1 FIRST NORTHERN CAPITAL CORP. 201 N. MONROE AVENUE P.O. BOX 23100 GREEN BAY WI 54305-3100 (920) 437-7101 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 19, 2000 To the Shareholders of First Northern Capital Corp.: A special meeting of the shareholders of First Northern Capital Corp. will be held at Holiday Inn City Centre, located at 200 Main Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Thursday, October 19, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., local time, to consider and act upon a proposal to approve an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February 21, 2000 among Mutual Savings Bank, a predecessor to Bank Mutual and First Northern. Pursuant to that merger agreement (a) First Northern will be merged into Bank Mutual, which will then be a majority-owned subsidiary of Mutual Savings Bancorp, MHC, and (b) holders of First Northern common stock will receive cash, shares of Bank Mutual common stock or a combination thereof, pursuant to an election described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. The record date for the special meeting is the close of business on August 31, 2000. Only First Northern shareholders of record at that time are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. To approve the merger, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of First Northern common stock must vote in favor of the merger agreement. First Northern shareholders do not have dissenters' rights of appraisal. The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus contains more detailed information regarding the merger and the Agreement and Plan of Merger. A copy of the merger agreement is included as Appendix A to the proxy statement/prospectus. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. EVEN IF YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED ON YOUR PROXY, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE MERGER AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT RETURN YOUR PROXY OR VOTE IN PERSON, THE EFFECT IS A VOTE AGAINST THE MERGER AGREEMENT. YOU CAN REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS EXERCISED BY GIVING WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE SECRETARY OF FIRST NORTHERN, OR FILING ANOTHER PROXY, OR ATTENDING THE SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTING IN PERSON. DO NOT SEND ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH THE PROXY CARD. YOU WILL SHORTLY RECEIVE AN ELECTION FORM WITH INSTRUCTIONS IN A SEPARATE MAILING. THE FIRST NORTHERN BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE MERGER AGREEMENT. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS /s/ MARLA J. CARR Marla J. Carr Vice President and Secretary September 8, 2000 Green Bay, Wisconsin 2 [First Northern Capital Logo] [BANK MUTUAL LOGO] PROXY STATEMENT PROSPECTUS OF OF FIRST NORTHERN CAPITAL CORP. BANK MUTUAL CORPORATION We are furnishing this proxy statement/prospectus to you as a shareholder of First Northern Capital Corp. in connection with the proposed acquisition of First Northern by Bank Mutual. The First Northern board of directors is soliciting your proxy for a special meeting of shareholders of First Northern on October 19, 2000 to approve that transaction. The holders of at least a majority of First Northern's outstanding shares must vote in favor of the merger agreement for it to be approved. In the merger, First Northern shareholders may elect to receive cash, Bank Mutual common stock, or a combination thereof. First Northern Savings Bank will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank Mutual. Mutual Savings Bank will also be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank Mutual. Bank Mutual will be a majority-owned subsidiary of Mutual Savings Bancorp, MHC. This proxy statement/prospectus also is the prospectus of Bank Mutual filed as part of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to the shares of Bank Mutual common stock. Bank Mutual estimates that between 5,025,485 and 8,794,598 shares of Bank Mutual common stock will be issued in the merger. Bank Mutual has applied for quotation of its common stock under the symbol "BKMU" on the Nasdaq Stock Market. First Northern common stock is quoted under the symbol "FNGB" on the Nasdaq Stock Market. On February 18, 2000, the last trading day before the execution of the merger agreement, Nasdaq reported that the last sale price of First Northern common stock was $9.00 per share. On August 31, 2000, a recent trading day before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the last sale price of First Northern common stock was $13.875. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU RECEIVE IN THIS TRANSACTION. FOR SOME OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS WHICH YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN EVALUATING BANK MUTUAL COMMON STOCK AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, PLEASE SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 21. This proxy statement/prospectus is dated September 8, 2000. It is first being mailed to First Northern shareholders on or about September 15, 2000. --------------------- THE SHARES OF BANK MUTUAL COMMON STOCK ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR ACCOUNTS AND ARE NOT INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, ARE NOT GUARANTEED BY MUTUAL SAVINGS OR BANK MUTUAL, AND ARE SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT AND MARKET RISK. NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES. THEY ALSO HAVE NOT DETERMINED IF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ---- SUMMARY..................................................... 3 RISK FACTORS................................................ 21 THE SPECIAL MEETING......................................... 25 THE MERGER AND THE MERGER AGREEMENT......................... 27 MUTUAL SAVINGS MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS............. 56 BUSINESS OF MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK............................. 73 MANAGEMENT.................................................. 100 THE BANK MUTUAL RESTRUCTURING............................... 112 BUSINESS OF FIRST NORTHERN.................................. 114 REGULATION.................................................. 115 RESTRICTIONS ON ACQUISITION OF BANK MUTUAL.................. 127 RIGHTS OF BANK MUTUAL SHAREHOLDERS; COMPARISON TO FIRST NORTHERN SHARES..................................... 129 PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA.................................... 134 REGULATORY CAPITAL COMPLIANCE............................... 147 CAPITALIZATION.............................................. 149 CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE FIRST NORTHERN MERGER ON BANK MUTUAL.................................................... 150 MARKET FOR BANK MUTUAL COMMON STOCK......................... 154 LEGAL OPINIONS.............................................. 156 EXPERTS..................................................... 156 OTHER INFORMATION WHICH YOU CAN OBTAIN...................... 156 INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS............................... 158 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER................................ Appendix A FAIRNESS OPINION OF KBW..................................... Appendix B NEITHER BANK MUTUAL NOR FIRST NORTHERN HAS AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO GIVE YOU ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS EXCEPT FOR THOSE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. THAT IS TRUE WHETHER THE STATEMENTS ARE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATIONS OF PROXIES OR THE OFFERING OF SECURITIES. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY UPON ANY OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS EVEN IF SOMEONE PROVIDES YOU WITH THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED BY BANK MUTUAL, FIRST NORTHERN OR ANYONE ELSE. BANK MUTUAL AND FIRST NORTHERN DO NOT IMPLY OR REPRESENT BY DELIVERING THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT MUTUAL, FIRST NORTHERN OR THEIR BUSINESSES ARE UNCHANGED AFTER ITS DATE OR THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME AFTER ITS DATE. Bank Mutual has provided all information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus about Bank Mutual, Mutual Savings Bank and the MHC. First Northern has provided all information in this proxy statement/prospectus about First Northern. 2 4 SUMMARY This section is a summary of important information in this proxy statement/prospectus, and includes summaries of information which we believe is material. To understand the merger fully and for a more complete description of the legal terms of the merger, you should read carefully this entire document and the documents to which we have referred you. See "Other Information Which You Can Obtain" on page 156. We have included page references to direct you to a more complete description of some of the topics presented in this summary. We are furnishing you this proxy statement/prospectus in connection with the acquisition of First Northern Capital Corp. by Bank Mutual Corporation, a new holding company being formed by Mutual Savings Bank. Mutual Savings is simultaneously undertaking other transactions in which it will also form a mutual holding company and Bank Mutual will offer shares to the public. The following chart shows our new structure, which is commonly referred to as a mutual holding company structure with a mid-tier holding company, after the restructuring, Bank Mutual's stock offering and the First Northern merger: [FLOW CHART] THE PARTIES Bank Mutual and Affiliates Bank Mutual Corporation Bank Mutual will become a holding company by owning all of the common stock of Mutual Savings and of First Northern Savings after the regulatory restructuring of Mutual Savings Bank. Bank Mutual has not engaged in any business to date. The primary office of Bank Mutual is located at 4949 West Brown Deer Road, Brown Deer, Wisconsin 53223. Brown Deer is a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After the restructuring, the stock offering and the First Northern merger, we expect Bank Mutual to be the fifth largest banking organization headquartered in the state of Wisconsin, based on pro forma total assets of $2.7 billion at June 30, 2000. Mutual Savings Bank Mutual Savings is a community-oriented savings bank which emphasizes traditional financial services to individuals and businesses within its market areas. Our principal business is attracting retail deposits from the general public and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from other operations, in residential mortgage loans, consumer loans, multi-family and commercial real estate loans, and commercial business loans. We also invest in various mortgage-related securities and investment securities. 3 5 Mutual Savings has 50 branches located in Wisconsin, primarily in the southern and northwestern parts of the state, and one office in eastern Minnesota. It serves over 80,000 households. At June 30, 2000, it had assets of $1.8 billion, deposits of $1.3 billion and equity of $167.6 million. By asset size, it is the largest mutual savings institution headquartered in Wisconsin, and one of the largest mutual savings institutions in the country. Mutual Savings has grown both through acquisitions and internal growth. Its most recent acquisition was of the $730.7 million asset First Federal Bancshares of Eau Claire in March 1997. As part of this transaction, Mutual Savings is converting from a Wisconsin-chartered mutual savings bank into a federal stock savings bank. When we refer to Mutual Savings, we also include the federal savings bank after that conversion. Mutual Savings Bancorp, MHC The MHC will own more than half of the outstanding common stock of Bank Mutual after the restructuring. We do not expect that the MHC will engage in any business activity other than owning a majority of the common stock of Bank Mutual and managing dividends, if any, it receives from Bank Mutual. We expect that the MHC initially will waive the receipt of dividends declared by Bank Mutual. For further information, you should see "Business of Mutual Savings Bank" beginning on page 73, "Mutual Savings' Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" beginning on page 56, and "Index to Financial Statements" on page 158. First Northern First Northern, a Wisconsin corporation founded in 1995, is a holding company for First Northern Savings Bank, S.A. First Northern Savings is a Wisconsin-chartered savings and loan association. First Northern Savings also has wholly-owned subsidiaries which manage certain investments, including the purchase of loans, for First Northern Savings, and which offer full-service brokerage services, and a 50%-owned subsidiary which originates, services and sells automobile loans. At June 30, 2000, First Northern had assets of $904.9 million, deposits of $568.6 million and shareholders' equity of $75.6 million. The primary office of First Northern is located at 201 North Monroe Avenue, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54305. In this document, we use "First Northern" to refer to First Northern Capital Corp. and "First Northern Savings" to refer to First Northern Savings Bank, S.A. As part of this transaction, First Northern Savings will convert into a federally-chartered savings bank; when we refer to First Northern Savings, we also include the federal savings bank after that conversion. After the transaction, First Northern Savings will be wholly-owned by Bank Mutual. For further information, you should see "Business of First Northern" on page 114 and the information about First Northern incorporated by reference in this document. See "Other Information Which You Can Obtain" on page 156. SUMMARY OF THE MERGER (page 27) The merger agreement is attached at the back of this proxy statement/prospectus as Appendix A. We strongly encourage you to read the merger agreement, because it is the legal document that governs the merger. In the proposed merger, First Northern will merge into Bank Mutual. Bank Mutual will be a majority-owned subsidiary of the MHC. First Northern Savings and Mutual Savings will be wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bank Mutual. You may elect to receive cash, shares of Bank Mutual common stock or a combination in exchange for your shares of First Northern common stock. 4 6 Effective time of the merger Bank Mutual and First Northern hope to complete the merger shortly after the special meeting, if regulatory approvals and other required matters are completed by that time. What you will receive in the merger (page 27) First Northern shareholders will receive either cash, Bank Mutual common stock, or a combination of cash and stock. Each First Northern share which is converted into cash will be converted into $15.00; each First Northern share converted into stock will be converted into 1.5 shares of Bank Mutual common stock. Immediately prior to closing, Bank Mutual will select a stock percentage between 40% and 70% of the total merger consideration that it will pay in Bank Mutual common stock, with the remainder to be paid in cash. Therefore, the exact percentage of Mutual common stock will not be determined until shortly before the merger. First Northern shareholders may elect to receive: - cash for all of their First Northern shares; - shares of Bank Mutual common stock for all of their First Northern shares; or - if they own at least 170 shares of First Northern common stock, cash for some of their First Northern shares and shares of Bank Mutual common stock for the remainder. In this "mixed" election, shareholders will receive Bank Mutual common stock for the lesser of 50% of their shares or the stock percentage, referred to above, as chosen by Bank Mutual for the total consideration to be payable in stock; the balance of shares will be converted into cash. SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN ELECTION, WE WILL SHORTLY SEND YOU AN ELECTION FORM. You will need to return it to the exchange agent by October 16, 2000 if you want to make an election. In some cases, there will be qualifications, adjustments or pro rations made to these elections and payments. These exceptions are the following: - cash at the rate of $10 per full Bank Mutual share will be paid instead of any fractional shares of Bank Mutual common stock resulting from the merger; - if total elections for Bank Mutual common stock exceed the percentage to be paid in stock, the amount of the elections of First Northern shareholders for Bank Mutual common stock will be reduced pro rata so that the resulting amounts approximate the Bank Mutual common stock to be issued in the merger, with the balance of the merger consideration paid in cash; - if total elections for cash, including the cash paid for fractional shares, exceed the cash percentage, the amount of the elections of First Northern shareholders for cash will be reduced pro rata so that the resulting amounts approximate the cash to be paid in the merger, with the balance of the merger consideration paid in Bank Mutual common stock; - if total elections for cash exceed the cash percentage, Bank Mutual and First Northern also may agree that all First Northern shareholders electing cash who otherwise would receive fewer than 25 shares of Bank Mutual common stock will receive all cash, and the amount of shares and cash to be received by other First Northern shareholders electing cash will be adjusted accordingly; and - if you do not make a timely election for either cash or stock or a mixed combination, we will honor the elections of the other First Northern shareholders to the extent possible and then divide the remaining merger consideration, whether cash, shares of Bank Mutual common stock, or both, proportionately among the non-electing First Northern shareholders. For example, if a First Northern shareholder owns 1,000 shares of First Northern common stock and elects to be paid in stock, this would be exchanged for 1,500 shares of Bank Mutual common stock. If the 5 7 same shareholder requests and receives all cash, the shareholder would receive $15,000. If that shareholder makes a mixed election and the stock percentage of the transaction as a whole is 40%, the shareholder would receive 600 shares of Bank Mutual common stock (1,000 x .40 x 1.5) and $9,000 in cash (1,000 x .60 x $15). If that shareholder makes a mixed election and the stock percentage of the transaction as a whole is 60%, the shareholder would receive 750 shares of Bank Mutual common stock (1,000 x .50 x 1.5) and $7,500 in cash (1,000 x .50 x $15). These examples illustrate only a few of the possibilities that may occur. The actual allocation of stock and cash for any particular First Northern shareholder could be anywhere from 100% stock to 100% cash. Please note that our examples assume that neither the cash nor the stock election is over-subscribed and that there is no pro ration. Tax Consequences (page 50) To the extent that Bank Mutual stock is issued in the merger, the merger will be structured as a "tax-free reorganization" for federal income tax purposes. This means that First Northern shareholders generally will not recognize any gain or loss for federal income tax purposes to the extent they exchange their First Northern common stock for Bank Mutual common stock in the merger. First Northern shareholders will recognize gain or loss, however, in connection with the receipt of any cash in the merger, including cash paid for fractional shares of Bank Mutual stock. The companies themselves, as well as the holders of Bank Mutual stock, will not recognize gain or loss as a result of the merger. Bank Mutual's outside counsel, Quarles & Brady LLP, has given First Northern a legal opinion that the merger will be treated as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes. It is a condition to First Northern's obligation to complete the merger that this legal opinion not be withdrawn or materially modified. The federal income tax consequences described above may not apply to all holders of First Northern common stock. Your tax consequences will depend upon your personal situation. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the merger to you. THE TAX OPINION CONTAINS EXCEPTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE TAX MATTERS ARE COMPLICATED, AND YOUR TAX CONSEQUENCES FROM THE MERGER WILL DEPEND ON THE FACTS OF YOUR OWN SITUATION. WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR TO UNDERSTAND FULLY HOW THE MERGER WILL AFFECT YOU, INCLUDING HOW ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS MAY APPLY TO YOU. What happens to First Northern stock options (page 37) Options granted under First Northern's stock option plans will not be assumed by Bank Mutual. First Northern option holders may exercise vested options prior to the merger's effective date. The First Northern shares resulting from an exercise of stock options will be converted in the same way that other First Northern shares of common stock are converted in the merger. To the extent that options are not exercised before the merger, whether or not they are vested, First Northern may "cash out" those options for a cash amount equal to the difference between the exercise price per share and $15. In addition, to recognize that option holders will not be able to have their options converted into options to acquire Bank Mutual stock and the consequential tax impact to the option holders, First Northern may under the merger agreement pay option holders an additional amount up to 25% of the cash difference. We expect First Northern to make these payments. However, the total of these additional payments may not exceed $756,000 after taking First Northern's tax deductions for those payments. We decided that First Northern options would not be assumed by Bank Mutual to permit a greater amount of Bank Mutual stock to be available to First Northern shareholders. It is a condition to Bank Mutual's obligations under the merger agreement that no First Northern stock options be outstanding at the effective time of the merger. 6 8 No dissenters' rights Under Wisconsin law, First Northern shareholders do not have dissenters' rights of appraisal. Old and new stock certificates PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN YOUR STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH THE ENCLOSED PROXY. Stock certificates will need to be included with your election form, if you wish to make an election. After we complete the merger, if you have not already submitted stock certificates with an election form, we will send you written instructions that describe how to exchange your First Northern stock certificates for Bank Mutual stock certificates and/or cash. Percentage ownership interest by First Northern shareholders after the merger (page 29) Bank Mutual will pay between 40% and 70% of the total merger consideration by issuing shares of its common stock to the First Northern shareholders. This means that Bank Mutual will issue between approximately 5.0 million shares and 8.8 million shares of its common stock to First Northern shareholders in the merger. Assuming the sale of approximately 6.0 million shares of Bank Mutual common stock in the Mutual Stock offering, which is the midpoint in its expected offering, and that 40% of the total merger consideration is in Bank Mutual stock, the shares issued to First Northern shareholders will represent approximately 22.8% of the total outstanding Bank Mutual common stock after the merger, and approximately 45.5% of the shares held by persons other than the MHC. If the percentage increases, former First Northern shareholders will own a proportionately higher percentage of Bank Mutual stock. For example, if 50% of the consideration is in stock but other assumptions stay the same, the shares issued to First Northern shareholders will represent approximately 28.5% of the total Bank Mutual common stock after the merger, and approximately 57.1% of the shares held by persons other than the MHC. This information is based on the number of First Northern shares outstanding on June 30, 2000, and it assumes that no outstanding First Northern options are exercised before the merger. In any event, a majority of the outstanding Bank Mutual shares will be held by the MHC. Federal regulations require that the MHC continue to own a majority of Bank Mutual's shares as long as the MHC remains as a mutual holding company. See "The Merger -- Percentage Ownership by First Northern Shareholders after The Merger" for more information about what percentage of the combined company former First Northern shareholders would own under various possible scenarios. Opinion of First Northern's financial advisor (page 39) In deciding to approve the merger, the First Northern board considered an opinion from its financial advisor, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., that, as of the date of such opinion, the consideration to be paid in the merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to First Northern's shareholders. The full text of the written opinion of KBW is attached as Appendix B to this proxy statement/prospectus. We encourage you to read this opinion. Interests of First Northern's officers and directors in the merger (page 37) When considering the recommendation by the First Northern board to vote "FOR" the merger agreement, you should be aware that certain directors and officers of First Northern have interests in the merger other than solely as First Northern shareholders. These interests may conflict with the general interests of shareholders of First Northern. The First Northern Board was aware of these interests and considered them in approving the merger. - Outstanding First Northern stock options, including options held by directors and officers, will be vested as a result of the merger. They may exercise their options, or they will be repurchased for cash in the amount of the "spread" between the exercise price and $15. Holders may receive an additional payment of up to 25% of their cash spread value to reflect the tax consequences to holders from their inability to convert the options into options for Bank Mutual common stock. 7 9 - First Northern directors and officers will continue to be indemnified after the merger. - The employment agreement of the chief executive officer of First Northern will be assumed by Bank Mutual. While he will waive provisions of his employment agreement that might result in an acceleration of benefits as a result of the merger, he will not be asked to waive similar provisions under his supplemental employee retirement plan. He also will become president and chief operating officer of Bank Mutual, and a director of Mutual Savings. - Other First Northern executive officers with employment agreements will be offered replacement employment agreements. - Directors of First Northern will continue as directors of First Northern Savings, and four directors of First Northern will be elected to the MHC and the Bank Mutual boards. Management and operations of First Northern after the merger (page 45) In the merger, First Northern will merge into Bank Mutual, and First Northern Savings will become a company which is wholly owned by Bank Mutual. Michael T. Crowley, Jr., the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mutual Savings, will be the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bank Mutual. Michael D. Meeuwsen, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Northern, will be the President and Chief Operating Officer of Bank Mutual. The Board of Directors of the MHC and Bank Mutual will consist of the seven current directors of Mutual Savings, and four current directors of First Northern to be chosen by Bank Mutual. Those individuals have not yet been selected by Mutual Savings although Mutual Savings expects Mr. Meeuwsen to be one of four designees. The current directors of First Northern will also continue, with the addition of Mr. Crowley, as directors of First Northern Savings, and Mr. Meeuwsen will become a director of Mutual Savings. Bank Mutual currently intends that First Northern Savings will continue as a separate entity. Initial management and employees of First Northern Savings as a subsidiary of Bank Mutual will be the same as those before the merger. Regulatory approvals (see page 47) In order to complete the merger, we must receive approvals from, or make filings with, the appropriate federal governmental agencies. The Mutual Savings' restructuring also requires regulatory approvals, and it is a condition to the merger that the restructuring occur. Mutual Savings will not proceed with the First Northern merger if the restructuring does not simultaneously occur. Other conditions to the merger (page 46) The merger will be completed only if various conditions are met. These conditions include, among others, that: - the First Northern shareholders approve the merger; - the Mutual restructuring receives regulatory approval, and which also requires Mutual Savings member approval; - the parties perform their obligations under the merger agreement; - the representations and warranties of the parties continue to be materially accurate; and - the parties receive the tax opinion discussed above. The parties may waive conditions unless they are legally prohibited from doing so. First Northern shareholder approval may not be legally waived. 8 10 No solicitation by First Northern of competing transactions; Mutual Savings' stock option (page 48) First Northern has agreed not to discuss, conduct or agree to any other transaction or proposal that would compete with the merger agreement and the merger, unless First Northern's board must do so to meet its fiduciary obligations to the First Northern shareholders. Bank Mutual or First Northern may terminate the merger agreement if First Northern enters into or agrees to another transaction following a good faith determination that the action is required by its board of directors' fiduciary duties. First Northern entered into a stock option agreement with Mutual Savings which granted Mutual Savings the option to purchase from First Northern up to 1,708,675 shares of First Northern common stock at a price of $9.0375 per share. The stock option agreement was an inducement to and condition of Mutual Savings entering into the merger agreement. The option is intended to increase the likelihood that the merger will be completed and, consequently, may discourage third parties who might be interested in acquiring all of or a significant interest in First Northern from considering or proposing such an acquisition. Mutual Savings may exercise the option only if certain events described in the stock option agreement occur. None of these events has occurred as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. At the request of the holder of the option, under certain circumstances, First Northern will repurchase, for a specified price, the option and any shares of First Northern common stock purchased upon its exercise. These provisions are included in the merger agreement, and the stock option agreement was signed, because Mutual Savings would not agree to the merger agreement without protection against competing proposals or transactions which may upset the proposed merger. The Bank Mutual Restructuring (page 112) The merger will not happen unless Mutual Savings simultaneously undergoes the restructuring transaction which is further described in this document. Our discussions regarding Bank Mutual and the MHC assume completion of that restructuring. The restructuring includes a number of facets; it has the general effect of creating holding companies for Mutual Savings and, assuming the merger, First Northern Savings. The transactions also introduce a stock ownership structure to Mutual Savings which prior to the restructuring has been a member-owned institution. Significant elements of the restructuring include: - Formation of the MHC, which is a mutual holding company. As a mutual holding company, all voting power in the MHC will be held by depositors of Mutual Savings. - The establishment of Bank Mutual as a "mid-tier holding company" that will be majority-owned by the MHC. The balance of the shares of Bank Mutual will be held by others, including depositors of Mutual Savings and others who have purchased shares in a conversion offering, former First Northern shareholders, and Mutual Savings employee plans. - Mutual Savings will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank Mutual. Rather than being a mutual institution in which all of the voting power is held by its members, Mutual Savings will be a stock entity, with all of its shares held by Bank Mutual. In connection with the establishment of Bank Mutual, Mutual Savings depositors are being given the opportunity to purchase shares of Bank Mutual at an appraised value in a stock offering. If all of the shares are not purchased by Mutual Savings depositors, they will be offered to other members of the public and/or the shares used to increase the number of shares of the Bank Mutual which will be issued in the First Northern merger. Termination, amendment or waiver of the Merger Agreement Even if the First Northern shareholders approve the merger agreement, Bank Mutual and First Northern can agree at any time to terminate the merger agreement without completing the merger. The 9 11 merger agreement can also be terminated by either party under specified circumstances. Once shareholders approve the merger agreement, however, no amendment may be made to the merger agreement without further shareholder approval if the amendment would reduce the merger consideration or otherwise materially adversely affect the rights of First Northern shareholders. Accounting treatment (page 55) Bank Mutual expects to account for the merger as a purchase, which means that First Northern's assets and operations will be reflected only from the merger date. Board recommendation to First Northern Shareholders The First Northern board of directors believes that the merger is in the best interests of First Northern and its shareholders. THE FIRST NORTHERN BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE TO APPROVE THE MERGER AGREEMENT. Some First Northern directors and officers have interests in this transaction other than as First Northern shareholders. For a description, you should see "The Merger and the Merger Agreement -- Interests of Officers and Directors in the Merger." FIRST NORTHERN SPECIAL MEETING (page 25) The special meeting will be held at Holiday Inn City Centre, located at 200 Main Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Thursday, October 19, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. At the special meeting, First Northern shareholders such as you will consider and vote on a proposal to approve the merger agreement. Record Date You can vote at the special meeting only if you owned shares of First Northern common stock at the close of business on August 31, 2000, which was the record date. Vote Required to Approve the Merger The merger agreement requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of First Northern common stock. If you do not return your proxy or vote in person, it will have the effect of a vote against the merger agreement. Brokers who hold your shares of First Northern common stock as nominees cannot vote those shares unless you give them instructions to vote in the manner that they require. Mutual Savings members do not need to vote to approve the merger, but they need to approve the restructuring. Voting Power, Voting by Management On the record date, 8,345,808 shares of First Northern common stock were outstanding. Of these, 1,046,318 shares, approximately 12.5% of the shares entitled to vote, were beneficially owned by directors and executive officers of First Northern. Those numbers exclude stock options. Revoking Proxies You can revoke a proxy previously given by you by giving written notice to the Secretary of First Northern, by filing another proxy, or by attending the special meeting and voting in person. COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS (page 129) Bank Mutual is a federally-chartered corporation, while First Northern is incorporated in Wisconsin and governed by Wisconsin law. Bank Mutual has elected to be generally governed by Wisconsin corporate law where it is consistent with federal law. However, there are some differences in the rights of the shareholders under federal and Wisconsin law, and under the charters and other corporate documents relating to Bank Mutual and First Northern. 10 12 RISK FACTORS (page 21) YOU SHOULD SEE "RISK FACTORS" FOR SOME FACTORS WHICH YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN DECIDING HOW TO VOTE ON THE MERGER AGREEMENT. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? If you have any questions about the merger, please call First Northern Capital Corp., attention: Michael D. Meeuwsen or Rick B. Colberg, at (920) 437-7101. The precise allocation of merger consideration will not be chosen by Mutual until immediately prior to closing, so that information will not be available before that time. 11 13 MUTUAL SAVINGS SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA In the following table, Mutual Savings provides selected financial data for its past five fiscal years. Mutual Savings derived this information from its audited financial statements, although the table itself is not audited. The table also includes information at June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, derived from Mutual Savings' unaudited financial statements. Operating results for the interim periods do not necessarily indicate the results of Mutual Savings that you may expect for the entire year. The following data should be read together with Mutual Savings' consolidated financial statements and related notes and "Management's Discussion and Analysis" which appear in this proxy statement/prospectus beginning at pages F-1 and 56, respectively. We are presenting information for Mutual Savings rather than Bank Mutual because Bank Mutual has not had any operations or material assets prior to this time. In the restructuring, Bank Mutual will become the sole shareholder of Mutual Savings immediately prior to the First Northern merger. In 1999, non-interest expense includes a special write-off of intangible assets of $15.6 million which Mutual deemed to be impaired. The intangible assets resulted from the 1997 acquisition of First Federal. The effect on results for the year was a decrease of $13.6 million. See footnote 2 to Mutual Savings' consolidated financial statements. Also, in 1996, non-interest expense includes a one-time FDIC Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") assessment of $6.4 million. All SAIF insured savings associations were specially assessed in this quarter. The effect on net income of the assessment in 1996 was a decrease of $3.9 million. AT DECEMBER 31, AT JUNE 30, -------------------------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) SELECTED FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA: Total assets............... $1,759,170 $1,769,506 $1,872,862 $1,826,080 $1,169,271 $1,205,092 Loans receivable, net...... 1,127,987 1,082,795 1,037,589 1,255,082 825,131 790,713 Loans available for sale... 1,632 541 27,723 13,397 4,357 2,479 Investment securities available for sale....... 57,461 57,763 116,534 159,208 159,513 120,081 Mortgage-related securities available for sale....... 461,377 374,100 270,897 225,906 90,452 196,902 Total cash and cash equivalents.............. 31,817 178,959 330,248 79,064 37,151 55,234 Federal Home Loan Bank stock.................... 14,585 13,537 13,537 20,237 8,001 7,841 Intangible assets.......... 11,027 11,496 29,786 32,589 -- -- Foreclosed real estate, net...................... 2,977 3,018 3,505 159 258 333 Total deposits............. 1,300,613 1,343,007 1,398,858 1,362,330 994,283 1,004,559 Total borrowings........... 264,667 242,699 270,822 270,867 -- 25,000 Total equity............... 167,588 163,820 175,743 163,052 151,294 147,031 12 14 FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------- -------------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS) SELECTED OPERATING DATA: Total interest income....... $60,482 $58,653 $118,302 $125,470 $115,993 $81,674 $81,793 Total interest expense...... 37,061 38,128 75,337 80,017 72,194 49,595 50,390 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Net interest income....... 23,421 20,525 42,965 45,453 43,799 32,079 31,403 Provision for loan losses... 236 203 350 637 1,065 672 597 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses................. 23,185 20,322 42,615 44,816 42,734 31,407 30,806 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Non-interest income: Fees and service charges................ 3,109 2,937 6,100 6,097 4,758 2,816 2,840 Gain on sale of loans, mortgage-related securities and investment securities.. 43 328 655 1,025 474 333 563 Other non-interest income................. 864 634 1,229 1,318 927 520 406 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Total non-interest income.......... 4,016 3,899 7,984 8,440 6,159 3,669 3,809 Non-interest expense: Amortization of intangible assets................. 469 1,355 18,290 2,738 1,941 -- -- Other non-interest expense................ 16,217 16,590 32,989 32,783 30,145 29,904 22,790 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Total non-interest expense......... 16,686 17,945 51,279 35,521 32,086 29,904 22,790 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Income before income taxes.................. 10,515 6,276 (680) 17,735 16,807 5,172 11,825 Income tax expense.......... 4,001 2,386 3,803 6,584 6,622 1,671 4,181 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Net income (loss)......... $ 6,514 $ 3,890 $ (4,483) $ 11,151 $ 10,185 $ 3,501 $ 7,644 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======= ======= 13 15 AT OR FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, AT OR FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------- ----------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 ------- ------- ------ ------ ----- ------ ------ SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS AND OTHER DATA: PERFORMANCE RATIOS: Return on average assets............ 0.74% 0.42% (0.24)% 0.60% 0.62% 0.29% 0.64% Return on average assets excluding amortization of intangible assets............................ 0.79 0.54 0.63 0.73 0.72 0.29 0.64 Return on average equity............ 7.95 4.41 (2.55) 6.57 6.52 2.34 5.42 Return on average equity excluding amortization of intangible assets............................ 8.46 5.69 6.63 7.95 7.59 2.34 5.42 Net interest rate spread(a)......... 2.31 1.94 2.03 2.16 2.31 2.09 2.07 Net interest margin(b).............. 2.78 2.33 2.44 2.58 2.76 2.77 2.69 Non-interest income to average assets............................ 0.46 0.42 0.43 0.46 0.37 0.31 0.32 Non-interest expense (excluding amortization of intangible assets) as a percent of average assets.... 1.85 1.79 1.79 1.77 1.82 1.97 1.90 Efficiency ratio(c)................. 59.11 67.92 64.75 60.83 60.34 83.65 64.72 Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities....................... 1.11x 1.09x 1.10x 1.09x 1.10x 1.16x 1.14x CAPITAL RATIOS: Average equity to average assets.... 9.37% 9.51% 9.56% 9.17% 9.44% 12.54% 11.72% Equity to assets.................... 9.53 9.44 9.26 9.38 8.93 12.94 12.20 Leverage capital.................... 9.37 8.04 8.66 7.78 7.40 12.69 12.40 Total risk-based capital............ 18.69 17.60 18.51 17.02 14.80 24.58 24.04 ASSET QUALITY RATIOS: Non-performing loans to total loans............................. 0.20% 0.53% 0.44% 0.65% 0.84% 0.29% 0.10% Non-performing assets to total assets............................ 0.30 0.48 0.44 0.55 0.58 0.23 0.09 Allowance for loan losses to non- performing loans.................. 319.14 123.21 144.54 101.86 68.65 163.31 433.21 Allowance for loan losses to non- performing assets................. 136.33 77.62 88.79 66.98 67.62 147.46 303.94 Allowance for loan losses to total loans............................. 0.63 0.65 0.64 0.66 0.57 0.48 0.43 OTHER DATA: Offices............................. 51 51 51 52 53 33 33 - ------------------------- (a) "Net interest rate spread" means the difference between the average yield on the average balance of interest-earning assets and the average cost of the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities. (b) "Net interest margin" means the net interest income divided by the average balance of interest-earning assets. (c) Computed using net interest income plus non-interest income as the denominator and non-interest expense (excluding amortization of intangible assets) as the numerator. 14 16 FIRST NORTHERN SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA In the following table, we provide selected financial data for First Northern for its past five fiscal years. First Northern derived this information from its audited financial statements, although the table itself is not audited. The table also includes information at June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, derived from First Northern's unaudited financial statements. Operating results for the interim periods do not necessarily indicate the results of First Northern that you may expect for the entire year. The following data should be read together with First Northern's consolidated financial statements and related notes and First Northern "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" which appear beginning on page FN-1 of this proxy statement/prospectus. In 1996, non-interest expense includes a one-time SAIF assessment of $2.9 million. The effect on net income of this assessment in 1996 was a decrease of $1.7 million. Earnings per share in 1996 were decreased by $0.19. AT AT DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, ---------------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) SELECTED FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA: Total assets................... $904,875 $839,623 $719,713 $667,696 $615,503 $553,467 Loans receivable, net.......... 795,094 736,880 631,739 593,529 553,995 500,535 Loans held for sale............ 2,083 1,085 3,075 2,119 2,532 2,989 Securities held to maturity.... 36,435 36,263 35,263 31,906 25,908 23,388 Investment securities available for sale..................... 10,941 8,444 9,205 6,799 5,635 2,978 Mortgage-related securities available for sale........... 5,304 5,554 996 932 1,837 2,013 Total cash and cash equivalents.................. 11,234 12,372 7,211 964 3,563 1,274 Federal Home Loan Bank stock... 12,500 9,250 5,250 5,250 3,773 3,768 Foreclosed real estate, net.... 456 382 106 153 189 136 Total deposits................. 568,625 566,908 542,372 481,788 458,323 449,954 Total borrowings............... 247,353 185,899 91,977 103,277 77,272 21,000 Total shareholders' equity..... 75,604 76,795 76,093 73,817 70,224 72,579 Book value per share........... $ 9.03 $ 8.98 $ 8.68 $ 8.34 $ 8.00 $ 7.97 Shares outstanding, net of treasury shares.............. 8,376 8,549 8,765 8,846 8,775 9,110 15 17 FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------- ----------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) SELECTED OPERATING DATA: Total interest income....... $30,051 $25,218 $52,770 $49,690 $46,596 $41,876 $39,025 Total interest expense...... 19,186 14,335 30,686 29,003 26,491 23,203 22,036 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net interest income....... 10,865 10,883 22,084 20,687 20,105 18,673 16,989 Provision for loan losses... 330 174 472 420 320 370 240 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses................. 10,535 10,709 21,612 20,267 19,785 18,303 16,749 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Non-interest income: Fees and service charges................ 1,028 850 1,829 1,735 1,791 1,548 1,403 Gain on sale of loans, mortgage-related securities and investment securities.. 64 308 380 1,051 359 259 970 Other non-interest income................. 1,012 795 1,645 1,453 1,126 879 837 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total non-interest income.......... 2,104 1,953 3,854 4,239 3,276 2,686 3,210 Non-interest expense........ 7,694 7,156 14,564 14,071 13,374 15,939 12,651 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Income before income taxes.................. 4,945 5,506 10,902 10,435 9,687 5,050 7,308 Income tax expense.......... 1,569 1,840 3,525 3,606 3,651 1,767 2,718 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net income................ $ 3,376 $ 3,666 $ 7,377 $ 6,829 $ 6,036 $ 3,283 $ 4,590 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Diluted net income per share..................... $ 0.39 $ 0.41 $ 0.83 $ 0.75 $ 0.66 $ 0.36 $ 0.49 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= 16 18 AT OR FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, AT OR FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------- ---------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 -------- ------ -------- -------- ------ ------ ------ SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS AND OTHER DATA: PERFORMANCE RATIOS: Return on average assets...... 0.78% 1.00% 0.96% 0.98% 0.94% 0.56% 0.83% Return on average equity...... 8.80 9.57 9.60 9.08 8.38 4.61 6.43 Net interest rate spread...... 2.12 2.71 2.69 2.73 2.83 2.86 2.69 Net interest margin........... 2.61 3.10 3.00 3.11 3.26 3.31 3.17 Non-interest income to average assets...................... 0.49 0.53 0.50 0.61 0.51 0.46 0.58 Non-interest expense as a percent of average assets... 1.77 1.95 1.89 2.03 2.09 2.72 2.27 Efficiency ratio.............. 59.33 55.75 56.15 56.45 57.20 74.62 62.63 Cash dividend payout ratio.... 55.00 47.60 47.10 46.80 47.10 81.10 54.90 Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities................. 1.06x 1.08x 1.08x 1.09x 1.10x 1.11x 1.12x CAPITAL RATIOS: Average equity to average assets...................... 8.85% 10.42% 9.99% 10.83% 11.24% 12.14% 12.82% Equity to assets.............. 8.36 9.15 9.15 10.57 11.06 11.41 13.11 Leverage capital.............. 7.80 9.29 8.60 9.60 10.20 10.50 12.90 Total risk-based capital...... 12.60 15.01 14.00 15.70 16.70 17.80 21.90 ASSET QUALITY RATIOS: Non-performing loans to total loans....................... 0.03% 0.10% 0.04% 0.05% 0.08% 0.13% 0.08% Non-performing assets to total assets...................... 0.08 0.09 0.08 0.06 0.09 0.15 0.10 Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans........ 1,654.12 569.63 1,381.63 1,020.52 722.05 394.76 623.92 Allowance for loan losses to non-performing assets....... 593.25 526.95 588.86 781.19 535.75 314.79 470.76 Allowance for loan losses to total loans................. 0.53 0.55 0.53 0.56 0.53 0.53 0.52 OTHER DATA: Offices....................... 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 17 19 COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA OF BANK MUTUAL AND FIRST NORTHERN The following table shows trading information for First Northern common stock on February 18, 2000 and August 31, 2000. February 18, 2000 was the last trading date before the parties announced the merger. August 31, 2000 is a recent date before this proxy statement/prospectus was finalized. To prepare this table, we have assumed that the average Bank Mutual stock price on the dates presented was $10.00, its expected offering price; however, there has been no historic market in Bank Mutual stock and there can be no assurance that the market prices will not be lower. See "First Northern Market Information" for historical information on First Northern common stock. EQUIVALENT FIRST NORTHERN VALUE FOR EACH DATE COMMON STOCK FIRST NORTHERN SHARE - ---- -------------- -------------------- February 18, 2000...................................... $ 9.00 $15.00 August 31, 2000........................................ $13.875 $15.00 PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA We have summarized in the table on the next page selected per share information about Bank Mutual and First Northern. We present the Bank Mutual per share information on a pro forma basis to reflect the restructuring and stock offering, and then on a pro forma adjusted basis to reflect the First Northern merger. We present the First Northern per share information both historically, and on a pro forma basis to reflect the merger. Book value per share will be affected by the amount raised in Bank Mutual's restructuring and stock offering. We have assumed that net proceeds of $59.7 million will be raised and assumed that 5,965,232 shares will be sold at $10 per share in Bank Mutual's stock offering at the "midpoint" of that offering, although actual results could differ. We have also assumed that 40% of the consideration in the First Northern merger will be in shares of Bank Mutual common stock, and the balance in cash. Given the effect of Mutual Savings' special write-off of intangible assets in 1999, we also present per share results before amortization and write-off of intangible assets. The data in the table should be read together with the financial information and the financial statements of Mutual Savings and First Northern included or incorporated by reference elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. We provide the pro forma combined per common share data as an illustration only. The data do not necessarily indicate the combined financial position per share or combined results of operations per share that would have been reported if the merger had occurred when indicated, nor are they a forecast of the combined financial position or combined results of operations for any future period. No pro forma adjustments have been included herein which reflect potential effects of cost savings or synergies which may be obtained by combining Mutual Savings and First Northern operations or the costs of combining the companies and operations. 18 20 Pro forma information for Bank Mutual is given assuming that the Mutual restructuring occurs, with the same assumptions used below under "Pro Forma Financial Information." It further assumes a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share, which Bank Mutual has indicated it intends to pay on a quarterly basis beginning in the first full quarter after the merger, but not earlier than the first quarter of 2001. Actual dividends, however, are subject to regulatory and other requirements, and may be higher or lower. SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------- ------------------------ 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ------- ----- ------ ----- ----- BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE: Bank Mutual: Pro forma..................................... 0.44 0.26 (0.26) 0.72 0.67 Pro forma combined............................ 0.35 0.26 (0.08) 0.66 0.56 First Northern: Historical.................................... 0.40 0.42 0.83 0.75 0.66 Equivalent pro forma combined................. 0.60 0.63 (0.11) 1.01 0.86 BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE BEFORE AMORTIZATION AND WRITE-OFF OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS: Bank Mutual: Pro forma..................................... 0.45 0.30 0.76 0.87 0.77 Pro forma combined............................ 0.43 0.35 0.83 0.92 0.78 First Northern: Historical.................................... 0.40 0.42 0.83 0.75 0.66 Equivalent pro forma combined................. 0.60 0.63 1.25 1.37 1.17 PERIOD END BOOK VALUE: Bank Mutual: Pro forma..................................... 12.44 12.14 Pro forma combined............................ 11.82 11.59 First Northern: Historical.................................... 9.03 8.98 Equivalent pro forma combined................. 17.73 17.38 PER SHARE DIVIDENDS: Bank Mutual: Pro forma..................................... 0.14* -- 0.28* -- -- Pro forma combined............................ 0.14* -- 0.28* -- -- First Northern: Historical.................................... 0.22 0.20 0.40 0.36 0.32 Equivalent pro forma combined................. 0.21* -- 0.42* -- -- - --------------- *Based upon the $0.07 quarterly dividend that Bank Mutual has indicated it intends to declare beginning in the first quarter of 2001. We only assume that dividend on the dates shown. Actual dividends, if any, may be higher or lower. The unaudited pro forma earnings per share information in the table for all periods presented give effect to the restructuring, stock issuance and merger as if they had occurred at the beginning of each period presented. The pro forma combined book value per share information assumes that the restructuring, stock issuance and merger was completed on the dates for which information is given. 19 21 FIRST NORTHERN MARKET INFORMATION The following table has information on the high and low trading prices of First Northern common stock for the stated periods, as well as cash dividends paid. It trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market, and all quotes are actual sales prices reported by Nasdaq. Bank Mutual common stock does not yet publicly trade, but Bank Mutual has applied for stock quotation on Nasdaq. CASH DIVIDENDS PERIOD HIGH LOW PAID ------ ------ ------ --------- 1998 -- 1st quarter.............. $14.00 $12.25 $0.09 2d quarter............... $14.00 $13.00 $0.09 3d quarter............... $13.88 $ 9.75 $0.09 4th quarter.............. $13.75 $ 9.50 $0.09 1999 -- 1st quarter.............. $13.00 $10.88 $0.10 2d quarter............... $12.00 $10.00 $0.10 3d quarter............... $14.00 $10.63 $0.10 4th quarter.............. $12.13 $ 8.75 $0.10 2000 -- 1st quarter.............. $14.00 $ 8.25 $0.11 2d quarter............... $13.75 $12.19 $0.11 3d quarter............... $15.00 $13.13 $0.11 (through August 31) On August 31, 2000, First Northern had 2,267 shareholders of record. BANK MUTUAL MARKET INFORMATION Prior to the First Northern merger, the Bank Mutual stock offering and the restructuring, there has not been any trading market for Bank Mutual common stock. While we anticipate that Bank Mutual common stock will be sold in the stock offering for $10.00 per share, Bank Mutual cannot assure that the stock will trade at this price afterward. Because Bank Mutual has not previously had shareholders, it has not historically paid any dividends. However, the Mutual Savings board of directors has indicated that it initially intends for Bank Mutual to declare and pay quarterly cash dividends of $0.07 per share beginning in the first quarter after the merger, but not earlier then the first quarter of 2001. These dividends remain subject to future Bank Mutual board approval, and the amounts of actual cash dividends, if any, may be higher or lower. In addition, the payment of dividends by any financial institution or holding company, including both Bank Mutual and First Northern, is subject to regulatory requirements which, among other things, require that financial institutions and their holding companies maintain adequate capital. See "Market for Bank Mutual Common Stock." 20 22 RISK FACTORS In considering whether to approve the merger agreement and receive Bank Mutual common stock, you should consider, among other things, the following matters: RISKS ABOUT THE MERGER The Consideration which you Receive may be Prorated. Even though First Northern shareholders may elect to receive cash or Bank Mutual common stock in this transaction, more shareholders may choose one of these alternatives than is available in the transaction. If more shareholders wish to receive cash than is available in a transaction, you may receive some Bank Mutual shares whether or not you elected to receive any. Similarly, if more shareholders choose Bank Mutual common stock than is available, you may receive some cash, and that receipt of cash would be taxable. Mutual and First Northern May Not Integrate as We Hope We anticipate that Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings will initially operate as separate entities. That will delay or reduce any expense reduction which the combined companies might achieve from a combination. Similarly, if we ultimately combine the two banks, any problems, such as customer loss or difficulties that may result from systems conversions, will be deferred until such time as the integration occurs. Similarly, Mutual and First Northern may find after the merger that their operations and management philosophies will not combine as well as they had expected, which could lead to operating inefficiencies and complications going forward. Shareholders who make Elections will be Unable to Sell their Stock in the Market Pending the Merger. First Northern shareholders may elect to receive cash or stock in the transaction. Elections will be irrevocable, and will require that shareholders making the election turn in their First Northern stock certificates. During the time between when the election is made and the merger is completed, First Northern shareholders will be unable to sell their First Northern stock. If the merger is unexpectedly delayed, this period could extend for a significant period of time. First Northern shareholders can reduce the period during which they cannot sell their shares by delivering their election shortly before the close of the election period, but elections received after the close of the election period will not be accepted or honored. Many Regulatory Approvals are Required for the Transaction. Before we can complete the merger, the Office of the Thrift Supervision and other bank regulators must approve the transaction. Also, the merger requires that the Mutual Restructuring have received appropriate regulatory approvals. While both parties will take the actions which they need to accomplish to receive these approvals, we cannot assure that we will be able to receive approvals. Even if we receive the approvals, there may be conditions attached to the approvals which will adversely affect Bank Mutual in the future. The Mutual Restructuring is a Unique Transaction. Mutual's restructuring to a mutual holding company format with a mid-tier holding company, and the simultaneous acquisition of First Northern Savings, is an unusual transaction. We are not aware of any prior transactions in which this type of combination has occurred simultaneously with this type of restructuring. In addition to regulatory requirements, we do not know whether the unusual nature of the transaction, or ownership structure after the transaction, will have an adverse effect on the market for Bank Mutual common stock. In particular, because many former First Northern shareholders may be issued shares of Bank Mutual common stock in the First Northern merger, in order to avoid a taxable transaction that would occur if 21 23 they received cash, they may be more likely to hold their Bank Mutual common stock than other types of shareholders. Holding shares, versus selling them, could reduce market activity for Bank Mutual common stock. Conversely, if the exchange ratio in the First Northern merger requires some First Northern shareholders who would prefer to receive cash to receive Bank Mutual shares, those shareholders may want to quickly sell their Bank Mutual shares, which could create negative market pressures and cause a drop in our share price. First Northern Directors and Officers have Interests in the Merger Besides Those of a Shareholder. First Northern directors and officers have various interests in the merger and related transactions besides being First Northern shareholders. These interests include: - the continuation of, or new, employment agreements for First Northern executive officers; - First Northern will purchase outstanding unexercised stock options, including options for up to 755,900 shares of First Northern stock held by First Northern officers and directors, for cash at the difference between their exercise price and $15, plus additional payments of up to 25% of that spread to offset tax consequences; - Bank Mutual agreement to continue indemnification for First Northern directors and officers; - four First Northern directors will become Bank Mutual and MHC directors, and will continue as First Northern Savings directors; and - at least 40% of the executive officers of Bank Mutual initially will be former First Northern executive officers, and First Northern's chief executive officer will become a director of Mutual Savings. See "The Merger and the Merger Agreement -- Interests of Officers and Directors in the Merger." RISKS ABOUT BANK MUTUAL Changing Interest Rates May Hurt Our Profits To be profitable, we have to earn more money in interest and fees than we pay as interest and other expenses. Of our first mortgage loans maturing after one year, a majority have interest rates that are fixed for the term of the loan. While most of our deposit accounts consist of time deposit accounts with remaining terms to maturity of less than one year, most of our loans have longer remaining terms. If interest rates rise, which has been the case in recent quarters, the amount of interest we pay on deposits is likely to increase more quickly than the amount of interest we receive on our loans, mortgage-related securities and investment securities. This would cause our profits to decrease. Rising interest rates would likely reduce the value of our mortgage-related securities and investment securities and may decrease demand for loans and make it more difficult for borrowers to repay their loans. For additional information on our exposure to interest rates, see "Mutual Savings' Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Management of Interest Rate Risk." Increases in Market Interest Rates are Likely to Adversely Affect Equity As of June 30, 2000, we owned $518.8 million of securities available for sale. Generally accepted accounting principles require that we carry these securities at fair value on our balance sheet. Unrealized gains or losses on these securities, reflecting the difference between the fair market value and the amortized cost, net of its tax effect, is carried as a component of equity. In recent quarters, rates have been rising. When market rates of interest increase, the fair value of our securities available for sale generally decreases and equity correspondingly decreases. When rates decrease, fair value generally increases and equity correspondingly increases. As of June 30, 2000, Mutual Savings' available for sale portfolio had an unrealized loss of $13.9 million, because fair value was $518.8 million and amortized cost 22 24 was $532.7 million. At June 30, 2000, First Northern Savings had an unrealized gain of $637,000 on securities available for sale. Low Demand for Real Estate Loans May Lower Our Profitability Making loans secured by real estate is our primary business and primary source of profits. If customer demand for real estate loans decreases, our profits may decrease because our alternative investments, primarily securities, earn less income for us than real estate loans. Customer demand for loans secured by real estate could be reduced by a weaker economy, an increase in unemployment, a decrease in real estate values or an increase in interest rates. Strong Competition Within Our Market Area May Reduce Our Customer Base We encounter strong competition both in attracting deposits and originating real estate and other loans. We compete with commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage banking firms, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, and brokerage and investment banking firms. Our market area includes branches of several commercial banks that are substantially larger than us in terms of deposits and loans. In addition, tax exempt credit unions operate in most of our market area and aggressively price their products and services to a large part of the population. