certificates for Option Shares, if any, accompanied by a written notice stating
(i) that Grantee elects to surrender the Option and Option Shares, if any, in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 15 and (ii) the Surrender Price.
Within two business days after the surrender of the Option and the Option
Shares, if applicable, Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Grantee
the Surrender Price.
(c) To the extent that the Issuer is prohibited under applicable law
or regulation from paying the Surrender Price to Grantee in full, Issuer shall
immediately so notify Grantee and thereafter deliver, or cause to be delivered,
from time to time, to Grantee, that portion of the Surrender Price that Issuer
is not or no longer prohibited from paying, within two business days after the
date on which Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided, however, that if
-------- -------
Issuer at any time after delivery of a notice of surrender pursuant to Section
15(b) is prohibited under applicable law or regulation from paying to Grantee
the Surrender Price in full, (i) Issuer shall (A) use its best efforts to obtain
all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required notices as
promptly as practicable in order to make such payments, (B) within two business
days of the submission or receipt of any documents relating to any such
regulatory and legal approvals, provide Grantee with copies of the same, and (C)
keep Grantee advised of both the status of any such request for regulatory and
legal approvals and any discussions with any relevant regulatory or other third
party reasonably related to the same, and (ii) Grantee may revoke such notice of
surrender by delivery of a notice of revocation to Issuer and, upon delivery of
such notice of revocation, the Exercise Termination Event shall be extended to a
date six months from the date on which the Exercise Termination Event would have
occurred if not for the provisions of this Section 15(c) (during which period
Grantee may exercise any of its rights hereunder, including any and all rights
pursuant to this Section 15).
(d) Grantee shall have rights substantially identical to those set
forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 15 with respect to the
Substitute Option and the Substitute Option Issuer during any period in which
the Substitute Option Issuer would be required to repurchase the Substitute
Option pursuant to Section 9.
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16. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, in no event shall
Grantee's Total Profit (as defined in subsection (c) of this Section 16) exceed
$61 million (the "Maximum Profit"), and, if the Total Profit would otherwise
exceed such amount, Grantee, at its sole election, shall either (i) reduce the
number of shares subject to the Option (and any Substitution Option), (ii)
deliver to Issuer, or Substitute Issuer, as the case may be, for cancellation
Common Shares or Substitute Common Shares, as the case may be, previously
purchased by Grantee valued at fair market value at the time of delivery, (iii)
pay cash to Issuer, or Substitute Issuer, as the case may be, (iv) reduce the
amount of the Option Repurchase Price or Substitute Option Repurchase Price, or
(v) undertake any combination of the foregoing, so that Grantee's actually
realized Total Profit shall not exceed the Maximum Profit after taking into
account the foregoing actions.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Option
may not be exercised for a number of shares as would, as of the date of
exercise, result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined in subsection (d) of
this Section 16) of more than the Maximum Profit and, if exercise of the Option
would otherwise result in the Notional Total Profit exceeding such amount,
Grantee, in its discretion, may take any of the actions specified in subsection
(a) of this Section 16 so that the Notional Total Profit shall not restrict any
subsequent exercise of the Option which at such time complies with this
sentence.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Total Profit" shall mean
the aggregate amount (before taxes) of the following: (i) the excess of (x) the
net cash amounts or fair market value of any property received by Grantee
pursuant to the sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such
Option Shares are converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated party, other than
any amount received by Grantee upon the repurchase of Option Shares by Issuer
pursuant to Section 7 hereof, after payment of application brokerage or sales
commissions and discounts, over (y) Grantee's aggregate purchase price for such
Option Shares (or other securities), plus (ii) all amounts received by Grantee
upon the repurchase of the Option by Issuer pursuant to Section 7 hereof, plus
(iii) all equivalent amounts with respect to the Substitute Option and any
amounts paid pursuant to Section 9 hereof.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Notional Total Profit"
with respect to any number of shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise
the Option shall be the Total Profit, determined as of the date of such proposed
exercise assuming that the Option were exercised on such date for such number of
shares, and assuming that such shares, together with all other Option Shares
held by Grantee and its affiliates as of such date, were sold for cash at the
closing market price for the Common Shares as of the close of business on the
preceding trading day (less customary brokerage commissions). For purposes of
this Section 16, transactions by a wholly-owned Subsidiary transferee of Grantee
in respect of the Option Shares transferred to it shall be treated as if made by
Grantee.
17. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an inadequate
remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that the
obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief.
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18. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this
Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that the Holder is not permitted to acquire, or Issuer or Substitute Option
Issuer, as the case may be, is not permitted to repurchase pursuant to Section 7
or Section 9, as the case may be, the full number of Common Shares provided in
Section 1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section 1(b) or 5 hereof), or
Issuer or Substitute Option Issuer is not permitted to pay the full Surrender
Price, it is the express intention of Issuer (which shall be binding on the
Substitute Option Issuer) to allow the Holder to acquire or to require Issuer or
the Substitute Option Issuer, as the case may be, to repurchase such lesser
number of shares, or to pay such portion of the Surrender Price, as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.
19. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
telecopy or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt
requested) at the respective addresses of the parties set forth in the Merger
Agreement.
20. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of California, regardless of the laws that might
otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof
(except to the extent that mandatory provisions of federal law apply).
21. 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.
22. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants and
counsel.
23. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Merger
Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereof, written or oral. The terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors except as
assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of
this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
24. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to
be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of
the date first above written.
IMPERIAL BANCORP
By: /s/ George L. Graziadio, Jr.
_____________________________
George L. Graziadio, Jr.
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
COMERICA INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Eugene A. Miller
_____________________________
Eugene A. Miller
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
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