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to successfully increase our market share. After the First Northern Merger, We Will Have Significant Intangible Assets, Which Will Hurt Our Future Results In the First Northern merger, Bank Mutual will record approximately $58.6 million in intangible assets using June 30, 2000 information. Bank Mutual will amortize these intangible assets over 20 years. As a result, pre-tax earnings will be reduced by approximately $2.9 million annually. Also, at some point in the future, intangible assets may become impaired, and we would need to write them off as a reduction to earnings. For example, in 1999 Mutual Savings wrote off $15.6 million of "impaired" intangible assets from the 1997 acquisition of First Federal. Even though this special write-off did not affect our cash position, our 1999 results were reduced by this action. We May Expand Our Lending Activities in Riskier Areas We have identified commercial real estate, commercial business and consumer loans, including indirect auto loans, as areas for increased lending emphasis. While increased lending diversification is expected to increase interest income, non-residential loans carry greater risk of payment default than residential real estate loans. As the volume of these loans increase, credit risk increases. In the event of substantial borrower defaults, our provision for loan losses would increase and therefore, earnings would be reduced. First Northern's consumer loan portfolio includes $98.3 million of indirect auto loans at June 30, 2000. Indirect auto lending is not a current business line for Mutual Savings. Although First Northern has experienced minimal delinquencies in its automobile loan portfolio, borrowers may be more likely to become delinquent on an automobile loan than on a residential real estate loan. Moreover, unlike the collateral for real estate loans, automobiles depreciate rapidly and, in the event of default, principal loss as a percent of the loan balance depends upon the mileage and condition of the vehicle at the time of repossession, over which First Northern has no control. Similarly, any non-real estate collateral securing commercial business loans may depreciate over time and fluctuate in value. Implementing Stock-Based Benefits Will Increase Our Future Compensation Expense and Reduce Our Earnings We intend to adopt a stock option plan which will provide for the granting of options to purchase common stock, to adopt a management recognition plan that will provide for awards of common stock to our eligible officers, employees and directors and to have an employee stock ownership plan which may 23 25 purchase shares in the restructuring. In addition, we may adopt a restoration plan that will supplement the benefits to select executive officers under the employee stock ownership plan and our 401(k) plan. These plans will increase our future costs of compensating our directors and employees, reducing net earnings. The cost of these plans will vary based on our stock price at specific points in the future. The MHC'S Control Over Bank Mutual May Prevent Transactions You Would Like The MHC will be managed by generally the same directors and officers who manage Bank Mutual. Because the MHC will own a majority of Bank Mutual's common stock after the restructuring, the board of directors of the MHC will control the outcome of most matters put to a vote of shareholders of Bank Mutual. We cannot assure you that the votes cast by the MHC will be in your best interest as a shareholder. Recently, the Stock Market has been Volatile and Many Stocks have not Performed Well in the Aftermarket Publicly traded stocks, including stocks of financial institutions, have recently experienced substantial market price volatility, due, in part, to investors' shifting perceptions of the effect on various industry sectors of changes and potential changes in the economy. Market fluctuations, therefore, may be unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. The purchase price of Bank Mutual common stock sold in the stock offering is based on the independent appraisal by RP Financial. The appraisal is not intended, and should not be construed, as a recommendation of any kind as to the advisability of purchasing shares of common stock. The valuation is based on estimates and projections of a number of matters, all of which are subject to change from time to time. After our shares begin trading, the trading price of our common stock will be determined by the marketplace, and may be influenced by many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the overall performance of the economy, investor perceptions of Bank Mutual, and the outlook for the financial institutions industry in general. Due to possible continued market volatility, we cannot assure you that, following the stock offering, the trading price of Bank Mutual common stock will be at or above the $10.00 per share price in the stock offering. You should consider investing in the common stock only if you have a long-term investment horizon. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The discussions in this proxy statement/prospectus, and in the documents incorporated in it by reference, which are not historical statements contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements which "are not historical statements" include those in the future tense or which use terms such as "believe," "expect" and "anticipate". Bank Mutual's actual future results could differ in important and material ways from those discussed. Many factors could cause or contribute to such differences. These factors include those we discuss above in "Risk Factors." You should also carefully read other parts of this proxy statement/prospectus, and the documents which are incorporated in it, for other factors which could affect Bank Mutual's or First Northern's operations in the future. In particular, both parties' Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations include discussions of factors affecting them. 24 26 THE SPECIAL MEETING This proxy statement/prospectus is being furnished to the First Northern shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the First Northern board from the holders of First Northern common stock for use at the special meeting. Date, Time and Place. The special meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on October 19, 2000, at Holiday Inn City Centre, located at 200 Main Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Purpose. At the special meeting, First Northern shareholders will consider and vote on a proposal to approve the merger agreement. The First Northern board is not aware, as of the date of mailing of this proxy statement/prospectus, of any other matters which may properly come before the special meeting. If any other matters properly come before the special meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote such proxies in accordance with their best judgment on such matters. Under Wisconsin law, at the special meeting, shareholders can only consider the matters included in the notice of the special meeting. Recommendation of First Northern's Board of Directors. The First Northern board has determined that the merger is in the best interests of First Northern and its shareholders and has approved the merger agreement. THE FIRST NORTHERN BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE FIRST NORTHERN SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. See "The Merger and the Merger Agreement -- First Northern's Reasons for the Merger." Record Date; Voting Rights. Only holders of record of First Northern common stock at the close of business on the record date, August 31, 2000, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special meeting. On that date, there were 8,345,808 shares of First Northern common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share entitles the registered holder to one vote. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding shares of First Northern common stock entitled to vote must be represented in person or by proxy at the special meeting in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Shares of First Northern common stock represented by proxies that are marked "abstain" will be counted as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the special meeting, it is expected that the meeting will be adjourned or postponed to solicit additional proxies. Proxies; Revocation. A proxy card is enclosed for use by First Northern shareholders. The board of directors of First Northern requests that shareholders SIGN AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE. No postage is required if mailed within the United States. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING PROXY CARDS, PLEASE CONTACT MICHAEL D. MEEUWSEN OR RICK B. COLBERG AT: First Northern Savings Bank, S.A. 201 N. Monroe Avenue P.O. Box 23100 Green Bay, WI 54305-3100 All properly executed proxies that are not revoked will be voted at the special meeting as instructed on those proxies. Proxies containing no instructions will be voted in favor of the merger agreement. A shareholder who executes and returns a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted, but only by executing and returning a proxy bearing a later date, by giving written notice of revocation to the corporate secretary of First Northern, or by attending the special meeting and voting in person. Mere attendance at the special meeting will not in and of itself have the effect of revoking the proxy. Abstentions will be treated as shares present in determining whether First Northern has a quorum for the special meeting, but abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against approval of the merger agreement. If a broker or 25 27 other record holder or nominee indicates on a proxy that it does not have direction or authority to vote certain shares, those shares will be considered present at the special meeting for purposes of determining a quorum but will have the same effect as a vote against approval of the merger agreement. The persons designated in the enclosed proxy card will have discretion to vote on any matters incident to the conduct of the special meeting. If First Northern proposes to adjourn the special meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote all shares, other than those that have been voted against approval of the merger agreement, in favor of adjournment. At any subsequent reconvening of the special meeting, all proxies will be voted in the same manner as they would have been voted at the initial convening, except for any proxies that have effectively been revoked or withdrawn before the reconvened meeting. Proxies will be received by First Northern's independent transfer agent, Firstar Bank NA, and the vote will be certified by representatives of Firstar. SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD NOT SEND THEIR STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH THEIR PROXY CARDS. Stock certificates will need to be included with your election form, if you wish to make an election. After we complete the merger, if you have not already submitted stock certificates with an election form, we will send you written instructions that describe how to exchange your First Northern stock certificates for Bank Mutual stock certificates and/or cash. Solicitation of Proxies. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, First Northern's directors, officers, and employees may, if they do not receive extra compensation for doing so, solicit proxies personally or by telephone, fax or email. Such persons may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses that they incur. First Northern intends to reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in forwarding copies of solicitation materials to beneficial owners of First Northern common stock held of record by those persons. Required Vote. Approval of the merger agreement will require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of First Northern common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting, or 4,172,905 shares. Share Ownership of Management and Other Significant Holders. On the record date, directors and executive officers of First Northern and their affiliates were the beneficial owners of an aggregate of 1,046,318, or approximately 12.5%, of the shares of First Northern common stock then outstanding and eligible to vote. All of the directors and executive officers of First Northern have indicated their intention to vote their shares for approval of the merger agreement. The above information excludes option shares. See "Ownership of First Northern Common Stock." 26 28 THE MERGER AND THE MERGER AGREEMENT The description of the merger and the merger agreement contained in this proxy statement/prospectus describes the material terms of the merger agreement; however, it does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the merger agreement. We have attached a copy of the merger agreement as Appendix A. GENERAL In the merger, and as described in the merger agreement, First Northern will merge into Bank Mutual. Outstanding shares of First Northern common stock will be converted into cash or shares of Bank Mutual common stock. Cash will be paid in lieu of any fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock. See "Election to Receive Cash or Stock; Conversion of Shares in the Merger" below. As a result of the merger, the separate corporate existence of First Northern will cease and Bank Mutual will succeed to all the rights and be responsible for all the obligations of First Northern. Bank Mutual is a successor to the corporation named "OV Corp." in the merger agreement. After the merger, Bank Mutual will be majority owned by the MHC. The other shares of Bank Mutual will be owned by a combination of former First Northern shareholders, Mutual depositors who have purchased the shares as part of the restructuring, other public investors and Mutual employee plans. In turn, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings will be wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bank Mutual. ELECTIONS TO RECEIVE CASH OR STOCK; CONVERSION OF SHARES IN THE MERGER At the effective time of the merger, by virtue of the merger and without any further action on the part of First Northern, Bank Mutual or holders of their securities: - any shares of First Northern common stock that are owned by First Northern or any subsidiary will be canceled and retired and cease to exist, and no Bank Mutual common stock or other consideration will be issued or delivered in exchange for those shares; - each share of First Northern common stock issued and outstanding, other than any shares to be canceled as described above, will be converted into and become the right to receive the merger consideration in the form of cash, Bank Mutual common stock, or a combination of cash and Bank Mutual common stock, all as more fully described below; and - each issued and outstanding share of common stock of Bank Mutual will remain one share of common stock of Bank Mutual. The amount of merger consideration to be received for each share of First Northern common stock will be either $15 in cash, 1.5 shares of Bank Mutual common stock or a combination thereof. No fractional shares will be issued; fractional shares will be converted into cash at the rate of $10 per share of Bank Mutual common stock. Several factors will determine whether a First Northern shareholder will receive cash, Bank Mutual common stock, or a combination of cash and Bank Mutual common stock for the First Northern common stock surrendered in the merger. Bank Mutual has discretion to select a portion of the aggregate merger consideration between and including 40% and 70% to be paid in the form of Bank Mutual common stock, excluding fractional share interests to be paid in cash, with the remainder paid in cash. The plans governing Mutual Savings' restructuring contemplate that Bank Mutual would only issue shares representing in excess of 40% of the merger consideration if they are not subscribed for in the subscription offering conducted in conjunction with Mutual Savings' restructuring. 27 29 The following table shows how cash and stock to be used in the merger would vary depending upon where in the range these percentages are determined. NUMBER OF PERCENT CASH CASH AMOUNT PERCENT STOCK SHARES - ------------ ------------- ------------- --------- 60% $75.4 million 40% 5,025,485 50% $62.8 million 50% 6,281,856 40% $50.3 million 60% 7,538,227 30% $37.7 million 70% 8,794,598 In each case, though, the net effect to Bank Mutual will be the same as if Bank Mutual had issued the shares in its stock offering because an increase in stock issued in the First Northern merger will result in a corresponding decrease in its need for cash. A portion of the cash needed in the First Northern merger will be paid using net proceeds of the stock offering; the remainder will be paid using available funds from Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings. Issuing additional shares in the merger could reduce the number of shares Bank Mutual sells in its stock offering if the maximum number of shares in the offering is reached or if Bank Mutual determines not to sell additional shares in a community offering. We will shortly send a letter of transmittal and form of election to First Northern shareholders of record for their use in electing whether they: - wish to receive cash for all of their First Northern shares; - wish to receive shares of Bank Mutual common stock for all of their First Northern shares; - if they hold at least 170 shares of First Northern common stock, wish to receive a mixed consideration; in this mixed election, shareholders will receive cash for some of their First Northern shares and shares of Bank Mutual common stock for the remainder. In this "mixed" election, shareholders will receive Bank Mutual common stock for the lesser of 50% of their shares or the overall stock percentage, between 40% and 70%, as chosen by Bank Mutual for the total consideration to be payable in stock. The balance of the First Northern shares will be converted into cash; or - have no preference. Each holder (that is, each registered shareholder account) is generally required to make a single election for each of the accounts. Nominees, trustees and others who hold shares of First Northern common stock in representative capacities may submit multiple forms of election so long as each election form covers all of the shares of First Northern common stock held for a particular beneficial owner. If any First Northern shareholder does not provide any specification by the close of business on the third business day prior to the effective time of the merger, we will treat that shareholder as not having a preference between receiving cash or stock. All elections will be irrevocable. THE ELECTION FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED, WITH YOUR CERTIFICATES, TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT, AS THE ELECTION FORM PROVIDES. If the aggregate requests for cash are less than or equal to the portion of the aggregate merger consideration to be paid in cash, including payments of cash in lieu of fractional shares, we will satisfy all of the requests for cash in full and First Northern shareholders who requested stock may be required to take a portion of their merger consideration in cash. If the aggregate requests for cash are greater than the portion of the aggregate merger consideration to be paid in cash, we will divide the available cash (after adjustment for cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares) proportionately among the First Northern shares for which cash was requested, with the balance of the merger consideration for those shares paid in Bank Mutual common stock, and we will pay the merger consideration entirely in Bank Mutual common stock for all of the other First Northern shares. We may further adjust this amount by providing that any First Northern shareholder who has elected to receive cash who would receive fewer than 25 shares of Bank Mutual common stock in a pro ration will receive all cash. In that event, a proportion of cash and stock to be received by other First Northern shareholders electing to receive all cash would be adjusted 28 30 with the effect that they will receive proportionately somewhat less cash and somewhat more Bank Mutual common stock. If the aggregate requests for stock are less than or equal to the portion of the aggregate merger consideration to be paid in stock, we will satisfy all of the requests for stock in full and First Northern shareholders who requested cash may be required to accept a portion of their merger consideration in stock, as discussed above. If the aggregate requests for stock are greater than the portion of the aggregate merger consideration to be paid in stock we will divide the available stock proportionately among the shares for which stock was requested, with the balance of the merger consideration for those shares paid in cash, and we will pay the merger consideration entirely in cash for all of the other First Northern shares. In all cases, we will honor "mixed" elections without further adjustment. We will pay cash in lieu of any fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock, after aggregating all fractional share interests of any shareholder who holds more than one certificate for First Northern common stock. All shares of First Northern common stock converted as provided above will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be canceled and retired and will cease to exist. Each holder of a certificate representing, immediately prior to the effective time of merger, any such shares of First Northern common stock will cease to have any rights with respect to those shares, except the right to receive the merger consideration as described above. See "-- Exchange of First Northern Certificates; No Fractional Shares." For employees who hold shares of First Northern common stock through the First Northern 401(k) retirement savings plan, they will be able to direct the trustees in this manner making an election for their account. Percentage Ownership by First Northern Shareholders after the Merger The total number of shares that Bank Mutual may issue in its stock offering and the First Northern merger combined is limited. The limits arise out of OTS regulatory requirements. - The number of Bank Mutual shares outstanding after the stock offering and the First Northern merger must be within the estimated valuation range, as determined by the independent appraisal, divided by the $10.00 per share subscription price. - The MHC must own at least a majority of the shares of Bank Mutual. Both the number of shares to be sold by Bank Mutual in the stock offering and the number of shares to be issued in the First Northern merger can vary within those limits. Thus, in some circumstances, if Bank Mutual issues more shares in one transaction, it may be limited to issuing fewer shares in the other. For example, the sale of shares in the stock offering may preclude Bank Mutual from increasing above 40% the percentage of shares issued as consideration in the First Northern merger. Specifically, if Bank Mutual's subscription offering is fully subscribed by priority subscribers, it may only issue 40% of the First Northern merger consideration in shares because the priority subscribers have a regulatory preference for the remaining shares. Conversely, the issuance of shares above the 40% minimum in the First Northern merger may reduce the number of shares that Bank Mutual decides to sell in a stock offering. For example, if there is a high degree of election of Bank Mutual common stock in the First Northern merger and Mutual Savings increases the stock percentage, Bank Mutual may decide to sell fewer shares in a community offering or syndicated community offering due to reduced cash needs. The following table reflects the percentage of total Bank Mutual shares that former shareholders of First Northern as a group will own under alternative scenarios. We give examples of the issuance of Bank Mutual stock for 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% of the consideration in the merger. (The pro forma data shown elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus is based on 40% of consideration in Bank Mutual stock and the balance in cash.) The information is given assuming the issuance of the number of Bank Mutual 29 31 shares indicated at the top of the columns. (Those amounts are equivalent to the total shares issued in the four columns used in "Pro Forma Financial Data -- Pro Forma Data Reflecting the Stock Offering.") PORTION OF FIRST NORTHERN MERGER CONSIDERATION PAID IN 19,475,485 22,025,485 24,575,485 27,507,985 BANK MUTUAL STOCK TOTAL SHARES TOTAL SHARES TOTAL SHARES TOTAL SHARES - --------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 40% 25.8% 22.8% 20.4% 18.3% 50% 32.3% 28.5% 25.6% 22.8% 60% 38.7% 34.2% 30.7% 27.4% 70% 45.2% 39.9% 35.8% 32.0% From a financial perspective, it will not make a difference to Bank Mutual whether a share is issued in the First Northern merger or sold in the stock offering, since the issuance of additional shares in the First Northern merger will result in a corresponding decrease in Bank Mutual's cash requirements in the merger. From Bank Mutual's perspective, the result is the same whether Bank Mutual sells a share for $10.00, and then pays that $10.00 to a First Northern shareholder, or if it issues a First Northern shareholder a share of common stock but does not have to pay the $10.00 in cash. EXCHANGE OF FIRST NORTHERN CERTIFICATES; NO FRACTIONAL SHARES Bank Mutual has designated Registrar and Transfer Company to act as exchange agent under the merger agreement. As of the effective time of the merger, Bank Mutual will deposit with the exchange agent for exchange through the exchange agent, cash and certificates representing the shares of Bank Mutual common stock issuable pursuant to the merger agreement in exchange for outstanding shares of First Northern common stock. That cash and those certificates for shares of Bank Mutual common stock, together with any dividends or distributions and together with any cash to be paid for fractional share interests, will be held as an exchange fund by the Exchange Agent until paid to the former First Northern shareholders or otherwise transferred as described in this section. We will shortly send you a form of election and letter of transmittal and instructions for surrendering the First Northern stock certificate in exchange for cash or shares of Bank Mutual common stock or both. Nominees, trustees and others who hold shares of First Northern common stock in representative capacities may submit multiple forms of election so long as each election form covers all of the shares of First Northern common stock held for a particular beneficial owner. Upon surrender of a First Northern stock certificate for cancellation to the exchange agent, together with a duly executed form of election and letter of transmittal and any other documents the exchange agent may reasonably require, the holder of a First Northern stock certificate will be entitled to receive in exchange: - a certificate representing that number of whole shares of Bank Mutual common stock into which the First Northern shares formerly represented by the stock certificate have been converted and cash in lieu of any fractional share; - cash into which the First Northern shares formerly represented by the stock certificate have been converted; or - a combination of cash and shares of Bank Mutual common stock; and the surrendered First Northern stock certificate will be canceled, all as more fully described below. At the effective time of the merger, the stock transfer books of First Northern will be closed and there will be no further registration of transfers of shares of First Northern common stock thereafter on the records of First Northern. After the effective time of the merger, the holders of First Northern stock certificates outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will cease to have any rights 30 32 with respect to the shares of First Northern common stock formerly represented by those certificates except as otherwise provided in the merger agreement or by law. In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of First Northern common stock which is not registered in the transfer records of First Northern, a certificate representing the proper number of shares of Bank Mutual common stock, a check in the proper amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive in respect of the First Northern shares pursuant to the merger agreement, and any cash in lieu of a fractional share, will be delivered to the transferee if the First Northern stock certificate which represented the shares of First Northern common stock is presented to the exchange agent, accompanied by all documents required to make the transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by the merger agreement after the merger, each First Northern stock certificate will represent only the right to receive the merger consideration in cash or shares of Bank Mutual common stock, or both, as contemplated by the merger agreement. Bank Mutual will not pay dividends or make other distributions to the holder of any unsurrendered First Northern stock certificate with respect to any shares of Bank Mutual common stock represented by the First Northern stock certificate after the merger, and no cash payment will be paid to the holder, until the holder sends in the First Northern stock certificate. Subject to the effect of any applicable law, after we receive a First Northern stock certificate, we will promptly pay to the holder of the certificate, without interest: - the amount of any cash payable with respect to the surrendered First Northern stock certificate to which the holder is otherwise entitled; and - the amount of any such dividends or distributions to which the holder is entitled. Bank Mutual will not issue fractional shares of its common stock in the merger. Instead, all fractional share interests of a holder of more than one First Northern stock certificate will be combined to maximize the number of whole shares of Bank Mutual common stock to be issued and minimize the fractional interests to be paid in cash. If a fractional share interest results after the combination, Bank Mutual will pay the holder of a fractional share interest an amount in cash equal to $10.00 for each full share of Bank Mutual common stock. If any portion of the exchange fund has not been paid or delivered to the First Northern shareholders 12 months after the effective time of merger, Bank Mutual will be entitled to receive it upon demand. If that occurs, any First Northern shareholders who have not yet delivered their First Northern stock certificates to the Exchange Agent must instead look only to Bank Mutual for payment of their claim for cash or shares of Bank Mutual common stock, or both, and any dividends or distributions with respect to Bank Mutual common stock. Neither the Exchange Agent nor any party to the merger agreement will be liable to any First Northern shareholder for any property delivered to any public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar law. Bank Mutual will be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to the merger agreement to any First Northern shareholder any amount that Bank Mutual is required to deduct and withhold under any provision of federal, state, local or foreign tax law. Any withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes of the merger agreement as having been paid to the First Northern shareholder in respect of which the deduction and withholding was made by Bank Mutual. BACKGROUND OF THE MERGER The terms of the merger resulted from arms length negotiations between representatives of First Northern and Mutual Savings. The following briefly discusses the background of these negotiations and related matters. 31 33 Over the last several years, the financial services industry has become increasingly competitive, with many financial institutions expanding their size and market area through consolidation. This trend was accelerated in 1998, with a number of multi-billion dollar mergers announced whose effects would continue to increase competition in the banking and the financial services industry in First Northern's marketplace. In 1999, Congress also passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which broadens the scope of financial services banks can offer to consumers and makes it easier for affiliations to take place between banks, securities firms and insurance companies. As part of its effort to remain competitive within this environment, First Northern's management and board have continually analyzed various strategic options available to First Northern including the following: - remaining as an independent financial institution via operational improvements, internal growth, stock repurchase and a continued investment in technology; - pursuing external growth through either selected strategic acquisitions or potential merger of equals transactions; and - entering into a business combination with a larger entity. Since its initial public offering in 1983, First Northern has been able to sustain reasonable internal growth and to grow through two acquisitions. With limited exceptions, internal growth became more difficult to sustain in the later part of the 1990's. However, in late 1998, First Northern analyzed the implementation of expanded commercial lending to diversify its loan portfolio and enhance its profitability. It also considered the development of initiatives to enhance a sales culture within the organization and the establishment of an expanded operations center. In early 1999, the First Northern board decided to proceed with these matters. It became clear that the incremental benefits of these changes would be realized only over time. External growth through acquisition also became more difficult as there were fewer opportunities in the marketplace and because First Northern's stock price had become relatively flat. Also, in early 1999, First Northern considered and decided against the possibility of acquiring individual branches that were being offered by a large bank holding company. First Northern also made an unsuccessful effort to acquire a commercial bank with approximately sixty million dollars in assets. This unsuccessful effort further illustrated that First Northern could have difficulty acquiring other institutions in the future unless it could increase the value of its stock. During this period, First Northern also had discussions with a larger savings and loan holding company about the possibility of being acquired. By February 1999, First Northern determined that the parameters of a possible transaction with this larger holding company were not favorable to First Northern shareholders and First Northern thus terminated those discussions. In February 1999, First Northern was also contacted by Mutual Savings concerning the possibility of combining the two organizations. The CEOs of Mutual Savings and First Northern have worked together on many banking industry regulatory and trade activities and, as a result, were familiar with each other's organizations and business philosophies. After a general discussion, they decided to meet later when their schedules permitted to explore the matter in more detail. In May 1999, the CEOs of First Northern and Mutual Savings met for an initial exploratory discussion about the possibility of combining the two organizations. Mutual's concept involved Mutual's reorganization into a holding company structure so that it could use stock, as well as cash, in a purchase of First Northern. After this meeting, the First Northern board instructed management to pursue discussions further with Mutual Savings and to develop more information about using a mutual holding company structure to combine the two organizations. First Northern advised Mutual Savings of its continuing interest in exploring a mutual holding company concept later in May. At that time, it was determined that Mutual Savings would engage the services of a financial advisor to prepare an initial economic/financial analysis of the proposed transaction. In late May 1999, Mutual Savings engaged RP Financial LP, the financial advisor and appraiser engaged in connection with the proposed transaction, to conduct an economic/financial feasibility analysis of a 32 34 proposed transaction to combine Mutual Savings and First Northern. It was agreed that if, after receiving that analysis, Mutual Savings wished to pursue further discussions with First Northern, it would contact First Northern. In July 1999, Mutual Savings contacted First Northern and asked for a meeting to discuss RP Financial's initial analysis. A copy of that analysis was provided to First Northern. On July 8, 1999, First Northern and Mutual Savings management met and had lengthy discussions on the organizations' operating philosophies, corporate structures, products and services and reviewed in detail the RP Financial analysis. RP Financial's analysis reflected that the transaction could be generally favorable to both organizations from a financial point of view. The following day, First Northern management distributed the initial RP Financial analysis and some supplemental data to the First Northern board. On July 14, 1999, RP Financial delivered an updated analysis, reflecting input from management of both institutions, to Mutual Savings and First Northern. After a review of this information on July 15, 1999, the First Northern board decided to continue to explore and determine the feasibility of a possible transaction with Mutual from a financial, as well as a regulatory, point of view. On July 27, 1999, management of Mutual Savings and First Northern met with RP Financial and legal counsel to review and discuss the financial, accounting, tax and other legal issues that would need to be addressed in connection with a proposed combination. In August, First Northern, for the second time during 1999, reviewed the possibility of purchasing a number of commercial bank branch offices from another large Wisconsin-based bank holding company, but after analyzing the locations involved and the likely financial ramifications, declined to pursue a purchase. Also in August, management of First Northern had an initial meeting with a smaller thrift holding company about a possible combination. That holding company's market was geographically separated from First Northern's and offered few, if any, synergies. Also in early August, First Northern and Mutual Savings management met again and considered a wide variety of issues including reasons for considering a combination of the two organizations, accounting, taxation, goodwill, regulatory and legal treatment of the transaction as well as market conditions. Also in August 1999, Mutual Savings consented to First Northern management having a private discussion with RP Financial to obtain a further understanding of the mutual holding company concept and the financial modeling used to analyze a potential transaction. In late August 1999, First Northern and Mutual Savings management and RP Financial further discussed and considered an updated financial analysis. In late August and early September 1999, the parties and legal counsel continued to analyze the regulatory and tax implications of a transaction and continued to discuss the structure and how to provide favorable financial results for First Northern shareholders. In September 1999, the boards of Mutual Savings and First Northern considered the developing financial and tax analysis and agreed to continue exploratory discussions. In early October 1999, management of both institutions again met to discuss the tax, corporate structure, legal, regulatory and financial issues of a possible transaction and developed an initial blueprint setting forth the major elements of a transaction. At its October, 1999 board meeting, the First Northern directors reviewed and discussed a number of documents pertaining to the transaction and met with representatives of RP Financial in order to review and question the analysis RP had prepared on behalf of Mutual Savings. As a result, the First Northern board agreed to continue discussions with Mutual Savings, and the First Northern management team met with Mutual Savings' CEO later that month. On November 12, 1999, Mutual Savings' CEO met with the First Northern board to discuss the transaction and to respond to questions from First Northern's board about Mutual's structure, operations, and strategies. On November 18, 1999, the First Northern board met again and had a lengthy discussion on the strategic alternatives available to First Northern. In particular, the board reviewed its inability earlier in the year to acquire a small commercial bank that was offered for sale and the fact that several significant branch purchase transactions it had considered did not make financial sense. It also discussed the approach earlier in the year made by a large thrift holding company and the acceptable parameters of 33 35 such a transaction. It also reviewed its more recent discussions with a smaller thrift holding company and decided that a combination with that entity did not make strategic sense or add a significant value for First Northern shareholders at that time. The board also reviewed recent contacts by a large bank holding company and a further contact from the large thrift holding company with which it had discussions earlier in the year. The First Northern board agreed to continue pursuing discussions with Mutual Savings on the possible formation of a mutual holding company and the acquisition by that entity of First Northern pending further information on identified regulatory, tax, legal and human resource issues. At about the same time, Mutual Savings, its legal counsel and RP Financial visited with the Office of Thrift Supervision in Washington, D.C. to discuss, without disclosing the identity of First Northern, the parameters of the transaction under consideration. The proposed transaction is unique in the sense that it combines a mutual holding company restructuring (which has been accomplished numerous times by other institutions) with the simultaneous acquisition of a public company (which had not been previously accomplished simultaneously with a restructuring). After this meeting, Mutual Savings received an informal response from OTS staff indicating that such a transaction likely could be accomplished under existing law and regulation subject to normal application and review processes and the preservation of rights of Mutual Savings' eligible account holders going forward. In early December 1999, management of the institutions continued to meet and work on financial, structural and human resource issues. Also in early December, Mutual Savings engaged an investment banking firm experienced in mutual holding company structures, Ryan, Beck & Co., to assist in the sale of stock to be offered to its members as part of the mutual holding company reorganization. At its meeting on December 16, 1999, the First Northern board authorized management to engage special legal counsel and a financial advisor, in connection with the transaction under discussion. On December 17, 1999, First Northern engaged Schiff Hardin & Waite as special legal counsel. On December 22, 1999, Mutual Savings and First Northern management met jointly with their respective counsel and Ryan, Beck to review the structure and financial issues of the proposed transaction. At this meeting, Ryan, Beck provided background on its experience in connection with mutual holding company formation, mutual holding company values and its overall transaction analysis. Ryan, Beck presented a detailed written analysis of a possible transaction which illustrated the potential of the transaction from a financial and market point of view. On December 28, 1999, First Northern engaged the investment banking firm of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. as its financial advisor. On December 30, 1999, First Northern and Mutual Savings management met to discuss and work on a business plan to analyze costs of the transaction, possible synergies and other financial matters. They also had a conference call with RP Financial regarding development of a business plan and worked on financial projections for a planned joint board meeting. In early January, management of the two institutions again met to continue work on financial and business plans. On January 10, 2000, First Northern and Mutual Savings held a joint board meeting and Ryan, Beck made a detailed financial presentation on the proposed transaction. Ryan, Beck provided a detailed analysis regarding marketability of the stock to be issued in the proposed conversion. Following this joint presentation, the First Northern board met privately with its legal counsel and KBW to discuss the terms of KBW's engagement and its role. Legal counsel also reviewed the terms of a proposed confidentiality agreement with Mutual Savings. On January 11, 2000, Mutual Savings and First Northern entered into a confidentiality agreement and began to exchange additional and more detailed financial and business information. Throughout January, numerous discussions took place to further refine financial and business plans. At its January 20, 2000 board meeting, First Northern received presentations from KBW and Schiff Hardin & Waite regarding the fairness from a financial point of view to First Northern's shareholders and the legal and regulatory aspects of the proposed transaction. The First Northern board determined to proceed with further due diligence of Mutual Savings and the negotiation of the terms of a definitive agreement. In late January 2000, the parties continued to meet, conduct due diligence and exchange information as well as to negotiate the 34 36 details of a written definitive agreement. In early February 2000, the parties continued to work on the drafts of various documents and the parties performed on site due diligence on each other. A significant documentation issue was the stock option agreement or "lock-up" that Mutual Savings wished to include as protection for the transaction. The stock option agreement, as it was originally presented by Mutual Savings, gave Mutual Savings the right to acquire a number of new shares of First Northern, which would be issued only in the event of the exercise of the option granted in the stock option agreement. This option would only be exercisable in the event that a third party attempted to outbid Mutual Savings for an acquisition or merger transaction with First Northern. If a third party did submit a bid in an attempt to outbid Mutual Savings, then new shares, in an amount equal to 19.9% of the common stock of First Northern outstanding at the time of this new bid, would be issued and sold to Mutual Savings at the pre-announcement market price. The purpose of this stock option agreement, or "lock-up" is to provide compensation to Mutual Savings for the time and expense it took in pursuing this transaction in the event a subsequent bid from a third party exceeds Mutual Savings' bid, and the transaction goes forward with the other entity. The First Northern board of directors spent considerable time discussing the pros and cons of this protection device, focusing particularly on its fiduciary duty to its shareholders. Many negotiation sessions with Mutual Savings focused extensively on First Northern's concerns about how this lock-up could negatively impact its fiduciary duty to its shareholders, by deterring subsequent bidders, and therefore potentially not allowing the best price reasonably available to be offered to First Northern shareholders. First Northern was also concerned that the stock option agreement had no cap on the value that it represented. This means there was no dollar limit on the spread between the exercise price at which Mutual Savings would be able to buy shares of First Northern if the stock option agreement was triggered ($9.0375 per share) and the price any new bidder would have to pay (current fair market value plus a premium which in total would exceed the per share price being offered by Mutual Savings). Without a cap, the amount of money that a subsequent bidder potentially would have to pay could be deemed excessive. Negotiations led First Northern to realize that Mutual Savings would withdraw its offer if the First Northern board did not agree to some type of a lock-up mechanism. After conferring with KBW and Schiff Hardin & Waite, the First Northern board determined that if Mutual Savings were to withdraw its offer, another bidder might not be available for some time, if at all, and probably not at a comparable price. After assessing the current market conditions, the First Northern board decided that shareholders would be negatively impacted if First Northern did not enter into the proposed business combination. Weighing the benefits of the merger agreement against the costs of the deterrent effect of the lock-up, First Northern determined that the transaction was in the best interest of the shareholders, even with the lock-up agreement. However, First Northern and Mutual Savings continued to negotiate the terms of the lock-up, agreeing to a $12 million cap on the its value. On February 11, 2000, revised draft documents were sent to the First Northern directors for review at a February 17, 2000 meeting. Concurrent with these negotiations, KBW prepared an in depth market analysis of the transaction, addressing the question of whether or not, from a financial point of view, the transaction was fair to First Northern shareholders. This analysis, which concluded that the transaction was fair from a financial point of view, was also presented to First Northern's board on February 17, 2000. After engaging in a thorough review of the proposed transaction documents and the KBW financial analysis and an extensive questioning of both the financial and legal advisors to First Northern, the board of directors decided to adjourn the meeting until February 20, 2000 in order to allow each board member to further analyze and assess the proposed transaction. On February 20, 2000, the board reconvened and unanimously approved the transaction. On February 21, 2000, First Northern and Mutual Savings each signed the definitive merger agreement and on February 22, 2000 announced the execution of the definitive merger agreement. 35 37 FIRST NORTHERN'S REASONS FOR THE MERGER THE FIRST NORTHERN BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THE MERGER IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF FIRST NORTHERN AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS. THE FIRST NORTHERN BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT FIRST NORTHERN SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE MERGER AGREEMENT. The First Northern board of directors has approved the merger agreement and the stock option agreement. In reaching the decision to approve these agreements, the board of directors consulted with First Northern management, as well as its financial and legal advisors, and considered many factors, including the following: - The formation of an attractive $2.6 billion (at that date) Wisconsin financial institution; - The advantages of a combination with an in-state institution, including the building of market share without undue market concentration concerns, enhanced exposure to commercial and consumer banking markets, and the opportunities for increased efficiencies resulting in increased profitability of the combined entity over time; - The increased economic value for First Northern shareholders, because the merger terms provide a premium over the historical First Northern market price; - The belief that the merger agreement would result in First Northern shareholders receiving stock in a high quality combined company that should benefit shareholders through enhanced operating efficiencies and better penetration of commercial and consumer banking markets; - The fact that the merger agreement, subject to certain limitations, permits each First Northern shareholder to elect the form of consideration to be received; - The opportunity for First Northern shareholders to continue their investment in a regional bank holding company through a tax-free exchange; - The advice from KBW, First Northern's financial advisor, that the merger terms are fair from a financial point of view; - Conditions in the marketplace for financial institutions that might affect First Northern's ability to obtain more attractive offers in the future; - The less attractive strategic alternatives available to First Northern in light of the continuing trend of bank consolidations, such as share repurchase, acquisition of another banking institution, or continued independent growth; - The current and prospective economic and overall market environments facing First Northern characterized by intensifying competition; - Information concerning the businesses, earnings, operations, financial condition, prospects, capital levels and asset quality of First Northern and Mutual Savings, both individually and as a combined entity; - The ability to combine First Northern's operations with an attractive bank holding company which shares many of First Northern's goals of providing exemplary regional banking services, but which also offers a larger market area and larger asset base to allow for enhanced service in the future; - Availability for employees and customers of opportunities for employment with and service from a larger bank holding company; and - The terms of the merger and stock option agreements. The First Northern board of directors also reviewed various issues in connection with its approval of the merger agreement and the stock option agreement. In particular, the First Northern board discussed the potential effects of the stock option agreement, including a possible deterrent effect that it might have on subsequent, better offers. Also, the board considered the possibility that the merger might cause First 36 38 Northern to lose its independence going forward. First Northern's board of directors took into account these potential disadvantages when considering the merger. The First Northern board concluded that any such disadvantages were outweighed by the factors described above, and the KBW opinion that the merger consideration was fair from a financial point of view for the shareholders of First Northern. This discussion of the various factors considered by the First Northern board of directors is not, and is not intended to be, exhaustive. It is not necessarily in the order of importance to the board of directors or any particular director. The First Northern board of directors did not find it practicable to, and did not quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination due to the variety of factors considered. In addition, the board of First Northern is composed of six individual members, and each director may have given different weights to different factors. For a discussion of the interests of certain members of First Northern's management and First Northern's board in the merger, see "Interests of Officers and Directors in the Merger." MUTUAL'S REASONS FOR THE MERGER In significant part, the restructuring is being undertaken to accommodate the First Northern merger. The First Northern merger will not proceed if the restructuring does not occur. Mutual Savings' board of directors believes that the First Northern merger is attractive to Mutual for various reasons. From Mutual's perspective, the First Northern merger would: - combine two financial institutions of complementary business focuses. - significantly expand Mutual's presence in northeastern Wisconsin, allowing it to enter attractive new markets through an established and attractive operation. - permit Mutual to acquire this presence for fair consideration. - allow elimination of certain duplicative costs and achievement of potential economies of scale over time by increasing size. - complement the restructuring by providing a productive use for some of the offering's cash proceeds. - obtain additional experienced and well-qualified employees. The Mutual Savings board has unanimously approved the merger agreement. INTERESTS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS IN THE MERGER In considering the recommendation of the merger by the First Northern board, the shareholders of First Northern should be aware that some directors and executive officers of First Northern have certain interests in the consummation of the merger other than solely as holders of First Northern common stock that are described below. Stock Options. Holders of outstanding First Northern stock options, including directors and officers, will have their options vested as a result of the merger. Under the merger agreement, these options will not be assumed by Bank Mutual; this requirement is imposed to permit a greater number of shares of Bank Mutual common stock to be available to First Northern shareholders. As a consequence, options must be exercised prior to the merger or they will be "cashed out" in an amount equal to the "spread" between the exercise price and $15 per share. In addition, holders may receive an additional payment, of up to 25% of the "spread" amount, in recognition of the taxability of the cash receipt to the option holder, who is not given a choice to have a tax-free exchange. The total amount of these additional payments, after considering any tax benefit to First Northern, may not exceed $756,000. 37 39 The following table shows, for each director and executive officer of First Northern, the number of shares for which options are held, the aggregate "spread" between the option exercise prices and $15, and the maximum potential 25% payment, prior to tax effect, in recognition of the forced taxable transaction. MAXIMUM EXECUTIVE NUMBER OF TOTAL POTENTIAL OFFICER/DIRECTOR OPTIONS SPREAD AMOUNT 25% PAYMENT - ---------------- --------- ------------- ----------- Richard Aicher.................................. 79,300 $ 518,842 $ 129,711 Marla Carr...................................... 75,100 468,169 117,042 Rick Colberg.................................... 79,300 518,842 129,711 Dale Darmody.................................... 67,800 384,874 96,219 Michael Meeuwsen................................ 168,000 1,101,146 275,287 John Steinbrecker............................... 64,500 350,125 87,531 Steve Wilmet.................................... 54,500 272,625 68,156 Howard Frankenthal.............................. 36,000 252,558 63,140 Thomas Lopina................................... 28,800 172,800 43,200 Robert Olson.................................... 14,400 61,650 15,413 Richard Smits................................... 10,800 37,350 9,338 J. Gus Swoboda.................................. 32,400 209,583 52,396 All executive officers and directors as a group......................................... 710,900 4,348,564 1,087,143 Total outstanding options (including the above)........................................ 755,900 4,582,189 1,145,547 Indemnification. The merger agreement provides that Bank Mutual will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, directors or officers of First Northern against any amounts incurred in connection with any claim arising out of or relating to the transactions described in the merger agreement or which arise out of or relate to those persons having served as a committee member, director, officer, employee or agent of First Northern. Bank Mutual and any successors will continue to honor the obligations of First Northern under First Northern's articles of incorporation and bylaws existing and in force as of the date of the merger agreement. Employment Agreements. The First Northern executive officers who currently have employment agreements with First Northern or First Northern Savings will have those agreements either continued after the merger or replaced by new employment agreements. The employment agreement of Mr. Meeuwsen, First Northern's Chief Executive Officer, will be assumed by Bank Mutual. Mutual is offering new agreements to the other First Northern executive officers who currently have employment agreements. It is a condition to Mutual's obligations under the merger agreement that no more than two First Northern executive officers fail to enter into such agreements. Mr. Meeuwsen's current employment agreement provides for an initial term of five years, which is automatically extended for an additional year on its anniversary date unless contrary notice is given. Mr. Meeuwsen is entitled to an annually-reviewed base salary and benefits. The employment agreement can be terminated by either party at the expiration of the term, at any time for cause, upon Mr. Meeuwsen's retirement, disability or death, or as required by law. The agreement provides for certain benefits upon termination, which are generally increased in case of a change in control. Under the merger agreement, it is a condition to Mutual's obligations that Mr. Meeuwsen waive any provisions of his employment agreement under which the merger, or related transactions, would create severance or other accelerated benefits, and that he enter into a noncompetition agreement with Bank Mutual. Mr. Meeuwsen is not being asked to waive provisions of his supplemental employment retirement agreement under which the merger would constitute a change in control causing all of his benefits to vest. The replacement employment agreements being offered to other First Northern executive officers who have employment agreements are generally similar to their current agreements, with certain exceptions. The current agreements each provide for a three-year term which can be renewed annually to restore the initial three-year term. The replacement agreements will have an initial term of three years, but will not be subject to annual renewal. At the end of the initial three-year term and on each anniversary thereafter, the 38 40 employment term for the replacement agreements can be extended by mutual agreement for additional one-year periods. The replacement agreements and the current agreements both provide for certain benefits upon termination. In general, the termination benefits under the replacement agreements are greater than those under the current agreements assuming that the current agreements are not renewed annually, but not as great as the benefits an executive officer would receive if the current agreements were renewed annually. The replacement employment agreements, like the current agreements, provide certain rights to the executive officers upon a change in control, but the replacement employment agreements specifically state that the merger will not be considered a change in control. In addition, the replacement employment agreements include noncompetition provisions. See "Employee Plans" below regarding certain other arrangements with respect to other employee plans provided for by the merger agreement. Board and Officer Positions. Under the agreement, the Board of Directors of the MHC and Bank Mutual will consist of the current members of the board of Mutual Savings plus four out of the six members of the First Northern Board of Directors. The four members of the First Northern Board will be selected by Mutual Savings; Mutual Savings expects that Mr. Meeuwsen will be one of the four designees but has not yet determined the other three. In addition, additional officers of Bank Mutual will be elected so that at least 40% of the initial executive officers of Bank Mutual will be current First Northern executive officers. Mr. Meeuwsen is expected to be elected the president and chief operating officer of Bank Mutual, and Rick Colberg, First Northern's chief financial officer, will be its chief financial officer. OPINION OF FIRST NORTHERN'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR On February 21, 2000, KBW rendered its opinion to the First Northern Board (subsequently confirmed as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus) to the effect that the merger consideration was fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of First Northern common stock. KBW'S OPINION IS DIRECTED TO FIRST NORTHERN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADDRESSES ONLY THE CONSIDERATION OFFERED IN THE MERGER. IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING BUSINESS DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE MERGER AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A RECOMMENDATION TO ANY SHAREHOLDER AS TO HOW SUCH SHAREHOLDER SHOULD VOTE WITH RESPECT TO THE MERGER OR ANY OTHER MATTER RELATED THERETO. KBW has informed First Northern that in arriving at its opinion, KBW has, among other things: - reviewed First Northern's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and related audited financial information for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 1998 and First Northern's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and related unaudited financial information up to the period ended September 30, 1999; - reviewed Mutual Savings' Reports of Condition and Income ("Call Reports") and related audited financial information for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 1998 and Mutual Savings' quarterly Call Report and related unaudited financial information up to the period ended September 30, 1999; - reviewed certain limited financial information, including projections of future financial performance, relating to the respective businesses, earnings, assets and prospects of First Northern and Mutual Savings furnished to KBW by senior management of First Northern; - conducted certain limited discussions with members of senior management of First Northern and Mutual Savings concerning the respective businesses, financial condition, earnings, assets, liabilities, operations, regulatory condition, financial forecasts, contingencies, and prospects of First Northern and Mutual Savings and their respective views as to the future financial performance of First Northern, Mutual Savings, and Bank Mutual, as the case may be, following the merger; 39 41 - reviewed the historical market prices for First Northern's common stock and compared with that of certain publicly traded companies which KBW deemed to be relevant; - compared the respective results of operations of First Northern and Mutual Savings with those of certain companies which KBW deemed to be relevant; - reviewed the merger agreement; and - reviewed such other financial studies and analyses and performed such other investigations and took into account such other matters as KBW deemed necessary. In preparing its opinion, KBW, with First Northern's consent, assumed and relied on the accuracy and completeness of all financial and other information supplied or otherwise made available to it by First Northern and Mutual Savings, including information contemplated in the items above, and KBW has not assumed responsibility for independently verifying such information or undertaken an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of First Northern, Mutual Savings or any of their subsidiaries, nor has it been furnished any such evaluation or appraisal. KBW is not an expert in the evaluation of allowances for loan losses, and First Northern acknowledges, KBW has not made an independent evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses of First Northern or Mutual Savings, nor for this purpose has it reviewed any individual credit files relating to First Northern or Mutual Savings, and, with First Northern's consent, it assumed that the respective aggregate allowances for loan losses for both First Northern and Mutual Savings are adequate to cover such losses and will be adequate on a pro forma basis for Bank Mutual. In addition, it has not conducted any physical inspection of the properties or facilities of First Northern or Mutual Savings. KBW's opinion is predicated on the merger receiving the tax and accounting treatment contemplated in the merger. KBW's opinion was necessarily based on economic, market and other conditions as of, and the information made available to it as of, the date of its opinion. KBW's opinion was rendered without regard to the necessity for, or level of, any restrictions, obligations, undertakings or divestitures which may be imposed or required in the course of obtaining regulatory approval for the merger. In connection with rendering its opinion, KBW performed a variety of financial analyses, including those summarized below. The summary set forth below does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed by KBW in this regard. The preparation of a fairness opinion involves various determinations and judgments as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of these methods to the particular circumstances and, therefore, such opinion is not readily susceptible to a partial analysis or summary description. Accordingly, notwithstanding the separate factors summarized below, KBW believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and factors considered by it, without considering all analyses and factors, or attempting to ascribe relative weights to some or all such analyses and factors, could create an incomplete view of the evaluation process underlying KBW's opinion. In performing its analyses, KBW made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of First Northern, Mutual Savings and KBW. The analyses performed by KBW are not necessarily indicative of actual values or future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than suggested by such analyses. Such analyses were prepared solely as part of KBW's analysis of the fairness of the consideration to be paid in the merger to First Northern's shareholders, and were provided to First Northern's board of directors in connection with the delivery of KBW's opinion. KBW did not draw any specific conclusions from, or with regard to, any one method of analysis. With respect to the comparison of selected companies analysis and the analysis of selected merger transactions summarized below, no company utilized as a comparison is identical to First Northern or Mutual Savings. Accordingly, an analysis of comparable companies is not mathematical; rather it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning the differences in financial and operating characteristics of the companies and other factors that could affect the public trading values, as the case may be, of the companies concerned. The analyses do not purport to 40 42 be appraisals or to reflect the process at which First Northern and Mutual Savings might actually be sold or the prices at which any securities may trade at the present time or at any time in the future. In addition, as described above, KBW's opinion is just a part of many factors taken into consideration by First Northern's board of directors. The projections of future financial performance furnished to KBW and used by it in certain of its analyses were prepared by the senior management of First Northern. First Northern does not publicly disclose internal management projections of the type provided to KBW in connection with its review of the merger, and as a result, such projections were not prepared with a view towards public disclosure. These projections were based on numerous variables and assumptions which are inherently uncertain, including, without limitation, factors related to general economic and competitive conditions, and accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from those set forth in such projections. The following is a summary of analyses presented by KBW to First Northern's board of directors on February 17, 2000 in connection with its opinion. Comparable Company Analysis. KBW compared the financial performance and market performance of First Northern and the financial performance of Mutual Savings based on various financial measures of earnings performance, operating efficiency, capital adequacy and asset quality and, for First Northern, various measures of market performance, including, but not limited to, price to book ratios, price to earnings ratios and dividend payout ratios to those of selected bank holding companies. For purposes of such analysis, the financial information used by KBW was as of and for the quarter ended September 30, 1999. Market price information was as of February 14, 2000. KBW selected publicly traded thrift institutions in the Midwestern United States with total assets ranging from $500 million to $5 billion. The twenty-four (24) companies in the First Northern peer group were: MAF Bancorp, Inc., Clarendon Hills, IL First Defiance Financial Corp., Defiance, Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., Bloomfield Hills, MI OH Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc., Madison, WI NASB Financial, Inc, Grandview, MO St. Francis Capital Corporation, Brookfield, WI First Place Financial Corp., Warren, OH Alliance Bancorp, Hinsdale, IL Camco Financial Corporation, Cambridge, OH First Federal Capital Corp., La Crosse, WI Home Federal Bancorp, Seymour, IN First Indiana Corporation, Indianapolis, IN HMN Financial, Inc., Spring Valley, MN Metropolitan Financial Corp., Mayfield Heights, OH FFY Financial Corp., Youngstown, OH Jefferson Savings Bancorp, Inc., Ballwin, MO HF Financial Corp., Sioux Falls, SD CFS Bancorp, Inc., Munster, IN Fidelity Bancorp, Inc., Chicago, IL Ottawa Financial Corporation, Holland, MI Hallmark Capital Corp., Glendale, WI United Community Financial Corp., Youngstown, OH First Federal Bankshares, Inc., Sioux City, IA First Midwest Financial, Inc., Storm Lake, IA KBW's analysis showed the following concerning First Northern's financial performance: FIRST NORTHERN'S PEER GROUP PEER GROUP PERFORMANCE AVERAGE MEDIAN ----------- ---------- ---------- Return on average assets(%)........................ 0.96 0.92 0.91 Return on average equity(%)........................ 9.60 10.65 9.97 Net interest margin(%)............................. 3.00 3.17 3.07 Efficiency ratio(%)................................ 55.95 58.08 57.92 Ratio of total equity to total assets(%)........... 9.15 9.01 8.01 Ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets(%)..... 9.15 8.50 7.37 Ratio of non-performing assets to total loans plus other real estate owned(%)....................... 0.11 0.85 0.64 Ratio of loan loss reserve to total loans(%)....... 0.52 0.87 0.75 41 43 KBW's analysis further showed the following concerning First Northern's market performance: - that First Northern's price to earnings per share multiple based on 1999 projected earnings was 11.05 times, compared to a peer group average of 9.77 times and median of 8.97 times; - that its price to earnings per share multiple based on 2000 projected earnings was 10.30 times, compared to a peer group average of 9.59 times and median of 9.51 times; - that its price to book value per share multiple was 112%, compared to a peer group average of 108% and median of 101% and - that its dividend payout ratio was 48.15% compared to a peer group average of 35.55% and median of 28.57%. The Mutual Savings peer group consisted of eleven (11) selected mutually held thrift institutions with total assets ranging from $1 billion to $4 billion and ratios of total equity to total assets ranging from seven percent (7%) to eleven percent (11%). The members of the Mutual Savings peer group were: - Columbia Savings Bank, SLA (MHC), FairLawn, NJ - Middlesex Savings Banks, Natick, MA - Financial FT & SB of Olympia Fields, Olympia Fields, IL - First Federal Lincoln Bank, Lincoln, NE - Cambridge Financial Group, Inc., Cambridge, MA - North Shore Bank, FSB, Brookfield, WI - Salem Five Cents Savings Bank, Salem, MA - Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor, ME - Provident Savings Bank, Jersey City, NJ - Connecticut Bankshares, MHC, Manchester, CT - Beneficial Mutual Savings Bank, Philadelphia, Pa KBW's analysis showed the following concerning Mutual Savings' financial performance: MUTUAL'S PEER GROUP PEER GROUP PERFORMANCE AVERAGE MEDIAN ----------- ---------- ---------- Return on average assets(%)........................ 0.45 0.70 0.78 Return on average equity(%)........................ 4.76 7.99 8.19 Net interest margin(%)............................. 2.39 3.28 3.13 Efficiency ratio(%)................................ 71.74 68.42 69.28 Ratio of amortization of intangible assets to operating revenue(%)............................. 5.47 1.57 0.34 Ratio of total equity to total assets(%)........... 9.61 8.59 9.03 Ratio of tier 1 capital to average tangible assets(%)........................................ 8.26 8.31 8.09 Ratio of non-performing assets to total loans plus other real estate owned(%)....................... 0.83 0.65 0.63 Ratio of loan loss reserve to total loans(%)....... 0.64 0.89 0.87 Historical Stock Data Analysis. KBW reviewed historical stock price data for First Northern common stock compared to a composite of the First Northern peer group, the Russell 2000 Financial Index and the Standard and Poors 500 Index for the period from January 1, 1999 through February 14, 2000. This analysis showed that on a relative performance basis, First Northern's stock price depreciated 22%, compared with depreciation of 27.5% and 13% for the First Northern peer group and Russell 2000 Financial Index, respectively and the 14% appreciation of the Standard and Poors 500 Index. Comparable Merger Analysis. KBW analyzed two groups of selected banking merger transactions where the selling institution was a thrift in the United States from 1998 to 1999. The first group consisted of those transactions where the buyers utilized the pooling-of-interests accounting method (the "Pooling Group"); and the second group consisted of those transactions where the buyers utilized the purchase 42 44 accounting method (the "Purchase Group") The selling institutions for both groups had total assets ranging from $500 million to $2 billion. KBW then compared the relevant valuation multiples for the groups to First Northern's valuation multiples resulting from the transaction value, and additionally restating the same valuation statistics by adjusting First Northern's capital level down to the median of the groups' selling institutions ("First Northern Adjusted"). The comparable merger analysis indicated, based on First Northern's announced transaction value, the following: FIRST PURCHASE POOLING FIRST NORTHERN GROUP GROUP NORTHERN ADJUSTED MEDIAN MEDIAN -------- -------- -------- ------- Deal Price/Book Value(%)......................... 167.04 184.74 194.31 240.96 Deal Price/Tangible Book Value(%)................ 167.04 184.74 206.57 245.90 Deal Price/LTM EPS(x)............................ 18.07 18.83 21.70 24.59 Tangible Premium to Core Deposits(%)............. 11.50 11.50 15.53 23.56 The Purchase Group included the following transactions: ACQUIRING INSTITUTION SELLING INSTITUTION - --------------------- ------------------- Commercial Federal Corporation AmerUs Bank BB&T Corporation Maryland Federal Bancorp Inc. UCBH Holdings Inc. USB Holding Summit Bancorp NSS Bancorp Richmond County Financial Corp. Bayonne Bancshares Inc. Temple-Inland Inc. HF Bancorp Inc. Dime Bancorp Inc. Lakeview Financial Corp. Belvedere Capital Partners Inc. Placer Savings Bank Independence Community Bank Corp. Statewide Financial Corporation Webster Financial Corp. MECH Financial Inc. The Pooling Group included the following transactions: ACQUIRING INSTITUTION SELLING INSTITUTION - --------------------- ------------------- Commercial Federal Corporation First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. Hudson United Bancorp IBS Financial Corp. Hudson United Bancorp Dime Financial Corporation FirstMerit Corporation Security First Corporation First Charter Corporation HFNC Financial Corp Republic Security Financial First Palm Beach Bancorp, Inc. Corporation First Source Bancorp, Inc. Pulse Bancorp, Inc Peoples Heritage Financial Group SIS Bancorp, Inc Centura Banks, Inc First Coastal Bankshares, Inc Republic Bancorp, Inc. D & N Financial Corporation Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc. FCB Financial Corp Old Kent Financial Corp CFSB Bancorp, Inc Fifth Third Bancorp Emerald Financial Corporation Independent Bank Corp Mutual Savings Bank FSB BB&T Corporation First Liberty Financial Corp North Fork Bancorporation JSB Financial Inc Provident Financial Group, Inc. Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc Discounted Free Capital Analysis. Using financial projections for First Northern provided by management of First Northern, KBW estimated the future amount of distributable free capital available to holders of First Northern shares of common stock assuming the maintenance of a leverage ratio (as 43 45 defined under regulatory guidelines) of 7.0% over a five year period. KBW then estimated the terminal value for First Northern common stock at the end of the period by applying terminal multiples ranging from 11 to 19 times First Northern's projected 2004 adjusted earnings. The distributable free capital stream and terminal values were then discounted to a present value using discount rates (ranging from 12% to 14%) chosen to reflect different assumptions regarding the required rate of return to holders or prospective buyers of shares of First Northern common stock. KBW calculated present values of distributable free capital for First Northern ranging from $9.25 per share to $14.58 per share. In connection with its opinion dated as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, KBW performed procedures to update, as necessary, certain of the analyses described above and reviewed the assumptions on which such analyses described above were based and the factors considered in connection therewith. KBW has been retained by First Northern's board as an independent contractor to act as financial adviser to First Northern with respect to the merger. KBW, as part of its investment banking business, is continually engaged in the valuation of banking businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. As specialists in the securities of banking companies, KBW has experience in, and knowledge of, the valuation of banking enterprises. In the ordinary course of its business as a broker-dealer, KBW may, from time to time, purchase securities from, and sell securities to, First Northern and Mutual Savings and as a market maker in securities KBW may from time to time have a long or short position in, and buy or sell, debt or equity securities of First Northern and Mutual Savings for KBW's own account and for the accounts of its customers. First Northern and KBW have entered into an agreement dated January 12, 2000 relating to the services provided by KBW in connection with the merger. Under this agreement First Northern agreed to pay KBW, for the services relating to the merger, a cash non-refundable financial advisory fee of $50,000, paid upon the execution of the agreement. In addition, First Northern agreed to pay KBW a cash fee of $100,000 payable on delivery of KBW's fairness opinion at the time of announcement of the Merger and an additional cash fee of $100,000 in conjunction with KBW's delivery of an updated fairness opinion for incorporation in any proxy statement or prospectus. Upon closing of the transaction, First Northern will pay to KBW a cash fee contingent equal to $350,000. Pursuant to KBW's engagement agreement, First Northern also agreed to reimburse KBW for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements incurred in connection with its retention and to indemnify KBW against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the federal securities laws. EMPLOYEE PLANS Mutual Savings and First Northern have agreed that outstanding First Northern stock options, including those held by officers and directors, will be "cashed out" prior to the merger. These provisions include an additional payment to option holders in recognition of the tax consequences of this transaction. In addition, First Northern executive officers who currently have employment agreements will have those agreements either continued under Bank Mutual or replaced by new employment agreements. See "Interests of Officers and Directors in the Merger" above. Mutual Savings has agreed that First Northern's 401(k) retirement plan will continue, except to the extent not consistent with law, after the merger for First Northern Savings' employees until the plan is combined with, or replaced by, a retirement or similar benefit plan covering employees of all affiliates of Mutual Savings. Previous service with First Northern will be counted to determine eligibility to participate and vesting in any successor plan, except where recognition of that prior service would result in a duplication of benefits. Similarly, Bank Mutual will continue, except to the extent not consistent with law, First Northern Savings health and welfare benefit plans and programs until they are replaced by programs or benefits common to all Bank Mutual employees. None of these plans will be terminated until First Northern Savings employees become eligible to participate in successor plans. Prior service will be 44 46 recognized, except where it would result in duplication of benefits, and waiting periods, pre-existing condition limitations and other exclusions generally would not apply where First Northern employees previously were covered under First Northern plans. See "Interests of Officers and Directors in the Merger" above for a discussion of employment agreements. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF FIRST NORTHERN SAVINGS AFTER THE MERGER When the merger is effective, First Northern's separate existence will cease, and First Northern Savings will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank Mutual. The directors and officers of First Northern Savings immediately prior to the merger will continue to be its directors and officers and Mr. Crowley, Jr. will become an additional director. Because First Northern Savings will be a corporation wholly owned by Bank Mutual, Bank Mutual will have the power to elect to change directors, and select and change officers, as it believes appropriate. Bank Mutual intends, for the immediate future, to continue First Northern Savings as a separate entity, although consideration may be given to combining operations with Mutual Savings at some point in the future. First Northern Savings will continue to employ substantially all of its present employees. The employees will continue as employees at will who are subject to the determination of First Northern Savings management, and boards of directors of First Northern Savings and Bank Mutual. The parties expect that the merger will become effective shortly after the special meeting. The merger will be legally completed by the filing of articles of merger with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The filing of the articles of merger will occur as soon as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the merger agreement. See "Conditions to the Merger" below. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER In the merger agreement, First Northern has agreed, pending consummation of the merger, unless otherwise consented to in writing by Mutual Savings, that it will, among other things: - carry on its business in the regular course; - not do any act or omit to do any act which will cause a material breach of any identified contracts to which First Northern is a party; - not change compensation or benefits, except for ordinary raises; - not incur any indebtedness outside the ordinary course of business; - use reasonable best efforts to preserve its business organization intact, to retain the services of its present officers and key employees and to preserve the goodwill of suppliers, customers, creditors and others having business relationships with it; and - not issue any additional shares of stock except under outstanding options, or grant any options, or declare or pay any dividend other than its regular quarterly dividend. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS The merger agreement contains various customary representations and warranties for a transaction of this kind by Mutual Savings, Bank Mutual and First Northern. They include, among other things: - the organization, existence, and corporate power and authority, and capitalization of each of the companies; - the absence of conflicts with and violations of law and various documents, contracts and agreements; - the absence of any development materially adverse to the companies; 45 47 - the absence of adverse material litigation; - accuracy of reports and financial statements filed by First Northern with the Securities and Exchange Commission; - the accuracy and completeness of the statements of fact made in the merger agreement; - First Northern's title to its assets; - the existence, performance and legal effect of certain contracts; - no violations of law by either party; - the filing of tax returns, payment of taxes and other tax matters by either party; - labor and employee benefit matters, with respect to First Northern; and - compliance with applicable environmental laws with respect to both parties. In addition to the covenants described under "Conduct of Business Pending the Merger," the merger agreement contains various other customary covenants, including, among other things, access to information, each party's efforts to cause its representations and warranties to be true and correct on the closing date; and each party's agreement to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the merger to qualify as a tax-free reorganization. All representations, warranties and covenants of the parties, other than the covenants in specified sections which relate to continuing matters, terminate upon the merger. CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER The respective obligations of Mutual Savings and First Northern to complete the merger are subject to various conditions prior to the merger. The conditions include the following: - regulatory approvals of the merger and the Mutual Savings restructuring the performance of and compliance by the parties with their obligations under the merger agreement; - the absence of any litigation in which the merger is restrained or enjoined; - the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the parties made in the merger agreement; - from the date of the merger agreement to the merger, there shall not have occurred any material adverse change of Mutual Savings, Bank Mutual or First Northern; - the approval of the merger agreement by the shareholders of First Northern; - as a condition to First Northern's obligations, the receipt of the tax opinion that has been delivered by counsel; and - obtaining any appropriate third party consents. The parties may waive conditions to their obligations unless they are legally prohibited from doing so. First Northern shareholder approval and regulatory approvals may not be legally waived. In addition, Mutual Savings will not proceed with the First Northern merger unless it is able to simultaneously undergo the restructuring. First Northern has agreed that it, its subsidiaries, its officers and its directors will not take actions which could facilitate a competing acquisition proposal. First Northern has agreed to: - not initiate, solicit or encourage any inquiries or the making of any acquisition proposal; - not engage in any negotiations concerning, provide any confidential information to, or have any discussions with, any person relating to an acquisition proposal; 46 48 - cease any pre-existing activities with respect to any other acquisition proposal; and - notify Mutual Savings promptly if any such inquiries or proposals are received by it. REGULATORY APPROVALS REQUIRED FOR THE MERGER General. We have agreed to use our best efforts to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and governmental entities which are necessary or advisable to consummate the merger and the Mutual restructuring which is a condition to the merger. These include approvals of the OTS and the FDIC. Mutual Savings has completed the filing of all application materials necessary to obtain these regulatory approvals. The merger cannot be completed without these regulatory approvals. We cannot assure that we will obtain the required regulatory approvals, or when they will be received, or whether there will be conditions in the approvals or any litigation challenging the approvals. We also cannot assure that the United States Department of Justice or any state attorney general will not attempt to challenge the merger on antitrust grounds, or what the outcome will be if such a challenge is made. We are not aware of any material governmental approvals or actions that are required prior to the merger other than those described below. We presently contemplate that we will seek any additional governmental approvals or actions that may be required; however, we cannot assure that we will successfully obtain any such additional approvals or actions. Office of Thrift Supervision. The merger is subject to approval by the OTS, as is the Mutual Savings restructuring. Mutual Savings has filed the required applications and notifications with the OTS for these approvals. The OTS may not approve any transaction that would result in a monopoly or otherwise substantially lessen competition or restrain of trade, unless it finds that the anti-competitive effects of the transaction are clearly outweighed in the public interest. In addition, the OTS considers the financial and managerial resources of the companies and their subsidiary institutions and the convenience and needs of the communities to be served. Under the Community Reinvestment Act, the OTS must take into account the record of performance of each company in meeting the credit needs of its entire communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, served by each company. Mutual Savings has a satisfactory CRA rating with the OTS; First Northern Savings has an outstanding CRA rating. Federal law requires publication of notice of, and the opportunity for public comment on, the applications submitted by Mutual Savings for approval of the merger and the restructuring, and authorizes the OTS to hold a public hearing in connection with the application if it determines that such a hearing would be appropriate. Any such hearing or comments provided by third parties could prolong the period during which the application is subject to review. In addition, under federal law, a period of 30 days must expire following approval by the OTS within which period the Department of Justice may file objections to the merger under the federal antitrust laws. If the Department of Justice were to commence an antitrust action, that action would stay the effectiveness of OTS approval of the merger unless a court specifically orders otherwise. In reviewing the merger, the Department of Justice could analyze the merger's effect on competition differently than the OTS, and thus it is possible that the Department of Justice could reach a different conclusion than the OTS regarding the merger's competitive effects. Mutual Saving's right to exercise the stock option agreement is also subject to the prior approval of the OTS, to the extent that it were to acquire stock under the stock option agreement. In considering whether to approve Mutual Saving's right to exercise its option, the OTS would generally apply the same statutory criteria it would apply to its consideration of approval of the merger and would also consider the power of Mutual Savings to hold those shares. Mutual Savings Restructuring. In addition to the regulatory approvals which we require for the First Northern merger, Mutual Savings will need to obtain regulatory approvals, primarily from the OTS, to undergo its restructuring. These approvals include authorization for Mutual Savings to convert to a federally-chartered institution, for Mutual Savings to form a mutual holding company with Bank Mutual 47 49 as a mid-tier holding company, and to offer shares of Bank Mutual to Mutual Savings' depositors under the terms of Mutual Savings' plan of restructuring. In considering the restructuring, regulators will look at many of the same factors discussed above as applying to the First Northern merger, but would also consider the fairness of the restructuring to Mutual Savings' depositors. NO SOLICITATION The merger agreement required First Northern to immediately terminate any discussions with any other parties with respect to any acquisition transactions with other parties. The merger agreement further restricts the circumstances under which First Northern may provide information to other parties. First Northern has agreed not to solicit other offers, and has agreed to only provide further information in limited circumstances. STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT On February 21, 2000, First Northern and Mutual Savings executed a stock option agreement. That agreement grants to Mutual Savings the option to buy up to 1,708,675 shares of First Northern common stock at an exercise price of $9.0375 per share, payable in cash; provided, however, that in no event will the number of shares of First Northern common stock for which the option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the First Northern common stock issued and outstanding without giving effect to the option. The $9.0375 amount was the average closing price paid for First Northern common stock in the 10 days preceding the execution of the stock option agreement. The number and type of shares and the exercise price per share may be adjusted for stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations and similar transactions. A copy of the stock option agreement is included as Exhibit 2.2 to First Northern's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 21, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference. See "Where You Can Find More Information." The option is intended to increase the likelihood that the merger will be completed. It was a condition to Mutual Savings agreeing to the merger agreement, to protect Mutual Savings in view of, among other things, the extended period between signing the merger agreement and expected receipt of regulatory approvals. Consequently, aspects of the stock option agreement may have the effect of discouraging persons who might now or at any time be interested in acquiring all of or a significant interest in First Northern or its assets before completion of the merger. Mutual Savings may exercise the option, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the termination of the option and following the occurrence of a "purchase event" such as: - the acquisition by any person other than Mutual Savings of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the then outstanding First Northern common stock; - First Northern enters into an agreement to engage in another acquisition transaction with any person other than Mutual Savings, or First Northern's board of directors recommends that the First Northern stockholders approve or accept another acquisition transaction; - any person other than Mutual Savings makes a proposal to First Northern or its stockholders, that becomes publicly known, to engage in an acquisition transaction, such an offer being referred to as a "tender offer" or an "exchange offer"; or - any person other than Mutual Savings, without Mutual Savings' consent, files an application or notice with any governmental authority for approval to engage in an acquisition transaction with First Northern. If one of these purchase events occurs prior to an event which terminates the option, First Northern will, at Mutual Savings' request, promptly prepare, file and keep current a registration statement under the Securities Act covering any shares issued and issuable pursuant to the option. These registration rights are subject to certain limitations contained in the stock option agreement. 48 50 The option terminates upon the earliest to occur of: - the time immediately prior to the time at which the merger is completed; - a proper termination of the merger agreement prior to a triggering event; or - 18 months after the first occurrence of an event that would allow Mutual Savings to exercise the option, and 12 months after the end of any continuing triggering event. If a purchase event occurs prior to an event which terminates the option: - at Mutual Savings' request, First Northern will repurchase the option from Mutual Savings at a price equal to the amount by which (1) the "market/offer price," as defined below, exceeds (2) the option price, multiplied by the number of shares for which the option may then be exercised, up to $12.0 million; and/or - at the request of the holder of option shares, First Northern will repurchase the number of option shares designated by their holder at a price equal to the market/offer price multiplied by the number of option shares designated. If prior to an event which terminates the option, First Northern enters into a type of agreement which provides for the conversion of its securities into another entities', the agreement governing the transaction must provide that the option shall be converted into, or exchanged for, a substitute of the acquiring corporation. Neither First Northern nor Mutual Savings may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under the stock option agreement to any other person without the consent of the other party. However, Mutual Savings may assign the stock option agreement to one of its subsidiaries and Mutual Savings may assign its rights under the stock option agreement after the occurrence of a purchase event by any person other than Mutual Savings of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the then outstanding First Northern common stock. The rights and obligations of Mutual Savings and First Northern under the stock option agreement are subject to receipt of certain regulatory approvals and both parties have agreed to use their reasonable efforts to obtain these approvals. These include making application, if necessary, for listing of the shares of First Northern common stock issuable under the stock option agreement on any exchange or quotation system and applying to the OTS and to other regulatory authorities for approval to acquire the shares issuable under the stock option agreement. Some of the termination periods provided in the option are extended if regulatory approvals are pending. TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER The merger agreement may be terminated prior to the closing, before or after approval by First Northern's shareholders, as follows: - by mutual written agreement of Mutual Savings and First Northern; - by either Mutual Savings or First Northern if the merger has not occurred on or before January 16, 2001; - by Mutual Savings if: - First Northern materially breaches its representations and warranties in the merger agreement, if not cured; - First Northern fails to perform its agreements and covenants in the merger agreement; - First Northern shareholders do not approve the merger; or - if there is a material adverse change in First Northern; and 49 51 - by First Northern if: - Mutual Savings materially breaches its representations and warranties in the merger agreement, if not cured; - Mutual Savings fails to perform its agreements and covenants in the merger agreement; - if there is a material adverse change in Mutual Savings; or - First Northern, following specified procedures, agrees to another transaction. Upon termination of the merger agreement by either party, there are no further obligations of any party to the others except that: - the obligations of Mutual Savings under the provisions of the merger agreement regarding expenses and rights on termination will survive; - the obligations of First Northern under the stock option agreement and its obligations to comply with the provisions of the merger agreement regarding expenses and rights on termination will survive; and - each party shall retain any and all remedies which it may have for breach of contract provided by law based on another party's willful failure to comply with the terms of the merger agreement. The merger agreement may be amended by the parties at any time before or after approval of the merger agreement by the First Northern shareholders. However, after such approval, no amendment may be made without their approval if it reduces the exchange rate or materially adversely affects the rights of the First Northern shareholders. The parties may waive any of their conditions to closing, unless they may not be waived under law. FEES AND EXPENSES Mutual Savings and First Northern will each pay its own costs and expenses in connection with the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. However, the agreement provides that if Mutual Savings terminates the agreement because of a willful First Northern breach or because First Northern terminates the agreement to pursue an offer for which its directors believe is superior, First Northern will reimburse Mutual Savings for its expenses in the transaction up to $1.4 million. Similarly, First Northern terminates the agreement because of a willful Mutual Savings' breach, Mutual Savings will reimburse First Northern for its expenses in connection with the transaction, up to $500,000. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES; TAX OPINION The following is a discussion of material federal income tax consequences of the merger to Bank Mutual, First Northern and the holders of First Northern common stock who are citizens or residents of the United States or that are domestic corporations. This discussion does not address all tax consequences of the merger. The summary may not apply to First Northern shareholders in special situations (such as dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities, financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, persons holding shares of First Northern common stock as part of a hedging, "straddle," conversion or other integrated transaction, non-United States persons, persons whose functional currency is not the United States dollar or persons who acquired their shares of First Northern common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or warrants, or otherwise as compensation). The discussion assumes that the shares of First Northern common stock are held as capital assets. In addition, no information is provided with respect to the tax consequences of the merger under applicable foreign, state or local laws. 50 52 FIRST NORTHERN SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER, INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM. The completion of the merger is conditioned upon the receipt by First Northern of an opinion from Quarles & Brady LLP that the merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Quarles & Brady has provided its opinion based upon certain customary assumptions and representations of fact, including representations of fact contained in letters from Mutual Savings, on behalf of itself, Bank Mutual and the MHC, and First Northern to Quarles & Brady, all of which must be true, correct and complete in all material respects as of the effective time of the merger. No ruling has been sought from the Internal Revenue Service as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger. Although the Internal Revenue Service ordinarily does not give rulings on merger transactions, its ruling policy would require that at least 50% of the consideration to be paid in the merger be in the form of Bank Mutual stock for the merger to be a tax-free reorganization. However, the IRS's ruling policy is not necessarily its interpretation of existing law, and there are court decisions that have upheld tax-free reorganization treatment where less than 40% of the consideration was in the form of stock. The opinion of Quarles & Brady is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or any court. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service will not contest the conclusions expressed in Quarles & Brady's opinion or, if it does so, that a court will not agree with the IRS's position. Assuming the merger will qualify as a tax-free reorganization, no gain or loss will be recognized by Bank Mutual or First Northern as a result of the merger. The pre-merger holders of Bank Mutual stock, if any, will not recognize gain or loss as a result of the merger. The following discussion addresses certain federal income tax consequences of the merger to a First Northern shareholder, assuming that the merger will qualify as a tax-free reorganization. Only Shares of Bank Mutual Common Stock Received Except as discussed below with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock, a First Northern shareholder that receives only shares of Bank Mutual common stock in exchange for the holder's shares of First Northern common stock will not recognize gain or loss. The tax basis of the shares of Bank Mutual common stock received in the merger will be the same as the tax basis of the shares of First Northern common stock exchanged in the merger. The holding period of the shares of Bank Mutual common stock received will include the holding period of shares of First Northern common stock exchanged in the merger. Only Cash Received A First Northern shareholder that receives solely cash in the merger in exchange for the shareholder's shares of First Northern common stock generally will recognize capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the amount of cash received with respect to each share of First Northern common stock and the tax basis of each share of First Northern common stock exchanged in the merger. If, however, any such shareholder actually or constructively owns shares of Bank Mutual common stock after the merger, the cash received by the shareholder may, in certain circumstances, be taxed as a dividend. This treatment would apply whether the constructive ownership is the result of constructive ownership of shares of First Northern common stock that are exchanged for shares of Bank Mutual common stock in the merger, prior, actual or constructive ownership of shares of Bank Mutual common stock, or otherwise. The circumstances under which dividend treatment may apply and the resulting consequences are similar to those discussed under "-- Shares of Bank Mutual Common Stock and Cash Received -- Treatment of Gain Recognized," except that the amount treated as a dividend would not be limited to the amount of the shareholder's gain recognized in the transaction, and it is possible that there would be some variation in the manner in which the tests under Section 302 of the Code would be applied. See also "-- Effect of Overlapping or Constructive Ownership," for a general discussion of the effect of a shareholder's overlapping ownership on the dividend/capital gain issue. 51 53 Shares of Bank Mutual Common Stock and Cash Received General. Except as discussed below with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock, a First Northern shareholder that receives both shares of Bank Mutual common stock and cash in exchange for shares of First Northern common stock will not recognize loss in the exchange. However, under Section 356(a)(1) of the Code, the shareholder will recognize gain, if any, with respect to each share of First Northern common stock exchanged, measured by the sum of the fair market value of the portion of a share of Bank Mutual common stock received for the share of First Northern common stock, plus the amount of any cash received for the share of First Northern common stock, minus the tax basis of such share of First Northern common stock. However, this gain will be recognized only to the extent of the amount of any cash received in exchange for the share of First Northern common stock. A First Northern shareholder may receive both shares of Bank Mutual common stock and cash as the result of (a) making an election to receive some shares and some cash, (b) making an election to receive all shares and being prorated, if the election to receive all shares is oversubscribed, (c) making an election to receive all cash and being prorated, if the election to receive all cash is oversubscribed or (d) failing to make any election and neither the election to receive all cash or all shares is oversubscribed. Treatment of Gain Recognized. Any gain recognized will be taxed as either gain from the sale or exchange of stock (that is, capital gain) or as a dividend (to the extent of the shareholder's ratable share of earnings and profits) based upon whether, in the transaction described in the next sentence, the shareholder's interest in Bank Mutual was reduced sufficiently so that the cash received was not treated as a dividend under the tests of Section 302 of the Code. For purposes of this determination, a First Northern shareholder will be treated as if the shareholder had engaged in a hypothetical transaction in which the shareholder and all other First Northern shareholders (a) received solely shares of Bank Mutual common stock in exchange for all of their shares of First Northern common stock, and (b) thereafter had a portion of the shares of Bank Mutual common stock redeemed for the cash portion of the merger consideration. A First Northern shareholder's hypothetical interest in Bank Mutual after step (a) is compared to the shareholder's interest in Bank Mutual subsequent to the deemed redemption in step (b). In each case, subject to limited exceptions, shares of Bank Mutual common stock actually or constructively owned, under the constructive ownership rules described in "-- Effect of Overlapping or Constructive Ownership" below, by the shareholder will be considered owned for purposes of applying this test, even if the shares of Bank Mutual common stock were not received or deemed received in the merger. If a shareholder is subjected to dividend treatment, the entire cash portion of the merger consideration received by the shareholder will be treated as a dividend to the extent of the shareholder's ratable share of earnings and profits. Under Section 302(b) of the Code, a distribution in redemption of stock will not be treated as a dividend if, insofar as is here pertinent, (1) the shareholder's interest in Bank Mutual is completely terminated as a result of the transaction, (2) the shareholder's percentage interest in Bank Mutual is reduced more than 20% in the redemption described above and after considering all similar redemptions of other shareholders, or (3) the shareholder's interest was "meaningfully reduced" by virtue of such redemption (collectively, the "Section 302 Tests"). While alternative (3) of the Section 302 Tests requires a determination based on a shareholder's particular facts and circumstances, the IRS has indicated in published rulings that a distribution that results in any actual reduction in interest of an extremely small, minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation will meaningfully reduce the shareholder's interest in the corporation, if the shareholder exercises no control with respect to corporate affairs. Application of the Section 302 Tests -- General. The application of the Section 302 Tests to a shareholder that receives a combination of cash and Bank Mutual common stock will depend upon, in addition to the type of election made by the shareholder, the extent to which: (1) the cash or stock portion of the merger consideration is oversubscribed; (2) the shareholder actually or constructively owns after the merger any shares of Bank Mutual common stock which the shareholder did not receive, actually or constructively, in the merger -- for example, shares of Bank Mutual common stock issued in the stock 52 54 offering which the shareholder owns actually or constructively; and (3) the shareholder constructively owns shares of First Northern common stock immediately prior to the effective time of the merger. Effect of Overlapping or Constructive Ownership. A First Northern shareholder that (a) actually or constructively owns after the merger any shares of Bank Mutual common stock which the shareholder did not receive, actually or constructively, in the merger as described above, or (b) constructively owns shares of First Northern common stock immediately prior to the effective time of the merger or shares of Bank Mutual common stock immediately after the effective time of the merger, will be required to take those shares into account for purposes of applying the Section 302 Tests. Under the applicable constructive ownership rules of Section 318 of the Code, a shareholder will, in general, be treated as owning shares that are owned by certain family members and other related entities, or that are subject to options owned or deemed owned by the person. The actual or constructive ownership of shares of First Northern common stock may, in some circumstances, have the effect of causing a First Northern shareholder that would otherwise qualify for capital gain treatment under the Section 302 Tests to fail to qualify and subject the shareholder to dividend treatment on the entire cash portion of the merger consideration paid to the shareholder, to the extent of the shareholder's ratable share of earnings and profits, even if the shareholder receives solely cash in the merger. Therefore, First Northern shareholders that (1) constructively own shares of First Northern common stock or (2) actually or constructively own shares of Bank Mutual common stock should consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences of receiving cash, whether the shareholder intends to make a cash election, a stock election or a part cash and part stock election. Treatment of Dividends to Corporate Shareholders. To the extent that cash received in exchange for shares of First Northern common stock is treated as a dividend to a corporate shareholder, the corporate shareholder will be (a) eligible for a dividends received deduction, subject to applicable limitations and (b) subject to the "extraordinary dividend" provisions of the Code. Any cash which is treated as a dividend to a corporate shareholder will constitute an extraordinary dividend, except as otherwise provided in Treasury regulations which have yet to be adopted. Consequently, the non-taxed portion of any such dividend would reduce a corporate shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the shares of Bank Mutual common stock received in the merger, but not below zero, and would thereafter be taxable as capital gain. The Basis and Holding Period of Shares of Bank Mutual Common Stock Received in the Merger. The tax basis of each share of Bank Mutual common stock received in the merger will be the same as the tax basis of the shares of First Northern common stock exchanged, increased by the amount of gain recognized on the exchange with respect to those shares of First Northern common stock, including any such gain that is treated as a dividend, decreased by any portion of the shares of First Northern common stock which are converted into cash in lieu of receipt of a fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock, and further decreased by the amount of cash received with respect to the shares of First Northern common stock other than cash received in lieu of a fractional share interest. As discussed above, corporate shareholders are subject to special adjustments with respect to the portion of any cash received in the merger which is taxable as a dividend. See "-- Treatment of Dividends to Corporate Shareholders." The holding period of the shares of Bank Mutual common stock received will include the holding period of the shares of First Northern common stock exchanged in the merger. Fractional Shares If a First Northern shareholder receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock in the merger, the cash amount will be treated as received in exchange for the fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock. Gain or loss recognized as a result of that exchange will be equal to the cash amount received for the fractional share of Bank Mutual common stock reduced by the proportion of the shareholder's tax basis in shares of First Northern common stock exchanged and allocable to the fractional shares of Bank Mutual common stock. 53 55 First Northern 401(k) Plan Under the First Northern 401(k) retirement plan, participant accounts may be invested in First Northern common stock. The instruction by a plan participant to the plan trustees to convert that stock into cash, into Bank Mutual common stock, or partly into cash and partly into Bank Mutual stock pursuant to the merger will not result in a taxable event for the plan participant at the time of the merger. However, the decision may have a long-term tax impact on the participant. Under the terms of the plan, company stock may be distributed in kind at the election of the plan participant. In the event that company stock is distributed in kind as part of a benefit payment which qualifies as a "lump sum distribution" and the participant so elects, only the plan's original cost or basis of the company stock will be taxed at that time to the participant; any unrealized appreciation will not be taxed until such time as the company stock is disposed of in a subsequent taxable transaction. To the extent that gain recognized from the disposition does not exceed the net unrealized appreciation at the time of the distribution from the plan, the gain recognized will be taxed as long-term capital gain. Any additional unrealized appreciation, such as growth in value subsequent to the distribution, will also be taxed as a long-term capital gain if the stock has been held for more than one year after the distribution date. The net unrealized appreciation rules provide an option for a plan participant who receives company stock in a lump sum distribution. For any participant interested in maximizing the portion of share value that is attributed to "appreciation" as opposed to "basis" in the stock, the instruction to the plan trustee concerning the election to convert the First Northern common stock into cash or Bank Mutual stock will be important. A conversion into cash and subsequent investment by the participant in Bank Mutual common stock will result in a new, presumably higher, basis and lower future appreciation. A conversion into Bank Mutual common stock will result in the transfer in basis by the plan trustee from the participant's allocable interest in First Northern common stock to the participant's allocable interest in Bank Mutual common stock. Limitations on Tax Opinion and Discussion As noted earlier, the tax opinion is subject to certain assumptions, relating to, among other things, the truth and accuracy of certain representations made by Mutual Savings, Bank Mutual, the MHC and First Northern, and the consummation of the merger in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement and applicable state law. Furthermore, the tax opinion will not bind the IRS and, therefore, the IRS is not precluded from asserting a contrary position. The tax opinion and this discussion are based on currently existing provisions of the Code, existing and proposed Treasury regulations, and current administrative rulings and court decisions. There can be no assurance that future legislative, judicial, or administrative changes or interpretations will not adversely affect the accuracy of the tax opinion or of the statements and conclusions set forth herein. Any such changes or interpretations could be applied retroactively and could affect the tax consequences of the merger. THE PRECEDING DISCUSSION IS INTENDED ONLY AS A SUMMARY OF MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER. IT IS NOT A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OR DISCUSSION OF ALL POTENTIAL TAX EFFECTS THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO YOU. THUS, WE URGE FIRST NORTHERN SHAREHOLDERS TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM RESULTING FROM THE MERGER, INCLUDING TAX RETURN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND OTHER APPLICABLE TAX LAWS AND THE EFFECT OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE TAX LAWS. RESALE OF BANK MUTUAL COMMON STOCK All shares of Bank Mutual common stock received by First Northern shareholders in the merger will be freely transferable, except that shares of Bank Mutual common stock received by persons who are deemed to be "affiliates," as the term is defined under the Securities Act, of Bank Mutual or First Northern prior to the Merger may be resold by them only in transactions permitted by the resale provisions of Rule 145 under the Securities Act or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act. 54 56 Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of Bank Mutual or First Northern generally include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by, or are under common control with, the party and may include certain officers and directors of such party as well as principal shareholders of such party. Affiliates of both parties have previously been notified of their status. It is a condition to the obligation of Bank Mutual to complete the merger that Bank Mutual shall have received an affiliate letter from each person who is an affiliate of First Northern. This proxy statement/prospectus does not cover resales of Bank Mutual common stock received by any person who may be deemed to be an affiliate of First Northern or Bank Mutual. ACCOUNTING TREATMENT In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the restructuring will be accounted for using the pooling of interests method and the merger will be accounted for using the purchase method. The result of this is that the recorded assets and liabilities of Mutual Savings will be carried forward at their recorded amounts, the historical operating results will be unchanged for the prior periods being reported on and that the net proceeds from the acquisition of First Northern will be adjusted to fair value at the date of the merger. To the extent that the purchase price, consisting of cash plus the number of shares of Bank Mutual to be issued to former First Northern shareholders at fair value, exceeds the fair value of the net assets of First Northern at the merger date, that amount will be reported as goodwill to be amortized to the consolidated income of Bank Mutual in future periods. Further, the purchase accounting method results in the operating results of First Northern only being included in the consolidated income of Bank Mutual beginning from the date of the merger. NO DISSENTERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL Under Wisconsin law, First Northern shareholders do not have the right to dissent from the merger and to receive payment in cash for the fair value of their shares of First Northern common stock. 55 57 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS This discussion and analysis reflects Mutual Savings' consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. You should read the information in this section in conjunction with Mutual Savings' consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements beginning on page F-1 of this proxy statement/prospectus, and the other statistical data provided elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. GENERAL Mutual Savings' results of operations depend primarily on net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income on interest-earning assets, which for Mutual Savings primarily are loans and mortgage-related and investment securities, and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, which for Mutual Savings primarily are deposits and borrowings. Our results of operations are also affected by our provision for loan losses, non-interest income, and non-interest expense. Non-interest income consists mainly of service fees and charges, gains on sales of loans held for sale and insurance, securities and annuity commissions. Non-interest expense consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, occupancy expenses and other general and administrative expenses, and amortization of intangible assets. Our results of operations may also be affected significantly by general and local economic and competitive conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, government policies, and actions of regulatory authorities. Future changes in applicable law, regulations or government policies may materially impact us. Additionally, our lending activity is concentrated in loans secured by real estate located in Wisconsin and/or to Wisconsin borrowers. Accordingly, our results of operations are affected by regional market and economic conditions. FIRST NORTHERN MERGER Mutual Savings and First Northern have signed an agreement under which Bank Mutual will acquire First Northern Savings. In many respects, both organizations have similar businesses and business philosophies. However, the acquisition will be significant for Bank Mutual. We have highlighted material differences which we have identified in "Certain Effects of the First Northern Merger on Bank Mutual." Please also see the financial information of First Northern identified in "Index to Financial Statements." MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Mutual Savings' operating strategy is to succeed as a well-capitalized, profitable community bank. We seek to accomplish this goal by: - maintaining a community orientation and providing quality customer service; - expanding our market area; - continuing our commitment to residential lending, while diversifying our portfolio; - managing credit risk; - promoting core deposit accounts; - limiting exposure to interest rate risk; and - controlling expenses. First Northern's operating strategy is similar to Mutual Savings' strategy. Although the two banks initially will operate separately after the restructuring, their business philosophies will continue to be complementary. 56 58 MANAGEMENT OF INTEREST RATE RISK Mutual Savings' ability to maintain net interest income depends upon earning a higher yield on assets than the rates we pay on deposits and borrowings. Fluctuations in interest rates will ultimately impact both our level of income and expense recorded on a large portion of our assets and liabilities. Fluctuations in interest rates will also affect the market value of all interest-earning assets, other than those which possess a short term to maturity. We have attempted to reduce our interest rate risk by emphasizing the origination of ARM loans and by selling a majority of our longer-than-15 year fixed rate mortgage loan originations. During the past few years we have retained 15-year fixed rate mortgage loans in our portfolio. It is our opinion that the enhanced yield and cash flows offered by this product offset the amount of interest rate risk that is assumed. For the year ended December 31, 1999, we originated $96.4 million of fixed rate one- to four-family first mortgage loans, or 63.1% of total one-to-four family first mortgage originations, of which $57.4 million were sold with servicing retained. In managing our investment securities, we invested varying amounts up to $250 million in overnight Federal Funds during 1999 which resulted in an average monthly yield ranging from 4.728% to 5.514%. In December of 1999 we purchased $100 million of 7% FNMA 15-year mortgage-backed securities at a yield of 7.003% and in January 2000 we purchased another $100 million of 7% FNMA 15-year mortgage-backed securities at a yield of 7.077%. We have fixed rate investments having a weighted average remaining life of 82 months at June 30, 2000. While these strategies have reduced income, we believe that reducing our exposure to interest rate fluctuations will enhance long-term profitability. For the first six months of 2000, we originated $12.3 million of fixed rate, one-to-four family first mortgage loans, or 22.7% of total one-to-four family first mortgage originations, of which we sold $4.9 million with servicing retained. As interest rates have risen, more borrowers have selected adjustable loans. Interest rate sensitivity is a measure of the difference between amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which either reprice or mature during a given period of time. The difference, or the interest rate sensitivity "gap," provides an indication of the extent to which our interest rate spread will be affected by changes in interest rates. For further information about interest rate repricing, see "Gap Analysis". During 1998 and early 1999, we operated in a low interest rate environment. In that environment we experienced both increased interest rate competition related to loan originations and above-average prepayment rates related to mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities, as borrowers refinanced higher-rate loans. As a result we had to invest our excess liquidity in short term low-yielding investments. This had an adverse impact on our profitability. As interest rates began to rise later in 1999, we began to re-deploy our excess liquidity into higher yielding investments. Due to the nature of our operations, we are not directly subject to foreign currency exchange or commodity price risk. Instead, our real estate loan portfolio, concentrated in Wisconsin, is subject to risks associated with the local economy. We did not engage in any hedging transactions that use derivative instruments (such as interest rate swaps and caps) during 1999 and did not have any such hedging transactions in place at June 30, 2000. In the future, we may, with approval of our board of directors, engage in hedging transactions utilizing derivative instruments. We seek to coordinate asset and liability decisions so that, under changing interest rate scenarios, earnings will remain within an acceptable range. The primary objectives of our interest rate management strategy are to: - maintain earnings and capital within self-imposed parameters over a range of possible interest rate environments; 57 59 - coordinate interest rate risk policies and procedures with other elements of our business plan, all within the context of the current business environment and our capital and liquidity requirements; and - manage interest rate risk in a manner consistent with the approved guidelines and policies set by our board of directors. To achieve the objectives of managing interest rate risk, our Asset/Liability committee meets periodically to discuss and monitor the market interest rate environment and provides reports to the board of directors monthly. This committee is chaired by the President and is comprised of members of Mutual Savings' senior management. Historically, our lending activities have emphasized one- to four-family first and second mortgage loans. Our primary source of funds has been deposits and borrowings, consisting primarily of time deposits and borrowings which have substantially shorter terms to maturity than the loan portfolio. We have employed certain strategies to manage the interest rate risk inherent in the asset/liability mix, including: - emphasizing the origination of adjustable-rate and 15-year fixed rate real estate loans for portfolio, and selling 30-year fixed rate loans; - maintaining a significant level of investment securities and mortgage-related securities with a weighted average life of less than eight years or with interest rates that reprice in less than five years; and - managing deposits and borrowings to provide stable funding. We believe that the frequent repricing of our adjustable-rate real estate loans, the cash flows from our 15-year fixed rate real estate loans, and adjustable rate features and shorter durations of our investment securities, reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Gap Analysis. Repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities may be analyzed by examining the extent to which such assets and liabilities are "interest rate sensitive" and by monitoring a financial institution's interest rate sensitivity "gap." An asset or liability is said to be "interest rate sensitive" within a specific time period if it will mature or reprice within that time period. The interest rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between the amount of interest-bearing assets maturing or repricing within a specific time period and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within that same time period. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a specific time period exceeds the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within that specific time period. A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within a specific time period exceeds the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within the same period. During a period of rising interest rates, a financial institution with a negative gap position would be expected, absent the effects of other factors, to experience a greater increase in the costs of its liabilities relative to the yields of its assets and thus a decrease in the institution's net interest income. An institution with a positive gap position would be expected, absent the effect of other factors, to experience the opposite result. Conversely, during a period of falling interest rates, a negative gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income while a positive gap would tend to reduce net interest income. At June 30, 2000, based on the assumptions below, our interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within one year exceeded our interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within the same period by $345.6 million. This represented a negative cumulative one-year interest rate sensitivity gap of (19.6%), and a ratio of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within one year to interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within one year of 62.0%. The cumulative one-year gap ratio is significantly affected by $200.0 million of long-term FHLB borrowings repricing in May and June 2001. 58 60 The following table presents the amounts of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities outstanding at June 30, 2000, which we anticipate to reprice or mature in each of the future time periods shown. Except as stated below, we determined the amounts of assets and liabilities shown which reprice or mature during a particular period in accordance with the earlier of the term to repricing or the contractual maturity of the asset or liability. The information presented in the following table is also based on the following assumptions: 1. We assumed the following repayment rates applied to outstanding balances applied to the beginning of the period: Mortgage loans: 14.7% Consumer loans: 50.8% Commercial loans: 36.8% 2. Anticipated cash flows for mortgage-related securities were obtained from an independent outside source. 3. We reported federal agency securities with call options, that we believed would be called, at the earlier of the next call date or contractual maturity date. 4. We reported savings, money market accounts and interest-bearing demand accounts that had no stated maturity using decay rates. The decay rates were calculated using an average of the Mutual Savings' most recent 12 months experience. 5. FHLB advances are reported at the earlier of call date or final maturity. However, changes in interest rates could affect the loan and investment prepayment assumptions and deposit decay rates used in our analysis. The repayment assumption used for mortgage loans in (1) above was adjusted from recent history due to the current rise in interest rates. In a rising rate environment, prepayments on mortgage loans slow down significantly as mortgage loan customers retain their low interest rate loans. Deposit decay rates, as reflected in items (4) above, are based on Mutual Savings' recent history. Deposit decay rates, prepayment rates and anticipated call dates can have a significant impact on the estimated interest rate sensitivity gap. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they may not be indicative of actual future deposit decay activity, loan and mortgage-related securities prepayments, and the actual timing of federal agency calls. 59 61 AT JUNE 30, 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THREE TO MORE THAN ONE MORE THAN WITHIN THREE TWELVE YEAR TO THREE THREE YEARS TO OVER MONTHS MONTHS YEARS FIVE YEARS FIVE YEARS TOTAL ------------ --------- ------------- -------------- ---------- ---------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Interest-earning assets: Loans receivable: Mortgage loans: Fixed.................. $ 15,532 $ 44,562 $ 104,028 $ 80,985 $183,635 $ 428,742 Adjustable............. 68,213 133,138 105,155 104,184 33,922 444,612 Other loans............... 62,354 64,638 129,273 -- -- 256,265 Securities: Interest earning deposits............... 42,138 -- -- -- -- 42,138 Non-mortgage.............. 3,543 -- 5,270 19,349 -- 28,162 Mortgage-related fixed.... 14,471 38,748 104,377 89,001 152,072 398,669 Mortgage-related adjustable............. 62,708 -- -- -- -- 62,708 Other interest-earning assets.................... 14,585 -- -- -- -- 14,585 -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- ---------- Total interest-earning assets.......... 283,544 281,086 448,103 293,519 369,629 1,675,881 -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- ---------- Interest-bearing liabilities: Deposits: Interest-bearing NOW accounts............. 893 2,479 5,982 5,231 71,548 86,133 Savings accounts....... 8,597 22,876 44,254 27,446 45,233 148,406 Money market accounts............. 11,762 30,536 61,340 40,252 76,831 220,721 Time deposits.......... 231,946 323,963 219,472 20,970 -- 796,351 Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance................. -- 13,012 -- -- -- 13,012 -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- ---------- Other borrowings............ 64,147 200,000 520 -- -- 264,667 -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- ---------- Total interest-bearing liabilities..... 317,345 592,866 331,568 93,899 193,612 1,529,290 ======== ========= ========= ======== ======== ========== Interest rate sensitivity gap....................... $(33,801) $(311,780) $ 116,535 $199,620 $176,017 $ 146,591 ======== ========= ========= ======== ======== ========== Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap........... $(33,801) $(345,581) $(229,046) $(29,426) $146,591 ======== ========= ========= ======== ======== Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap as a percentage total assets... (1.92)% (19.64)% (13.02)% (1.67)% 8.33% Cumulative interest-earning assets as a percentage of interest bearing liabilities............... 89.35% 62.03% 81.55% 97.80% 109.59% The methods used in the previous table have some shortcomings. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates. Certain assets, such as adjustable-rate loans, have features which limit changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the loan. If interest rates change, prepayment and early withdrawal levels would likely deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the table. Finally, the ability of borrowers to make payments on their adjustable-rate loans may decrease if interest rates increase. 60 62 Present Value of Equity. In addition to the gap analysis table, we also use a simulation model to monitor interest rate risk. This model reports the present value of equity in different interest rate environments, assuming an instantaneous and permanent interest rate shock to all interest rate-sensitive assets and liabilities. The present value of equity is the difference between the present value of expected cash flows of interest rate-sensitive assets and liabilities. The changes in market value of assets and liabilities due to changes in interest rates reflect the interest rate sensitivity of those assets and liabilities as their values are derived from the characteristics of the asset or liability (i.e., fixed rate, adjustable-rate, caps, floors) relative to the current interest rate environment. For example, in a rising interest rate environment the fair market value of a fixed rate asset will decline, whereas the fair market value of an adjustable-rate asset, depending on its repricing characteristics, may not decline. Increases in the market value of assets will increase the present value of equity whereas decreases in market value of assets will decrease the present value of equity. Conversely, increases in the market value of liabilities will decrease the present value of equity whereas decreases in the market value of liabilities will increase the present value of equity. The following table presents the estimated present value of equity over a range of interest rate change scenarios at June 30, 2000. The present value ratio shown in the table is the present value of equity as a percent of the present value of total assets in each of the different rate environments. For purposes of this table, we have made assumptions such as prepayment rates and decay rates similar to those used for the gap analysis table. PRESENT VALUE OF EQUITY AS PERCENT OF PRESENT VALUE OF EQUITY PRESENT VALUE OF ASSETS --------------------------------- ----------------------- CHANGE IN DOLLAR DOLLAR PERCENT PRESENT VALUE PERCENT INTEREST RATES AMOUNT CHANGE CHANGE RATIO CHANGE - -------------- ---------- ---------- ------- ------------- ------- (BASIS POINTS) (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) +200 $179,628 $(35,609) (16.54)% 10.79% (12.77)% +100 199,970 (15,267) (7.09)% 11.75% (5.01)% 0 215,237 -- 0.00% 12.37% 0.00% -100 215,458 221 0.10% 12.14% (1.86)% -200 194,345 (20,892) (9.71)% 10.77% (12.93)% As in the case of the gap analysis table, the methods we used in the previous table have some shortcomings. This type of modeling requires that we make assumptions which may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. For example, we make assumptions regarding the acceleration rate of the prepayment speeds of higher yielding mortgage loans. Prepayments will accelerate in a falling rate environment and the reverse will occur in a rising rate environment. We also assume that decay rates on core deposits will accelerate in a rising rate environment and the reverse in a falling rate environment. The table assumes that we will take no action in response to the changes in interest rates, when in practice rate changes on certain products, such as savings deposits, may lag market changes. In addition, prepayment estimates and other assumptions within the model are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties, and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Accordingly, although the present value of equity model may provide an estimate of our interest rate risk at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in interest rates on our present value of equity. 61 63 ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST INCOME Net interest income represents the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, primarily loans, mortgage-related securities and investment securities, and the expense we pay on interest-bearing liabilities, primarily time deposits and borrowings. Net interest income depends on our volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rates we earned or paid on them. Average Balance Sheet. The following tables present certain information regarding Mutual Savings' financial condition and net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, and the years 1999, 1998 and 1997. The table presents the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated. We derived the yields and costs by dividing income or expense by the average balance of interest-earnings assets or interest-bearing liabilities respectively, for the periods shown. We derived average balances from daily balances over the periods indicated. Interest income includes fees which we considered adjustments to yields. SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2000 1999 -------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- AVERAGE INTEREST AVERAGE INTEREST ACTUAL OUTSTANDING EARNED/ YIELD/ OUTSTANDING EARNED/ YIELD/ BALANCE BALANCE PAID RATE BALANCE PAID RATE ---------- ----------- -------- ------ ----------- -------- ------ (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS: INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS: Loans receivable(1)............................. $1,129,619 $1,110,535 $41,403 7.46% $1,060,985 $39,737 7.49% Mortgage-related securities..................... 461,377 467,792 15,860 6.78% 269,913 8,503 6.30% Investment securities and interest-earning deposits...................................... 70,300 91,831 2,725 5.93% 417,858 9,985 4.78% Federal Home Loan Bank stock.................... 14,585 13,938 494 7.09% 13,537 428 6.32% ---------- ---------- ------- ---- ---------- ------- ---- Total interest-earning assets................. 1,675,881 1,684,096 60,482 7.18% 1,762,293 58,653 6.66% ------- ------- Non-interest-earning assets...................... 83,289 65,069 93,368 Total assets.................................. $1,759,170 $1,749,165 $1,855,661 ========== ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND EQUITY: INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES: Savings deposits................................ $ 148,406 $ 150,204 $ 1,786 2.38% $ 166,484 $ 1,981 2.38% Money market accounts........................... 220,721 226,724 5,656 4.99% 181,965 4,315 4.74% Interest-bearing demand accounts................ 86,133 86,807 452 1.04% 90,097 472 1.05% Time deposits................................... 796,351 804,525 21,845 5.43% 898,492 24,217 5.39% ---------- ---------- ------- ---- ---------- ------- ---- Total deposits................................ 1,251,611 1,268,260 29,739 4.69% 1,337,038 30,985 4.63% Escrows......................................... 13,012 7,369 90 2.44% 7,415 98 2.64% Borrowings...................................... 264,667 246,234 7,232 5.87% 270,800 7,045 5.20% ---------- ---------- ------- ---- ---------- ------- ---- Total interest-bearing liabilities............ 1,529,290 1,521,863 37,061 4.87% 1,615,253 38,128 4.72% ---------- ---------- ------- ---- ---------- ------- ---- NON-INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES Non-interest-bearing deposits................... 49,002 44,292 41,861 Other non-interest-bearing liabilities.......... 13,290 19,095 22,053 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total non-interest-bearing liabilities........ 62,292 63,387 63,914 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total liabilities............................. 1,591,582 1,585,250 1,679,167 Equity.......................................... 167,588 163,915 176,494 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total liabilities and equity.................. $1,759,170 $1,749,165 $1,855,661 ========== ========== ========== Net interest income/net interest rate spread..... $23,421 2.31% $20,525 1.94% ======= ======= Net interest-earning assets/net interest margin.......................................... $ 162,233 2.78% $ 147,040 2.33% ========== ==== ========== ==== Average interest-earnings assets to average interest-bearing liabilities.................... 1.11x 1.09x - ------------------------- (1) Nonaccrual loans were included in their respective categories. 62 64 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1997 ------------------------------- ------------------------------- ------------------------------- INTEREST AVERAGE INTEREST AVERAGE INTEREST AVERAGE AVERAGE EARNED/ YIELD/ AVERAGE EARNED/ YIELD/ AVERAGE EARNED/ YIELD/ BALANCE PAID COST BALANCE PAID COST BALANCE PAID COST ---------- -------- ------- ---------- -------- ------- ---------- -------- ------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS: INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS: Loans receivable(1)........ $1,069,568 $ 79,623 7.44% $1,159,786 $ 90,092 7.77% $1,212,945 $ 93,628 7.72% Mortgage-related securities............... 290,772 18,479 6.36% 238,338 15,664 6.57% 159,259 10,250 6.44% Investment securities and interest-earning deposits................. 383,630 19,294 5.03% 347,115 18,681 5.38% 193,665 10,940 5.65% Federal Home Loan Bank stock.................... 13,537 906 6.69% 15,640 1,033 6.60% 18,206 1,175 6.45% ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- Total interest-earning assets................. 1,757,507 118,302 6.73% 1,760,879 125,470 7.12% 1,584,075 115,993 7.32% Non-interest-earning assets..................... 80,369 89,137 70,376 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total assets............. $1,837,876 $1,850,016 $1,654,451 ========== ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND EQUITY: INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES: Savings deposits........... $ 163,102 $ 3,885 2.38% $ 168,965 $ 4,268 2.53% $ 168,998 $ 4,696 2.78% Money market accounts...... 203,924 9,796 4.80% 141,860 6,571 4.63% 119,283 5,458 4.58% Interest-bearing demand accounts................. 89,139 940 1.05% 90,211 1,070 1.19% 83,127 1,137 1.37% Time deposits.............. 872,824 46,470 5.32% 927,241 53,327 5.75% 863,534 49,626 5.75% ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- Total deposits........... 1,328,989 61,091 4.60% 1,328,277 65,236 4.91% 1,234,942 60,917 4.93% Escrows.................... 12,227 313 2.56% 13,143 344 2.62% 15,674 380 2.42% Borrowings................. 263,400 13,933 5.29% 270,838 14,437 5.33% 191,346 10,897 5.69% ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- Total interest-bearing liabilities............ 1,604,616 75,337 4.70% 1,612,258 80,017 4.96% 1,441,962 72,194 5.01% ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- NON-INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES Non-interest-bearing deposits................. 43,402 39,714 31,969 Other non-interest-bearing liabilities.............. 14,098 28,307 24,260 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total non-interest-bearing liabilities............ 57,500 68,021 56,229 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total liabilities........ 1,662,116 1,680,279 1,498,191 Equity..................... 175,760 169,737 156,260 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total liabilities and equity................. $1,837,876 $1,850,016 $1,654,451 ========== ========== ========== Net interest income/net interest rate spread....... $ 42,965 2.03% $ 45,453 2.16% $ 43,799 2.31% ======== ======== ======== Net interest-earning assets/net interest margin..................... $ 152,891 2.44% $ 148,621 2.58% $ 142,113 2.76% ========== ==== ========== ========== Average interest-earnings assets to average interest-bearing liabilities................ 1.10x 1.09x 1.10x - ------------------------- (1) Nonaccrual loans were included in their respective categories. 63 65 Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table presents the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected our interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated. Information is provided in each category with respect to: (1) changes attributable to changes in volume (change in volume multiplied by prior rate); (2) changes attributable to change in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume); and (3) the net change. The changes attributable to the combined impact of volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate. SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 COMPARED TO 1999 ------------------------------ INCREASE (DECREASE) DUE TO ------------------------------ VOLUME RATE NET --------- ------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS: Loans receivable............................................ $ 1,848 $ (182) $ 1,666 Mortgage-related securities................................. 6,664 693 7,357 Investment securities....................................... (9,229) 1,969 (7,260) Federal Home Loan Bank Stock................................ 13 53 66 -------- ------ ------- Total............................................. (704) 2,533 1,829 -------- ------ ------- INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES: Savings deposits............................................ $ (194) $ (1) $ (195) Money market accounts....................................... 1,107 234 1,341 Interest bearing demand accounts............................ (17) (3) (20) Time deposits............................................... (2,550) 178 (2,372) Escrows..................................................... (1) (7) (8) Borrowings.................................................. (673) 860 187 -------- ------ ------- Total............................................. (2,328) 1,261 (1,067) -------- ------ ------- Net change in net interest income........................... $ 1,624 $1,272 $ 2,896 ======== ====== ======= 64 66 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------------------------- 1999 COMPARED TO 1998 1998 COMPARED TO 1997 ---------------------------- --------------------------- INCREASE (DECREASE) DUE TO INCREASE (DECREASE) DUE TO ---------------------------- --------------------------- VOLUME RATE NET VOLUME RATE NET ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS) INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS: Loans receivable........................ $(6,818) $(3,651) $(10,469) $(4,126) $ 590 $(3,536) Mortgage-related securities............. 3,347 (532) 2,815 5,192 222 5,414 Investment securities................... 1,885 (1,272) 613 8,280 (539) 7,741 Federal Home Loan Bank Stock............ (141) 14 (127) (169) 27 (142) ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- Total......................... (1,727) (5,441) (7,168) 9,177 300 9,477 ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES: Savings deposits........................ (145) (238) (383) (1) (427) (428) Money market accounts................... 2,973 252 3,225 1,045 68 1,113 Interest bearing demand accounts........ (13) (117) (130) 92 (159) (67) Time deposits........................... (3,028) (3,829) (6,857) 3,664 37 3,701 Escrows................................. (23) (8) (31) (65) 29 (36) Borrowings.............................. (394) (110) (504) 4,276 (736) 3,540 ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- Total......................... (630) (4,050) (4,680) 9,011 (1,188) 7,823 ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- Net change in net interest income....... $(1,097) $(1,391) $ (2,488) $ 166 $ 1,488 $ 1,654 ======= ======= ======== ======= ======= ======= COMPARISONS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION At June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 Mutual Savings' total assets decreased $10.3 million, or 0.6% at June 30, 2000 to $1.76 billion from $1.77 billion at December 31, 1999. At June 30, 2000, loans increased $45.2 million, or 4.2%. Investment securities available for sale were stable, showing a slight reduction of $302,000, or 0.5%. Mortgage-related securities increased $87.3 million, or 23.3%, to $461.4 million at June 30, 2000 from $374.1 million at December 31, 1999. The change in loans reflects an increase of $18.5 million in first mortgage loans and an increase of $28.5 million in consumer loans and other loans. Loan originations were supplemented by the purchase of mortgage-related securities. Cash and cash equivalents decreased from $179.0 million to $31.8 million There was a shift of funds from total cash and cash equivalents to higher-yielding loans and securities. Cash was also used to manage the deposit outflow during the six months ended June 30, 2000. The reduction in total assets was the result of a reduction of $42.4 million, or 3.2%, in total deposits to $1.30 billion at June 30, 2000 from $1.34 billion at December 31, 1999. Interest-bearing deposits decreased $48.8 million or 3.8%, to $1.25 billion at June 30, 2000. Non-interest-bearing deposits increased $6.4 million, or 15.0% during the same period. Interest-bearing deposit changes reflect competition from the equity and bond markets, as well as increased competition for funds from traditional financial institutions. Non-interest-bearing deposit changes reflect normal fluctuations in demand type accounts and an increase in retail customer demand deposits at the end of the quarter. FHLB borrowings increased $22.0 million or 9.1% to $264.7 million at June 30, 2000 from $242.7 million at December 31, 1999. The borrowings were used as an alternative funding source. Equity increased $3.8 million, or 2.3%, to $167.6 million at June 30, 2000, from $163.8 million at December 31, 1999. The increase resulted from net income of $6.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000, partially offset by a $2.7 million increase in unrealized loss on securities available for sale, primarily resulting from increasing market interest rates. 65 67 At December 31, 1999 and 1998 Mutual Savings' total assets decreased $103.4 million, or 5.5%, to $1.77 billion at December 31, 1999 from $1.87 billion at December 31, 1998. At December 31, 1999, loans increased $45.2 million, or 4.3%, to $1.08 billion, while investment securities available for sale decreased $58.8 million, or 50.4%, to $57.8 million. Mortgage-related securities available for sale increased $103.2 million, or 38.1%, to $374.1 million at December 31, 1999 from $270.9 million at December 31, 1998. The changes in the first two categories reflect our strategy of diversifying our loan originations to increase our portfolio of home equity, multi-family and commercial real estate and commercial business loans, by utilizing funds generated by maturing investments. Our strategy of reinvesting short term investments into higher yielding mortgage related securities is reflected in the increase in mortgage-related securities and the decrease in cash and cash equivalents by $151.3 million or 45.8%, to $179.0 million. The special $15.6 million write-off of intangible assets also contributed to the reduction in assets. Total deposits decreased by $55.9 million, or 4.0% to $1.343 billion at December 31, 1999, compared with $1.399 billion at December 31, 1998. Total time deposits were $828.1 million at December 31, 1999, a decrease of 10.9% from $929.4 million at December 31, 1998. This runoff is a reflection of our interest rate risk strategy of replacing high cost deposits with lower cost sources of funds when possible. This reduction in time deposits was partially offset by an increase in money market deposits which increased by $71.8 million or 45.0% to $231.2 million at December 31, 1999, compared with $159.4 million at December 31, 1998. Remaining deposits, comprised of savings, interest and non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $26.4 million or 8.5% to $283.7 million at December 31, 1999 from $310.1 million at December 31, 1998. Also, borrowings decreased $28.1 million or 10.4% to $242.7 million at December 31, 1999 from $270.8 million at December 31, 1998. This reduction in borrowings reflects our strategy of managing net interest margin. Equity decreased $11.9 million, or 6.8%, to $163.8 million at December 31, 1999, from $175.7 million at December 31, 1998, primarily due to the $4.5 million net loss for 1999 and a $7.4 million unrealized loss on securities available for sale. COMPARISONS OF OPERATING RESULTS Six Months Ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 General. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2000 was $6.5 million compared with $3.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 1999. The $2.6 million, or 67.5% increase is primarily attributable to a $2.9 million increase in net interest income and a $886,000 decrease in the amortization of intangible assets, which was offset in part by a $1.6 million increase in income taxes. Net Interest Income. Net interest income increased $2.9 million, or 14.1%, to $23.4 million for the first six months of 2000 compared with $20.5 million for the first six months of 1999. On an annualized basis, our net interest spread increased to 2.31% for the six months ended June 30, 2000 from 1.94% for the comparable six months of 1999. Additionally, our annualized net interest margin increased to 2.78% from 2.33%. Interest Income. Total interest income increased $1.8 million, or 3.1% to $60.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with $58.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 1999. Interest on loans increased $1.7 million or 4.2%, to $41.4 million. Interest on investments decreased $7.2 million, or 69.1%, to $3.2 million, and interest on mortgage-related securities increased $7.4 million, or 86.5%, to $15.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with the corresponding prior year period. The average balance of total interest-earning assets decreased $78.2 million or 4.4% to $1.7 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with $1.8 billion for the corresponding period of the prior year. This decrease consisted of a $49.6 million or 4.7% increase in the average balance of loans, a 66 68 $326.0 million, or 78.0% decrease to $91.8 million in the average balance of investment securities and a $197.9 million, or 73.3% increase to $467.8 million in the average balance of mortgage-related investments. These changes reflect our strategy of emphasizing consumer loans and re-deploying excess liquidity into higher earning mortgage-related investments. For the six months ended June 30, 2000, the impact on interest income from the decrease in the average balance of total interest-earning assets was offset by a 52 basis point increase in the annualized average yield on total interest-earning assets to 7.18% compared with 6.66% for the corresponding six months in the prior year. The re-deployment of lower yielding investments into higher earning mortgage-related investments and the increased production of consumer loans resulted in the higher yield of our interest-earning assets for the six months ended June 30, 2000. Interest Expense. Interest expense on deposits decreased $1.2 million, or 4.0%, to $29.7 million for the first six months of 2000 from $31.0 million for the first six months of 1999. Interest on time deposits, which accounted for 73.5% of interest on deposits for the six months ended June 30, 2000, decreased $2.4 million, or 9.8%, to $21.8 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. Interest expense on borrowings increased $187,000, or 2.7%, to $7.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared to $7.0 million for the same period for the prior year. The average balance of total interest-bearing liabilities decreased $93.4 million, or 5.8%, to $1.52 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with $1.62 billion for the corresponding six months of the prior year. We experienced a decrease of $68.8 million to $1.27 billion in the average balance of deposits and a decrease of $24.6 million to $246.2 million in borrowings. The impact on interest expense from the decrease in the average balance of total interest-bearing liabilities was partially offset, however, by a 15 basis point increase in the average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities to 4.87% compared with 4.72% for the first six months of 1999. The annualized average cost of deposits increased six basis points to 4.69% compared with 4.63% for the first six months of 1999, reflecting the rising costs of term deposits. The annualized average cost of borrowings increased 67 basis points to 5.87% for the first six months of 2000, compared with 5.20% for the corresponding period of the prior year. The increased cost of borrowings reflects the upward pricing of our borrowings as a result of the higher interest rate environment. Provision for Loan Losses. Our provision for losses was $236,000 for the first six months of 2000 and $203,000 for the corresponding period of the prior year. The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2000 was $7.1 million, or 319.1% of non-performing loans. Non-performing loans at June 30, 2000 were $2.2 million compared with $5.6 million at June 30, 1999. Future provisions for loan losses will continue to be based upon our assessment of the overall loan portfolio and the underlying collateral, trends in non-performing loans, current economic conditions and other relevant factors in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at adequate levels to provide for estimated future losses. Non-Interest Income. Total non-interest income, consisting of service fees, gain on sale of loans and other income, decreased 0.3%, or $117,000, to $4.02 million for the first six months of 2000 from $3.9 million for the same period of the previous year. The decrease in non-interest income is primarily attributable to a decrease in gain on the sale of loans of $393,000 offset by the receipt of an IRS settlement which had been previously accrued. That settlement included interest of $168,000 which was included in other non-interest income in 2000. Gain on the sale of loans decreased as a result of a lesser demand for longer-term fixed-rate mortgages due to the higher interest rate environment. Deposit and loan fees increased $172,000 or 5.9% to $3.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with $2.9 million for the same period of the previous year. Non-Interest Expense. Total non-interest expense, consisting primarily of salaries and employee benefits, occupancy expense, other operating expenses and amortization of intangible assets, decreased $1.3 million, to $16.7 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with $18.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 1999. Also, deposit insurance premiums decreased by $274,000. This was principally because amortization of intangible assets decreased $886,000 to $469,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with $1.4 million for the comparable six months of 1999. 67 69 Our efficiency ratio, excluding amortization of intangible assets, for the first six months of 2000 was 59.1% compared with 67.9% for the corresponding period in 1999. Our non-interest expense (excluding amortization of intangible assets) to average assets ratio was 1.85% for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1.79% for the six months ended June 30, 1999. Income Taxes. Income tax expense increased $1.6 million, or 67.7%, to $4.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 compared with $2.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 1999, due to an increase in income before tax expense. The effective tax rate was 38.05% and 38.02% for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Years Ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 General. Net loss was $4.5 million for 1999, a decrease of $15.7 million, or 140.2%, compared with net income of $11.2 million for 1998. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $2.5 million decrease in net interest income and a $15.6 million increase in amortization of intangible assets, offset in part by a $2.8 million decrease in income tax expense. We purchased First Federal Bancshares of Eau Claire in 1997 and used the purchase method of accounting in that transaction. Purchase accounting resulted in the creation of goodwill and other intangible assets which we amortize on our financial statements over a period of time. Our amortization of intangible assets increased in 1999 primarily because we accelerated the write off of some of the intangible assets which resulted from our purchase of First Federal. We regularly evaluate our intangible assets to determine whether any special action needs to be taken. As part of that evaluation, we determined the cash flows that we expected in future years from the acquired operations and then calculated the present value of that cash flows. In the case of First Federal, factors such as changes in the market area, the departure of former officers and the composition of the loan portfolio affected our future expectations. When we made this calculation, we determined that the intangible assets from the First Federal acquisition were overvalued by $15.6 million. Therefore, we wrote off that amount against the intangible assets in the fourth quarter of 1999. That write-down, net of a tax benefit of $2.0 million, substantially affected our 1999 results. We do not expect to take special write-downs on a regular basis. For further information, see footnote 2 to Mutual Savings' consolidated financial statements. Net Interest Income. Net interest income for 1999 decreased $2.5 million, or 5.5%, to $43.0 million for 1999 compared with $45.5 million for 1998. Net interest rate spread, the difference between the average yield on the average balance of interest-earning assets and the average cost of the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities, decreased 13 basis points to 2.03% for 1999 from 2.16% for the prior year. Net interest margin, represented by net interest income divided by the average balance of interest-earning assets, decreased 14 basis points to 2.44% for 1999 compared with 2.58% for 1998. These decreases were primarily due to the investment of proceeds from the repayment and sale of mortgage loans in short-term, lower-yielding investments as market rates declined. Interest Income. Total interest income decreased $7.2 million, or 5.7%, to $118.3 million for 1999 compared with $125.5 million for 1998. Interest and fees on loans accounted decreased from $90.1 million for 1998 to $79.6 million for 1999. Interest and dividends on investment securities available for sale increased $486,000, or 2.5%, to $20.2 million for 1999 compared with $19.7 million for 1998. Interest on mortgage-related securities available for sale increased $2.8 million, or 17.8%, to $18.5 million for 1999 compared with $15.7 million for 1998. We experienced a $3.4 million, or 0.2%, decrease in the average balance of total interest-earning assets. However, the mix of our earning assets changed more significantly. The average balance of loans decreased $90.2 million, or 7.8%, to $1.07 billion for 1999 compared with $1.16 billion for 1998. This decrease primarily reflects decreased origination and the large repayments of adjustable rate loans refinanced with 30 year fixed rate loans which were subsequently sold. The average balance of mortgage-related securities increased $52.4 million, or 22.0%, to $290.8 million for 1999 compared with $238.3 million for 1998. The average balance of investment securities increased $36.5 million, or 10.5%, to 68 70 $383.6 million for 1999 compared with $347.1 million for 1998. These increases reflect our continued strategy of using our investments to increase interest income while managing interest rate risk. The primary reason for the decrease in interest income was a 40 basis point decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 6.73% for 1999 from 7.12% for 1998. The average yield on loans decreased 33 basis points to 7.44% for 1999 compared with 7.77% for the prior year. The average yield on mortgage-related securities decreased 21 basis points to 6.36% for 1999 compared with 6.57% for 1998. The average yield on investment securities decreased 35 basis points. to 5.03% for 1999 compared with 5.38% for 1998. The lower interest rate environment along with the relatively flat yield curve that prevailed during 1999 and the end of 1998 resulted in the downward repricing of our interest rate-sensitive assets. In addition, the average yield on our assets was affected by the refinancing of many of our existing loans to fixed rate mortgage loans which were subsequently sold. The proceeds of loan repayments and loan sales were invested in lower-yielding investment securities and mortgage-related securities. Interest Expense. Interest expense on deposits decreased $4.1 million, or 6.3%, to $61.1 million for 1999 compared with $65.2 million for 1998. Interest expense on time deposits decreased $6.9 million, or 12.9% to $46.5 million for 1999, down from $53.3 million for 1998. Interest expense on savings accounts decreased $383,000 or 9.0% to $3.9 million for 1999 compared to $4.3 million for 1998. Interest expense on money market accounts increased $3.2 million or 48.5% to $9.8 million for 1999 compared to $6.6 million for 1998. Interest expense on borrowings decreased $504,000, or 3.5%, to $13.9 million compared to $14.4 million in 1998. The 5.8% overall decrease in interest expense was primarily attributable to a decrease of 26 basis points in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities This decrease reflects a lower interest rate environment and our strategy of funding assets through competitive pricing of our deposit products and allowing higher costing time deposits to run off when adverse market conditions exist. Provision for Loan Losses. During 1999 we provided $350,000 for loan losses, compared to $637,000 for 1998. Net loan charge-offs were approximately $257,000 for 1999, compared to $977,000 in 1998. The allowance for loan losses, which is established through a provision for loan losses charged against income was $6.9 million at both December 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998. Non-interest Income. Non-interest income, consisting of service fees, brokerage commissions, gain on sale of loans and other income, decreased $456,000, or 5.4%, to $8.0 million for 1999 compared with $8.4 million for 1998. Various factors contributed to the change, primarily a $598,000 increase in brokerage commissions, a $648,000 decrease in loan fees and service charges due to decreased loan originations, and a $528,000 decrease in gains on sales of loans due to decreased loan sales. Non-interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $15.8 million, or 44.5%, to $51.3 million during 1999 compared with $35.5 million for the prior year. Amortization of intangible assets made up 98.7% of the increase in non-interest expense. An increase in amortization of intangible assets of $15.6 million, or 578%, to $18.3 million in 1999 compared to $2.7 million in 1998, was a result of the special write-off of intangible assets from the 1997 First Federal acquisition. The remaining increase was $206,000 or 0.6% to $33.0 million in 1999, compared to $32.8 million in 1998 for other non-interest expense items, excluding amortization of intangible assets. Our efficiency ratio was 64.8% for 1999 compared with 60.8% for 1998. The increase in the efficiency ratio reflects lower interest income as a result of our high volume of lower yielding short-term investment securities rather than an increase in operating expenses. The ratio of non-interest expense, excluding amortization of intangible assets, to average assets was 1.79% for 1999 and 1.77% for 1998. Income Taxes. Income tax expense decreased $2.8 million or 42.4% to $3.8 million for 1999 compared to $6.6 million for 1998. Income tax expense in 1999 is significantly impacted by the non-deductibility of a substantial portion of the amortization of intangible assets. Excluding this amortization, our effective tax rate for 1999 was 38.9% compared to 37.1% in 1998. 69 71 Years Ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 General. Net income was $11.2 million for 1998, an increase of $1.0 million, or 9.8%, compared with net income of $10.2 million for 1997. The increase was primarily attributable to a $1.7 million increase in net interest income, a reduction in provision for loan losses of $428,000, and an increase of $2.3 million in total non-interest income offset by an increase in total non-interest expense of $3.4 million. Net Interest Income. Net interest income for 1998 increased $1.7 million, or 3.9%, to $45.5 million compared with $43.8 million for 1997. Net interest income was increased by the full year of earning assets from the purchase of First Federal. However, this increase was offset by a decrease in net interest rate spread by 15 basis points to 2.16% for 1998 from 2.31% for the prior year. Net interest margin decreased 18 basis points to 2.58% for 1998 compared with 2.76% for 1997. This reduction was caused by the investment of proceeds from loan sales and repayments, including significant refinancings into lower- yielding investments. Borrowed funds were utilized in 1998 to enhance net interest income by using the proceeds to invest in mortgage-related securities with a positive spread. This partially offset the negative effect from reduction of the loan portfolio. Interest Income. Total interest income increased $9.5 million, or 8.2%, to $125.5 million for 1998 compared with $116.0 million for 1997. Interest on mortgage-related securities increased 52.4% to $15.7 million for 1998 compared with $10.3 million for 1997. Interest and fees on loans decreased $3.5 million, or 3.7%, to $90.1 million for 1998, compared with $93.6 million for the prior year. Additionally, interest and dividends on investment securities available for sale increased $7.6 million, or 62.8%, to $19.7 million for 1998 from $12.1 million for 1997. The increase in total interest income was primarily due to a $176.8 million, or 11.2%, increase in the average balance of total interest-earning assets to $1.76 billion for 1998 compared with $1.58 billion for 1997. This growth reflects the impact of the purchase of First Federal which occurred in April 1997 and which was accounted for as a purchase. We purchased $539.7 million of loans in the acquisition. Growth in assets was funded by deposit growth and by an increase in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings, both of which were also the result of the purchase of First Federal. The average balance of net loans, however, decreased $53.2 million, or 4.4%, to $1.16 billion for 1998 compared with $1.21 billion for 1997, while the average balance of mortgage-related securities increased $79.1 million, or 49.7%, to $238.3 million for 1998 compared with $159.3 million for 1997. In addition, the average balance of investment securities increased by $153.5 million, or 79.2%, to $347.1 million in 1998 compared with $193.7 million in 1997. In 1998, we experienced a run off in mortgage loans. This was the result of customer loan prepayments. Some ARM loans were refinanced to 30-year fixed rate mortgages. As part of our interest rate risk strategy, these loans were subsequently sold. The average yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 7.12% for 1998 compared with 7.32% for 1997. The average yield on loans increased five basis points, to 7.77% for 1998 from 7.72% for the prior year. The average yield on mortgage-related securities increased 13 basis points to 6.57% for 1998 from 6.44% for 1997. The average yield on investment securities decreased 27 basis points to 5.38% for 1998 from 5.65% for 1997. Interest Expense. Total interest expense increased $7.8 million or 10.8% to $80.0 million in 1998 compared to $72.2 million in 1997. Interest expense on deposits increased $4.3 million, or 7.1%, to $65.2 million for 1998 compared with $60.9 million for 1997. Interest expense on time deposits, which accounted for 81.5% of interest expense on deposits, increased $3.7 million, or 7.5%, to $53.3 million for 1998 from $49.6 million for 1997. Interest expense on savings, money market accounts and interest-bearing demand accounts increased $618,000, or 5.5% to $11.9 million for 1998 compared to $11.3 million for 1998. Interest expense on borrowings increased $3.5 million or 32.1% to $14.4 million in 1998 compared to $10.9 million in 1997. The overall increase in interest expense on deposits was primarily attributable to an increase of $170.3 million, or 11.8%, in the average balance of total interest-bearing liabilities to $1.6 billion for 1998 compared with $1.4 billion for 1997. The increase reflects a full year of balances resulting from the 70 72 purchase of First Federal in April, 1997. The increase in interest-bearing liabilities occurred in three major areas: money market accounts increased $22.6 million, or 18.9%, to $141.9 million in 1998 compared to $119.3 million in 1997; time deposits increased $63.7 million or 7.4% to $927.2 million in 1998 compared with $863.5 million in 1997; and Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings increased $79.5 million, or 41.5% to $270.8 in 1998 compared to $191.3 for 1997. The average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 4.96% for 1998 compared with 5.01% for 1997. Provision For Loan Losses. During 1998 and 1997, we provided $637,000 and $1.1 million, respectively, for loan losses. Net loan charge-offs were $1.0 million for 1998 and $240,000 for 1997. This resulted in the allowance for loan losses decreasing $340,000, or 4.7%, to $6.9 million at December 31, 1998, from $7.2 million at December 31, 1997. The decrease in the provision reflects the lower level of non-performing loans in 1998 as compared to 1997. The reduction in total allowances was more than offset by the reduction in the loan portfolio. Therefore, at December 31, 1998, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 0.66% compared with 0.57% at December 31, 1997. The allowance for loan losses was 101.9% of non-performing loans at December 31, 1998, compared with 68.7% at December 31, 1997. Non-Interest Income. Total non-interest income for 1998 was $8.4 million, an increase of $2.3 million, or 35.5%, from $6.2 million for 1997. The overall increase is partially due to 1998 including a full year of income resulting from the purchase of First Federal compared to 1997, which included nine months of income from the purchase. We experienced a 9.0% increase in fees on deposit accounts to $2.6 million in 1998 compared with $2.4 million in 1997. Brokerage commissions increased $244,000, or 24.8%, increasing to $1.2 million for 1998 compared to $1.0 million in 1997. Loan fees and service charges increased $889,000, or 115.0% to $1.7 million in 1998 compared with $773,000 in 1997. Gain on sale of loans, due to increase volume in loan sales, increased $539,000, or 110.9%, to $1.0 million in 1998 compared with $486,000 in 1997. Other income increased $391,000 or 42.2% to $1.3 million in 1998 compared to $927,000 in 1997. Non-Interest Expense. Total non-interest expense increased $3.4 million, or 10.6%, to $35.5 million during 1998 compared with $32.1 million for the prior year. The overall increase is partially due to 1998 including a full year of expenses resulting from the purchase of First Federal compared to 1997 which included 9 months of expense. Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.3 million, or 8.5%, to $16.6 million for 1998 compared with $15.3 million for 1997. Net occupancy expense increased $292,000 or 5.5% to $5.6 million in 1998 compared with $5.3 million in 1997. Other operating expense increased $1.2 million or 23.5% to $6.3 million in 1998 compared with $5.1 million in 1997. Amortization of intangible assets constituted 23.5% of the $3.4 million increase in non-interest expense. The amortization of intangible assets related to the First Federal acquisition was recorded for nine months during 1997 and for the full year in 1998. Amortization amounted to $2.7 million in 1998 compared with $1.9 million in 1997. The ratio of non-interest expense to average assets, excluding amortization of intangible assets, was 1.77% for 1998 and 1.82% for 1997. Our efficiency ratio, which excludes amortization of intangible assets, was 60.8% for 1998 compared with 60.3% for 1997. Income Taxes. Income tax expense decreased $38,000, or 0.6%, to $6.58 million for 1998 compared with $6.62 million for 1997, resulting in effective tax rates of 37.1% and 39.4% for 1998 and 1997, respectively. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The term "liquidity" refers to our ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to fund loan originations, loan purchases, deposit withdrawals and operating expenses. Our primary sources of funds are deposits, scheduled amortization and prepayments of loan principal and mortgage-related securities, maturities and calls of investment securities, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank (the "FHLB") of Chicago and funds provided by our operations. 71 73 Loan repayments and maturing investment securities are a relatively predictable source of funds. However, deposit flows, calls of investment securities and prepayments of loans and mortgage-related securities are strongly influenced by interest rates, general and local economic conditions and competition in the marketplace. These factors reduce the predictability of the timing of these sources of funds. Our primary investing activities are the origination and purchase of one-to four-family real estate loans, multi-family and commercial real estate loans, home equity loans, other consumer loans, commercial business loans, the purchase of mortgage-related securities, and to a lesser extent, the purchase of investment securities. During 1999 we originated and purchased loans of approximately $374.9 million and during 1998 we originated and purchased loans of approximately $428.3 million. Purchases of mortgage-related securities were $213.5 million for 1999 and $119.5 million for 1998, while purchases of investment securities were $21.5 million for 1999 and $381.9 million for 1998. In the first six months of 2000, we originated and purchased loans of $169.6 million, and purchased $115.4 million in mortgage-related securities and $19.7 million in investment securities. These investing activities were funded by principal payments on mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities, calls and maturities on investment securities, borrowings and funds provided by our operating activities. Principal repayments on loans and mortgage-related securities totaled $350.7 million during 1999, compared to $587.0 million during 1998. Maturities and calls of investment securities totaled $65.0 million during 1999 and $429.3 million during 1998. Sales of loans and mortgage-related securities provided cash flows of $111.1 million during 1999 and $116.8 million during 1998. At June 30, 2000, Mutual Savings had outstanding loan commitments to borrowers of approximately $27.8 million, unused commercial lines of credit of approximately $1.5 million and available home equity and overdraft lines of credit of approximately $70.0 million. There were no outstanding commitments to purchase securities at June 30, 2000. Total deposits decreased $42.4 million in the first six months of 2000, decreased $55.9 million during 1999 and increased $36.5 million during 1998. Deposit flows are affected by the level of interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by competitors and other factors. Time deposit accounts scheduled to mature within one year were $539.2 million at June 30, 2000. We are committed to maintaining a strong liquidity position; therefore, we monitor our liquidity position on a daily basis. We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds to meet current funding commitments. At June 30, 2000, we exceeded each of the applicable regulatory capital requirements. Our leverage (tier 1) capital was $164.5 million, or 9.37%, at June 30, 2000. In order to be classified as "well-capitalized" by the FDIC we were required to have leverage (tier 1) capital of 5.00%. To be classified as a well-capitalized bank by the FDIC, we must also have a risk-based total capital ratio of 10.00%. At June 30, 2000, we had a risk-based total capital ratio of 18.69%. See "Regulation -- Mutual Savings Federal Regulation Prior to Restructuring -- Capital Requirements" for a discussion of the regulatory capital requirements applicable to Mutual Savings and see "Regulatory Capital Compliance" for information regarding the impact of the offering on our capital position. It is anticipated that the restructuring and First Northern merger transactions will result in a decrease in the capital of both Mutual Savings and First Northern: See "Capitalization." Following the transactions, however, the banks are expected to satisfy the FDIC criteria to be categorized as "well-capitalized." We do not anticipate any material capital expenditures, nor do we have any balloon or other payments due on any long-term obligations or any off-balance sheet items other than the commitments and unused lines of credit noted above. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Under SFAS No. 123, an entity may elect to recognize stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the awards, or they may elect to account for stock-based compensation under APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." If an entity elects to account for stock-based compensation under APB No. 25, it is not required to recognize expense 72 74 based on the fair value of the awards. However, the entity must disclose in the financial statements the effects of SFAS No. 123, as if the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 were adopted. Currently, Mutual Savings does not provide stock-based compensation to its employees. Upon completion of the restructuring, subject to shareholder approval, we will establish certain stock-based compensation plans. If established, we have evaluated the alternatives available under the provisions of SFAS No. 123 and currently expect that we will not adopt the recognition provisions of the statement, but will provide the required footnote disclosures. Therefore, we do not expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 123 will have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. In February 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." This statement established standards for computing and presenting earnings per share (EPS) and applies to entities with publicly held common stock or potential common stock. SFAS No. 128 simplifies the standards for computing EPS previously found in APB Opinion No. 15, "Earnings Per Share," and makes them more comparable with international EPS standards. Mutual Savings, as a mutual savings bank, does not have common stock authorized, issued or outstanding and we do not calculate or present EPS. Upon completion of the restructuring, we will calculate and present EPS in accordance with SFAS No. 128. In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. It requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value. SFAS No. 133, as amended, is effective for all quarters of those years beginning after June 15, 2000. This statement may not be applied retroactively to financial statements of prior periods. As Mutual Savings does not utilize derivatives, we do not expect that our adoption of SFAS No. 133 will have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES The financial statements and accompanying notes of Mutual Savings have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). GAAP generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than do the effects of inflation. BUSINESS OF MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK GENERAL Mutual Savings is a community oriented financial institution which emphasizes traditional financial services to individuals and businesses within its market areas. Our principal business is attracting retail deposits from the general public and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from other operations, in residential mortgage loans, consumer loans, commercial real estate loans, and commercial business loans. We also invest in various mortgage-related securities and investment securities. The principal lending is on one-to four-family, owner-occupied homes, home equity loans and lines of credit, consumer loans, multi-family and commercial real estate loans, and commercial business loans. Mutual Savings' revenues are derived principally from interest on our loans and mortgage-related securities, interest and dividends on our investment securities, and commissions on non-interest income (including loan servicing fees, deposit servicing fees, gains on sales of loans held for sale and insurance, 73 75 securities and annuity sales). Our primary sources of funds are deposits, borrowings, scheduled amortization and prepayments of loan principal and mortgage-related securities, maturities and calls of investment securities and funds provided by operations. Mutual Savings and First Northern have signed an agreement under which Bank Mutual will acquire First Northern Savings. In many respects, both organizations have similar businesses and business philosophies. However, the acquisition will be significant for Bank Mutual. We have highlighted material differences which have been identified by the parties in "Certain Effects of the First Northern Merger on Bank Mutual." Please also see the financial information of First Northern identified in "Index to Financial Statements." MARKET AREA Mutual Savings conducts its operations from 50 banking offices located in 21 counties throughout most of the state of Wisconsin, and one office in Minnesota. At June 30, 1999 Mutual Savings had a 1.73% share of all Wisconsin bank, savings bank and savings association deposits. The counties in which Mutual Savings operates include 57% of the population of the state, which provides us with access to a large base of potential customers. The markets in which Mutual Savings operates vary, which provides diversity of opportunities for Mutual Savings. As a result of the First Northern merger, we will significantly expand our presence. Together, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings will then have 69 banking offices located in 28 counties in Wisconsin, in addition to the Minnesota office. At June 30, 1999, the combined enterprise would have had a 2.42% share of all Wisconsin bank, savings bank and savings association deposits. Counties in which Bank Mutual subsidiaries will operate will include 66% of the population of the state. On a pro forma basis, at June 30, 2000, Bank Mutual would have been the fifth largest banking organization headquartered in the state of Wisconsin, based on asset size. The largest concentration of Mutual Savings' offices is in the Milwaukee metropolitan area which includes Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. There are 18 offices in this area. The Milwaukee metro area is the largest population and commercial base in Wisconsin, representing approximately 28% of Wisconsin's population. The Milwaukee area has traditionally had an extensive manufacturing economic base, which is diversifying into service and technology based businesses. The Milwaukee metropolitan area grew at an average annual rate of approximately 4.85% in population during the 1990s. Mutual Savings has four offices in the Madison area. Madison is the state capital of Wisconsin and is the second largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin representing approximately 8% of the state's population. Mutual Savings' ten other south central Wisconsin offices are located in smaller cities that have economic concentrations ranging from manufacturing to agriculture. The third largest concentration of Mutual Savings offices is in the northwestern part of the state, largely resulting from the First Federal acquisition in 1997. This part of the state has medium sized to smaller cities and towns. Industry includes medium sized and small business, with a significant agricultural component. The counties in which Mutual Savings' northwest region offices are located hold 8% of the state's population. Mutual Savings' Minnesota office is located near the Wisconsin state border on the eastern edge of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Recently, Mutual Savings targeted the northeastern part of Wisconsin for a larger presence. Mutual Savings believes it will be able to accomplish this growth through the First Northern merger because First Northern Savings' operations are located in this part of the state. First Northern operates 19 offices in eight northeastern counties that make up 12% of the state's population. Mutual Savings currently has a relatively small presence in this area of the state. COMPETITION Mutual Savings faces significant competition both in making loans and attracting deposits. Wisconsin has many banks, savings banks, and savings and loan associations which offer the same types of banking 74 76 products as Mutual Savings. Wisconsin also has an extensive tax-exempt credit union industry, whose expanded powers have resulted in increased competition to financial institutions. Many of Mutual Savings' competitors have greater resources than Mutual Savings does. Similarly, many competitors offer services that Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings do not provide. For example, neither Mutual Savings nor First Northern Savings provide trust or money management services. However, Mutual Savings has an affiliate, Lake Financial and Insurance Services, Inc. that offers securities, annuity and property and casualty insurance services. Most of Mutual Savings' competition for loans traditionally has come from commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions. Increasingly, other types of companies, such as mortgage banking firms, finance companies, insurance companies and other providers of financial services also compete for these products. For deposits, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings have also competed with traditional financial institutions. However, competition for deposits now also includes mutual funds, particularly short-term money market funds, and brokerage firms and insurance companies. The recent increase in electronic commerce now also increases competition from institutions and other entities outside of Wisconsin. LENDING ACTIVITIES Loan Portfolio Composition. Mutual Savings' loan portfolio primarily consists of one-to four-family residential first mortgage loans. To a lesser degree, the loan portfolio includes consumer and other loans, including home equity credit lines and fixed-rate second mortgage loans, multi-family loans, commercial real estate loans, and commercial business loans. At June 30, 2000, our loan portfolio totaled $1.2 billion, of which $895.2 million, or 77.7%, were first mortgage loans. Included in that total were $894.3 million of loans due after one year, of which 51.2% were adjustable rate mortgage or ARM loans and 48.8% were fixed-rate loans with a weighted average remaining maturity of 147 months. The remainder of our loans at June 30, 2000, amounting to $256.3 million, or 22.3% of total loans, consisted of consumer loans ($213.5 million or 18.5%) and commercial business loans ($42.8 million or 3.7%). We originate primarily ARM loans and up to 15 year fully amortizing fixed rate loans for our own portfolio. We also offer longer term fixed rate residential mortgages, most of which are immediately sold into the secondary market. The loans that we originate are subject to federal and state laws and regulations. The interest rates we charge on loans are affected principally by the demand for loans, the supply of money available for lending purposes and the interest rates offered by our competitors. These factors are in turn affected by, among other things, economic conditions, monetary policies of the federal government, including the Federal Reserve Board, legislative tax policies and governmental budgetary matters. 75 77 The following table presents the composition of our loan portfolio in dollar amounts and in percentages of the total portfolio at the dates indicated. AT JUNE 30, AT DECEMBER 31, -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2000 1999 1998 1997 -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT OF OF OF OF AMOUNT TOTAL AMOUNT TOTAL AMOUNT TOTAL AMOUNT TOTAL ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------- ------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) First mortgage loans: One to four-family.............. $ 733,958 63.74% $ 743,993 67.37% $ 742,231 70.56% $ 930,011 73.1% Multi-family.................... 65,105 5.65 53,777 4.87 53,521 5.09 68,811 5.41 Commercial...................... 65,267 5.67 52,375 4.74 40,922 3.89 51,739 4.07 Construction and development.... 30,840 2.68 26,530 2.40 21,939 2.09 24,774 1.95 ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Total first mortgage real estate loans............ $ 895,170 77.74 876,675 79.38 858,613 81.63 1,075,335 84.53 ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Consumer and other loans: Consumer loans: Fixed equity.................. 108,811 9.45 89,315 8.09 67,629 6.42 74,196 5.83 Home equity lines of credit... 55,371 4.81 50,618 4.58 45,827 4.36 46,380 3.65 Student....................... 27,698 2.41 28,371 2.57 29,634 2.82 29,425 2.31 Home improvement.............. 12,134 1.05 9,920 0.90 8,373 0.80 8,128 0.64 Other......................... 9,436 0.82 10,028 0.91 12,970 1.23 19,893 1.56 ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Total consumer loans...... 213,450 18.54 188,252 17.05 164,433 15.63 178,022 13.99 ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Commercial business loans....... 42,815 3.72 39,488 3.57 28,839 2.74 18,866 1.48 ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Total consumer and other loans................... 256,265 22.26 227,740 20.62 193,272 18.37 196,888 15.47 ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Total loans receivable.... 1,151,435 100.00% 1,104,415 100.00% 1,051,885 100.00% 1,272,223 100.00% Less: Undisbursed loan proceeds......... 16,368 14,658 7,001 8,788 Deferred fees and discounts....... (5) 14 440 1,158 Allowance for losses.............. 7,085 6,948 6,855 7,195 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total loans receivable, net..................... $1,127,987 $1,082,795 $1,037,589 $1,255,082 ========== ========== ========== ========== Total loans receivable.... $1,151,435 $1,104,415 $1,051,885 $1,272,223 Loans available for sale.......... 1,632 541 27,723 13,397 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total loans receivable and loans available for sale................ $1,153,067 $1,104,956 $1,079,608 $1,285,620 ========== ========== ========== ========== AT DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------- 1996 1995 ------------------ ------------------ PERCENT PERCENT OF OF AMOUNT TOTAL AMOUNT TOTAL -------- ------- -------- ------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) First mortgage loans: One to four-family.............. $577,612 68.39% $566,990 70.1% Multi-family.................... 74,446 8.81 74,024 9.15 Commercial...................... 49,624 5.88 48,390 5.98 Construction and development.... 22,082 2.61 23,496 2.91 -------- ------ -------- ------ Total first mortgage real estate loans............ 723,764 85.69 712,900 88.14 -------- ------ -------- ------ Consumer and other loans: Consumer loans: Fixed equity.................. 40,150 4.74 29,849 3.69 Home equity lines of credit... 33,245 3.94 27,440 3.39 Student....................... 9,428 1.12 9,757 1.21 Home improvement.............. 6,411 0.76 6,039 0.75 Other......................... 6,355 0.75 5,512 0.68 -------- ------ -------- ------ Total consumer loans...... 95,589 11.32 78,597 9.72 -------- ------ -------- ------ Commercial business loans....... 25,231 2.99 17,281 2.14 -------- ------ -------- ------ Total consumer and other loans................... 120,820 14.31 95,878 11.86 -------- ------ -------- ------ Total loans receivable.... 844,584 100.00% 808,778 100.00% Less: Undisbursed loan proceeds......... 14,563 13,271 Deferred fees and discounts....... 969 1,402 Allowance for losses.............. 3,921 3,392 -------- -------- Total loans receivable, net..................... $825,131 $790,713 ======== ======== Total loans receivable.... $844,584 $808,778 Loans available for sale.......... 4,357 2,479 -------- -------- Total loans receivable and loans available for sale................ $848,941 $811,257 ======== ======== At June 30, 2000, our one-to-four family first mortgage loans were pledged as collateral under a blanket pledge to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. As of June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 there were no other significant concentrations of loans such as loans to a number of borrowers engaged in similar activities. Mutual Savings' first mortgage loans, fixed equity, home equity lines of credit and home improvement loans are primarily secured by properties housing one to four families which are generally located in the bank's local lending areas in Wisconsin. 76 78 Loan Maturity. The following table presents the contractual maturity of our loans at June 30, 2000. The table does not include the effect of prepayments or scheduled principal amortization. Prepayments and scheduled principal amortization on first mortgage loans totaled $60.5 million for the first six months of 2000, $179.7 million for fiscal 1999, $389.1 million for fiscal 1998 and $237.1 million for fiscal 1997. AT JUNE 30, 2000 ------------------------------------------ FIRST MORTGAGE CONSUMER AND LOANS OTHER LOANS TOTAL -------------- ------------ ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) AMOUNTS DUE: Within one year..................................... $ 876 $ 24,057 $ 24,933 -------- -------- ---------- After one year One to two years................................. 4,460 16,576 21,036 Two to three years............................... 11,919 19,258 31,177 Three to five years.............................. 17,944 35,609 53,553 Five to ten years................................ 141,978 103,609 245,587 Ten to twenty years.............................. 377,695 57,156 434,851 Over twenty years................................ 340,298 -- 340,298 -------- -------- ---------- Total due after one year.................... 894,294 232,208 1,126,502 -------- -------- ---------- Total loans................................. $895,170 $256,265 1,151,435 ======== ======== LESS: Undisbursed loan proceeds........................... 16,368 Deferred loan fees.................................. (5) Allowance for loan losses........................... 7,085 ---------- Net loans........................................ $1,127,987 ========== The following table presents, as of June 30, 2000, the dollar amount of all loans, due after June 30, 2001, and whether these loans have fixed interest rates or adjustable interest rates. DUE AFTER JUNE 30, 2001 ---------------------------------- FIXED ADJUSTABLE TOTAL -------- ---------- ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) First mortgage loans........................................ $436,399 $457,895 $ 894,294 Consumer and other loans.................................... 119,954 112,254 232,208 -------- -------- ---------- Total loans due after one year.................... $556,353 $570,149 $1,126,502 ======== ======== ========== 77 79 The following table presents our loan originations, purchases, sales and principal payments for the periods indicated. FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------- ------------------------------------ 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ----------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) Balance outstanding at beginning of period............................. $1,104,956 $1,079,608 $1,079,608 $1,285,620 $ 848,941 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ORIGINATIONS First mortgage loans............... 71,545 109,345 171,071 309,606 170,268 Consumer and other loans........... 82,635 72,554 146,837 118,711 96,871 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total originations......... 154,180 181,899 317,908 428,317 267,139 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- PURCHASES One-to four-family first mortgage loans........................... 15,425 45,356 56,943 -- 1,034 Acquisition of First Federal....... -- -- -- -- 539,655 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total purchases............ 15,425 45,355 56,943 -- 540,689 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- LESS: Principal payments: First mortgage loans............ 60,477 108,265 179,673 389,149 237,123 Consumer and other loans........ 54,404 58,953 111,196 120,460 90,856 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total principal payments... 114,881 167,218 290,869 509,609 327,979 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Transfers to foreclosed real estate.......................... 1,673 951 1,773 7,975 178 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Loan sales -- first mortgage loans........................... 4,940 46,680 56,861 116,745 42,992 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance outstanding at end of period.......................... $1,153,067 $1,092,014 $1,104,956 $1,079,608 $1,285,620 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== Residential Mortgage Lending. Our primary lending activity has been the origination of first mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family properties, within our primary lending area, that are owner-occupied. At June 30, 2000, $734.0 million or 63.7% of our gross loan portfolio consisted of loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties. In addition to our loan originations, we have purchased one- to four-family first mortgage loans of $15.4 million in the first six months of 2000 and $56.9 million in the year 1999. Mutual reviews these loans for compliance with its underwriting standards, and generally only invests in loans in the midwestern United States. We offer conventional fixed rate mortgage loans and ARM loans with maturity dates which typically range from 15 to 30 years. Residential mortgage loans generally are underwritten to Federal National Mortgage Association Standards (FNMA) and other agency guidelines. All ARM loans and fixed rate loans with maturities of up to 15 years are held in our portfolio. Fixed rate loans greater than 15 years typically are sold without recourse, servicing retained, into the secondary market. During the past few years we have generally not charged loan origination fees. The interest rates charged on mortgage loan originations at any given date will vary, depending upon conditions in the local and secondary markets. We also originate "jumbo loans" in excess of the FNMA maximum loan amount, which currently is $252,700. Fixed rate jumbo loans generally are sold servicing released without recourse to secondary market purchasers of such loans. ARM jumbo loans are underwritten in accordance with our underwriting guidelines and are retained in our loan portfolio. Mortgage loan originations are solicited from real estate brokers, builders, existing customers, community groups and residents of the local communities located in our primary market area through our loan origination staff. We also advertise our mortgage loan products through local newspapers, periodicals and internal customer communications. 78 80 We currently offer loans that conform to underwriting standards that are based on standards specified by FNMA ("conforming loans") and also originate a limited amount of non-conforming loans for our own portfolio or for sale. Loans may be fixed-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans or adjustable-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans with maturities of up to 30 years. The average size of our one- to four-family mortgage loans originated in 1999 was approximately $94,000, and in the first six months of 2000 was $107,000. The overall average size of our one- to four-family first mortgage loans was approximately $59,000 at June 30, 2000. We are an approved seller/servicer for FNMA and an approved servicer for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). The focus of our loan portfolio is the origination of 30-year ARM loans with interest rates adjustable in one, two, three, or five years. ARM loans typically are adjusted by a maximum of 200 points per adjustment period with a lifetime cap of 12.9%. Monthly payments of principal and interest are adjusted when the interest rate adjusts. We do not offer ARM loans which provide for negative amortization. The initial rates offered on ARM loans fluctuate with general interest rate changes and are determined by secondary market pricing, competitive conditions and our yield requirements. We currently utilize the monthly average yield on United States treasury securities, adjusted to a constant maturity of one year ("constant treasury maturity index") as the index to determine the interest rate payable upon the adjustment date of our ARM loans. Some of the ARM loans are granted with conversion options which provide terms under which the borrower may convert the mortgage loan to a fixed rate mortgage loan for a limited period early in the term of the ARM loan. The terms at which the ARM loan may be converted to a fixed rate loan are established at the date of loan origination and are set at a level allowing us to sell the ARM loan into the secondary market upon conversion. ARM loans may pose credit risks different from the risks inherent in fixed rate loans, primarily because as interest rates rise, the underlying payments from the borrowers rise, thereby increasing the potential for payment default. At the same time, the marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by higher interest rates. In order to minimize the risk associated with ARM loans, borrowers under the one year ARM programs generally are qualified at no less than the maximum adjusted rate at the first adjustment. The volume and types of ARM loans we originate have been affected by the level of market interest rates, competition, consumer preferences and the availability of funds. During the past three years, we experienced a decreased demand for ARM loans, versus fixed rate loans, due to the continued low interest rate environment. Although we will continue to offer ARM loans, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to originate a sufficient volume of ARM loans to increase or maintain the proportion that these loans bear to our total loans. In addition to conventional fixed rate and ARM loans, we are authorized to originate mortgages utilizing various government programs, including programs offered by the Federal Housing Administration, the Federal Veterans Administration, and Guaranteed Rural Housing. We also participate in two state- sponsored mortgage programs operated by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). We originate these state-sponsored loans as an agent and assign them to the agency immediately after closing. Servicing is retained by Mutual on both the WHEDA and WDVA loans. Upon receipt of a completed mortgage loan application from a prospective borrower, a credit report is ordered, income and other information is verified, and if necessary, additional financial information is requested. An appraisal of the real estate to secure the loan is required which must be performed by an independent, certified appraiser approved by the Board of Directors. A title insurance policy is required on all real estate first mortgage loans. Evidence of adequate hazard insurance and flood insurance, if applicable, is required prior to closing. Borrowers are required to make monthly payments to fund principal and interest as well as private mortgage insurance and flood insurance, if applicable. With some exceptions for lower loan-to-value ratio loans, borrowers also generally are required to escrow in advance for real estate taxes and hazard insurance. We make disbursements for these items from the escrow account as the obligations become due. 79 81 In addition to our full documentation loan program, we process some loans as reduced documentation loans. These loans are processed under the FNMA alternative documentation program. We require applicants for reduced documentation loans to complete a FNMA loan application and request income, assets and debt information from the borrower. In addition to obtaining outside vendor credit reports on all borrowers, we also look at other information to ascertain the creditworthiness of the borrower. In most instances, we utilize the FNMA "Desktop Underwriter" automated underwriting process to further reduce the necessary documentation. For example, a simplified appraisal may be used to verify the value of the property. All loans that are process with reduced documentation conform to secondary market standards and are generally salable. Our Underwriting Department reviews all pertinent information prior to making a credit decision to approve or deny an application. All recommendations to deny are reviewed by a designated officer of Mutual prior to the final disposition of the loan application. Our lending policies generally limit the maximum loan-to-value ratio on one- to four-family mortgage loans secured by owner-occupied properties to 95% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price of the property. Loans above 80% loan-to-value ratios are subject to the availability of private mortgage insurance. Coverage is required to reduce our exposure to less than 80% of value. Our originations of residential first mortgage loans amounted to $152.7 million in 1999, $288.5 million in 1998 and $163.5 million in 1997, and $54.4 million in the first six months of 2000. A significant number of our first mortgage loan originations have been the result of refinancing of our existing loans due to the relatively low interest rate levels over the past three years. Total refinancings of our existing first mortgage loans were as follows: PERCENTAGE OF FIRST MORTGAGE LOAN PERIOD AMOUNT ORIGINATIONS - ------ ------ ------------- (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS) Six months ended June 30, 2000.............................. $ 6.0 8.4% Year ended December 31, 1999................................ 49.4 28.9 Year ended December 31, 1998................................ 178.4 57.6 Year ended December 31, 1997................................ 57.3 33.6 In addition to our standard mortgage and consumer credit products, we have developed mortgage programs designed to specifically address the credit needs of low- to moderate-income home mortgage applicants and first-time home buyers. Among the features of the low- to moderate-income home mortgage and first-time home buyer's programs are reduced rates, lower down payments, reduced fees and closing costs, and generally less restrictive requirements for qualification compared with our traditional one- to four-family mortgage loans. For instance, certain of these programs currently provide for loans with up to 97% loan-to-value ratios and rates which are lower than our traditional mortgage loans. Consumer Loans. We have been expanding our consumer loan portfolio because higher yields can be obtained, there is strong consumer demand for such products, and we have experienced relatively low delinquency and few losses on such products. In addition, we believe that offering consumer loan products helps to expand and create stronger ties to our existing customer base by increasing the number of customer relationships and providing cross-marketing opportunities. At June 30, 2000, $213.5 million, or 18.5%, of our gross loan portfolio was in consumer loans. Consumer loan products offered within our market areas include home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, and to a lesser extent, automobile loans, recreational vehicle loans, marine loans, deposit account loans, overdraft protection lines of credit, unsecured consumer loans through the Mastercard and Visa credit card programs (offered through Elan Financial Services) and federally guaranteed student loans. Our focus in consumer lending has been the origination of home equity loans, home equity lines of credit and home improvement loans. At June 30, 2000, we had $176.3 million or 82.6% of the consumer loan portfolio in such loans. Underwriting procedures for these loans include a comprehensive review of the 80 82 loan application, and require an acceptable credit rating and verification of the value of the equity in the home and income of the borrower. The loan-to-value ratio and debt ratios to income are determining factors in the underwriting process. Home equity loan and home improvement loan originations are developed through the use of direct mail, cross-sales to existing customers, and advertisements in local newspapers. We originate both fixed rate and variable rate home equity loans and home improvement loans with combined loan-to-value ratios to 100%. Loans above 80% combined loan to value ratios are subject to the availability of private mortgage insurance. Pricing on fixed rate home equity and home improvement loans is reviewed by senior management, and generally terms are in the three to fifteen year range in order to minimize interest rate risk. During the six months ended June 30, 2000 we originated approximately $31.4 million of fixed rate loans. These loans carry a weighted average written term of 8 years and a fixed rate ranging from 7.25% to 11.75%. We also offer variable rate home equity and home improvement loans. At June 30, 2000, $33.7 million or 27.9% of the home equity and home improvement loan portfolio carried a variable rate. The variable rate loans have a fixed rate for three years then adjust annually, with terms of up to twenty years. Our home equity and home improvement loans are originated in amounts which, together with the amount of the first mortgage, do not exceed 100% of the value of the property securing the loan. Our home equity credit line loans, which totaled $55.4 million, or 25.9% of total consumer loans at June 30, 2000, are adjustable-rate loans secured by a first or second mortgage on owner-occupied one to four-family residences located in the state of Wisconsin. Current interest rates on home equity credit lines are tied to the prime rate, adjust monthly and range from 100 to 150 basis points over the prime rate, depending on the loan-to-value ratio. Home equity line of credit loans are made for terms up to 10 years and require a minimum monthly payment of the greater of $100 or 1 1/2% of the month end balance. An annual fee is charged on home equity lines of credit. At June 30, 2000, student loans amounted to $27.7 million, or 13.0% of our consumer loan portfolio. These loans are serviced by Great Lakes Higher Education Servicing Corporation. Consumer loans may entail greater credit risk than residential mortgage loans. At June 30, 2000, $1.0 million or approximately 0.46% of the consumer loan portfolio was 90 days or more delinquent. Although the level of delinquencies in our consumer loan portfolio generally has been low, there can be no assurance that delinquencies will not increase in the future. Multi-family and Commercial Real Estate Loans. At June 30, 2000 our multi-family and commercial real estate loan portfolio consisted of 156 loans totaling $130.4 million or 11.3% of our gross loan portfolio. The multi-family and commercial real estate loan portfolio consist of fixed rate, ARM and balloon loans originated at prevailing market rates. This portfolio generally consists of mortgages secured by apartment buildings, office buildings, warehouses, industrial buildings and retail centers. ARM loans of this type are currently being originated at 175 to 250 basis points above the rate on U.S. Treasury securities for comparable maturities. These loans typically do not exceed 80% of the lesser of the purchase price or an appraisal by an appraiser designated by us. Balloon loans generally are amortized on a 15 to 25 year basis with a typical loan term of three to ten years. Loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate are granted based on the income producing potential of the property and the financial strength of the borrower. The net operating income, which is the income derived from the operation of the property less all operating expenses, must be sufficient to cover the payments relating to the outstanding debt. In most cases, we obtain joint and several personal guarantees from the principals involved. We generally require an assignment of rents or leases in order to be assured that the cash flow from the project will be used to repay the debt. Appraisals on properties securing multi-family and commercial real estate loans are performed by independent state certified fee appraisers approved by the board of directors. Title and hazard insurance are required as well as flood insurance, if applicable. Environmental assessments are performed on all multi-family and commercial real estate loans in excess of $500,000. 81 83 At June 30, 2000, the largest outstanding loan on a multi-family property was $9.0 million on a 128 unit apartment project located in Brookfield, Wisconsin. At the same date, the largest outstanding loan on a commercial real estate property was $6.9 million on two office buildings located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At June 30, 2000, these loans were current and performing in accordance with their terms. Loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate properties are generally larger and involve a greater degree of credit risk than one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. Such loans typically involve large balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. Because payments on loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate properties are often dependent on the successful operation or management of the properties, repayment of such loans may be subject to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy. If the cash flow from the project decreases, or if leases are not obtained or renewed, the borrower's ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Commercial Business Loans. At June 30, 2000, our commercial business loan portfolio consisted of loans totaling $42.8 million or 3.7% of our gross loan portfolio. The commercial loan portfolio consists of loans to businesses for equipment purchases, working capital lines of credit, debt refinancing, SBA loans and domestic stand-by letters of credit. Typically, these loans are secured by business assets and personal guarantees. We offer both variable and fixed rate loans. Approximately 16.0% of the commercial business loans have an interest rate adjusted monthly based on the prevailing prime rate. Term loans are generally amortized over a three to seven year period. Fixed rates are priced at a margin over the yield on US Treasury issues with maturities that correspond to the maturities of the notes. All lines of credit and term loans with balances over $500,000 are reviewed annually. The largest commercial business loan at June 30, 2000 had an outstanding balance of $16.9 million and was secured by equipment and chattel paper. All payments under commercial business loans were current as of June 30, 2000. Loan Approval Authority. For one- to four- family residential loans sold into the secondary market, our underwriters are authorized by the board of directors to approve loans processed through the FNMA "Desktop Underwriter" automated underwriting system up to $252,700. For one-to four-family residential loans held in portfolio, our underwriters are authorized by the board of directors to approve loans processed through the FNMA "Desktop Underwriter" automated underwriting system up to $150,000, provided the loan-to-value ratio is 75% of less and the loan meets other specific underwriting criteria. All other loans in excess of $80,000 must be approved by a senior officer. Consumer loan underwriters have individual loan approval authorities ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. Loan applications exceeding $50,000 must be approved by a senior officer. All home equity loans where the loan-to-value ratio exceeds 80% and/or where the normal underwriting standards are not met must be approved by a senior officer. The executive committee of the board of directors reviews on a monthly basis all loans made, and the board ratifies actions taken by the committee. Multi-family and commercial loan proposals and multi-family and commercial construction loan proposals are subject to approval of the executive committee of the board. All loan decisions are subject to ratification by the board at their monthly meetings. Any commercial business loan less than $50,000 may be approved by the department head or a senior officer, and any two of those individuals may approve loans in the amount of $50,000 to $100,000. All commercial business loans in the amount of $100,000 or more are approved by the executive committee of the board of directors and ratified by the board at their next meeting. Asset Quality One of our key operating objectives has been and continues to be to maintain a high level of asset quality. Through a variety of strategies, including, but not limited to, borrower workout arrangements and aggressive marketing of owned properties, we have been proactive in addressing problem and non-performing assets. These strategies, as well as our emphasis on quality mortgage underwriting, our maintenance of sound credit standards for new loan originations and relatively favorable economic and real 82 84 estate market conditions have resulted in historically low delinquency ratios and, in recent years, a reduction in non-performing assets. These factors have helped strengthen our financial condition. Delinquent Loans and Foreclosed Assets. When a borrower fails to make required payments on a loan, we take a number of steps to induce the borrower to cure the delinquency and restore the loan to a current status. In the case of one-to-four family mortgage loans, our mortgage servicing department is responsible for collection procedures from the 15th day of delinquency through the completion of foreclosure. Specific procedures include a late charge notice being sent at the time a payment is over 15 days past due with a second notice (in the form of a billing coupon) being sent before the payment becomes 30 days past due. Once the account is 30 days past due, we attempt telephone contact with the borrower. Letters are sent if contact has not been established by the 45th day of delinquency. On the 60th day of delinquency, attempts at telephone contact continue and stronger letters, including foreclosure notices, are sent. If telephone contact cannot be made, we send our property inspector to the property. When contact is made with the borrower, we attempt to obtain full payment or work out a repayment schedule to avoid foreclosure. All properties are inspected prior to foreclosure approval. Most borrowers pay before the deadline given and it is not necessary to start foreclosure action. If it is, action starts when the loan is between the 90th and 120th day of delinquency. We normally seek the shortest redemption period possible. If we obtain the property at the foreclosure sale, we hold the properties as real estate owned. They are marketed after an outside appraisal is obtained and any PMI claims are filed. The collection procedures and guidelines as outlined by Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Administration (VA), Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) are followed. The collection procedures for consumer loans, excluding student loans, include our sending periodic late notices to a borrower once a loan is 15 days past due. We attempt to make direct contact with a borrower once a loan becomes 30 days past due. Supervisory personnel in our Consumer Loan Collection Department review loans 60 days or more delinquent on a regular basis. If collection activity is unsuccessful after 90 days, we may charge-off a loan or refer the matter to our legal counsel for further collection effort. Loans we deem to be uncollectible are proposed for chargeoff by our Collection Department. Charge-offs of consumer loans require the approval of our Consumer Loan Manager and a senior officer. All student loans are serviced by Great Lakes Higher Education Servicing Corporation which guarantees their servicing to comply with all Department of Education Guidelines. Our student loan portfolio is guaranteed by the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, which is reinsured by the U.S. Department of Education. The collection procedures for multi-family, commercial real estate and commercial business loans include sending periodic late notices to a borrower once a loan is past due. We attempt to make direct contact with a borrower once a loan becomes 15 days past due. The manager of multi-family and commercial real estate reviews loans 15 days or more delinquent on a regular basis. The commercial banking manager reviews loans 10 days or more delinquent on a regular basis. If collection activity is unsuccessful, we may refer the matter to our legal counsel for further collection effort. After 90 days or sooner, loans we deem to be uncollectible are proposed for repossession or foreclosure and charge-off. This action requires the approval of our board of directors. Our policies require that management continuously monitor the status of the loan portfolio and report to the board of directors on a monthly basis. These reports include information on delinquent loans and 83 85 foreclosed real estate. The following table presents information regarding loans delinquent for 60 days or longer (Dollars in thousands): JUNE 30, 2000 JUNE 30, 1999 ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- ------------------ PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL NO. OF BALANCE NO. OF BALANCE NO. OF BALANCE NO. OF BALANCE LOANS OF LOANS LOANS OF LOANS LOANS OF LOANS LOANS OF LOANS -------- --------- -------- --------- -------- --------- ------ --------- One- to four-family first mortgages..... 14 $ 814 20 $ 873 21 $1,042 40 $3,351 Other first mortgages................... -- -- 5 303 -- -- 2 352 Consumer and other loans................ 106 646 247 1,007 127 462 221 1,072 -------- ------ -------- ------ -------- ------ --- ------ Total delinquent loans.............. 120 $1,460 272 $2,183 148 $1,504 263 $4,775 ======== ====== ======== ====== ======== ====== === ====== Delinquent loans to total loans......... 0.13% 0.19% 0.14% 0.44% DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL NO. OF BALANCE NO. OF BALANCE NO. OF BALANCE NO. OF BALANCE LOANS OF LOANS LOANS OF LOANS LOANS OF LOANS LOANS OF LOANS ------ --------- ------ --------- ------ --------- ------ --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) One- to four-family first mortgages..... 19 $ 691 42 $3,542 37 $1,589 96 $5,860 Other first mortgages........... -- -- 6 680 -- -- 1 73 Consumer and other loans............... 112 495 215 969 121 660 221 881 ---- ------ --- ------ --- ------ --- ------ Total delinquent loans........... 131 $1,186 263 $5,191 158 $2,249 318 $6,814 ==== ====== === ====== === ====== === ====== Delinquent loans to total loans......... 0.11% 0.47% 0.21% 0.63% DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------- 1997 --------------------------------------- 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE ------------------ ------------------ PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL NO. OF BALANCE NO. OF BALANCE LOANS OF LOANS LOANS OF LOANS ------ --------- ------ --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) One- to four-family first mortgages..... 31 $1,427 70 $ 4,880 Other first mortgages........... -- -- 2 3,965 Consumer and other loans............... 146 707 297 1,469 --- ------ --- ------- Total delinquent loans........... 177 $2,134 369 $10,314 === ====== === ======= Delinquent loans to total loans......... 0.17% 0.80% Our $2.2 million in loans delinquent 90 days or more at June 30, 2000 were comprised primarily of 20 one- to four-family first mortgage loans (including FHA/VA first mortgage loans) with an average principal balance of approximately $44,000 and 247 consumer and other loans with an average balance of $4,000. The largest non-performing asset at June 30, 2000 was a high-rise condominium in Bloomington, Minnesota. The property is carried as foreclosed real estate in the amount of $1.4 million. First Federal originally made a construction and development loan on the building which contains forty-nine residential units and three commercial units. Mutual Savings obtained title to the property in 1998. As of June 30, 2000, twelve residential units remained to be sold. Mutual Savings does not anticipate further loss. Non-performing assets totaled $5.2 million at June 30, 2000, and $7.8 million at December 31, 1999, compared with $10.2 million at December 31, 1998. The following table presents information regarding non-accrual mortgage and consumer and other loans, accruing loans delinquent 90 days or more, and foreclosed real estate as of the dates indicated. AT AT DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, -------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 --------- ------ ------- ------- ------ ------ (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Non-accrual first mortgage loans...... $1,214 $3,372 $ 2,793 $ 8,936 $2,149 $ 624 Non-accrual consumer and other loans............................... 277 283 320 732 94 31 Accruing loans delinquent 90 days or more................................ 729 1,152 3,617 813 158 128 ------ ------ ------- ------- ------ ------ Total non-performing loans..................... 2,220 4,807 6,730 10,481 2,401 783 Foreclosed real estate, net........... 2,977 3,018 3,505 159 258 333 ------ ------ ------- ------- ------ ------ Total non-performing assets.................... $5,197 $7,825 $10,235 $10,640 $2,659 $1,116 ====== ====== ======= ======= ====== ====== Non-performing loans to total loans... 0.20% 0.44% 0.65% 0.84% 0.29% 0.10% Non-performing assets to total assets.............................. 0.30 0.44 0.55 0.58 0.23 0.09 84 86 Included in non-accrual first mortgage loans at December 31, 1997 are loans with a carrying value of $5.2 million which were considered to be impaired and which resulted from the acquisition of First Federal. There was no specific reserve related to these, or any other, loans at that date or at any date presented. There are no loans which were considered to be impaired at June 30, 2000 or December 31, 1999, 1998, 1996 or 1995. The average balance of impaired loans was $3.9 million and $5.0 million in the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively, and $0 for all other periods presented. No interest income was recognized on any loan while in an impaired state. At June 30, 2000, there were $971,323 of loans to borrowers where available information causes management to have serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms and would indicate that such loans were likely to be included as non-accrual, past due or impaired (as defined in SFAS No. 114). However, no loss is anticipated at this time. Mutual Savings has not had restructured loans at the dates presented. With the exception of first mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by the FHA, VA or Guaranteed Rural Housing (formerly FmHA), we stop accruing income on loans when interest or principal payments are greater than 90 days in arrears or earlier when the timely collectibility of such interest or principal is doubtful. We designate loans on which we stop accruing income as non-accrual loans and we reverse outstanding interest that we previously credited to income. We may recognize income in the period that we collect it when the ultimate collectibility of principal is no longer in doubt. We return a non-accrual loan to accrual status when factors indicating doubtful collection no longer exist. Mutual Savings had $1.5 million and $3.7 million of non-accrual loans at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999, respectively. Interest income that would have been recognized had such loans been performing in accordance with their contractual terms totaled approximately $161,000 and $245,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and the year ended December 31, 1999, respectively. A total of approximately $8,000 and $102,000 interest income was actually recorded on such loans in the six months ended June 30, 2000 and the year ended December 31, 1999. All commercial real estate loans which are greater than 90 days past due are considered to be impaired. Impaired loans are individually assessed to determine whether a loan's carrying value is in excess of the fair value of the collateral or the present value of the loan's cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. At June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and 1998, we had no loans classified as impaired as defined in SFAS No. 114. Foreclosed real estate consists of property we acquired through foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure. Foreclosed real estate properties are initially recorded at the lower of the recorded investment in the loan or fair value. Thereafter, we carry foreclosed real estate at fair value less estimated selling costs. Foreclosed real estate is inspected periodically. Additional outside appraisals are obtained if we consider that appropriate. Additional write-downs may occur if the property value deteriorates. These additional write-downs are charged directly to current operations. 85 87 Allowance for Loan Losses. The following table presents the activity in our allowance for loan losses at or for the periods indicated. AT, OR FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED, AT OR FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, ---------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 ---------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Balance at beginning of period........ $ 6,948 $ 6,855 $ 7,195 $3,921 $ 3,392 $ 2,942 ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Provision for loan losses............. 236 350 637 1065 672 597 Other additions: purchase of First Federal............................. -- -- -- 2449 -- -- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Charge-offs: First mortgage loans................ 36 152 997 624 80 109 Consumer and other loans............ 78 189 223 127 77 51 ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Total charge-offs................. 114 341 1220 751 157 160 Recoveries: First mortgage loans................ 0 (40) (206) (479) -- -- Consumer and other loans............ (15) (44) (37) (32) (14) (13) ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Total recoveries.................. (15) (84) (243) (511) (14) (13) ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Net charge-offs..................... 99 257 977 240 143 147 ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Balance at end of period.............. $ 7,085 $ 6,948 $ 6,855 $7,195 $ 3,921 $ 3,392 ======= ======= ======= ====== ======= ======= Net charge-offs to average loans...... 0.01% 0.02% 0.08% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% Allowance for loan losses to total loans............................... 0.63 0.64 0.66 0.57 0.48 0.43 Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans................ 319.14 144.54 101.86 68.65 163.31 433.21 The allowance for loan losses has been determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, under which we are required to maintain adequate allowances for loan losses. We are responsible for the timely and periodic determination of the amount of the allowance required. We believe that our allowance for loan losses is adequate to cover specifically identifiable loan losses, as well as estimated losses inherent in our portfolio for which certain losses are probable but not specifically identifiable. Loan loss allowances are reviewed monthly. General allowances are maintained by the following categories for performing loans to provide for unidentified inherent losses in the portfolios: - One-to-four family - Consumer - Multi-family and commercial real estate - Commercial business Allowance goals have been established by an internal risk evaluation by loan category. Various factors are taken into consideration, including: historical loss experience, economic factors and other factors, that, in management's judgment would affect the collectibility of the portfolio as of the evaluation date. Shortfalls in loan loss allowance are charged against operations as provision for loan losses, to maintain reserves at the desired levels. The appropriateness of the allowance is reviewed by senior management on a monthly basis based upon its evaluation of then-existing economic and business conditions affecting the key lending areas of Mutual Savings. Other outside factors such as credit quality trends, collateral values, loan volumes and concentrations, specific industry conditions within portfolio segments and recent loss experience in particular segments of the portfolio that existed as of the balance sheet date and the impact that such conditions were believed to have had on the collectibility of the loan are also considered. Our board of 86 88 directors also reviews the loan loss allowances compared to the relative size of the portfolio on a monthly basis. Delinquent and Non-performing loans. One-to-four family loans delinquent more than 90 days, multi-family and commercial real estate loans more than 60 days, consumer loans more than 90 days and commercial business loans more than 60 days are reviewed and analyzed by senior officers on an individual basis. Any potential loss is charged against reserves by establishing a corresponding specific reserve for that loan from the general reserve. In such an event, the loan is then reduced by the amount of the specific reserve and a corresponding amount is charged off to the allowance for losses on loans. By following careful underwriting guidelines, Mutual Savings has historically maintained low levels of non-performing loans to total loans. Our ratio of non-performing loans to total loans at December 31, 1995 was 0.10%. It increased after the acquisition of First Federal to a level of 0.84% at December 31, 1997. However, at December 31, 1999 the level dropped to 0.44%, and dropped further to 0.20% at June 30, 2000. We believe the primary risks inherent in our portfolio are possible increases in interest rates, a possible decline in the economy, generally, and a possible decline in real estate market values. Any one or a combination of these events may adversely affect our loan portfolio resulting in increased delinquencies and loan losses. Accordingly, and because of the increased concentration of consumer loans, we have taken steps to increase our level of loan loss allowances over the last 5 years. At June 30, 2000, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was .63% compared with 0.43% at December 31, 1995. Furthermore, the increase in the allowance for loan losses each year from 1995 to 1999 reflects our strategy of resolving non-performing loans while providing adequate allowances for inherent losses in the portfolio and identifying potential losses in a timely manner, as well as providing an adequate allowance to reflect changes in the components of the portfolio during that period. Although we believe that we have established and maintained the allowance for loan losses at adequate levels, future additions may be necessary if economic and other conditions in the future differ substantially from the current operating environment. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our loan and foreclosed real estate portfolios and the related allowance for loan losses and valuation allowance for foreclosed real estate. One or more of these agencies, specifically the FDIC or the OTS, may require us to increase the allowance for loan losses or the valuation allowance for foreclosed real estate based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination, thereby adversely affecting our results of operations. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Comparison of Operating Results for the six months ended June 30, 2000, and the Years ended 87 89 December 31, 1999 and 1998 -- Provision for Loan Losses." The following tables represent our allocation of allowance for loan losses by loan category on the dates indicated: AT JUNE 30, 2000 ------------------- PERCENTAGE OF LOANS IN CATEGORY TO TOTAL LOAN CATEGORY AMOUNT LOANS - ------------- ------ ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) First mortgage loans One-to four-family........................................ $4,624 63.74% Other..................................................... 900 14.00% ------ ------ Total first mortgage loans........................ 5,524 77.74% Commercial.................................................. 554 3.72% Home equity lines........................................... 277 4.81% Consumer & other............................................ 730 13.73% Unallocated................................................. -- 0.00% ------ ------ Total allowance for loan losses................... $7,085 100.00% ====== ====== AT DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1997 1996 -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE OF OF OF OF LOANS IN LOANS IN LOANS IN LOANS IN CATEGORY CATEGORY CATEGORY CATEGORY TO TOTAL TO TOTAL TO TOTAL TO TOTAL LOAN CATEGORY AMOUNT LOANS AMOUNT LOANS AMOUNT LOANS AMOUNT LOANS - ------------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) First mortgage loans One-to four-family...... $4,736 67.37% $5,189 70.56% $4,978 73.10% $2,644 68.39% Other................... 822 12.01% 596 11.07% 1,198 11.43% 595 17.30% ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ Total first mortgage loans........... 5,558 79.38% 5,785 81.63% 6,176 84.53% 3,239 85.69% Commercial................ 520 3.57% 402 2.74% 283 1.48% 252 2.99% Home equity lines......... 253 4.58% 229 4.36% 231 3.65% 166 3.94% Consumer & other.......... 617 12.47% 439 11.27% 505 10.34% 264 7.38% Unallocated............... -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ Total allowance for loan losses.......... $6,948 100.00% $6,855 100.00% $7,195 100.00% $3,921 100.00% ======= ====== ======= ====== ======= ====== ======= ====== AT DECEMBER 31, -------------------- 1995 -------------------- PERCENTAGE OF LOANS IN CATEGORY TO TOTAL LOAN CATEGORY AMOUNT LOANS - ------------- ------- ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) First mortgage loans One-to four-family...... $2,346 70.10% Other................... 530 18.04% ------- ------ Total first mortgage loans........... 2,876 88.14% Commercial................ 173 2.14% Home equity lines......... 137 3.39% Consumer & other.......... 206 6.33% Unallocated............... -- 0.00% ------- ------ Total allowance for loan losses.......... $3,392 100.00% ======= ====== INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES Investment Securities. The board of directors reviews and approves our investment policy on an annual basis. Senior officers, as authorized by the board of directors, implement this policy. The board of directors reviews our investment activity on a monthly basis. Our investment objectives are to meet legal liquidity requirements, generate a favorable return on investments without undue compromise to our other objectives as stated in the business plan and establish acceptable levels of interest rate risk, credit risk and investment portfolio concentrations. Wisconsin chartered savings banks have authority to invest in various types of assets, including U.S. Treasury obligations, securities of various federal agencies, State and Municipal obligations, mortgage-related securities, mortgage derivative securities, certain time deposits of insured banks and savings institutions, certain bankers' acceptances, repurchase agreements, loans of federal funds, and, subject to certain limits, corporate debt and equity securities, commercial paper and mutual funds. Our investment policy allows participation in hedging strategies or the use of financial futures, options or forward commitments or interest rate swaps but only with prior approval of the board of directors and 88 90 the State of Wisconsin, Department of Financial Institutions. We did not have any such hedging transactions in place at June 30, 2000. Our investment policy prohibits the purchase of non-investment grade bonds. Our investment policy also provides that we will not engage in any practice that the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council considers to be an unsuitable investment practice. In addition, the policy provides that we shall attempt to maintain primary liquidity consisting of investments in cash, cash in banks, federal funds purchased and securities with remaining maturities of less than six months in an amount equal to 4.0% of average daily deposits. At June 30, 2000, our primary liquidity ratio was 4.04%. For information regarding the carrying values, yields and maturities of our investment securities and mortgage-related securities, see "-- Carrying Values, Yields and Maturities." We classify securities as trading, held to maturity, or available for sale at the date of purchase. We currently do not have any held to maturity securities, but if we did, they would be reported at cost, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount. Available for sale securities are reported at fair market value. We currently have no securities classified as trading. Mortgage-related Securities. Most of our mortgage-related securities are directly or indirectly insured or guaranteed by GNMA, FHLMC or FNMA. The rest of the securities are private collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO's). Private collateralized mortgage obligations carry higher credit risks and higher yields than collateralized mortgage obligations insured or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. Government. We classify our entire mortgage-related securities portfolio as available for sale. At June 30, 2000, mortgage-related securities available for sale totaled $461.4 million, or 26.2% of total assets. At June 30, 2000, the mortgage-related securities portfolio had a weighted average yield of 6.79%. Of the mortgage-related securities we held at June 30, 2000, $398.7 million, or 86.4%, had fixed rates and $62.7 million, or 13.6%, had adjustable-rates. Mortgage-related securities at June 30, 2000 included real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs), which are securities derived by reallocating cash flows from mortgage pass-through securities or from pools of mortgage loans held by a trust. REMICS are a form of, and are often referred to as CMO's. Our REMICs have fixed and variable coupon rates ranging from 5.25% to 8.09% and a weighted average yield of 6.76% at June 30, 2000. At June 30, 2000, REMICs and CMOs totaled $135.0 million, which constituted 29.2% of the mortgage-related securities portfolio, or 7.7% of total assets. Our REMICs had an expected average life of 8.7 years at June 30, 2000. For a further discussion of our investment policies, including those for mortgage-related securities, see "-- Investment Securities." Purchases of mortgage-related securities may decline in the future to offset any significant increase in demand for one-to four-family mortgage loans and other loans. Mortgage-related securities generally yield less than the loans that underlie such securities because of the cost of payment guarantees or credit enhancements that reduce credit risk. However, mortgage-related securities are more liquid than individual mortgage loans. In general, mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA, FHLMC and FNMA are weighted at no more than 20% for risk-based capital purposes, compared to the 50% risk weighting assigned to most non-securitized residential mortgage loans. While mortgage-related securities carry a reduced credit risk as compared to whole loans, they remain subject to the risk of a fluctuating interest rate environment. Along with other factors, such as the geographic distribution of the underlying mortgage loans, changes in interest rates may alter the prepayment rate of those mortgage loans and affect both the prepayment rates and value of mortgage-related securities. 89 91 The following table presents our investment securities and mortgage-related securities activities for the periods indicated. FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------- -------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ----------- ----------- -------- --------- --------- (IN THOUSANDS) INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Carrying value at beginning of period.............................. $ 57,763 $116,534 $116,534 $ 159,208 $ 159,513 -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- Purchases............................. 19,675 20,728 21,481 381,899 376,634 Acquisition of First Federal.......... -- -- -- 36,457 Calls................................. -- (5,000) (50,393) (5,015) Transfer from mutual funds to CMO..... -- (14,047) (14,047) -- -- Maturities............................ (20,000) (60,070) (65,000) (378,944) (409,346) Sales................................. -- -- -- -- -- Premium amortization and discount accretion, net...................... (57) (72) (182) 4,629 246 Decrease (increase) in unrealized gains............................... 80 (525) (1,023) 135 719 -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- Net decrease in investment securities.......................... (302) (58,986) (58,771) (42,674) (305) -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- Carrying value at end of period....... $ 57,461 $ 57,548 $ 57,763 $ 116,534 $ 159,208 ======== ======== ======== ========= ========= MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Carrying value at beginning of period.............................. $374,100 $270,897 $270,897 $ 225,906 $ 90,452 -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- Purchases............................. 115,412 34,123 213,504 119,548 72,071 Transfer from mutual funds to CMO..... -- 14,047 14,047 -- -- Acquisition of First Federal.......... -- -- -- -- 124,940 Sales................................. -- -- (53,682) -- (3,822) Principal payments.................... (23,765) (35,602) (60,367) (77,407) (59,514) Premium amortization and discount accretion, net...................... 232 90 262 613 74 Decrease (increase) in unrealized gains............................... (4,602) (5,768) (10,561) 2,237 1,705 -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- Net increase in mortgage-related securities.......................... 87,277 6,890 103,203 44,991 135,454 -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- Carrying value at end of period....... $461,377 $277,787 $374,100 $ 270,897 $ 225,906 ======== ======== ======== ========= ========= 90 92 The following table presents the composition of our money market investments, investment securities and mortgage-related securities portfolios at the dates indicated. It also presents the coupon type for the mortgage-related securities portfolio. For all securities and for all periods presented, the carrying value is equal to fair value. AT AT DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, ------------------------------------ 2000 1999 1998 1997 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- CARRYING/ CARRYING/ CARRYING/ CARRYING/ FAIR VALUE FAIR VALUE FAIR VALUE FAIR VALUE ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) MONEY MARKET INVESTMENTS Interest-earning deposits........................ $ 12,839 $132,592 $262,714 $ 41,305 Federal funds sold............................... -- 25,000 45,000 15,000 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total money market investments........... $ 12,839 $157,592 $307,714 $ 56,305 ======== ======== ======== ======== INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE Mutual funds..................................... $ 29,299 $ 28,537 $ 40,885 $ 39,888 United States government and agencies............ 28,162 29,175 75,421 118,598 Asset-backed securities.......................... -- 51 228 722 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total investment securities available for sale................................... $ 57,461 $ 57,763 $116,534 $159,208 ======== ======== ======== ======== MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE BY ISSUER: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation........... $ 65,004 $ 70,216 $ 43,717 $ 29,073 Federal National Mortgage Association............ 379,403 285,384 194,353 136,510 Private placement CMO's.......................... 16,472 17,927 31,994 59,118 Government National Mortgage Association......... 498 573 833 1,205 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total mortgage-related securities........ $461,377 $374,100 $270,897 $225,906 ======== ======== ======== ======== BY COUPON TYPE: Adjustable-rate.................................. $ 62,708 $ 59,506 $ 51,877 $ 51,704 Fixed-rate....................................... 398,669 314,594 219,020 174,202 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total mortgage-related securities........ $461,377 $374,100 $270,897 $225,906 ======== ======== ======== ======== TOTAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO......................... $531,677 $589,455 $695,145 $441,419 ======== ======== ======== ======== 91 93 Carrying Values, Yields and Maturities. The table below presents information regarding the carrying values, weighted average yields and contractual maturities of our investment securities and mortgage-related securities at June 30, 2000. Mortgage-related securities are presented by issuer and by coupon type. AT JUNE 30, 2000 --------------------------------------------------------------- MORE THAN ONE MORE THAN FIVE ONE YEAR OR LESS YEAR TO FIVE YEARS YEARS TO TEN YEARS ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- WEIGHTED WEIGHTED WEIGHTED CARRYING AVERAGE CARRYING AVERAGE CARRYING AVERAGE VALUE YIELD VALUE YIELD VALUE YIELD -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Mutual funds............. $29,299 6.29% $ -- $ -- --% United States government and agencies........... 3,543 6.41% 24,619 5.97% ------- ------- ------- Total investment securities..... $32,842 6.30% $24,619 5.97% $ -- ======= ======= ======= MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: BY ISSUER: GNMA pass-through certificates......... $ 3 7.85% $ 54 7.61% $ 441 8.19% FNMA pass-through certificates......... -- -- 88 7.62% 6,584 5.88% Private CMOs........... -- -- -- -- 1,588 6.17% FHLMC pass-through certificates......... 2 9.36% 120 8.11% 26 9.22% FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA-REMICs.......... -- -- -- -- 5,046 6.39% ------- ------- ------- Total mortgage- related securities..... $ 5 8.45% $ 262 7.84% $13,685 6.18% ======= ======= ======= BY COUPON TYPE: Adjustable-rate.......... $ -- -- $ -- -- $ 4,782 6.44% Fixed-rate............... 5 8.45% 262 7.84% 8,903 6.04% ------- ------- ------- Total mortgage- related securities..... $ 5 8.45% $ 262 7.84% $13,685 6.18% ======= ======= ======= Total investment and mortgage-related securities portfolio... $32,847 6.30% $24,881 5.99% $13,685 6.18% ======= ======= ======= AT JUNE 30, 2000 ----------------------------------------- MORE THAN TEN YEARS TOTAL ------------------- ------------------- WEIGHTED WEIGHTED CARRYING AVERAGE CARRYING AVERAGE VALUE YIELD VALUE YIELD -------- -------- -------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Mutual funds............. $ -- --% $ 29,299 6.29% United States government and agencies........... 28,162 6.03% -------- -------- Total investment securities..... $ -- $ 57,461 6.16% ======== ======== MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: BY ISSUER: GNMA pass-through certificates......... $ -- -- $ 498 8.13% FNMA pass-through certificates......... 307,306 6.86% 313,978 6.84% Private CMOs........... 14,884 6.93% 16,472 6.86% FHLMC pass-through certificates......... 11,760 6.29% 11,908 6.32% FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA-REMICs.......... 113,475 6.72% 118,521 6.70% -------- -------- Total mortgage- related securities..... $447,425 6.81% $461,377 6.79% ======== ======== BY COUPON TYPE: Adjustable-rate.......... $ 57,926 7.06% $ 62,708 7.01% Fixed-rate............... 389,499 6.78% 398,669 6.76% -------- -------- Total mortgage- related securities..... $447,425 6.81% $461,377 6.79% ======== ======== Total investment and mortgage-related securities portfolio... $447,425 6.81% $518,838 6.72% ======== ======== SOURCES OF FUNDS General. Deposits, scheduled amortization and prepayments of loan principal and mortgage-related securities, maturities and calls of investments securities, Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings and funds provided by operations are our primary sources of funds for use in lending, investing and for other general purposes. We currently do not use reverse repurchase agreements as sources of funds. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources." Deposits. We offer a variety of deposit accounts having a range of interest rates and terms. We currently offer regular savings deposits (consisting of passbook and statement savings accounts), interest-bearing demand accounts, non-interest-bearing demand accounts, money market accounts and time deposits. We also offer IRA and Keogh time deposit accounts. Deposit flows are influenced significantly by general and local economic conditions, changes in prevailing interest rates, pricing of deposits and competition. Our deposits are primarily obtained from 92 94 areas surrounding our offices and we rely primarily on paying competitive rates, service and long-standing relationships with customers to attract and retain these deposits. We do not use brokers to obtain deposits. When we determine our deposit rates, we consider local competition, U.S. Treasury securities offerings and the rates charged on other sources of funds. Core deposits (defined as regular savings deposits, money market accounts and demand accounts) represented 38.8% of total deposits on June 30, 2000. At June 30, 2000, time deposits with remaining terms to maturity of less than one year amounted to $539.2 million. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Analysis of Net Interest Income" for information relating to the average balances and costs of our deposit accounts for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, and the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997. The following table presents our deposit activity for the periods indicated: FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, ------------------------ 2000 1999 ---------- ---------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Total deposits at beginning of period..................... $1,343,007 $1,398,858 Net withdrawals........................................... (69,556) (39,529) Interest credited, net of penalties....................... 27,162 27,990 ---------- ---------- Total deposits at end of period........................... $1,300,613 $1,387,319 ========== ========== Net increase (decrease)................................... $ (42,394) $ (11,539) ========== ========== Percentage increase (decrease)............................ (3.16)% (0.82)% FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------ 1999 1998 1997 ---------- ---------- ---------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Total deposits at beginning of period............ $1,398,858 $1,362,330 $ 994,283 Net withdrawals.................................. (110,285) (20,851) (62,748) Acquisition of First Federal..................... -- -- 376,700 Interest credited, net of penalties.............. 54,434 57,379 54,095 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total deposits at end of period.................. $1,343,007 $1,398,858 $1,362,330 ========== ========== ========== Net increase (decrease).......................... $ (55,851) $ 36,528 $ 368,047 ========== ========== ========== Percentage increase (decrease)................... (3.99)% 2.68% 37.02% At June 30, 2000, we had $63.8 million in time deposits with balances of $100,000 and over maturing as follows: MATURITY PERIOD AMOUNT - --------------- ------ (IN THOUSANDS) Three months or less........................................ $17,168 Over three months through six months........................ 7,487 Over six months through 12 months........................... 19,532 Over 12 months through 24 months............................ 14,625 Over 24 months through 36 months............................ 4,193 Over 36 months.............................................. 782 ------- Total....................................................... $63,787 ======= 93 95 The following table presents the distribution of our deposit accounts at the dates indicated by dollar amount and percent of portfolio, and the weighted average nominal interest rate on each category of deposits. AT DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------- AT JUNE 30, 2000 1999 1998 -------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------- WEIGHTED WEIGHTED PERCENT AVERAGE PERCENT AVERAGE PERCENT OF TOTAL NOMINAL OF TOTAL NOMINAL OF TOTAL AMOUNT DEPOSITS RATE AMOUNT DEPOSITS RATE AMOUNT DEPOSITS ---------- -------- -------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Savings.......................... $ 148,406 11.41% 2.43% $ 151,447 11.28% 2.41% $ 166,316 11.89% Interest-bearing demand.......... 86,133 6.62% 1.05% 89,685 6.68% 1.05% 100,753 7.20% Money market..................... 220,721 16.97% 5.27% 231,174 17.21% 4.90% 159,361 11.39% Non-interest bearing demand...... 49,002 3.77% 0.00% 42,596 3.17% 0.00% 43,031 3.08% ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Total.................... 504,262 38.77% 3.20% 514,902 38.34% 3.09% 469,461 33.56% ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Certificates: Time deposits with original maturities of: Three months or less......... 60,721 4.67% 5.01% 80,781 6.01% 5.07% 82,097 5.87% Over three months to twelve months..................... 141,737 10.90% 5.07% 198,154 14.76% 4.90% 160,681 11.49% Over twelve months to twenty-four months......... 399,933 30.75% 5.74% 401,053 29.87% 5.37% 517,495 36.99% Over twenty-four months to thirty-six months.......... 128,303 9.86% 6.16% 73,729 5.49% 5.62% 82,755 5.92% Over thirty-six months to forty-eight months......... 4,249 0.33% 5.72% 5,819 0.43% 5.73% 3,973 0.28% Over forty-eight months to sixty months............... 59,109 4.54% 5.88% 66,124 4.92% 5.94% 79,861 5.71% Over sixty months............ 2,299 0.18% 6.36% 2,445 0.18% 6.35% 2,535 0.18% ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Total time deposits...... 796,351 61.23% 5.65% 828,105 61.66% 5.31% 929,397 66.44% ---------- ------ ---------- ------ ---------- ------ Total deposits........... $1,300,613 100.00% 4.70% $1,343,007 100.00% 4.46% $1,398,858 100.00% ========== ====== ========== ====== ========== ====== AT DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------- 1998 1997 -------- -------------------------------- WEIGHTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE PERCENT AVERAGE NOMINAL OF TOTAL NOMINAL RATE AMOUNT DEPOSITS RATE -------- ---------- -------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Savings.......................... 2.41% $ 169,530 12.44% 2.85% Interest-bearing demand.......... 1.05% 95,310 7.00% 1.41% Money market..................... 4.61% 134,451 9.87% 4.64% Non-interest bearing demand...... 0.00% 35,868 2.63% 0.00% ---------- ------ Total.................... 2.64% 435,159 31.94% 2.85% ---------- ------ Certificates: Time deposits with original maturities of: Three months or less......... 5.00% 59,205 4.35% 5.29% Over three months to twelve months..................... 5.17% 204,864 15.04% 5.52% Over twelve months to twenty-four months......... 5.83% 433,152 31.79% 6.01% Over twenty-four months to thirty-six months.......... 5.46% 113,969 8.37% 5.77% Over thirty-six months to forty-eight months......... 5.73% 4,813 0.35% 5.84% Over forty-eight months to sixty months............... 5.98% 107,885 7.92% 5.93% Over sixty months............ 6.34% 3,283 0.24% 6.21% ---------- ------ Total time deposits...... 5.63% 927,171 68.06% 5.82% ---------- ------ Total deposits........... 4.62% $1,362,330 100.00% 4.87% ========== ====== 94 96 The following table presents, by rate category, the amount of our time deposit accounts outstanding at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997. AT AT DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, ------------------------------ 2000 1999 1998 1997 -------- -------- -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) Time deposit accounts: 3.99% or less...................................... $ 118 $ 232 $ 113 $ 366 4.00%-4.99%........................................ 118,794 231,747 79,861 3,909 5.00%-5.99%........................................ 433,073 530,748 590,164 541,854 6.00%-6.99%........................................ 241,541 63,808 257,491 378,791 7.00% or greater................................... 2,825 1,570 1,768 2,251 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total.................................... $796,351 $828,105 $929,397 $927,171 ======== ======== ======== ======== The following table presents, by rate category, the remaining period to maturity of time deposit accounts outstanding as of June 30, 2000. PERIOD TO MATURITY FROM JUNE 30, 2000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OVER SIX OVER ONE OVER TWO WITHIN OVER THREE TO MONTHS TO TWO TO THREE OVER THREE THREE MONTHS SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR YEARS YEARS YEARS TOTAL ------------ ------------- ----------- ---------- -------- ---------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) Time deposit accounts: 3.99% or less........ $ 116 $ -- $ 1 $ 1 $ -- $ -- $ 118 4.00%-4.99%.......... 59,939 31,876 19,534 6,886 383 176 118,794 5.00%-5.99%.......... 135,852 56,568 155,194 55,972 15,429 14,058 433,073 6.00%-6.99%.......... 6,978 4,673 68,443 126,537 30,129 4,781 241,541 7.00% or greater..... 5 -- 14 747 80 1,979 2,825 -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- -------- Total...... $202,890 $ 93,117 $243,186 $190,143 $46,021 $20,994 $796,351 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= ======= ======== Borrowings. We borrow funds to finance our lending and investing activities. Substantially all of our borrowings take the form of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. At June 30, 2000 we had borrowings totaling $31.1 million with maturities of less than one year. We have pledged certain loans receivable as blanket collateral for these advances and future advances. The Federal Home Loan Bank offers a variety of borrowing options with fixed or variable rates, flexible repayment options and fixed or callable terms. We choose the rate, repayment option and term to fit the purpose of the borrowing. OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICES Mutual Savings, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Lake Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., provides investment and insurance services to both Mutual Savings' customers and the general public. Investment services include tax deferred and tax free investments, mutual funds, and government securities. Personal insurance, business insurance, life and disability insurance and mortgage protection products are also offered by Lake Financial. SUBSIDIARY ACTIVITIES In addition to Lake Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., described above, we have two active wholly-owned subsidiaries: Mutual Investment Corporation and M C Development Ltd. Mutual Investment Corporation owns and manages much of our investment portfolio. Mutual Savings has funded this separate subsidiary to enhance the return on the portfolio. M C Development Ltd. is involved in land development and sales. It owns two parcels of undeveloped land consisting of 15 acres in Brown Deer, WI and 318 acres in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. See "Properties." 95 97 PROPERTIES Mutual Savings conducts its business through its executive office and 51 banking offices, which had an aggregate net book value of $24.2 million as of December 31, 1999. The following table shows the location of Mutual Savings' offices, whether they are owned or leased, and the expiration date of the leases for the leased offices. ORIGINAL DATE LEASED LEASED OR OR DATE OF LEASE LOCATION ACQUIRED OWNED EXPIRATION - -------- -------------- ------ ------------- EXECUTIVE OFFICE: 4949 West Brown Deer Road....................... 1991 Owned Brown Deer, WI 53223 MILWAUKEE METRO AREA: Bayshore Mall................................... 1971 Leased 2009 5900 N. Port Washington Road Glendale, WI 53217 Brookfield...................................... 1973* Owned 17100 W. Capitol Drive Brookfield, WI 53005 Brookfield Square............................... 1975 Leased 2006 400 N. Moorland Road Brookfield, WI 53005 Brown Deer...................................... 1979 Owned 4801 W. Brown Deer Road Brown Deer, WI 53223 Capitol Drive................................... 1976 Owned 8050 W. Capitol Drive Milwaukee, WI 53222 Cedarburg....................................... 1978* Leased 2006 W62 N248 Washington Avenue Cedarburg, WI 53012 Downtown........................................ 1955 Owned 510 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 Grafton......................................... 1978 Owned 2030 Wisconsin Avenue Grafton, WI 53024 Howell Avenue................................... 1977 Owned 3847 S. Howell Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53207 Mayfair Mall.................................... 1959* Leased 2001 2500 N. Mayfair Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Mequon.......................................... 1970* Owned 11249 N. Port Washington Road Mequon, WI 53092 Oak Creek....................................... 1972 Owned 8780 S. Howell Avenue Oak Creek, WI 53154 96 98 ORIGINAL DATE LEASED LEASED OR OR DATE OF LEASE LOCATION ACQUIRED OWNED EXPIRATION - -------- -------------- ------ ------------- Oklahoma Avenue................................. 1982 Owned 6801 W. Oklahoma Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53219 Sherman Park.................................... 1950* Owned 4812 W. Burleigh Street Milwaukee, WI 53210 Southgate....................................... 1967 Owned 3340 S. 27th Street Milwaukee, WI 53215 Southridge Mall................................. 1978 Leased 2002 5300 S. 76th Street Greendale, WI 53219 Thiensville..................................... 1960* Owned 208 N. Main Street Thiensville, WI 53092 West Allis...................................... 1976 Owned 10296 W. National Avenue West Allis, WI 53227 MADISON AREA: Downtown........................................ 1980 Leased 2003 23 S. Pinckney Street Madison, WI 53703 West............................................ 1982 Leased 2011 5521 Odana Road Madison, WI 53719 Middleton....................................... 1978 Owned 6209 Century Avenue Middleton, WI 53562 Monona.......................................... 1981 Owned 5320 Monona Drive Monona, WI 53716 FOX VALLEY AREA: Appleton........................................ 1985 Leased 2004 4323 W. Wisconsin Avenue Fox River Mall Appleton, WI 54915 Neenah.......................................... 1974 Owned 101 W. Wisconsin Avenue Neenah, WI 54956 JANESVILLE:....................................... 1973 Owned 2111 Holiday Drive Janesville, WI 53545 SHEBOYGAN AREA: Sheboygan....................................... 1973 Owned 801 N. 8th Street Sheboygan, WI 53081 97 99 ORIGINAL DATE LEASED LEASED OR OR DATE OF LEASE LOCATION ACQUIRED OWNED EXPIRATION - -------- -------------- ------ ------------- Sheboygan Motor Bank.............................. 1984 Owned 730 N. 9th Street Sheboygan, WI 53081 BEAVER DAM:....................................... 1975 Owned 130 W. Maple Avenue Beaver Dam, WI 53916 BELOIT:........................................... 1971 Leased 2012 3 Beloit Mall Shopping Center Beloit, WI 53511 BERLIN:........................................... 1973 Owned 103 E. Huron Street Berlin, WI 54923 FOND DU LAC:...................................... 1973 Leased 2001 Forest Mall Shopping Center Fond du Lac, WI 54935 PORTAGE:.......................................... 1976 Owned 145 E. Cook Street Portage, WI 53901 EAU CLAIRE: Downtown........................................ 1968* Owned 319 E. Grand Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54701 Mall............................................ 1972* Owned 2812 Mall Drive Eau Claire, WI 54701 Cub Foods....................................... 1996* Leased 2005 2717 Birch Street Eau Claire, WI 54703 Pinehurst....................................... 1986* Owned 2722 Eddy Lane Eau Claire, WI 54703 CHIPPEWA FALLS AREA: Downtown........................................ 1975* Owned 35 W. Columbia Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Falls Pick'N Save............................... 1995* Leased 2005 303 Prairie View Road Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 MENOMONIE AREA: Downtown........................................ 1967* Owned 717 Main Street Menomonie, WI 54751 North........................................... 1978* Owned 2409 Hils Ct. N.E Menomonie, WI 54751 98 100 ORIGINAL DATE LEASED LEASED OR OR DATE OF LEASE LOCATION ACQUIRED OWNED EXPIRATION - -------- -------------- ------ ------------- RICE LAKE:........................................ 1979* Owned 2850 Pioneer Avenue Rice Lake, WI 54868 BARRON:........................................... 1995* Owned 1512 E. Division Ave. (Hwy. 8) Barron, WI 54812 BLOOMER:.......................................... 1995* Owned 1203 17th Avenue Bloomer, WI 54724 CORNELL:.......................................... 1980* Leased month 422 Main Street to Cornell, WI 54732 month ELLSWORTH:........................................ 1975* Owned 385 W. Main Street Ellsworth, WI 54011 HAYWARD:.......................................... 1984* Owned 10562 Kansas Avenue Hayward, WI 54843 HUDSON:........................................... 1979* Owned 2000 Crestview Drive Hudson, WI 54016 SPOONER:.......................................... 1995* Owned 500 Front Street Spooner, WI 54801 ST. CROIX FALLS:.................................. 1980* Owned 144 Washington Street N St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 STANLEY:.......................................... 1978* Owned 118 N. Broadway Stanley, WI 54768 WOODBURY, MINNESOTA:.............................. 1995* Owned 8420 City Centre Drive Woodbury, MN 55125 - --------------- * Date originally opened by an acquired institution In addition, Mutual Savings owns two parcels of undeveloped land through its MC Development subsidiary. The 15 acre Brown Deer parcel is comprised of four lots consisting of 2.9 to 4.3 acres and was part of a larger property that was acquired in 1988 to accommodate the construction of a new corporate headquarters building. Each of the lots is available for sale and is designed to accommodate 60,000 to 75,000 square foot office buildings. The net book value of the four lots is $1,590,000. The 318 acre Oconomowoc parcel was held by an acquired institution that obtained it through a foreclosure. It is located in an area of the City of Oconomowoc that has seen considerable residential development. All of the necessary utilities are available to the property and it will be marketed for residential development in a manner that will attempt to maximize its potential value. The parcel has a net book value of $345,000. 99 101 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS Mutual Savings is not involved in any pending legal proceedings other than routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. We believe that these routine legal proceedings, in the aggregate, are immaterial to our financial condition and results of operations. PERSONNEL As of June 30, 2000, Mutual Savings had 483 full-time employees and 107 part-time employees. The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit and we consider our relationship with our employees to be good. MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE Bank Mutual's directors and executive officers initially will be persons who are now directors or executive officers of Mutual Savings or First Northern Savings. We expect that Bank Mutual will continue to have directors and executive officers who have similar positions with Mutual Savings or First Northern Savings unless and until there is a business reason to establish separate management structures. Under Mutual Savings' current form of organization, it is governed by a board of directors which is chosen by its depositors. After the restructuring, Mutual Savings will be governed by a board of directors elected by Bank Mutual as its sole shareholder. In turn, the board of directors of Bank Mutual will be chosen by its shareholders. Because the MHC will then own a majority of the shares of Bank Mutual and because cumulative voting for directors will not be permitted, the MHC will be in a position to elect all of the directors of Bank Mutual. The directors of the MHC will be chosen by the deposits of Mutual Savings. Initially, the board of directors of the MHC will be the same as the board of directors of Bank Mutual. COMPOSITION OF BOARDS OF DIRECTORS Upon the restructuring, Bank Mutual will have a board of directors consisting of eleven directors. Each director will belong to one of three classes, which classes have staggered three-year terms of office. The classes will be as nearly as equal as possible. At each of Bank Mutual's annual meetings of shareholders, shareholders will elect directors to fill the seats of the directors whose terms expire in that year and any other vacant seats. The seven current directors of Mutual Savings will be initial directors of the MHC and Bank Mutual. Under the First Northern merger agreement, Mutual Savings has committed that four of the six directors of First Northern will be elected to Bank Mutual and the MHC Board of Directors. Mutual Savings intends to elect Michael D. Meeuwsen, the CEO of First Northern, as one of these directors; the other three have not yet been chosen but will be designated by Mutual Savings prior to the First Northern merger. MUTUAL SAVINGS' CURRENT DIRECTORS The following table presents the following information: the names of Mutual Savings' directors, all of whom will be initial directors of Bank Mutual and the MHC; their ages on August 15, 2000; their position(s) with Mutual Savings; the years when they began serving as directors of Mutual Savings; and 100 102 when their terms of office as directors of Bank Mutual and the MHC will expire. All of these persons will have begun service as Bank Mutual directors in 2000. MUTUAL BANK SAVINGS MUTUAL DIRECTOR TERM TO NAME AGE POSITION(S) WITH MUTUAL SAVINGS SINCE EXPIRE - ---- --- ------------------------------- -------- ------- Michael T. Crowley, Sr.(1)................ 87 Chairman and Director 1960 2001 Michael T. Crowley, Jr.(1)................ 57 President, CEO and Director 1970 2003 Thomas H. Buestrin........................ 64 Director 1995 2003 Raymond W. Dwyer, Jr. .................... 77 Director 1957 2001 Herbert W. Isermann....................... 83 Director 1982 2002 William J. Mielke......................... 53 Director 1988 2003 David J. Rolfs............................ 78 Director 1984 2002 - --------------- (1) Mr. Crowley, Sr. is the father of Mr. Crowley, Jr. Mutual Savings expects that Michael D. Meeuwsen, First Northern's CEO, will be one of the four First Northern director designees; his term will expire in 2003. Mutual Savings has not yet determined the other three designees. Once these directors are added, Bank Mutual will have 11 directors. OUR DIRECTORS' BACKGROUNDS The business experience of each of Mutual Savings' directors is as follows: Michael T. Crowley, Jr. is the president and chief executive officer of Mutual Savings. He has served in those capacities since 1983 and 1985, respectively. He also serves as a director of various Mutual Savings' subsidiaries. Mr. Crowley, Jr. also is chairman and director of TYME Corporation, an ATM network of which Mutual Savings is a member. Michael T. Crowley, Sr. is chairman of the board and director of Mutual Savings. Thomas H. Buestrin is a real estate investor, property manager and real estate developer with the firm of Buestrin, Allen & Associates Ltd. Mr. Buestrin is president of that firm. Raymond W. Dwyer, Jr. is retired. Prior to his retirement, he was a practicing architect with R.W. Dwyer Architects. William J. Mielke is a civil engineer with the firm Ruekert & Mielke Inc. Mr. Mielke is president and CEO of that firm. Herbert W. Isermann is retired. Prior to his retirement, he served as a vice president of Winding Roofing Company, a roofing contracting firm. David J. Rolfs is retired. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as president of ABCO Dealers Inc., in the health care industry. Michael D. Meeuwsen, age 46, is the president and chief executive officer of First Northern and of First Northern Savings. Under the First Northern merger agreement, Mr. Meeuwsen also will be elected as an additional director of Mutual Savings upon the First Northern merger. Unless we give prior experience, each of these individuals has held the identified current position for at least five years. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES Mutual Savings' board of directors currently meets on a monthly basis and may hold additional special meetings. During 1999, Mutual Savings board held 12 regular meetings. Going forward, Bank 101 103 Mutual expects that its, and the MHC's, board will meet four times a year, with special meetings as needed. The board of directors of Bank Mutual will maintain Executive, Audit and Compensation Committees. The Executive Committee will exercise the powers of the board between its meetings. The Audit Committee will review the annual audit prepared by the independent accountants, recommend the appointment of accountants and receive reports from the internal audit department. It will consist solely of independent directors. The Compensation Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Directors in the areas of employee salaries and benefit programs. It also will consist of independent directors. Committee membership has not yet been determined. The Bank Mutual bylaws provide that the board of directors as a whole will act as the Nominating Committee. As such, the board will consider appropriate nominees for any vacancy on the Bank Mutual board of directors, and shareholders should forward any nominations to the board. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION Meeting Fees. Mutual Savings pays an annual retainer fee to each of its non-management directors. Each of the directors receives a fee for attendance at each board meeting. Each non-management director receives a fee for attendance at each meeting of a committee of which the director is a member. Under an arrangement pre-dating the establishment of the current payment structure, Mr. Dwyer receives a fee for directors' and Executive Committee meetings for each month regardless of attendance. The following table sets forth the retainer and meeting fees in effect for both 2000 and 1999: Annual Retainer:........................................... $10,000 Meeting Fees: Board.................................................... $ 1,000 Executive Committee...................................... $ 700 Audit Committee.......................................... none Advertising Committee.................................... $ 150 Finance Committee........................................ $ 150 Deferred Compensation. Mutual Savings also maintains a deferred compensation plan for each of its non-management directors. Directors who have provided at least five years of service to Mutual Savings will be paid $1,000 per month for 10 years after their retirement from the Mutual Savings' board. All of the existing directors' benefits have vested. In the event a director dies prior to completion of these payments, payments will go to the director's heirs. Mutual Savings has funded these arrangements through "rabbi trust" arrangements, and based on actuarial analyses believes these obligations are adequately funded. Bank Mutual. Going forward, the MHC and Bank Mutual will establish new compensation packages for their directors. It is expected that the boards of both entities will meet on the same day; there will not be duplicate payments for board meetings held on the same day. 102 104 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The following table gives information about each of the executive officers of Mutual Savings and the anticipated executive officers of Bank Mutual and the MHC. AGE AT POSITION WITH POSITION WITH POSITION WITH NAME 8/15/00 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK MUTUAL THE MHC - ---- ------- -------------- ------------- ------------- Michael T. Crowley, Jr......... 57 President and Chief Chairman and Chief President and Chief Executive Officer Executive Officer Executive Officer Michael D. Meeuwsen............ 46 -- President and Chief Executive Vice Operating Officer President and Chief Operating Officer Michael T. Crowley, Sr......... 87 Chairman of the Board -- Chairman Eugene H. Maurer, Jr........... 54 Senior Vice Senior Vice President Senior Vice President, and Secretary President, Secretary Secretary-Treasurer, and CFO and Chief Financial Officer P. Terry Anderegg.............. 50 Senior Vice -- -- President-Retail Banking Christopher Callen............. 57 Senior Vice -- -- President-Lending Rick B. Colberg................ 48 -- Chief Financial -- Officer Marlene M. Scholz.............. 55 Senior Vice Senior Vice President Senior Vice President President-Controller The business experience of each of these executive officers is as follows. Unless we give prior experience, each of these individuals has held the identified current position for at least five years. Michael T. Crowley, Jr. is the president and chief executive officer of Mutual Savings. He has served in those capacities since 1983 and 1985, respectively. He also serves as a director of various Mutual Savings' subsidiaries. Mr. Crowley, Jr. also is chairman and director of TYME Corporation, an ATM network of which Mutual Savings is a member. Michael D. Meeuwsen is the president and chief executive officer of First Northern and of First Northern Savings. Michael T. Crowley, Sr. is chairman of the board and director of Mutual Savings. Eugene H. Maurer, Jr. is the Senior Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of Mutual Savings. In that capacity, he is the principal financial officer of Mutual Savings. Mr. Maurer also serves as an officer of several Mutual Savings' subsidiaries. P. Terry Anderegg is the Senior Vice President-Retail Banking of Mutual Savings. Christopher J. Callen is the Senior Vice President-Lending of Mutual Savings. Prior to assuming that position in 1998, Mr. Callen was a banking executive for Firstar Corporation for many years, and a self-employed consultant of the banking industry from 1996 to 1998. Rick B. Colberg is the Chief Financial Officer of First Northern and First Northern Savings. Marlene M. Scholz is the Senior Vice President-Controller of Mutual Savings. In that capacity, she is Mutual Savings' principal accounting officer. Ms. Scholz also serves as an officer of several Mutual Savings' subsidiaries. 103 105 EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION Summary Compensation Table. The following table provides information about the compensation paid for 1999 to Mutual Savings' chief executive officer and to the four other most highly compensated executive officers whose total annual salary and bonus for 1999 was at least $100,000. ANNUAL COMPENSATION(1) ----------------------------------------- ALL OTHER NAME AND SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($)(2) ($)(3) - ------------------ ---- ------- ------ ------------ Michael T. Crowley, Jr. .................... 1999 573,556 -- 1,600 President and Chief 1998 573,556 16,485 1,600 Executive Officer 1997 547,060 40,408 1,613 Michael T. Crowley, Sr. .................... 1999 238,052 -- 1,280 Chairman 1998 238,052 6,780 1,447 1997 227,052 6,192 1,978 Donald T. Tietz(4).......................... 1999 198,040 -- -- Senior Executive Vice President -- 1998 207,040 -- 25,206 Northwest Region 1997 195,616 -- 38,841 Eugene H. Maurer, Jr........................ 1999 139,465 -- 1,435 Senior Vice President, Secretary/ 1998 133,965 4,018 1,382 Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 1997 128,765 6,235 1,327 P. Terry Anderegg........................... 1999 139,265 -- 1,433 Senior Vice President -- 1998 133,765 4,012 1,362 Retail Banking 1997 128,565 7,468 1,346 - --------------- (1) Mutual Savings provides its executive officers with certain non-cash benefits and perquisites. Management of Mutual Savings believes that the aggregate value of these benefits for 1999 did not, in the case of any executive officer, exceed $50,000 or 10% of the aggregate salary and annual bonus reported for him in the Summary Compensation Table. (2) Reflects payments earned during the year, and paid during the subsequent year, under Mutual Savings' Management Incentive Plan, a non-qualified performance based compensation plan. (3) Includes the following components for 1999: employer contributions to the Mutual Savings Bank Savings and Investment Plan, a qualified retirement plan under section 401(k) of the IRS regulations, -- Mr. Crowley, Jr. $1,600; Mr. Crowley, Sr. $1,280; Mr. Maurer $1,435; and Mr. Anderegg $1,433. Mr. Tietz' prior year's amounts represented employer contributions to the First Federal Bank of Eau Claire, F.S.B. Deferred Compensation Plan, a non-qualified deferred compensation plan. (4) Mr. Tietz retired on March 31, 2000. DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLANS Mutual Savings maintains a qualified defined benefit pension plan that covers substantially all employees who are age 21 or over and who have at least one year of service. Pension benefits are based on the participant's average annual compensation (salary and bonus) and years of credited service. Years of credited service in the qualified defined benefit pension plan begin at date of participation in the plan. Benefits are determined in the form of a ten year certain and life annuity. Designated officers of Mutual Savings also participate in a non-qualified defined benefit pension plan. This non-qualified plan provides monthly supplemental benefits to participants which will be paid out of 104 106 unsecured corporate assets, or the rabbi trust established for this plan. The amount of the non-qualified plan benefit in the form of a ten year certain and life annuity is determined below: - an amount calculated under Mutual Savings' qualified defined benefit pension plan without regard to the limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code on benefit or compensation amounts and without regard to certain limitations on years of service; minus - the pension benefit accrued in the qualified defined benefit pension plan. The following table shows the estimated annual benefits payable in ten year certain and life annuity form for participants retiring on their normal retirement date at age 65 with various combinations of years of service and average annual compensation under the qualified defined benefit plan plus, for those officers eligible to participate, the non-qualified plan. At June 30, 2000, accrued years of service for officers named in the summary compensation table were: Mr. Crowley, Sr. -- 66 years; Mr. Crowley, Jr. -- 32 years; Mr. Maurer -- 18 years; and Mr. Anderegg -- 6 years. Mr. Tietz had been covered by the prior retirement plan of First Federal; accrued benefits under the Mutual Savings plan were minimal. FINAL YEARS OF SERVICE(1) AVERAGE --------------------------------------------------------------- COMPENSATION 15 20 25 30 35 40 - ------------ -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- $100,000 $ 28,300 $ 37,700 $ 49,700 $ 61,600 $ 73,500 $ 83,600 150,000 44,000 58,600 77,000 95,400 113,800 128,900 200,000 59,600 79,500 104,400 129,300 154,200 174,300 250,000 75,300 100,400 131,800 163,100 194,500 219,600 300,000 91,000 121,300 159,200 197,000 234,800 265,000 350,000 106,700 142,200 186,500 230,800 275,100 310,300 400,000 122,300 163,100 213,900 264,700 315,500 355,700 450,000 138,000 184,000 241,300 298,500 355,800 401,000 500,000 153,700 204,900 268,700 332,400 396,100 446,400 550,000 169,400 225,800 296,000 366,200 436,400 491,700 600,000 185,000 246,700 323,400 400,100 476,800 537,100 650,000 200,700 267,600 350,800 433,900 517,100 582,400 700,000 216,400 288,500 378,200 467,800 557,400 627,800 750,000 232,100 309,400 405,500 501,600 597,700 673,100 - --------------- (1) Years of service in the non-qualified defined benefit pension plan begin at date of hire. As of December 31, 1999, Mr. Crowley, Sr. has more than 66 years of service with Mutual Savings. The amount of his total annual accrued benefit as of December 31, 1999 was approximately $308,000. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS Mutual Savings has employment agreements with Messrs. Crowley Sr. and Jr. and intends to enter into employment agreements with its other executive officers and with two executive officers of Mutual Savings who will not be executive officers of Bank Mutual. The initial terms of the employment agreements will be three years. For Messrs. Crowley, each year the agreement may be extended so that the agreement remains for three years upon agreement of Mr. Crowley and by affirmative action of Mutual Savings' board of directors. For the other executives, the end of the initial three year term and on each anniversary date thereafter, the employment term may be extended for an additional year upon agreement of the executive and by affirmative action taken by Mutual Saving's Board of Directors. Under the employment agreements, each executive officer will be entitled to a base salary which is reviewed annually based upon individual performance and Mutual Saving's financial results, as well as benefits and perquisites, in accordance with Mutual Saving's policies. 105 107 The following table is information as to the initial annual salary amounts for each of the executive officers named above in the compensation table. These amounts may be changed in subsequent years. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ANNUAL SALARY - ------------------ ------------- Michael T. Crowley, Jr. ................................ $595,000 Michael T. Crowley, Sr. ................................ $240,000 Eugene H. Maurer........................................ $145,000 P. Terry Anderegg....................................... $145,000 The employment agreements can be terminated at the election of the executive officer or Mutual Savings at the expiration of the term, at any time for cause, upon the occurrence of certain events specified by federal statute or regulation, or as a result of the executive officer's retirement, disability or death. Each employment agreement can also be voluntarily terminated without cause by the executive officer or Mutual Savings. Each executive officer may also terminate his employment agreement under certain circumstances following a change in control. Upon termination of an executive's employment at their election at the expiration of the term of the employment agreements, the executive is entitled to receive unpaid compensation for the period of employment plus accrued but unused vacation time. Upon termination of employment at the election of Mutual Savings at the expiration of the terms, the executives are entitled to receive the same compensation as if they had voluntarily terminated at the end of the term as well as an amount equal to 100% of their annual base salary at the date of termination and certain benefits for a period of twelve months thereafter. Upon each executive's death or retirement at age 65, the executive or the executive's personal representative will receive his earned but unpaid base salary and incentive compensation prorated to the end of the calendar month in which such termination occurs and compensation for accrued but unused vacation time. If the executive officer terminates employment voluntarily or is terminated by Mutual Savings for cause, the executive shall not be entitled to any compensation or benefits for any period after the date of termination. If during the term Mutual Savings terminates an executive officer without cause or the employment agreement is terminated by the executive officer for cause, the executive would be entitled to receive 100% of base salary at the time of termination through the end of a severance period. If the termination occurs within the initial three year term of employment, the severance period will be through the end of the initial three year term of employment, but not less than one year, and if the termination shall occur after the expiration of the initial three year term, the severance period will be one year. In the case of Messrs. Crowley, the period is extended to 12 months beyond the current term of employment, but not more than 36 months. Also, the executive officer would continue to receive certain insurance and other benefits until twelve months after the end of the term of employment. Mutual Savings must also pay to each executive officer an additional lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the product of Mutual Savings' annual aggregate contributions for the benefit of the executive officer to all qualified retirement plans in the year preceding termination and the number of years in the severance period. Under each employment agreement, the executive officer may also terminate employment following a change in control of Mutual Savings, as defined in the employment agreements under certain circumstances, including a reduction in compensation or responsibilities. Upon any such termination as a result of a change in control, each executive officer has a right to receive payments and benefits as if a termination by Mutual Savings without cause had occurred. However, under no circumstances may the aggregate amount of all severance payments and termination benefits, computed on a present value basis, exceed an amount which would cause the payments to be characterized as parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. That section generally defines parachute payments to include any severance payments and termination benefits which, on a present value basis, equal or exceed three times the executive officer's average annual total compensation over a five-year period immediately preceding the change in control. 106 108 OTHER COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS Crowley Sr. Deferred Compensation Agreement. Mutual Savings has had a deferred compensation arrangement with Mr. Crowley, Sr. for over 20 years under which Mutual Savings agreed to defer a portion of Mr. Crowley's compensation in exchange for compensation payments at the later date. The exact provisions have been modified from time to time, most recently in a 1998 agreement. To fund this obligation, Mutual Savings purchased a life insurance policy on the life of Mr. Crowley, Sr. The policy is now fully paid. Upon Mr. Crowley, Sr.'s retirement, he will receive a life income in monthly installments, with a minimum of 240 monthly installments. The monthly installments will be equal to the amount that would be payable to Mutual Savings under the life insurance policy if Mutual Savings were to exercise a settlement option under the policy for monthly life income, with a 240 month period certain, with payments commencing as of the date of Mr. Crowley's retirement. If Mr. Crowley were to die before retirement or receipt of 240 certain monthly payments, the amounts otherwise payable to him will be paid in equal shares to his two children (including Mr. Crowley, Jr.) or to their survivors. Under certain circumstances, Mutual Savings may elect to make a lump sum or other type of payment to Mr. Crowley or his heirs. Those payments would be based upon other forms of payment which may be available under the life insurance policy. BENEFIT PLANS Employee Stock Ownership Plan. This plan is a tax-qualified plan that covers substantially all salaried employees who have at least one year of service and have attained age 21 and will take effect at the completion of the restructuring. Bank Mutual intends to lend this plan enough money to purchase 8% of the Bank Mutual shares issued to persons other than the MHC. The plan may purchase all or part of these shares from Bank Mutual to the extent that shares are available after filling the subscriptions of eligible account holders. Alternatively, the plan may purchase all or part of these shares in private transactions or on the open market after completion of the restructuring to the extent that shares are available for purchase on reasonable terms. We have not determined whether that purchase would be made directly from Bank Mutual in the offering, or after completion of the restructuring. We expect to make that determination immediately before the expiration date for submitting orders in the offering. For this reason, we cannot assure you that the employee stock ownership plan will purchase shares in the offering after the restructuring, or that such purchases will occur during any particular time period or at any particular price. Although contributions to this plan will be discretionary, Mutual intends to contribute enough money each year to make the required principal and interest payments on the loan from Bank Mutual. It is expected that this loan will be for a term of ten years and will call for level annual payments of principal. It is anticipated that payments will be made quarterly and will include interest at the prime rate. The plan will initially pledge the shares it purchases as collateral for the loan and hold them in a suspense account. The plan will not distribute the pledged shares immediately. Instead, it will release a portion of the pledged shares annually. Assuming we complete the restructuring before December 31, 2000, if the plan repays its loan as scheduled over a 10-year term, we expect that 2.5% of the shares will be released in 2000, 10% of the shares will be released annually in 2001 through 2009, and the remaining 7.5% of the shares will be released in 2010. The plan will allocate the shares released each year among the accounts of participants in proportion to their base salary for the year. For example, if a participant's base salary for a year represents 1% of the total base salaries of all participants for the year, the plan would allocate to that participant 1% of the shares released for the year. Participants will direct the voting of shares allocated to their individual accounts. Shares in the suspense account will usually be voted in a way that mirrors the votes which participants cast for shares in their individual accounts. 107 109 This plan may purchase additional shares in the future, and may do so using borrowed funds, cash dividends, periodic employer contributions or other cash flow. Restoration Plan. Mutual Savings is also implementing a "restoration plan" to compensate selected executive officers for any benefits under the ESOP and the Mutual Savings Bank Savings and Investment Plan which they are unable to receive because of limitations under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") on contributions and benefits. The Code limits the salary deferrals that an employee may contribute to the Savings Plan and also restricts the amount of tax-qualified plan benefits that can be received by plan participants. The restoration plan will permit eligible officers to defer compensation which they are unable to contribute to the Savings Plan because of the Internal Revenue Code limits. In addition, the restoration plan will provide benefits for eligible officers based upon the allocations they would have received in the ESOP and Savings Plan in the absence of the Code limitations. Under the Code, only the first $170,000 of compensation may be considered in determining benefits under tax-qualified plans (subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments). For example, under the ESOP, only the first $170,000 of earnings are considered in determining ESOP benefits. Under the restoration plan, an executive officer would receive an amount equal to the benefit that the officer would have received under the ESOP in the absence of the compensation limit. Therefore, if an executive officer had total compensation of $250,000, the officer would receive an award equal to the average allocation percentage under the ESOP for the $80,000 of compensation in excess of the Code limit. Payments under the restoration plan would be made in cash. The are tax deductible by the employer, but are included in the taxable compensation of the officer receiving such a payment. The restoration plan would initially cover Messrs. Crowley Sr. and Jr. FUTURE STOCK BENEFIT PLANS Stock Option Plan. Bank Mutual intends to implement a stock option plan for Bank Mutual's directors, officers and employees after the restructuring. Applicable regulations prohibit us from implementing this plan until six months after the restructuring. If we implement this plan within one year after the restructuring, applicable regulations require that we first obtain the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Bank Mutual that are not owned by the MHC. We have not decided whether we will implement this plan before or after the one-year anniversary of the restructuring. We expect to adopt a stock option plan that will authorize the Compensation Committee to grant options to purchase up to 10% of the shares issued in the restructuring and the First Northern merger, over a period of 10 years. The Committee will decide which eligible participants will receive options and what the terms of those options will be. However, no stock option will permit its recipient to purchase shares at a price that is less than the fair market value of a share on the date the option is granted, and no option will have a term that is longer than 10 years. If we implement a stock option plan before the first anniversary of the restructuring, applicable regulations will require that we observe the following restrictions: - We must limit the total number of shares that are optioned to outside directors to 30% of the shares authorized for the plan. - We must also limit the number of options granted to any one outside director to 5% of the shares authorized for the plan and the number of shares that are optioned to any executive officer to 25% of the shares that are authorized for the plan. - We must not permit the options to become vested at a more rapid rate than 20% per year beginning on the first anniversary of shareholder approval of the plan. - We must not permit accelerated vesting for any reason other than death or disability. 108 110 After the first anniversary of the restructuring, we may amend the plan to change or remove these restrictions. If we adopt a stock option plan within one year after the restructuring, we expect to later amend the plan, subject to shareholder approval, to remove these restrictions and to provide for accelerated vesting in cases of retirement and change of control. We expect that any other amendment to this plan, whether adopted before or after the first anniversary of the plan's initial effective date will be subject to shareholder approval if it would change the class of people eligible to receive benefits, change the price they must pay for stock which they acquire under the plan, or increase the number of shares available under the plan or increase the maximum amount of stock that may be acquired by any one person under the plan. We may obtain the shares needed for this plan by issuing additional shares or through stock repurchases. Because we cannot issue new shares that would reduce the MHC's ownership position to less than a majority of Bank Mutual's outstanding shares, we expect to obtain most or all of the shares for this plan through stock repurchases, in which case there would not be dilution to then-existing shareholders. We expect the stock option plan will permit the Committee to grant either incentive stock options that qualify for special federal income tax treatment or non-qualified stock options that do not qualify for special treatment. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees and will not create federal income tax consequences when they are granted. If they are exercised during employment or within three months after termination of employment, the exercise will not create federal income tax consequences either. When the shares acquired on exercise of an incentive stock option are resold, the seller must pay federal income taxes on the amount by which the sales price exceeds the purchase price. This amount will be taxed at capital gains rates if the sale occurs at least two years after the option was granted and at least one year after the option was exercised. Otherwise, it is taxed as ordinary income. Non-qualified stock options may be granted to either employees or non-employees such as directors, consultants and other service providers. Incentive stock options that are exercised more than three months after termination of employment are treated as non-qualified stock options. Non-qualified stock options will not create federal income tax consequences when they are granted. When they are exercised, federal income taxes must be paid on the amount by which the fair market value of the shares acquired by exercising the option exceeds the exercise price. When the shares acquired on exercise of a non-qualified stock option are resold, the seller must pay federal income taxes on the amount by which the sales price exceeds the purchase price plus the amount included in ordinary income when the option was exercised. This amount will be taxed at capital gains rates, which will vary depending upon the time that has elapsed since the exercise of the option. When a non-qualified stock option is exercised, we may be allowed a federal income tax deduction for the same amount that the option holder includes in his or her ordinary income. When an incentive stock option is exercised, there is no tax deduction unless the shares acquired are resold sooner than two years after the option was granted or one year after the option was exercised. Management Recognition Plan. We intend to implement a management recognition plan for our directors and officers after the restructuring. Applicable regulations prohibit us from implementing this plan until six months after the restructuring. If we implement this plan within one year after the restructuring, the regulations require that we first obtain the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Bank Mutual that are not held by the MHC. We have not decided whether we will implement this plan before or after the one-year anniversary of the restructuring. We expect to adopt a management recognition plan that will authorize the Compensation Committee to make restricted stock awards of up to 3% of the shares issued to investors other than the MHC. The Compensation Committee will decide which directors and officers will receive restricted stock and what the terms of those awards will be. If we implement a management recognition plan before the first anniversary of the restructuring, applicable regulations will require that we observe the following restrictions: - We must limit the total number of shares that are awarded to outside directors to 30% of the shares authorized for the plan. 109 111 - We must also limit the number of shares that are awarded to any one outside director to 5% of the shares authorized for the plan and the number of shares that are awarded to any executive officer to 25% of the shares that are authorized for the plan. - We must not permit the awards to become vested at a more rapid rate than 20% per year beginning on the first anniversary of shareholder approval of the plan. - We must not permit accelerated vesting for any reason other than death or disability. After the first anniversary of the restructuring, we may amend the plan to change or remove these restrictions. If we adopt a management recognition plan within one year after the restructuring, we expect to amend the plan later, subject to shareholder approval, to remove these restrictions and to provide for accelerated vesting in cases of retirement and change of control. We expect that any other amendment to this plan, whether adopted before or after the first anniversary of the plan's initial effective date, will be subject to shareholder approval if it would change the class of people eligible to receive benefits, change the price they must pay for stock which they acquire under the plan, or increase the number of shares available under the plan or increase the maximum amount of stock that may be acquired by any one person under the plan. We may obtain the shares needed for this plan by issuing additional shares or through stock repurchases. Because we cannot issue new shares that would reduce the MHC's ownership position to less than a majority of Bank Mutual's outstanding shares, we expect to obtain most or all of the shares for this plan through stock repurchases, to minimize dilution. Restricted stock awards under this plan may feature employment restrictions that require continued employment for a period of time for the award to be vested. They may feature restrictions that require the achievement of specified corporate or individual performance goals for the award to be vested. Or, they may feature a combination of employment and performance restrictions. Awards are not vested unless the specified employment restrictions and performance goals are met. However, pending vesting, the award recipient may have voting and dividend rights. When an award becomes vested, the recipient must include the current fair market value of the vested shares in his income for federal income tax purposes. Bank Mutual and Mutual Savings may be allowed a federal income tax deduction in the same amount. Depending on the nature of the restrictions attached to the restricted stock award, Bank Mutual and Mutual Savings may have to recognize a compensation expense for accounting purposes ratably over the vesting period or in a single charge when the performance conditions are satisfied. LIMITATIONS ON FEDERAL TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION As a private entity, Mutual Savings has been subject to federal tax rules which permit it to claim a federal income tax deduction for a reasonable allowance for salaries or other compensation for personal services actually rendered. Following the restructuring, federal tax laws may limit this deduction to $1 million each tax year for each executive officer named in the summary compensation table in Bank Mutual's proxy statement for that year. This limit will not apply to non-taxable compensation under various broad-based retirement and fringe benefit plans, to compensation that is "qualified performance-based compensation" under applicable law or to compensation that is paid in satisfaction of commitments that arose before the restructuring. Bank Mutual and Mutual Savings expect that the Compensation Committee will take this deduction limitation into account with other relevant factors in establishing the compensation levels of their executive officers and in setting the terms of compensation programs. However, there is no assurance that all compensation paid to our executive officers will be deductible for federal income tax purposes. To the extent that compensation paid to any executive officer is not deductible, the net after-tax cost of providing the compensation will be higher and the net after-tax earnings of Bank Mutual and Mutual Savings will be reduced. 110 112 CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Mutual Savings has had, and expects to continue to have, regular business dealings with its officers and directors, as well as their associates in firms which they serve in various capacities. Consistent with applicable law, Mutual's policy is that transactions with its directors and executive officers be on terms that are no more beneficial to the director or executive officer than Mutual Savings would provide to unaffiliated third parties. Directors and executive officers, and their associates, regularly deposit funds with Mutual Savings; the deposits are on terms and conditions offered to other depositors. To help prevent any inadvertent violations of its policy, Mutual Savings discourages lending transactions between Mutual Savings and its insiders, but loans are occasionally made. Certain of the directors and executive officers have been indebted to Mutual Savings for loans made in the ordinary course of business. All such loans have been on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons. These loans do not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable futures. 111 113 THE BANK MUTUAL RESTRUCTURING GENERAL Under the plan of restructuring, Mutual Savings will reorganize from a Wisconsin-chartered mutual savings bank into a holding company structure in which Mutual Savings' depositors will hold all of the voting and liquidation rights in the MHC, which in turn will own a majority interest in Bank Mutual, a mid-tier holding company. The remaining interest in Bank Mutual will be held by public shareholders. Bank Mutual will wholly-own Mutual Savings, which will convert from mutual form into a federally-chartered stock savings bank. The plan of restructuring and the related plan of stock issuance remain subject to final regulatory approval by the Office of Thrift Supervision. The plan of restructuring also requires approval of the members of Mutual Savings. After we receive all the required regulatory approvals and member approval, we will complete the restructuring which we describe in this proxy statement/prospectus. We anticipate that the offering will be completed contemporaneously with or immediately following the restructuring. We also intend to complete the First Northern merger contemporaneously with or immediately following the restructuring. Mutual Savings does not anticipate that it will complete the restructuring if the offering and the First Northern merger cannot be completed. Mutual Savings' board of directors initially approved Mutual Savings' plan of restructuring on February 21, 2000. The board adopted the plan unanimously. The plan of restructuring subsequently has been amended, also with unanimous board approval, and when we refer to the plan of restructuring, it includes amendments. For purposes of this discussion, we use "Stock Bank" to refer to Mutual Savings in the post-restructuring stock form. References to Mutual Savings include Mutual Savings in its current mutual form or in its post-restructuring stock form, as indicated by the context. DESCRIPTION OF THE RESTRUCTURING Immediately prior to these transactions, Mutual Savings will have converted to a federally-chartered mutual savings bank. Thereafter, a newly-formed, federally-chartered, stock savings bank will merge with and into Mutual Savings. The resulting Stock Bank will be a continuation of Mutual Savings. All of Mutual Savings' interest in and to all property will vest in the Stock Bank, without any further act. The Stock Bank will continue to have and be responsible for all the rights, liabilities and obligations of Mutual Savings. The MHC and Bank Mutual will not retain any assets of Mutual Savings that are required by the Stock Bank in order to satisfy capital and reserve requirements of federal law. All assets, rights, obligations and liabilities of Mutual Savings that are not expressly retained by the MHC or Bank Mutual shall be transferred to the Stock Bank. Mutual Savings will apply to the OTS to allocate up to $100,000 in capital at the MHC level in connection with the restructuring. In addition, Mutual Savings will contribute approximately $40.0 million to the initial capital of Bank Mutual, assuming the midpoint of the offering range. This contributed capital, together with a substantial part of the proceeds of the offering and funds from First Northern, will be used to pay a portion of the consideration to First Northern shareholders in the First Northern merger. Bank Mutual may distribute additional capital to the MHC following the restructuring, subject to OTS regulations governing capital distributions. EFFECTS OF THE RESTRUCTURING General. The Stock Bank will be authorized to exercise any and all powers and rights of, and shall be subject to all limitations applicable to, stock savings banks chartered under federal law. The initial board of directors of the Stock Bank will be comprised of the existing directors of Mutual Savings, plus Michael Meeuwsen, the chief executive officer of First Northern. Thereafter, Bank Mutual, as the holder of shares of the Stock Bank's voting stock will elect the Stock Bank's board of directors. We expect that 112 114 present management of Mutual Savings will continue as the management of the Stock Bank following the restructuring. The restructuring will not affect Mutual Savings's present business of accepting deposits and investing its funds in loans and other investments permitted by law, except that all those functions will be assumed by the Stock Bank. The restructuring will not result in any change in the existing services provided to depositors and borrowers, or in its existing offices, management and staff. The Stock Bank will be subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the OTS and the FDIC. Deposits and Loans. The Stock Bank will be owned by Bank Mutual. However, the voting, ownership and liquidation rights of members of Mutual Savings will become the rights of members of the MHC, subject to the conditions below. Members of Mutual Savings at the effective date will automatically become the members of the MHC. Each deposit account in Mutual Savings will then become a deposit account in the Stock Bank in the same amount and upon the same terms and conditions, except that each depositor will have ownership and membership rights with respect to the MHC rather than the Stock Bank. All insured deposit accounts of Mutual Savings that are transferred to the Stock Bank will continue to be federally insured up to the legal maximum by the FDIC in the same manner as prior to the restructuring. Any new deposit accounts established with the Stock Bank after the restructuring will create membership and liquidation rights in the MHC and will be federally insured up to the legal maximum by the FDIC. First Northern depositors will not be members of the MHC. All loans and other borrowings from Mutual Savings will retain the same status with the Stock Bank after the restructuring as they had with Mutual Savings immediately prior to it. Borrowers are not members of Mutual Savings and will not have membership rights in the MHC. Voting Rights. As a Wisconsin-chartered mutual savings bank, Mutual Savings has no authority to issue capital stock and, thus, no shareholders. Control of Mutual Savings in its mutual form is vested in the board of directors. After the restructuring, the members of the board of directors of Mutual Savings, together with four First Northern directors, will become the directors of MHC and Bank Mutual. They will be elected in three-year staggered terms. The affairs of the Stock Bank will be directed by its board of directors, and all voting rights as to the Stock Bank will be vested exclusively in Bank Mutual, the holder of its outstanding voting stock. The Stock Bank and Bank Mutual may issue any amount of non-voting stock to persons other than the MHC. Following the restructuring, Bank Mutual will have the power to issue shares of common stock to persons other than the MHC. But so long as the MHC is in existence, the MHC will be required to own at least a majority of the voting stock of Bank Mutual. Because of its majority ownership interest in Bank Mutual, and Bank Mutual's ownership of the Stock Bank, the MHC generally will be able to elect all directors of Bank Mutual and generally will be able to control the outcome of most matters presented to the shareholders of Mutual Savings and Bank Mutual for vote. As a federally chartered mutual holding company, the MHC will have no authorized capital stock and, thus, no shareholders. The MHC will be controlled by members (that is, the depositors) of Stock Bank, and most members have granted proxies in favor of Mutual's management. The revocable proxies that members of Mutual Savings have granted to the board of directors of Mutual Savings, which confer on the board general authority to cast a member's vote on matters presented to the members, will cover the member's votes as a member of the MHC, and the authority shall be conferred on the board of directors of the MHC. In addition, all persons who become depositors of the Stock Bank following the restructuring will have membership rights with respect to the MHC. Borrowers are not members of Mutual Savings and, thus, will not receive membership rights in the MHC. Liquidation Rights. Prior to the restructuring, holders of deposit accounts in Mutual Savings would be entitled to distribution of any assets of Mutual Savings remaining after the claims of such depositors and all other creditors are satisfied. Following the restructuring, the holders of the common stock, including the MHC, would be entitled to any assets remaining upon a liquidation. Except through their 113 115 liquidation interests in the MHC, discussed below, holders of deposit accounts in Mutual Savings would have no interest in those assets. In the event of a liquidation of the MHC following consummation of the restructuring, holders of deposit accounts in Mutual Savings would be entitled, pro rata to the value of their accounts, to distribution of any assets of the MHC remaining after the claims of all creditors of the MHC are satisfied. Shareholders of Bank Mutual will have no liquidation or other rights with respect to the MHC in their capacities as such. There currently are no plans to liquidate the Stock Bank or the MHC in the future. Subscription and Preemptive Rights. Under OTS regulations, depositors of Mutual Savings are entitled to priority subscription rights to purchase shares of capital stock of the MHC in the event that the MHC converts from mutual to stock form subsequent to the restructuring. Holders of the capital stock of Bank Mutual shall not be entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares of Bank Mutual that may be issued. POSSIBLE CONVERSION OF THE MHC TO STOCK FORM It is possible that, at some point in the future, we would make a "full conversion" from the mutual to the stock form of organization. Mutual Savings' plan of restructuring includes provisions which would govern treatment of various constituencies' interests in such a full conversion. The plan of restructuring includes provisions intended to protect Bank Mutual shareholders. In general, the provisions provide that Bank Mutual shareholders would generally receive, in any subsequent full conversion, the percentage of ownership in a successor entity as they would hold in Bank Mutual just prior to that conversion. Under current OTS regulations, in the event of a full conversion, depositors would have a first right to purchase any shares offered for sale by a successor entity. The process for the offer and sale of any such shares would be similar to the offering contemplated by the plan of restructuring, although eligibility dates and purchase amounts, among other things, could differ. In addition, the plan of restructuring provides that, in a full conversion, a first priority for eligible account holders on January 31, 1999 with the same account number and account title at the future eligibility date will be granted. These account holders would have a right, before that of other depositors, to purchase shares of any successor entity. Bank Mutual cannot assure that there will be any subsequent full conversion or when one might occur. Also, any full conversion will be subject to OTS or other governmental regulations as then in effect. Those regulations may affect the treatment of Mutual Savings' depositors and Bank Mutual shareholders in any full conversion. We also expect that such a conversion would require the approval of the MHC's members. BUSINESS OF FIRST NORTHERN First Northern Capital Corp. is a unitary savings and loan holding company that was incorporated in Wisconsin in 1995 for the purpose of owning all the outstanding stock of First Northern Savings Bank, S.A., a Wisconsin chartered capital stock savings and loan association, which reorganized into the holding company structure effective December 20, 1995. First Northern is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin and conducts its business from 19 offices located in a contiguous, eight-county (Brown, Marinette, Manitowoc, Door, Shawano, Outagamie, Waupaca, and Calumet) area in northeastern Wisconsin. First Northern Savings is the only direct subsidiary of First Northern and is operations are the primary contributor to First Northern's earnings and expenses. First Northern Savings' business consists primarily of attracting deposits from the general public and originating loans throughout its Northeastern Wisconsin branch network. Traditionally, First Northern Savings has concentrated on originations of adjusted and fixed rate one-to-four family mortgage loans and consumer loans, as well as five or more family residential, commercial real estate, and short-term construction mortgage loans. Adjustable interest rate mortgage loans are originated for First Northern's portfolio, while 30 year fixed interest rate mortgage 114 116 loans and primarily originated for sale in the secondary mortgage markets. Fixed rate mortgage loans with terms of 15 and 20 years are retained in First Northern's mortgage loan portfolio. At December 31, 1999, approximately 75% of First Northern's mortgage loan portfolio was comprised of adjustable rate loans. First Northern began a commercial banking division in 1999, which originates commercial loans and commercial real estate loans. As of December 31, 1999, this division had originated commercial loans of $5.0 million and commercial real estate loans of $14.4 million, which are reported in mortgage loan originations. First Northern lends primarily in its eight county market area. At December 31, 1999, approximately 99.2% of the total dollar amount of First Northern's mortgage loans outstanding were on properties located in Wisconsin with the other 0.8% representing properties located primarily in other midwestern states. First Northern's loan portfolio of $759.2 million before deductions at December 31, 1999 was 90.4% by dollar volume of its total assets. As of that date, approximately 63.4% by dollar volume of the loan portfolio consisted of conventional first mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family residences, with an additional 25.7% by dollar volume in consumer loans, 6.6% by dollar volume in multi-family (more than four) residential properties, 3.2% by dollar volume in commercial real estate properties, 0.6% by dollar volume in commercial loans, and 0.5% by dollar volume in other properties. First Northern Savings also has two active wholly owned subsidiaries and one 50% owned subsidiary, as well as two inactive wholly owned subsidiaries. Great Northern Financial Services Corporation, a wholly owned active subsidiary of First Northern Savings, offers full brokerage services to the public, including sales of tax deferred annuities and mutual funds, and sells credit life and disability insurance. Another wholly owned active subsidiary, First Northern Investments, Inc., manages a majority of First Northern Savings' investments and purchases automobile loans from Savings Financial Corporation and mortgage loans from First Northern Savings. SFC, the 50% owned subsidiary of the Savings Bank originates, services, and sells automobile loans to First Northern Investments, Inc., First Northern Savings, and its other parent corporation. This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates information about First Northern by reference. This means that that information is considered to be included in this document even though it is not actually included. The First Northern information which is incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/ prospectus includes First Northern's historical financial information, management's discussion and analysis, and other important information. For further information about information which is incorporated by reference, and how you can obtain copies, see "Other Information Which you Can Obtain." REGULATION Set forth below is a brief description of certain laws and regulations which relate to the regulation of Mutual Savings, before and after the restructuring, and Bank Mutual, the MHC and First Northern Savings thereafter. The description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable laws and regulations. GENERAL Mutual Savings is a Wisconsin chartered mutual savings bank, and its deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Savings Association Insurance Fund. Mutual Savings currently is subject to extensive regulation, examination and supervision by the Division of Savings Institutions of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (the "Division") as its chartering agency, and by the FDIC as the deposit insurer. Mutual Savings must file reports with the Division and the FDIC concerning its activities and financial condition, and it must obtain regulatory approval prior to entering into certain transactions, such as mergers with, or acquisitions of, other depository institutions and opening or acquiring branch offices. The Division and the FDIC currently conduct periodic examinations to assess Mutual Savings' compliance with various regulatory requirements. This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehen- 115 117 sive framework of activities in which a savings bank can engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the deposit insurance fund and depositors. The regulatory structure also gives the regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves for regulatory purposes. Following the restructuring, in which Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings will convert to federally-chartered stock savings banks, and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) will become the primary regulator of both banks. The FDIC will remain responsible for supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies with respect to the deposit insurance fund. Following the restructuring, the Division will no longer be responsible for regulation or supervision of Mutual Savings or First Northern Savings. Upon completion of the restructuring, the MHC will become a federal mutual holding company within the meaning of Section 10(o) of the Home Owners' Loan Act. As such, the MHC will be required to register with and be subject to OTS examination and supervision as well as certain reporting requirements. Following the restructuring, Bank Mutual, as a federal stock corporation in a mutual holding company structure, will be deemed a federal stock holding company within the meaning of Section 10(o) of the Home Owners' Loan Act. Bank Mutual will be required to register and file reports with the OTS and will be subject to regulation and examination by the OTS. Bank Mutual will be required to file certain reports with, and otherwise comply with, the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the federal securities laws. Any change in such laws and regulations, whether by the OTS, the FDIC, the SEC, or through legislation, could have a material adverse impact on Mutual Savings, Bank Mutual, and the MHC and their operations and shareholders. Certain of the laws and regulations applicable to Mutual Savings, Bank Mutual, the MHC and First Northern Savings are summarized below or elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. These summaries do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such laws and regulations. MUTUAL SAVINGS State Regulation Prior to Restructuring Activity Powers. Mutual Savings derives its lending, investment and other activity powers primarily from the applicable provisions of Chapter 214 of the Wisconsin Statutes and its related regulations. Under these laws and regulations, savings banks, including Mutual Savings, generally may invest in: - real estate mortgages; - consumer and commercial loans; - specific types of debt securities, including certain corporate debt securities and obligations of federal, state and local governments and agencies; - certain types of corporate equity securities; and - certain other assets. A savings bank may also exercise trust powers upon approval of the Division. Wisconsin savings banks may also exercise any power or offer any financially related product or service that any other provider of financial products or services may undertake in Wisconsin, unless the Division determines otherwise. The exercise of these lending, investment and activity powers are limited by federal law and the related regulations. See "-- Federal Regulation Prior to Restructuring -- Activity Restrictions on State-chartered Banks" below. 116 118 Loans-to-One-Borrower Limitations. With certain specified exceptions, a Wisconsin chartered savings bank may not make loans or extend credit to a single borrower and to entities related to the borrower in an aggregate amount that would exceed 15% of the bank's capital funds. A savings bank may lend an additional 10% of the bank's capital funds if secured by collateral meeting the requirements of Wisconsin laws and regulations. Mutual Savings currently complies with applicable loans-to-one borrower limitations. Minimum Capital Requirements. Under regulations of the Division, Wisconsin savings banks must at all times maintain a net worth ratio in an amount not less than 6.0%. For purposes of the regulation, the term "net worth ratio" means the ratio, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the result of subtracting the savings bank's liabilities from its assets and adding to that number unallocated, general loan loss reserves, but not loss reserves for specific, identified losses, and the denominator of which is the savings bank's assets. As of June 30, 2000, Mutual Savings' net worth ratio was 9.53%. Examination and Enforcement. The Division may examine Mutual Savings whenever it deems an examination advisable. The Division examines Mutual Savings at least every 18 months. The Division may remove from a savings bank any employee, agent or person affiliated with the savings bank if the Division finds that the person has directly or indirectly violated any state or federal law, regulation, rule or order regarding the operations of the savings bank or has breached fiduciary or professional responsibilities to the savings bank. MUTUAL SAVINGS Federal Regulation Prior to Restructuring Capital Requirements. FDIC regulations require savings banks, such as Mutual Savings, to maintain minimum levels of capital. The FDIC regulations define two tiers, or classes, of capital. Tier 1 capital is comprised of the sum of common shareholders' equity (excluding the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation, net of tax, from available-for-sale securities), non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, any related surplus, and minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, minus all intangible assets (other than qualifying servicing rights), and any net unrealized loss on marketable equity securities. The components of Tier 2 capital currently include cumulative perpetual preferred stock, certain perpetual preferred stock for which the dividend rate may be reset periodically, mandatory convertible securities, subordinated debt, intermediate preferred stock and allowance for possible loan losses. Allowance for possible loan losses includible in Tier 2 capital is limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. Overall, the amount of Tier 2 capital that may be included in total capital cannot exceed 100% of Tier 1 capital. The FDIC regulations establish a minimum leverage capital requirement for banks in the strongest financial and managerial condition, with a rating of 1 (the highest examination rating of the FDIC for savings banks) under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System, and that are not experiencing or anticipating significant growth, of not less than a ratio of 3.0% of Tier 1 capital to total assets. For all other savings banks, the minimum leverage capital requirement is 4.0%, unless a higher leverage capital ratio is warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profile of the depository institution. The FDIC regulations also require that savings banks meet a risk-based capital standard. The risk-based capital standard requires the maintenance of a ratio of total capital (which is defined as the sum of Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 8% and a ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4%. In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets, all assets, plus certain off balance sheet items, are multiplied by a risk-weight of 0% to 100%, based on the risks the FDIC believes are inherent in the type of asset or item. The federal banking agencies, including the FDIC, have also adopted regulations to require an assessment of an institution's exposure to declines in the economic value of a bank's capital due to changes in interest rates when assessing the bank's capital adequacy. Under such a risk assessment, examiners will evaluate a bank's capital for interest rate risk on a case-by-case basis, with consideration of both 117 119 quantitative and qualitative factors. According to the agencies, applicable considerations include the quality of the bank's interest rate risk management process, the overall financial condition of the bank and the level of other risks at the bank for which capital is needed. Institutions with significant interest rate risk may be required to hold additional capital. The agencies have also issued a joint policy statement providing guidance on interest rate risk management, including a discussion of the critical factors affecting the agencies' evaluation of interest rate risk in connection with capital adequacy. On June 30, 2000 Mutual Savings exceeded the minimum capital adequacy requirements; see "Capitalization." Activity Restrictions on State-chartered Banks. Section 24 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (FDIA), which was added by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA), generally limits the activities and investments of state-chartered FDIC insured banks and their subsidiaries to those permissible for federally chartered national banks and their subsidiaries, unless such activities and investments are specifically exempted by Section 24 or consented to by the FDIC. Regulations promulgated by the FDIC under Section 24 allow state-chartered savings banks to engage in certain activities upon notice to the FDIC, if such activities are conducted in a majority-owned subsidiary and meet certain other regulatory conditions. Pursuant to these regulations, Mutual Savings currently owns, through a subsidiary, four lots adjacent to its headquarters in Brown Deer, Wisconsin and 318 acres of undeveloped land in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Before making a new investment or engaging in a new activity not permissible for a national bank or otherwise permissible under Section 24 of the FDIC regulations thereunder, an insured bank must seek approval from the FDIC to make such investment or engage in such activity. The FDIC will not approve the activity unless the bank meets its minimum capital requirements and the FDIC determines that the activity does not present a significant risk to the FDIC insurance funds. Enforcement. The FDIC has extensive enforcement authority over insured state savings banks, including Mutual Savings. This enforcement authority includes, among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease and desist orders and to remove directors and officers. In general, these enforcement actions may be initiated in response to violations of laws and regulations and to unsafe or unsound practices. The FDIC is required, with certain exceptions, to appoint a receiver or conservator for an insured state savings bank if that bank is "critically undercapitalized." For this purpose, "critically undercapitalized" means having a ratio of tangible capital to total assets of less than 2%. The FDIC may also appoint a conservator or receiver for a state bank on the basis of the institution's financial condition or upon the occurrence of certain events, including: - insolvency, whereby the assets of the bank are less than its liabilities to depositors and others; - substantial dissipation of assets or earnings through violations of law or unsafe or unsound practices; - existence of an unsafe or unsound condition to transact business; - likelihood that the bank will be unable to meet the demands of its depositors or to pay its obligations in the normal course of business; and - insufficient capital, or the incurring or likely incurring of losses that will deplete substantially all of the institution's capital with no reasonable prospect of replenishment of capital without federal assistance. Deposit Insurance. The deposit accounts held by Mutual Savings are insured by the SAIF to a maximum of $100,000 as permitted by law. Insurance on deposits may be terminated by the FDIC if it finds the Mutual Savings has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC or the OTS as Mutual Savings' primary regulator. 118 120 Pursuant to FDICIA, the FDIC established a system for setting deposit insurance premiums based upon the risks a particular bank or savings association posed to its deposit insurance funds. Under the risk-based deposit insurance assessment system, the FDIC assigns an institution to one of three capital categories based on the institution's financial information, as of the reporting period ending six months before the assessment period. The three capital categories are (i) well capitalized, (ii) adequately capitalized and (iii) undercapitalized. The FDIC also assigns an institution to one of three supervisory subcategories within each capital group. With respect to the capital ratios, institutions are classified as well capitalized, adequately capitalized or undercapitalized using ratios that are substantially similar to the prompt corrective action capital ratios discussed below. The FDIC also assigns an institution to a supervisory subgroup based on a supervisory evaluation provided to the FDIC by the institution's primary federal regulator and information that the FDIC determines to be relevant to the institution's financial condition and the risk posed to the deposit insurance funds (which may include, if applicable, information provided by the institution's state supervisor). An institution's assessment rate depends on the capital category and supervisory category to which it is assigned. Under the final risk-based assessment system, there are nine assessment risk classifications (i.e., combinations of capital groups and supervisory subgroups) to which different assessment rates are applied. Assessment rates for deposit insurance currently range from 0 basis points to 27 basis points. The capital and supervisory subgroup to which an institution is assigned by the FDIC is confidential and may not be disclosed. A bank's rate of deposit insurance assessments will depend upon the category and subcategory to which the bank is assigned by the FDIC. Any increase in insurance assessments could have an adverse effect on the earnings of insured institutions, including Mutual Savings. Under the FDIA, the FDIC may terminate the insurance of an institution's deposits upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. The management of Mutual Savings does not know of any practice, condition, or violation that might lead to termination of its deposit insurance. Transactions with Affiliates. Transactions between an insured state savings bank, such as Mutual Savings, and any of its affiliates are governed by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. An affiliate of a bank is any company or entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the bank. Currently, a subsidiary of a bank that is not also a depository institution is not treated as an affiliate of the bank for the purposes of Sections 23A and 23B; however, the Federal Reserve Board has proposed treating any subsidiary of a bank that is engaged in activities not permissible for bank holding companies under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 ("BHCA"), as an affiliate for purposes of Section 23A and 23B. Sections 23A and 23B limit the extent to which the bank or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions" with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of such bank's capital stock and surplus, and limit all such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus. The statutory sections also require that all such transactions be on terms that are consistent with safe and sound banking practices. The term "covered transaction" includes the making of loans, purchase of assets, issuance of guarantees and other similar types of transactions. Further, most loans by a bank to any of its affiliates must be secured by collateral in amounts ranging from 100 to 130 percent of the loan amounts. In addition, any covered transaction by a bank with an affiliate and any purchase of assets or services by a bank from an affiliate must be on terms that are substantially the same, or at least as favorable, to the bank as those that would be provided to a non-affiliate. Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements. Banks are subject to the prohibitions of 12 U.S.C. Section 1972 on certain tying arrangements. A depository institution is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from extending credit to or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for such extension of credit or service, on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the institution or certain of its affiliates or not obtain services of a competitor of the institution. Uniform Real Estate Lending Standards. Pursuant to FDICIA, the federal banking agencies adopted uniform regulations prescribing standards for extensions of credit that are secured by liens on interests in 119 121 real estate or made for the purpose of financing the construction of a building or other improvements to real estate. Under the joint regulations adopted by the federal banking agencies, all insured depository institutions must adopt and maintain written policies that establish appropriate limits and standards for extensions of credit that are secured by liens or interests in real estate or are made for the purpose of financing permanent improvements to real estate. These policies must establish loan portfolio diversification standards, prudent underwriting standards (including loan-to-value limits) that are clear and measurable, loan administration procedures, and documentation, approval and reporting requirements. The real estate lending policies must reflect consideration of the Interagency Guidelines for Real Estate Lending Policies that have been adopted by the federal bank regulators. The Interagency Guidelines, among other things, require a depository institution to establish internal loan-to-value limits for real estate loans that are not in excess of the following supervisory limits: - for loans secured by raw land, the supervisory loan-to-value limit is 65% of the value of the collateral; - for land development loans (i.e., loans for the purpose of improving unimproved property prior to the erection of structures), the supervisory limit is 75%; - for loans for the construction of commercial, multi-family or other non-residential property, the supervisory limit is 80%; - for loans for the construction of one- to four-family properties, the supervisory limit is 85%; and - for loans secured by other improved property (e.g., farmland, completed commercial property and other income-producing property, including non-owner occupied, one- to four-family property), the limit is 85%. Although no supervisory loan-to-value limit has been established for owner-occupied, one to four-family and home equity loans, the Interagency Guidelines state that for any such loan with a loan-to-value ratio that equals or exceeds 90% at origination, an institution should require appropriate credit enhancement in the form of either mortgage insurance or readily marketable collateral. Community Reinvestment Act. Under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), any insured depository institution, including Mutual Savings, has a continuing and affirmative obligation consistent with its safe and sound operation to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions nor does it limit an institution's discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community. The CRA requires the FDIC, in connection with its examination of a savings bank, to assess the depository institution's record of meeting the credit needs of its community and to take such record into account in its evaluation of certain applications by such institution, including applications for additional branches and acquisitions. Among other things, current CRA regulations replace the prior process-based assessment factors with a new evaluation system that would rate an institution based on its actual performance in meeting community needs. In particular, the new evaluation system focuses on three tests: - a lending test, to evaluate the institution's record of making loans in its service areas; - an investment test, to evaluate the institution's record of investing in community development projects, affordable housing, and programs benefitting low or moderate income individuals and businesses; and - a service test, to evaluate the institution's delivery of services through its branches, ATMs and other offices. 120 122 The CRA requires the FDIC to provide a written evaluation of an institution's CRA performance utilizing a four-tiered descriptive rating system and requires public disclosure of an institution's CRA rating. Mutual Savings received a "satisfactory" overall rating in its most recent CRA examination. Safety and Soundness Standards. Pursuant to the requirements of FDICIA, as amended by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, each federal banking agency, including the FDIC, has adopted guidelines establishing general standards relating to internal controls, information and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risks and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director, or principal shareholder. In addition, the FDIC adopted regulations to require a bank that is given notice by the FDIC that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan to the FDIC. If, after being so notified, a bank fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an accepted compliance plan, the FDIC may issue an order directing corrective and other actions of the types to which a significantly undercapitalized institution is subject under the "prompt corrective action" provisions of FDICIA. If a bank fails to comply with such an order, the FDIC may seek to enforce such an order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil monetary penalties. Prompt Corrective Action. FDICIA also established a system of prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions. The FDIC, as well as the other federal banking regulators, adopted regulations governing the supervisory actions that may be taken against undercapitalized institutions. The regulations establish five categories, consisting of "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized" and "critically undercapitalized." The FDIC's regulations define the five capital categories as follows: Generally, an institution will be treated as "well capitalized" if its ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 10%, its ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 6%, its ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets is at least 5%, and it is not subject to any order or directive by the FDIC to meet a specific capital level. An institution will be treated as "adequately capitalized" if its ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 8%, its ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 4%, and its ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets is at least 4% (3% if the bank receives the highest rating under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System) and it is not a well-capitalized institution. An institution that has total risk-based capital of less than 8%, Tier 1 risk-based-capital of less than 4% or a leverage ratio that is less than 4% (or less than 3% if the institution is rated a composite "1" under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System) would be considered to be "undercapitalized." An institution that has total risk-based capital of less than 6%, Tier 1 capital of less than 3% or a leverage ratio that is less than 3% would be considered to be "significantly undercapitalized," and an institution that has a tangible capital to assets ratio equal to or less than 2% would be deemed to be "critically undercapitalized." The severity of the action authorized or required to be taken under the prompt corrective action regulations increases as a bank's capital decreases within the three undercapitalized categories. All banks are prohibited from paying dividends or other capital distributions or paying management fees to any controlling person if, following such distribution, the bank would be undercapitalized. The FDIC is required to monitor closely the condition of an undercapitalized bank and to restrict the growth of its assets. An undercapitalized bank is required to file a capital restoration plan within 45 days of the date the bank receives notice that it is within any of the three undercapitalized categories, and the plan must be guaranteed by any parent holding company. The aggregate liability of a parent holding company is limited to the lesser of: - an amount equal to five percent of the bank's total assets at the time it became "undercapitalized"; and 121 123 - the amount that is necessary (or would have been necessary) to bring the bank into compliance with all capital standards applicable with respect to such bank as of the time it fails to comply with the plan. If a bank fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it were "significantly undercapitalized." Banks that are significantly or critically undercapitalized are subject to a wider range of regulatory requirements and restrictions. The FDIC has a broad range of grounds under which it may appoint a receiver or conservator for an insured depository bank. If one or more grounds exist for appointing a conservator or receiver for a bank, the FDIC may require the bank to issue additional debt or stock, sell assets, be acquired by a depository bank holding company or combine with another depository bank. Under FDICIA, the FDIC is required to appoint a receiver or a conservator for a critically undercapitalized bank within 90 days after the bank becomes critically undercapitalized or to take such other action that would better achieve the purposes of the prompt corrective action provisions. Such alternative action can be renewed for successive 90-day periods. However, if the bank continues to be critically undercapitalized on average during the quarter that begins 270 days after it first became critically undercapitalized, a receiver must be appointed, unless the FDIC makes certain findings that the bank is viable. Loans to a Bank's Insiders. A bank's loans to its executive officers, directors, any owner of 10% or more of its stock (each, an insider) and any of certain entities affiliated with any such person (an insider's related interest) are subject to the conditions and limitations imposed by Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation O thereunder. Under these restrictions, the aggregate amount of the loans to any insider and the insider's related interests may not exceed the loans-to-one-borrower limit applicable to national banks, which is comparable to the loans-to-one-borrower limit applicable to Mutual Savings' loans. See "-- Loans-to-One Borrower Limitations." All loans by a bank to all insiders and insiders' related interests in the aggregate may not exceed the bank's unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus. With certain exceptions, loans to an executive officer, other than loans for the education of the officer's children and certain loans secured by the officer's residence, may not exceed the lesser of $100,000 or the greater of $25,000 or 2.5% of the bank's capital and unimpaired surplus. Regulation O also requires that any proposed loan to an insider or a related interest of that insider be approved in advance by a majority of the board of directors of the bank, with any interested director not participating in the voting, if such loan, when aggregated with any existing loans to that insider and the insider's related interests, would exceed either $500,000 or the greater of $25,000 or 5% of the bank's unimpaired capital and surplus. Generally, such loans must be made on substantially the same terms as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those that are prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons. An exception is made for extensions of credit made pursuant to a benefit or compensation plan of a bank that is widely available to employees of the bank and that does not give any preference to insiders of the bank over other employees of the bank. MUTUAL SAVINGS AND FIRST NORTHERN SAVINGS Federal Regulation Following Restructuring General. As federally chartered, SAIF-insured savings banks, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings (together, the "Banks") will be subject to extensive regulation by the OTS and the FDIC. Lending activities and other investments must comply with federal statutory and regulatory requirements. This federal regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which an institution can engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the SAIF of the FDIC and depositors. This regulatory structure gives the regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies regarding the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves. 122 124 The OTS will regularly examine the Banks and prepare a report on its examination findings to their boards of directors. The Banks' relationship with its depositors and borrowers will also be regulated by federal law, especially in such matters as the ownership of savings accounts and the form and content of the Banks' mortgage documents. The Banks will have to file reports with the OTS and the FDIC concerning their activities and financial condition, and will have to obtain regulatory approvals prior to entering into transactions such as mergers with or acquisitions of other financial institutions. Any change in such regulations, whether by the OTS, the FDIC or the United States Congress, could have a material adverse impact on the Banks and their operations. Regulation of the Banks following the restructuring will be comparable in many respects to the regulation of Mutual Savings prior to the restructuring described above with several key differences. Because of their conversion to a federal savings bank charter, the Banks will no longer be subject to the regulation or supervision of the Division. In addition, because of this charter conversion, the OTS will become their primary federal regulator. Set forth below are several material differences in the federal regulation and supervision of the Banks after the restructuring as compared to its regulation before the restructuring as described above. Regulatory Capital Requirements. OTS capital regulations require savings institutions to meet three capital standards. The standards are tangible capital equal to 1.5% of adjusted total assets, core capital equal to at least 3% of total adjusted assets, and risk-based capital equal to 8% of total risk-weighted assets. Mutual Savings' pro forma capital ratios are set forth under "Regulatory Capital Compliance." Tangible capital is defined as core capital less all intangible assets and mortgage servicing rights. Core capital is defined as common shareholders' equity, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and minority interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, nonwithdrawable accounts and pledged deposits of mutual savings associations and qualifying supervisory goodwill, less nonqualifying intangible assets and mortgage servicing rights. The risk-based capital standard for savings institutions requires the maintenance of total risk-based capital of 8% of risk-weighted assets. Risk-based capital is comprised of core and supplementary capital. The components of supplementary capital include, among other items, cumulative perpetual preferred stock, perpetual subordinated debt, mandatory convertible subordinated debt, intermediate-term preferred stock, and the portion of the allowance for loan losses not designated for specific loan losses. The portion of the allowance for loan and lease losses includible in supplementary capital is limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. Overall, supplementary capital is limited to 100% of core capital. A savings association must calculate its risk-weighted assets by multiplying each asset and off-balance sheet item by various risk factors as determined by the OTS, which range from 0% for cash to 100% for delinquent loans, property acquired through foreclosure, commercial loans, and other assets. OTS rules require a deduction from capital for institutions which have unacceptable levels of interest rate risk. The OTS calculates the sensitivity of an institution's net portfolio value based on data submitted by the institution in a schedule to its quarterly Thrift Financial Report and using the interest rate risk measurement model adopted by the OTS. The amount of the interest rate risk component, if any, is deducted from an institution's total capital in order to determine if it meets its risk-based capital requirement. Federal savings institutions with less than $300 million in assets and a risk-based capital ratio above 12% are exempt from filing the interest rate risk schedule. However, the OTS may require any exempt institution to file such schedule on a quarterly basis and may be subject to an additional capital requirement based on its level of interest rate risk as compared to its peers. Dividend and Other Capital Distribution Limitations. The OTS imposes various restrictions or requirements on the ability of savings institutions to make capital distributions, including dividend payments. The OTS rules regarding capital distributions, which were substantially updated effective April 1, 1999, define the term "capital distribution" as a distribution of cash or other property to a savings 123 125 association's owners, made on account of their ownership. The definition specifically excludes dividends consisting only of a savings association's shares or rights to purchase shares, and payments that a mutual savings association is required to make under the terms of a deposit instrument. Under the revised OTS rules, capital distributions also include a savings association's payment to repurchase, redeem, retire, or otherwise acquire any of its shares or other ownership interests, any payment to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire debt instruments included in its total capital, and any extension of credit to finance an affiliate's acquisition of those shares or interests. Additionally, a capital distribution includes any direct or indirect payment of cash or other property to owners or affiliates made in connection with a corporate restructuring. The revised rule also defines as a capital distribution any transaction the OTS or the FDIC determines, by order or regulation, to be in substance a distribution of capital. A final category of capital distribution under the revised OTS rules is any other distribution charged against a savings association's capital accounts if the savings association would not be well capitalized following the distribution. As such, the revised capital distribution rules of the OTS do not apply to capital distributions by wholly-owned operating subsidiaries of savings associations. This is true because generally, for reporting purposes, the accounts of a wholly-owned subsidiary are consolidated with those of the parent savings association and any distributions by such subsidiary would not affect the capital levels of the parent savings association. For regulatory capital purposes, where the consolidated subsidiary is not wholly owned, the balance sheet account "minority interests in the equity accounts of subsidiaries that are fully consolidated" may be included in Tier 1 capital and total capital if certain conditions are met. Distributions by such consolidated subsidiaries to shareholders other than the savings association reduce the cited balance sheet account and, therefore, reduce capital. Consequently, distributions by subsidiaries that are not wholly owned by the savings association are subject to the revised OTS capital distribution rules if the savings association will not be well capitalized following the distribution. The revised OTS rule requires all savings associations to file a notice or an application for approval before making a capital distribution. A savings association must file an application if the association is not eligible for expedited treatment under the application processing rules of the OTS or the total amount of all capital distributions, including the proposed capital distribution, for the applicable calendar year would exceed an amount equal to the savings association's net income for that year to date plus the savings association's retained net income for the preceding two years. A savings association must file only a notice whenever an application is not required under the above standards and any of the following criteria are satisfied: - the savings association will not be at least adequately capitalized following the capital distribution; - the capital distribution would reduce the amount of, or retire any part of the savings association's common or preferred stock, or retire any part of debt instruments such as notes or debentures included in the savings association's capital; - the proposed distribution would violate a prohibition contained in any applicable statute, regulation, or agreement between the savings association and the OTS, or the FDIC, or a condition imposed on the savings association in an OTS-approved application or notice; or - the savings association is a subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company. If neither the savings association nor the proposed capital distribution meet any of the criteria listed in the previous paragraph, the savings association is not required to file a notice or an application before making a capital distribution. 124 126 Under the revised rule, the OTS will review a savings association's notice or application and may disapprove a notice or deny an application if the OTS makes any of the following determinations: - The savings association will be undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized under the prompt corrective action regulations of the OTS following the capital distribution; - The proposed capital distribution raises safety and soundness concerns; or - The proposed capital distribution violates a prohibition contained in any statute, regulation, agreement between the savings association and the OTS (or the FDIC), or a condition imposed on the savings association in an OTS-approved application or notice. Qualified Thrift Lender Test. Federal savings associations must meet a qualified thrift lender test or they become subject to operating restrictions. Until recently, the chief restriction was the elimination of borrowing rights from the Federal Home Loan Bank. However, with passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999 by Congress, the failure to maintain qualified thrift lender status will not affect borrowing rights with the Federal Home Loan Bank. Notwithstanding these changes, Mutual Savings anticipates that it will maintain an appropriate level of investments consisting primarily of residential mortgages, mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-related investment, and otherwise qualify as a qualified thrift lender. The required percentage of these mortgage-related investments is 65% of portfolio assets. Portfolio assets are all assets minus intangible assets, property used by the institution in conducting its business and liquid assets equal to 10% of total assets. Compliance with the qualified thrift lender test is determined on a monthly basis in nine out of every twelve months. Transactions With Affiliates. Generally, federal banking law requires that transactions between a savings institution or its subsidiaries and its affiliates must be on terms as favorable to the savings institution as comparable transactions with non-affiliates. In addition, some transactions can be restricted to an aggregate percentage of the savings institution's capital. Collateral in specified amounts must usually be provided by affiliates in order to receive loans from the savings institution. In addition, a savings institution may not extend credit to any affiliate engaged in activities not permissible for a bank holding company or acquire the securities of any affiliate that is not a subsidiary. The OTS has the discretion to treat subsidiaries of savings institution as affiliates on a case-by-case basis. For a more complete discussion of these restrictions, see "Mutual Savings -- Federal Regulation Prior to Restructuring -- Transactions with Affiliates" above. Liquidity Requirements. All federal savings institutions are required to maintain an average daily balance of liquid assets equal to a percentage of the sum of its average daily balance of net withdrawable deposit accounts and borrowings payable in one year or less. Depending on economic conditions and savings flows of all savings institutions, the OTS can vary the liquidity requirement from time to time between 4% and 10%. Monetary penalties may be imposed on institutions for liquidity requirement violations. Federal Home Loan Bank System. Following the restructuring, the Banks will remain members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, which is one of 12 regional Federal Home Loan Banks. Each Federal Home Loan Bank serves as a reserve or central bank for its members within its assigned region. It is funded primarily from funds deposited by financial institutions and proceeds derived from the sale of consolidated obligations of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. It makes loans to members pursuant to policies and procedures established by the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank. As a member, we are required to purchase and maintain stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago in an amount equal to at least 1% of our aggregate unpaid residential mortgage loans, home purchase contracts or similar obligations at the beginning of each year, or 20% of our outstanding advances, whichever is larger. Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings currently are in compliance with this requirement and will be in compliance following the restructuring. The Federal Home Loan Bank 125 127 imposes various limitations on advances such as limiting the amount of real estate related collateral to 30% of a member's capital and limiting total advances to a member. Under the recently enacted Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings are voluntary members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The banks could withdraw or significantly reduce their stock ownership in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, although they have no current intention to do so. In the past, the Federal Home Loan Banks provided funds for programs to resolve the problems created by troubled savings institutions and also contribute to affordable housing programs through direct loans or interest subsidies on advances targeted for community investment and low- and moderate-income housing projects. These contributions have adversely affected the level of Federal Home Loan Bank dividends paid and could continue to do so in the future. Federal Reserve System. The Federal Reserve System requires all depository institutions to maintain non-interest bearing reserves at specified levels against their checking, NOW, and Super NOW checking accounts and non-personal time deposits. The balances maintained to meet the reserve requirements imposed by the Federal Reserve System may be used to satisfy the OTS liquidity requirements. Savings institutions have authority to borrow from the Federal Reserve System "discount window," but Federal Reserve System policy generally requires savings institutions to exhaust all other sources before borrowing from the Federal Reserve System. BANK MUTUAL REGULATION After the restructuring, Bank Mutual, as a federal stock corporation in a mutual holding company structure, will be deemed a federal mutual holding company within the meaning of Section 10(o) of the Home Owners' Loan Act. Bank Mutual will be required to register and file reports with the OTS and will be subject to regulation and examination by the OTS. In addition, the OTS will have enforcement authority over Bank Mutual and any nonsavings institution subsidiary. The OTS can restrict or prohibit activities that it determines to be a serious risk to Bank Mutual. This OTS regulation is intended primarily for the protection of Mutual Savings' depositors and not for the benefit of you, as Bank Mutual's shareholders. Bank Mutual will also be subject to the regulation and supervision of the SEC and will be required to file certain reports with, and otherwise comply with, the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain of the SEC's rules and regulations are designed to protect you, as Bank Mutual's shareholders. ACQUISITION OF BANK MUTUAL Under federal law, no person may acquire control of Bank Mutual, Mutual Savings, or First Northern Savings without first obtaining, as summarized below, the approval of such acquisition of control by the OTS (or another federal banking regulator). Under the federal Change in Bank Control Act and the Savings and Loan Holding Company Act, any person, including a company, or group acting in concert, seeking to acquire 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Bank Mutual must file a notice with the OTS. In addition, any person or group acting in concert seeking to acquire more than 25% of the outstanding shares of Bank Mutual's common stock will be required to obtain the prior approval of the OTS. Under regulations, the OTS generally has 60 days within which to act on such applications, taking into consideration certain factors, including the financial and managerial resources of the acquiror, the convenience and needs of the communities served by Bank Mutual, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings, and the antitrust effects of the acquisition. 126 128 RESTRICTIONS ON ACQUISITION OF BANK MUTUAL GENERAL The plan of restructuring provides for the conversion of Mutual Savings from the mutual to the stock form of organization and the formation of a stock holding company and a mutual holding company. See "The Restructuring -- General." Certain provisions in Bank Mutual's charter and bylaws and in its benefit plans and agreements entered into in connection with the restructuring, together with provisions of federal law and certain governing regulatory restrictions, may have anti-takeover effects. MUTUAL HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE The mutual holding company structure will restrict the ability of our shareholders to effect a change of control of management because, as long as the MHC remains in existence as a mutual savings bank holding company, it will control a majority of Bank Mutual's voting stock. Moreover, the directors of the MHC initially will be the directors of Bank Mutual. The MHC will be able to elect all of the members of the Board of Directors of Bank Mutual, and as a general matter, will be able to control the outcome of all matters presented to the shareholders of Bank Mutual for a vote. See "The Restructuring -- Possible Conversion of the MHC to Stock Form." CHANGE IN BANK CONTROL Federal law provides that no person, acting directly or indirectly or through or in concert with one or more other persons, may acquire control of a federal savings bank unless the OTS has been given 60 days prior written notice. Federal law provides that no company may acquire control of a bank holding company without the prior approval of the OTS. Any company that acquires control becomes a "thrift holding company" subject to registration, examination and regulation by the OTS. Pursuant to federal regulations, control is conclusively deemed to have occurred when an entity, among other things, has acquired more than 25 percent of any class of voting stock of the institution or the ability to control the election of a majority of the directors of an institution. Moreover, control is presumed to have occurred, subject to rebuttal, upon the acquisition of more than 10 percent of any class of voting stock, or of more than 25 percent of any class of stock, of a federal savings bank, where certain enumerated control factors are also present in the acquisition. The OTS may prohibit an acquisition of control if: (1) it would result in a monopoly or substantially lessen competition; (2) the financial condition of the acquiring person might jeopardize the financial stability of the institution; or (3) the competence, experience or integrity of the acquiring person indicates that it would not be in the interest of the depositors or of the public to permit the acquisition of control by such person. These restrictions do not apply to the acquisition of stock by one or more tax-qualified employee stock benefits plans, provided that the plan or plans do not have beneficial ownership in the aggregate of more than 25 percent of any class of our equity security. BANK MUTUAL'S CHARTER AND BYLAWS General. Bank Mutual's charter and bylaws are available at Mutual's administrative office or by writing or calling us, 4949 West Brown Deer Road, Brown Deer, Wisconsin 53223, telephone number (414) 354-1500. Classified Board of Directors and Related Provisions. Bank Mutual's board of directors is divided into three classes which are as nearly equal in number as possible. Directors serve for terms of three years. As 127 129 a result, each year, only one-third of the directors are eligible to be elected and it would take at least two years to elect a majority of our directors. Restrictions on Voting of Securities. The charter provides that for five years after the restructuring any shares of common stock beneficially owned directly or indirectly in excess of 10% by any person, other than the MHC, will not be counted as shares entitled to vote, shall not be voted by any person or counted as voting shares in connection with any matter submitted to shareholders for a vote, and shall not be counted as outstanding for purposes of determining a quorum or the affirmative vote necessary to approve any matter submitted to the Shareholders for a vote. It is possible for such a person to have voting authority for less than 10% of our shares, depending on how the shares are registered. Prohibition Against Cumulative Voting. Bank Mutual's charter does not permit cumulative voting by shareholders in the election of directors. Therefor, the holders of a majority of the shares voted at a meeting, thus precluding a majority shareholder from obtaining representation on the board of directors unless the minority shareholder is able to obtain the support of a majority. In accordance with the law governing mutual holding companies, the MHC must remain the majority holder of Bank Mutual's voting stock. Additional Anti-Takeover Provisions. The provisions described above are not the only provisions of our charter and bylaws having an anti-takeover effect. For example, the charter authorizes the issuance of up to two million shares of preferred stock, which conceivably would represent an additional class of stock required to approve any proposed acquisition. This preferred stock, none of which has been issued, together with authorized but unissued shares of the common stock could represent additional capital required to be purchased by the acquiror. Bank Mutual's charter authorizes the issuance of up to 100 million shares of the common stock. In addition to discouraging a takeover attempt which a majority of our shareholders might determine to be in their best interest or in which our shareholders might receive a premium over the current market prices for their shares, the effect of these provisions may render the removal of our management more difficult. It is possible that incumbent officers and directors might be able to retain their positions (at least until their term of office expires) even though a majority of our shareholders, other than the mutual holding company, desires a change. The provisions described above are intended to reduce Bank Mutual's vulnerability to takeover attempts and certain other transactions which have not been negotiated with and approved by members of its board of directors. The provisions of the employment agreements, the change of control agreements, the management recognition plan and the stock option plan to be established may also discourage takeover attempts by increasing the costs to be incurred by Bank Mutual and its subsidiaries in the event of a takeover. See "Management -- Employment Agreements," and "-- Future Stock Benefit Plans -- Stock Option Plan." Bank Mutual's board of directors believes that the provisions of the charter, bylaws and benefit plans to be established are in the best interests of Bank Mutual and its shareholders. An unsolicited non-negotiated proposal can seriously disrupt the business and management of a corporation and cause it great expense. Accordingly, the board of directors believes it is in the best interests of Bank Mutual and its shareholders to encourage potential acquirors to negotiate directly with management and that these provisions will encourage such negotiations and discourage non-negotiated takeover attempts. It is also the board of directors' view that these provisions should not discourage persons from proposing a merger or other transaction at a price that reflects the true value of Mutual and that otherwise is in the best interests of all shareholders. 128 130 RIGHTS OF BANK MUTUAL SHAREHOLDERS; COMPARISON TO FIRST NORTHERN SHARES Upon consummation of the merger, the shareholders of First Northern will become shareholders of Bank Mutual. The rights of the Bank Mutual shareholders are governed by federal law and Bank Mutual's charter and bylaws. Among other things, Bank Mutual's charter and bylaws provide that, if consistent with federal law, Bank Mutual will be governed by corporate law provisions of Wisconsin law, as if it were a Wisconsin corporation. Mutual has made an exception to that requirement for various antitakeover laws under Wisconsin law; see "Antitakeover Laws" below. Bank Mutual is authorized to issue 100 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value. The common stock represents nonwithdrawable capital, will not be in an account of insurable type and will not be insured by the FDIC or any other governmental agency. The rights of the First Northern shareholders presently are governed by Wisconsin law and the First Northern restated articles of incorporation and bylaws. These rights differ in certain respects and the material differences are summarized below. NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS Neither the holders of Bank Mutual common stock nor First Northern common stock have any preemptive rights with respect to any shares issued by the companies. Any subsequent stock issuance by Bank Mutual, however, may only be effected through a stock issuance plan approved by the OTS which would grant subscription priorities to the MHC's members unless Bank Mutual demonstrates that a non-conforming stock issuance would be more beneficial to it. LIQUIDATION RIGHTS; REDEMPTION In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Bank Mutual, the holders of its common stock generally would be entitled to receive, after payment of all liabilities and any preferred stock preferences, all assets of Bank Mutual available for distribution. Common stock is not subject to any redemption provisions. Similar provisions apply for First Northern. Federal regulations require that, so long as the MHC remains in place, it must hold a majority of the outstanding shares of Bank Mutual common stock. That, in general, will give the MHC the right to control significant decisions and transactions involving Bank Mutual. First Northern does not have a similar controlling person. TREATMENT UPON FULL CONVERSION In the event that Bank Mutual would make a full conversion of the MHC to the stock form of organization, the plan of restructuring includes provisions intended to protect Bank Mutual shareholders. In general, they provide that Bank Mutual shareholders would receive, in any subsequent full conversion, the same percentage of ownership of a successor entity as they would hold in Bank Mutual prior to that conversion. See "The Restructuring -- Possible Conversion of the MHC to Stock Form." Bank Mutual cannot assure that there will be a subsequent full conversion. Also, any such full conversion will be subject to OTS, or other governmental regulations as then in effect. Those regulations may affect the treatment of Bank Mutual shareholders in any full conversion, and could have the effect of disadvantaging Bank Mutual shareholders. VOTING RIGHTS Holders of Bank Mutual common stock will have one vote for each share held by them on all matters which are representative to shareholder's vote. There is an exception to this rule during the first five years of Bank Mutual's existence for persons or entities, other than the MHC, which come to acquire more than 129 131 10% of Bank Mutual's common stock. In that case, shares in excess of 10% of Bank Mutual's outstanding common stock will not have any voting rights. Shares of First Northern common stock have one share per vote on each matter as considered by shareholders except in the case of restrictions on certain 20% or greater shareholders imposed by Wisconsin law. See "Anti-takeover Laws -- Control Share Voting Restrictions" below. Neither Bank Mutual's nor First Northern's shareholders have cumulative rights in the election of directors. Because the MHC will always own more than 50% of the shares of Bank Mutual, it will control the election of directors. STATUTORY SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY Under Wisconsin law, shareholders of corporations which are either organized or qualified to do business in the state of Wisconsin may be personally liable for unpaid compensation claims by employees, for up to six month services in any one case. As a Wisconsin corporation, shares of First Northern common stock have been subject to this employee wage statute. Non-Wisconsin corporations which are qualified to do business in Wisconsin have been judicially determined to be subject to this law. However, it has not been judicially determined whether federally-chartered entities, such as Bank Mutual, may be made subject to the Wisconsin statute. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Bank Mutual bylaws provide that its board of directors shall consist of eleven members. The directors are classified into three classes, which are to be as nearly equal in size as possible. Each class is elected for a three-year term, and one of the classes of the board of directors is subject to election at each annual meeting of Bank Mutual shareholders. The First Northern articles and bylaws provide for a size to be determined by the board of directors; First Northern directors are also elected by class for three-year terms. The Bank Mutual bylaws also provide that a director may be removed only for cause by a vote of the holders of majority of shares entitled to vote. Vacancies on the Bank Mutual board of directors, whether by resignation of a director or by the establishment of an increase in the number of directors, may be filled by action of the remaining directors of Bank Mutual. However, the directors so elected only serve until the next meeting of shareholders. In First Northern's case, under Wisconsin law, directors elected by the Board may serve the remaining term of the class. Directors of Bank Mutual must own not less than 100 shares of Bank Mutual common stock. First Northern does not have an equivalent share ownership requirement. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS Under Bank Mutual's charter, until five years after the Mutual restructuring, special meetings of shareholders of Bank Mutual may only be called upon the direction of the board of directors. Thereafter, special meetings may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the president and majority of the directors, or upon the written request of holders of not less than 1/10th of all the outstanding shares of capital stock. Wisconsin law provides rights to First Northern shareholders similar to those which will apply to Bank Mutual after 2005. The Bank Mutual board of directors will act as a nominating committee for the selecting of management nominees for election of directors. With certain exceptions in the case of vacancies, nominating committee must deliver written nominations to the secretary at least 20 days prior to the date of the annual meeting. No nominations for directors except for those made by the nominating committee will be voted upon at the annual meeting unless other nominations by shareholders are made in writing 130 132 and delivered to Bank Mutual at least five days prior to the date of the annual meeting. First Northern's nominating committee is also its entire board of directors. PREFERRED STOCK The Bank Mutual charter authorizes the issuance of preferred stock, in one or more classes with the rights and preferences of shareholders of those classes to be determined by the Board of Directors. First Northern's articles of incorporation similarly authorize preferred stock. In both cases, if the companies were to issue shares of preferred stock, their holders would have dividend and liquidation rights prior to those holders of common stock, and would have such voting rights as were determined by the Board of Directors. APPROVAL OF FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS Corporate combination transactions such as mergers, sales of substantially all assets, or dissolution of the corporation, would require the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Bank Mutual common stock. Because the MHC would own a majority, it would control the decisions on these matters. Majority vote would also be required for similar transactions for First Northern, except in the case where Wisconsin law would require a higher percentage in the case of certain combinations with affiliates. See "Anti-takeover Laws" below. Similarly, the approval of the majority of outstanding shares is required for an amendment to the Bank Mutual charter. A similar vote is required for amendment to First Northern's Articles of Incorporation. In the event either company had issued shares of preferred stock, preferred shareholders may have rights to vote as a class on certain types of amendments. DISSENTERS' RIGHTS Because its securities trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Wisconsin law does not generally give First Northern shareholders dissenters' rights in most transactions. Because Bank Mutual has provided that it will be subject to Wisconsin corporate law provisions, so long as Bank Mutual has a class of securities traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market or an exchange, its shareholders also will not have dissenters' rights in most corporate transactions. ANTI-TAKEOVER LAWS As discussed above, there are certain provisions of Bank Mutual charter and bylaws which could impede a takeover. For example, as discussed above, Bank Mutual will have a classified board of directors and directors may not be removed by shareholders without cause. Further, the control by the MHC will, in and of itself, have the effect of restricting a takeover of Bank Mutual. Additionally, for five years, Bank Mutual articles and bylaws restrict the voting power of any party other than the MHC which would own more than 10% of Bank Mutual common stock and restrict the calling of special meetings by shareholders. While First Northern also has a classified board of directors, the other provisions intended to inhibit a takeover do not apply to First Northern. Although Bank Mutual has provided in its charter and bylaws that it will be subject to Wisconsin corporate law provisions, its charter provides that it is not subject to various provisions of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law which may impede takeovers. First Northern has been subject to those laws. Therefore, the followings laws will be no longer applicable. 131 133 Business Combination Statute. Sections 180.1140 to 180.1144 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law regulate a broad range of business combinations between a resident domestic corporation and an interested stockholder. A business combination is defined to include any of the following transactions: - merger or share exchange; - sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition of assets equal to 5% or more of the market value of the stock or assets of the company or 10% of its earning power or income; - issuance of stock or rights to purchase stock with a market value equal to 5% or more of the outstanding stock; and - adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution. A resident domestic corporation is defined to mean a Wisconsin corporation that has a class of voting stock that is registered or traded on a national securities exchange or that is registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and that, as of the relevant date, satisfies any of the following: - its principal offices are located in Wisconsin; - it has significant business operations located in Wisconsin; - more than 10% of the holders of record of its shares are residents of Wisconsin; or - more than 10% of its shares are held of record by residents of Wisconsin. First Northern is a resident domestic corporation for purposes of the Wisconsin anti-takeover laws. An interested stockholder is defined to mean a person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation or who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and beneficially owned 10% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock within the last three years. Under this law, First Northern cannot engage in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date such person becomes an interested stockholder, unless the board of directors approved the business combination or the acquisition of the stock that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder before such acquisition. First Northern may engage in a business combination with an interested stockholder after the three-year period with respect to that stockholder expires only if one or more of the following conditions is satisfied: - the board of directors approved the acquisition of the stock prior to such stockholder's acquisition date; - the business combination is approved by a majority of the outstanding voting stock not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or - the consideration to be received by shareholders meets certain fair price requirements of the statute with respect to form and amount. Fair Price Statute. The Wisconsin Business Corporation Law also provides, in Sections 180.1130 to 180.1133, that certain mergers, share exchanges or sales, leases, exchanges or other dispositions of assets in a transaction involving a significant shareholder and a resident domestic corporation require a supermajority vote of shareholders in addition to any approval otherwise required, unless shareholders receive a fair price for their shares that satisfies a statutory formula. A significant shareholder for this purpose is defined as a person or group who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting stock of the corporation, or is an affiliate of the corporation and beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting stock of the corporation within the last two years. Any such business combination must be approved by 80% of the voting power of the corporation's stock and at least two-thirds of the voting power of the corporation's stock not beneficially held by the significant shareholder 132 134 who is party to the relevant transaction or any of its affiliates or associates, in each case voting together as a single group, unless the following fair price standards have been met: - the aggregate value of the per share consideration is equal to the higher of: - the highest price paid for any common shares of the corporation by the significant shareholder in the transaction in which it became a significant shareholder or within two years before the date of the business combination; - the market value of the corporation's shares on the date of commencement of any tender offer by the significant shareholder, the date on which the person became a significant shareholder or the date of the first public announcement of the proposed business combination, whichever is higher; or - the highest preferential liquidation or dissolution distribution to which holders of the shares would be entitled; and - either cash, or the form of consideration used by the significant shareholder to acquire the largest number of shares, is offered. Control Share Voting Restrictions. Under Section 180.1150 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, the voting power of shares, of a resident domestic corporation, held by any person or group of persons acting together in excess of 20% of the voting power in the election of directors is limited (in voting on any matter) to 10% of the full voting power of those shares. This restriction does not apply to shares acquired directly from the resident domestic corporation, in certain specified transactions, or in a transaction in which the corporation's shareholders have approved restoration of the full voting power of the otherwise restricted shares. Because of the 10% threshold contained in Wisconsin's business combination statute discussed above, this control share threshold of 20% may not be triggered unless the board of directors first approves a transaction that permits the shareholder to exceed the 10% ownership level. Defensive Action Restrictions. Section 180.1134 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law provides that, in addition to the vote otherwise required by law or the articles of incorporation of a resident domestic corporation, the approval of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote is required before such corporation can take certain action while a takeover offer is being made or after a takeover offer has been publicly announced and before it is concluded. This statute requires shareholder approval for the corporation to do either of the following: - acquire more than 5% of its outstanding voting shares at a price above the market price from any individual or organization that owns more than 3% of the outstanding voting shares and has held such shares for less than two years, unless a similar offer is made to acquire all voting shares and all securities which may be converted into voting shares; or - sell or option assets of the corporation which amount to 10% or more of the market value of the corporation, unless the corporation has at least three independent directors (directors who are not officers or employees) and a majority of the independent directors vote not to have this provision apply to the corporation. 133 135 PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA PRO FORMA DATA REFLECTING THE FIRST NORTHERN MERGER In the following tables, we provide unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data of Bank Mutual and subsidiaries which includes the historical data for Mutual Savings and First Northern plus adjustments to give effect to the First Northern merger. The data are based on an assumption that Bank Mutual common shares are issued for 40% of First Northern shares outstanding on June 30, 2000 and cash is paid for 60% of First Northern shares outstanding on June 30, 2000. We assume that shares had been sold at the beginning of the period and the net proceeds from the offering had been invested at the indicated rate which represents the yield on the one-year U.S. Government securities on the indicated date. The yield on the one-year U.S. Government securities was used rather than the arithmetic average of the average yield on total interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on deposits, because the yield on one-year U.S. Government securities is believed to be more reflective of market interest rates. Additional assumptions are discussed in the notes that follow the table. Operating results data assumes that this transaction occurred on the first day of each period shown, whereas financial condition data assumes that this transaction occurred at the date indicated. The per share information is calculated assuming the number of shares outstanding is unchanged throughout each respective time period. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the First Northern merger will be accounted for using the purchase method. Accordingly, the recorded assets and liabilities of Mutual Savings will be carried forward at their recorded amounts and the historical operating results of Mutual Savings will be unchanged for the prior periods being reported on. However, the assets and liabilities of First Northern will be adjusted to fair value at the date of the merger. To the extent that the purchase price, consisting of the number of shares of Bank Mutual to be issued to former First Northern shareholders at fair value plus cash to be paid to former First Northern shareholders, exceeds the fair value of the net assets of First Northern at the merger date, that excess will be reported as an intangible asset to be amortized to the consolidated income of Bank Mutual in future periods. Further, the purchase accounting method results in the operating results of First Northern only being included in the consolidated income of Bank Mutual beginning from the date of the merger. We present this pro forma data as an illustration only. It does not necessarily indicate the financial position or financial results that would have actually been reported if the restructuring and merger had occurred as of, or at, the beginning of the periods presented, nor does it necessarily indicate future financial position or results of operations. The pro forma results of operations neither assume nor incorporate any benefits from cost savings or synergies of operations of the combined companies. The effects of the stock offering are reflected in "Pro Forma Data Reflecting the Stock Offering" below and the following tables should be read in conjunction with that information. 134 136 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET JUNE 30, 2000 FAIR VALUE HISTORIC HISTORIC PRE-STOCK AND PRE-STOCK MUTUAL FIRST OFFERING MERGER OFFERING SAVINGS NORTHERN COMBINED ADJUSTMENTS MERGED ---------- -------- ---------- ----------- ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents..... $ 31,817 $ 11,234 $ 43,051 $(83,960)(a)(b) $ (40,909) Investments................... 518,838 52,680 571,518 (553)(c) 570,965 Loans, net.................... 1,129,619 797,177 1,926,796 (9,809)(c) 1,916,987 Office properties and equipment................... 26,727 8,092 34,819 3,340(c) 38,159 Intangible assets............. 11,027 -- 11,027 58,554(c) 69,581 Other assets.................. 41,142 35,692 76,834 5,581(b)(c) 82,415 ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- Total assets............. $1,759,170 $904,875 $2,664,045 $(26,847) $2,637,198 ========== ======== ========== ======== ========== LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities: Deposits.................... $1,300,613 $568,625 $1,869,238 $ (9)(c) $1,869,229 Borrowings.................. 264,667 247,353 512,020 (1,389)(c) 510,631 Other liabilities........... 26,302 13,293 39,595 -- 39,595 ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- Total liabilities... 1,591,582 829,271 2,420,853 (1,398) 2,419,455 Shareholders' equity.......... 167,588 75,604 243,192 (25,449)(a)(b)(c) 217,743 ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- Total liabilities and equity................. $1,759,170 $904,875 $2,664,045 $(26,847) $2,637,198 ========== ======== ========== ======== ========== - ------------------------- (a) Assumes that First Northern shares are exchanged for 60% cash and 40% Bank Mutual shares based on a value of $15.00 per share for each First Northern share outstanding. Adjusted outstanding First Northern shares used to calculate book value per common share is 8,375,808, resulting in the issuance of 5,025,485 shares of Bank Mutual and the payment of $75.4 million of cash to former First Northern shareholders. Also reflected is the $100,000 capital contribution to form the MHC. (b) Adjustment to record the effects of estimated non-recurring merger-related charges of $8.5 million, $5.7 million net of tax effect, which will be charged to earnings of First Northern immediately prior to the First Northern merger and which consist of the following (in thousands): Merger related professional fees*........................... $1,000 Costs of acquisition*....................................... 500 Buy-back of outstanding options............................. 5,728 Restructuring charges....................................... 500 Benefit plan accruals....................................... 750 ------ 8,478 Tax benefit................................................. 2,791 ------ Total estimated non-recurring charges....................... $5,687 ====== - ------------------------- * Amount not tax effected as it is not deductible for federal and state income tax purposes. (c) Under purchase accounting, First Northern's assets and liabilities are to be adjusted to their estimated fair values. The estimated fair value adjustments have been determined by Mutual based upon 135 137 available information. The following sets forth the purchase accounting adjustments made to reflect First Northern's assets and liabilities to fair values at June 30, 2000 (in thousands): Historical shareholders' equity......................... $75,604 Investments............................................. (553) Loans receivable........................................ (9,809) Office properties and repossessed assets................ 3,340 Other assets -- loan servicing rights................... 900 Other assets -- income tax benefit...................... 1,890 Deposits................................................ 9 Borrowings.............................................. 1,389 ------- Adjusted shareholders' equity...................... 72,770 Purchase price -- cash.................................. $ 75,382 Purchase price -- stock................................. 50,255 Acquisition costs....................................... 5,687 --------- 131,324 Cost in excess of net assets of business acquired....... $58,554 ======= 136 138 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED PRE-STOCK OFFERING STATEMENTS OF INCOME SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 RESTRUCTURING HISTORIC HISTORIC PRE-STOCK FAIR VALUE PRE-STOCK MUTUAL FIRST OFFERING AND MERGER OFFERING SAVINGS NORTHERN COMBINED(a) ADJUSTMENTS MERGED -------- -------- ----------- ------------- --------- (IN THOUSANDS) Interest income................... $60,482 $30,051 $90,533 $(1,554)(b)(c) $88,979 Interest expense.................. 37,061 19,186 56,247 (233)(d) 56,014 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net interest income............... 23,421 10,865 34,286 (1,321) 32,965 Provision for losses on loans..... 236 330 566 -- 566 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net interest income after provision for losses on loans... 23,185 10,535 33,720 (1,321) 32,399 Total non-interest income......... 4,016 2,104 6,120 (64)(e) 6,056 Total non-interest expenses....... 16,686 7,694 24,380 1,478(f)(g) 25,858 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Income before income taxes........ 10,515 4,945 15,460 (2,863) 12,597 Income taxes...................... 4,001 1,569 5,570 (560)(h) 5,010 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net income........................ $ 6,514 $ 3,376 $ 9,890 $(2,303) $ 7,587 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= - ------------------------- (a) Reflects the historical combined earnings of Mutual Savings and First Northern prior to the stock offering of Bank Mutual. (b) Reflects the loss of interest revenue on $84.0 million of cash outflows related to the First Northern merger at 6.17% (3.70% net of tax at the 40.0% effective rate), which represents the yield on the one year U.S. treasury note as of June 30, 2000. (c) Reflects the amortization of the fair market value adjustment of loans and investments using the interest method over the estimated remaining life. (d) Reflects accretion of discount related to deposits and borrowings using the interest method over the estimated remaining life. (e) Reflects amortization of loan servicing rights over a seven year period. (f) Reflects additional depreciation resulting from write-up in value of office properties over 30 years using the straight-line method. (g) Reflects amortization of intangible assets from the First Northern merger over a 20 year life using the straight-line method. (h) Tax effect a 40.0% marginal tax rate of pro forma adjustments, except for intangible amortization, which has no tax effect. 137 139 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 RESTRUCTURING HISTORIC HISTORIC PRE-STOCK FAIR VALUE PRE-STOCK MUTUAL FIRST OFFERING AND MERGER OFFERING SAVINGS NORTHERN COMBINED(A) ADJUSTMENTS MERGED -------- -------- ----------- ------------- --------- (IN THOUSANDS) Interest income.................... $118,302 $52,770 $171,072 $ (2,907)(b,c) $168,165 Interest expense................... 75,337 30,686 106,023 (466)(d) 105,557 -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Net interest income................ 42,965 22,084 65,049 (2,441) 62,608 Provision for losses on loans...... 350 472 822 -- 822 -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Net interest income after provision for losses on loans.............. 42,615 21,612 64,227 (2,441) 61,786 Total non-interest income.......... 7,984 3,854 11,838 (129)(e) 11,709 Total non-interest expenses........ 51,279(h) 14,564 65,843 2,896(f)(g) 68,739 -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Income before income taxes......... (680) 10,902 10,222 (5,466) 4,756 Income taxes....................... 3,803 3,525 7,328 (1,039)(i) 6,289 -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Net income......................... $ (4,483)(h) $ 7,377 $ 2,894 $ (4,427) $ (1,533) ======== ======= ======== ======== ======== - ------------------------- (a) Reflects the historical combined earnings of Mutual Savings and First Northern prior to the stock offering of Bank Mutual. (b) Reflects loss of interest revenue on $84.0 million of cash outflows related to the First Northern merger at 5.93% (3.56% net of tax at 40% effective rate), which represents the yield on the one year U.S. treasury note as of December 31, 1999. (c) Reflects the amortization of the fair market value adjustment on loans and investments using the interest method over the estimated remaining life. (d) Reflects accretion of discount related to deposits and borrowings using the interest method over the estimated remaining life. (e) Reflects amortization of loan servicing rights over a seven year period. (f) Reflects additional depreciation resulting from write-up in value of office properties over 30 years using the straight-line method. (g) Reflects amortization of intangible assets from the First Northern merger over a 20 year life using straight-line method. (h) In 1999, non-interest expense includes a special write-off of intangible assets of $15.6 million which Mutual deemed to be impaired. The intangible assets resulted from the 1997 acquisition of First Federal. The net-of-income tax effect on net income of the write-off in 1999 was a decrease of $13.6 million. (i) Tax effect at 40.0% marginal tax rate of pro forma adjustments, except for intangible amortization, which has no tax effect. PRO FORMA DATA REFLECTING THE STOCK OFFERING In the following tables, we provide unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data of, and assumptions relating to, Bank Mutual reflecting the stock offering. The data assumes that the First Northern merger has also occurred; detailed effects of the First Northern merger are reflected in the pro forma data on the preceding pages. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the restructuring will be accounted for at historical cost in a manner similar to pooling of interest accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, the carrying value of Mutual Savings' assets, liabilities and equity will 138 140 not be affected by the restructuring and will be reflected in the successor stock savings bank's financial statements based upon their historical amounts. We present this pro forma data as an illustration only. It does not necessarily indicate the financial position or financial results that would have actually been reported if the restructuring and merger had occurred as of, or at, the beginning of the periods presented, nor do they necessarily indicate future financial position or results of operations. The pro forma results of operations neither assume nor incorporate any benefits from cost savings or synergies of operations of the combined companies. BANK MUTUAL CORPORATION STOCK OFFERING AT OR FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM 4,692,782 5,965,232 7,237,682 8,701,000 SHARES AT SHARES AT SHARES AT SHARES AT $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 PER SHARE PER SHARE PER SHARE PER SHARE(a) ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Gross proceeds............................ $ 46,928 $ 59,652 $ 72,377 $ 87,010 Less marketing fees and other issuance expenses................................ (3,462) (3,638) (3,813) (4,015) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Estimated net proceeds.................... 43,466 56,014 68,564 82,995 Less: Common stock acquired by ESOP....... (7,775) (8,793) (9,811) (10,981) Less: Common stock to be acquired by MRP..................................... (2,915) (3,297) (3,679) (4,118) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Estimated adjusted net proceeds(b)........ $ 32,776 $ 43,925 $ 55,074 $ 67,896 =========== =========== =========== =========== Combined net income: Historical combined(c).................. $ 7,587 $ 7,587 $ 7,587 $ 7,587 Interest income(d)...................... 607 813 1,019 1,257 ESOP(e)................................. (233) (264) (294) (329) MRP(f).................................. (175) (198) (221) (247) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma income.......................... $ 7,786 $ 7,938 $ 8,091 $ 8,267 =========== =========== =========== =========== Earnings per share: Historical combined(c).................. $ 0.41 $ 0.36 $ 0.33 $ 0.29 Interest income(d)...................... 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.05 ESOP(e)................................. (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) MRP(f).................................. (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share(g)(h)(j).......................... $ 0.42 $ 0.38 $ 0.35 $ 0.32 =========== =========== =========== =========== Pro forma basic P/E ratio(g)(h)........... 11.9x 13.2x 14.3x 15.6x =========== =========== =========== =========== Number of shares used in calculating net income per share(j)..................... 18,440,490 20,854,973 23,269,458 26,046,114 =========== =========== =========== =========== Shareholders' equity: Historical combined(i).................. $ 217,743 $ 217,743 $ 217,743 $ 217,743 Estimated net proceeds.................. 43,466 56,014 68,564 82,995 Less: Common stock acquired by ESOP(e).. (7,775) (8,793) (9,811) (10,981) Less: Common stock to be acquired by MRP(f)............................... (2,915) (3,297) (3,679) (4,118) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma shareholders' equity(k)......... $ 250,519 $ 261,668 $ 272,817 $ 285,639 =========== =========== =========== =========== 139 141 ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM 4,692,782 5,965,232 7,237,682 8,701,000 SHARES AT SHARES AT SHARES AT SHARES AT $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 PER SHARE PER SHARE PER SHARE PER SHARE(A) ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Shareholders' equity per share: Historical combined..................... $ 11.18 $ 9.89 $ 8.86 $ 7.92 Estimated net proceeds.................. 2.23 2.54 2.79 3.02 Less: Common stock acquired by ESOP(e).. (0.40) (0.40) (0.40) (0.40) Less: Common stock to be acquired by MRP(f)............................... (0.15) (0.15) (0.15) (0.16) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma shareholders' equity per share(g)(h)(j).......................... $ 12.86 $ 11.88 $ 11.10 $ 10.38 =========== =========== =========== =========== Pro forma price to book value ratio(g)(h)............................. 77.76% 84.18% 90.09% 96.34% =========== =========== =========== =========== Number of shares used in equity per share calculations(j)......................... 19,475,485 22,025,485 24,575,485 27,507,985 =========== =========== =========== =========== - ------------------------- (a) Assumes an increase in the number of shares due to a 15% increase in the maximum of the offering range to reflect changes in market and financial conditions before the restructuring and stock offering is completed or to fill the order of the employee stock ownership plan. (b) Estimated adjusted proceeds consist of the estimated net stock offering proceeds, minus (i) the proceeds attributable to the purchase by Mutual Savings' employee stock ownership plan and (ii) the value of the shares to be purchased by Mutual Savings' recognition plan after the restructuring and stock offering, subject to shareholder approval, at an assumed purchase price of $10.00 per share. Marketing fees and other issuance expenses consist of legal, accounting, printing and other fixed costs totaling $2,875,000 plus variable marketing fees based on 1.50% of gross proceeds less shares to be acquired by the ESOP. (c) Reflects the combined historical net earnings of Mutual Savings and First Northern for the six months ended June 30, 2000, adjusted for the merger. (d) Consists of interest earned on net proceeds from the sale of minority ownership of Bank Mutual at 6.17%, (3.70% net of income tax at 40.0% effective rate) which represents the one year U. S. treasury note rate at June 30, 2000. (e) Bank Mutual assumes that 8% of the shares of common stock issued in the restructuring, stock offering and merger will be purchased by the employee stock ownership plan (771,461, 879,257, 981,053 and 1,098,119 shares at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively). Bank Mutual also assumes that the funds used to acquire such shares will be borrowed by the employee stock ownership plan from Bank Mutual. Mutual Savings intends to make quarterly contributions to the employee stock ownership plan over a ten-year period in an amount at least equal to the principle and interest requirements of the debt. The pro forma earnings assumes (i) that the loan to the employee stock ownership plan is payable over ten years in equal installments of principle with the employee stock ownership plan shares having an average fair value of $10.00 per share; (ii) that the loan to the employee stock ownership plan bears interest at the Mutual Savings' prime interest rate; (iii) that the employee stock ownership plan expense for the period is equivalent to the principal payment for the period and are made throughout the period (the interest expense paid by the Mutual Savings and the interest income recognized by the Bank Mutual on the ESOP debt are eliminated in consolidation); (iv) 38,873, 43,963, 49,053 and 54,906 shares are committed to be released with respect to the six months ended June 30, 2000, at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively; (v) only the employee stock ownership plan shares committed to be released during the period are considered outstanding for the purposes of the earnings per share 140 142 calculations based on the average shares to be released during the year; and (f) the effective tax rate is 40.0% for the period. (f) Bank Mutual assumes that 3% of the shares of common stock issued in the stock offering and merger will be purchased by the recognition plan (291,548, 329,722, 367,895 and 411,795 shares at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum respectively), assuming that: (a) shareholder approval of the recognition plan is received; (b) the shares were acquired by the recognition plan at the beginning of the period presented in open market purchases at $10.00 per share; (c) the amortized expense for the six months ended June 30, 2000 is 5% (based on a five year amortization using the straight line method) of the amount contributed which is equal to the vested portion of the shares based on the average shares to be vested during the year; and (d) the effective tax rate applicable to such employee compensation expense is 40.0%. Unvested shares under the recognition plan are excluded from the basic earnings per share calculation and included in the diluted earnings per share calculation only if they are dilutive under the treasury stock method. Bank Mutual assumes that 20% of the recognition plan shares vest annually and that 29,155, 32,972, 36,790 and 41,180 shares vest for the period ended June 30, 2000 at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively. (g) Net income or loss and stockholders' equity include current period amortization or end of period unamortized balances, respectively, of intangible assets resulting from the proposed Merger and previous business combinations involving Mutual Savings. The following table presents the net income or loss and stockholders equity, and related per share amounts, excluding amortization or balances of these intangible assets; ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM -------- -------- ------- -------- Pro forma tangible shareholders' equity per share................... $ 9.29 $ 8.72 $ 8.27 $ 7.85 Pro forma price to tangible book value ratio........................ 107.64% 114.68% 120.92% 127.39% Pro forma basic earnings per share before amortization of intangible assets............................. $ 0.53 $ 0.47 $ 0.43 $ 0.39 Pro forma basic P/E ratio before amortization of intangible assets............................. 9.4x 10.6x 11.6x 12.8x (h) Assuming Bank Mutual were to fully convert, resulting in additional estimated adjusted net proceeds at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum of $91.1 million, $102.8 million, $114.0 million and $126.3 million, respectively, which were invested at 6.17% (3.70% net of income tax at 40.0% effective rate), which represents the one year U. S. treasury note rate as of March 31, 2000, less tax effects, and all other assumptions noted above remained unchanged, the following ratios and amounts would result; ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM ------- -------- ------- -------- Pro forma shareholders' equity per share..... $17.54 $16.52 $15.72 $14.98 Pro forma tangible shareholders' equity per share...................................... $13.97 $13.36 $12.89 $12.45 Pro forma price to book value ratio.......... 57.01% 60.53% 63.61% 66.76% Pro forma price to tangible book value ratio...................................... 71.58% 74.85% 77.58% 80.32% Pro forma basic earnings per share........... $ 0.52 $ 0.47 $ 0.44 $ 0.41 Pro forma basic earnings per share before amortization of intangible assets.......... $ 0.62 $ 0.57 $ 0.53 $ 0.48 Pro forma basic P/E ratio.................... 9.6x 10.6x 11.4x 12.2x Pro forma basic P/E ratio before amortization of intangible assets....................... 8.1x 8.8x 9.4x 10.4x Management does not have plans for a full conversion in the immediate future, and we cannot assure that one will occur in the future. 141 143 (i) Consists of equity of Mutual Savings at June 30, 2000 plus capital of $50,254,850 issued to former shareholders assuming 40% of the shares are exchanged less $100,000 of initial capitalization of MHC. (j) Basic earnings per share calculations are determined by (i) starting with the number of shares assumed to be sold in the conversion and stock offering excluding shares to be acquired by the ESOP and recognition plan, (ii) adding the number of shares to be issued to shareholders of First Northern, (iii) adding the number of shares to be issued to MHC, (iv) adding the average employee stock ownership plan shares that have been committed for release during the period, and (v) adding the average recognition plan shares assumed vested during the period. The unvested recognition plan shares are deemed to be for future services and not dilutive under the treasury stock method. Book value per share calculations are determined by (i) starting with the number of shares assumed to be sold in the stock offering (ii) adding the number of shares to be issued to First Northern shareholders and (iii) adding the number of shares to be issued to MHC. Set forth below is a reconciliation of the number of shares used in making the earnings per share and book value per share calculations: ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Shares issued in stock offering...... 4,692,782 5,965,232 7,237,682 8,701,000 Shares issued to First Northern shareholders....................... 5,025,485 5,025,485 5,025,485 5,025,485 Shares issued to MHC................. 9,757,218 11,034,768 12,312,318 13,781,500 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total shares outstanding and used in calculating book value per share... 19,475,485 22,025,485 24,575,485 27,507,985 Less shares sold to employee stock ownership plan..................... (777,461) (879,257) (981,053) (1,098,119) Less recognition plan shares......... (291,548) (329,722) (367,895) (411,795) Plus average employee stock ownership plan shares assumed committed to be released........................... 19,437 21,981 24,526 27,453 Plus average recognition plan shares assumed vested..................... 14,577 16,486 18,395 20,590 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Number of shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share.............................. 18,440,490 20,854,973 23,269,458 26,046,114 ========== ========== ========== ========== (k) The retained earnings of Mutual Savings will be substantially restricted after the restructuring. See "The Restructuring and the Offering -- Effects of the Restructuring -- Liquidation Rights." Pro forma shareholders' equity and pro forma shareholders' equity per share do not give effect to the liquidation account or the bad debt reserves established by Mutual Savings or First Northern Savings for federal income tax purposes in the event of a liquidation. 142 144 BANK MUTUAL CORPORATION STOCK OFFERING AT OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM 4,692,782 5,965,232 7,237,682 8,701,000 SHARES AT SHARES AT SHARES AT SHARES AT $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 PER SHARE PER SHARE PER SHARE PER SHARE(a) ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Gross proceeds............................ $ 46,928 $ 59,652 $ 72,377 $ 87,010 Less marketing fees and other issuance expenses................................ (3,462) (3,638) (3,813) (4,015) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Estimated net proceeds.................... 43,466 56,014 68,564 82,995 Less: Common stock acquired by ESOP....... (7,775) (8,793) (9,811) (10,981) Less: Common stock to be acquired by MRP..................................... (2,915) (3,297) (3,679) (4,118) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Estimated adjusted net proceeds(b)........ $ 32,776 $ 43,925 $ 55,074 $ 67,896 =========== =========== =========== =========== Combined net income (loss): Historical combined(c).................. $ (1,533) $ (1,533) $ (1,533) $ (1,533) Interest income(d)...................... 1,166 1,563 1,960 2,416 ESOP(e)................................. (467) (528) (589) (659) MRP(f).................................. (350) (396) (441) (494) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma income (loss)................... $ (1,184) $ (894) $ (603) $ (270) =========== =========== =========== =========== Earnings (loss) per share: Historical combined(c).................. $ (0.08) $ (0.07) $ (0.07) $ (0.06) Interest income(d)...................... 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 ESOP(e)................................. (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) MRP(f).................................. (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma basic earnings (loss) per share(g)(h)............................. $ (0.06) $ (0.04) $ (0.03) $ (0.01) =========== =========== =========== =========== Pro forma basic P/E ratio(g)(h)........... NM NM NM NM =========== =========== =========== =========== Number of shares used in calculating net income per share(j)..................... 18,474,504 20,893,441 23,312,380 26,094,157 =========== =========== =========== =========== Shareholders' equity: Historical combined(i).................. $ 207,441 $ 207,441 $ 207,441 $ 207,441 Estimated net proceeds.................. 43,466 56,014 68,564 82,995 Less: Common stock acquired by ESOP(e).. (7,775) (8,793) (9,811) (10,981) Less: Common stock to be acquired by MRP(f)............................... (2,915) (3,297) (3,679) (4,118) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma shareholders' equity(k)......... $ 240,217 $ 251,366 $ 262,515 $ 275,337 =========== =========== =========== =========== Shareholders' equity per share: Historical combined(i).................. $ 10.65 $ 9.42 $ 8.44 $ 7.54 Estimated net proceeds.................. 2.23 2.54 2.79 3.02 Less: Common stock acquired by ESOP(e).. (0.40) (0.40) (0.40) (0.40) Less: Common stock to be acquired by MRP(f)............................... (0.15) (0.15) (0.15) (0.15) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Pro forma shareholders' equity per share(g)(h)(j).......................... $ 12.33 $ 11.41 $ 10.68 $ 10.01 =========== =========== =========== =========== Pro forma price to book value ratio(g)(h)............................. 81.10% 87.64% 93.63% 99.90% =========== =========== =========== =========== Number of shares used in equity per share calculations(j)......................... 19,475,485 22,025,485 24,575,485 27,507,985 =========== =========== =========== =========== - ------------------------- 143 145 (a) Assumes an increase in the number of shares due to a 15% increase in the maximum of the offering range to reflect changes in market and financial conditions before the restructuring and stock offering is completed or to fill the order of the employee stock ownership plan. (b) Estimated adjusted proceeds consist of the estimated net stock offering proceeds, minus (i) the proceeds attributable to the purchase by Mutual Savings' employee stock ownership plan and (ii) the value of the shares to be purchased by Mutual Savings' recognition plan after the restructuring and stock offering, subject to shareholder approval, at an assumed purchase price of $10.00 per share. Marketing fees and other issuance expenses consist of legal, accounting, printing and other fixed costs totaling $2,875,050 plus variable marketing fees based on 1.50% of gross proceeds less shares to be acquired by the ESOP. (c) Reflects the combined historical net earnings of Mutual Savings and First Northern for the year ended December 31, 1999, adjusted for the merger. (d) Consists of interest earned on net proceeds from the sale of minority ownership of the Company at 5.93% (3.56% net of income tax at 40.0% effective rate), which represents the one year U.S. treasury note rate as of December 31, 1999. (e) Bank Mutual assumes that 8% of the shares of common stock issued in the restructuring, the stock offering and the merger will be purchased by the employee stock ownership plan (777,461, 879,257, 981,053 and 1,098,119 shares at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively). Bank Mutual also assumes that the funds used to acquire such shares will be borrowed by the employee stock ownership plan from Bank Mutual. Mutual Savings intends to make quarterly contributions to the employee stock ownership plan over a ten-year period in an amount at least equal to the principle and interest requirements of the debt. The pro forma earnings assumes (i) that the loan to the employee stock ownership plan is payable over ten years in equal installments of principle with the employee stock ownership plan shares having an average fair value of $10.00 per share; (ii) that the loan to the employee stock ownership plan bears interest at the Mutual Savings' prime interest rate; (iii) that the employee stock ownership plan expense for the period is equivalent to the principal payment for the period and is made throughout the period (the interest expense paid by the Mutual Savings and the interest income recognized by Bank Mutual on the ESOP debt are eliminated in consolidation); (iv) that 77,746, 87,926, 98,105 and 109,812 shares were committed to be released with respect to the year ended December 31, 1999, at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively; (v) only the employee stock ownership plan shares committed to be released during the period are considered outstanding for the purposes of the earnings per share calculations based on the average shares to be released during the year; and (vi) the effective tax rate is 40.0% for the period. (f) Bank Mutual assumes that 3% of the shares of common stock issued in the stock offering and merger will be purchased by the recognition plan (291,548, 329,722, 367,895 and 411,795 shares at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively), assuming that: (a) shareholder approval of the recognition plan is received; (b) the shares were acquired by the recognition plan at the beginning of the period presented in open market purchases at $10.00 per share; (c) the amortized expense for the year ended December 31, 1999 is 20% (based on a five year amortization using the straight line method) of the amount contributed which is equal to the vested portion of the shares based on the average shares to be vested during the year; and (d) the effective tax rate applicable to such employee compensation expense is 40.0%. Unvested shares under the recognition plan are excluded from the basic earnings per share calculation and included in the diluted earnings per share calculation only if they are dilutive under the treasury stock method. Bank Mutual assumes that 20% of the recognition plan shares vest annually and that 58,310, 65,944, 73,579 and 82,359 shares vested for the year ended December 31, 1999 at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively. (g) Net income or loss and stockholders' equity include current period amortization or end of period unamortized balances, respectively, of intangible assets resulting from the proposed Merger and previous business combinations involving Mutual Savings. The following table presents the net income 144 146 or loss and stockholders equity, and related per share amounts, excluding amortization or balances of these intangible assets; ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM ------- -------- ------- -------- Pro forma tangible shareholders' equity per share.......................................... $ 8.80 $ 8.29 $ 7.88 $ 7.51 Pro forma price to tangible book value ratio..... 113.64% 120.63% 126.90% 133.16% Pro forma basic earnings per share before amortization of intangible assets.............. $ 0.96 $ 0.87 $ 0.79 $ 0.72 Pro forma basic P/E ratio before amortization of intangible assets.............................. 10.4x 11.5x 12.7x 13.9x (h) Assuming Bank Mutual were to fully convert, resulting in additional estimated adjusted net proceeds at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum of $91.0 million, $102.2 million, $113.3 million and $126.2 million, respectively, which were invested at 5.93%, (3.56% net of income tax at 40.0% effective rate), which represents the one year U.S. treasury note rate as of December 31, 1999, less tax effects, and all other assumptions noted above remained unchanged, the following ratios and amounts would result; ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM ------- -------- ------- -------- Pro forma shareholders' equity per share......... $17.01 $16.06 $15.30 $14.60 Pro forma tangible shareholders' equity per share.......................................... $13.47 $12.93 $12.50 $12.10 Pro forma price to book value ratio.............. 58.79% 62.27% 65.36% 68.49% Pro forma price to tangible book value ratio..... 74.24% 77.34% 80.00% 82.64% Pro forma basic earnings per share............... $ 0.09 $ 0.11 $ 0.12 $ 0.14 Pro forma basic earnings per share before amortization of intangible assets.............. $ 1.15 $ 1.05 $ 0.97 $ 0.89 Pro forma basic P/E ratio........................ N/M N/M N/M N/M Pro forma basic P/E ratio before amortization of intangible assets.............................. 8.7x 9.5x 10.3x 11.2x Management does not have plans for a full conversion in the immediate future, and we cannot assure that one will occur in the future. (i) Consists of equity of Mutual Savings at December 31, 1999 plus capital of $50,254,850 issued to former shareholders' assuming 40% of the shares are exchanged less $100,000 of initial capitalization of MHC. (j) Basic earnings per share calculations are determined by (i) starting with the number of shares assumed to be sold in the conversion and stock offering, excluding shares to be acquired by the ESOP and recognition plan, (ii) adding the number of shares to be issued to shareholders of First Northern, (iii) adding the number of shares to be issued to MHC, (iv) adding the average employee stock ownership plan shares that have been committed for release during the period, and (v) adding the average recognition plan shares assumed vested during the period. The unvested recognition plan shares were deemed to be for future services and not dilutive under the treasury stock method. Book value per share calculations are determined by (i) starting with the number of shares assumed to be sold in the stock offering, (ii) adding the number of shares to be issued to First Northern 145 147 shareholders and (iii) adding the number of shares to be issued to MHC. Set forth below is a reconciliation of the number of shares used in making the per share calculations: ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Shares issued in stock offering...... 4,692,782 5,965,232 7,237,682 8,701,000 Shares issued to First Northern shareholders....................... 5,025,485 5,025,485 5,025,485 5,025,485 Shares issued to MHC................. 9,757,218 11,034,768 12,312,318 13,781,500 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total shares outstanding and used in calculating book value per share... 19,475,485 22,025,485 24,575,485 27,507,985 Less shares sold to employee stock ownership plan..................... (777,461) (879,257) (981,053) (1,098,119) Less recognition plan shares......... (291,548) (329,722) (367,895) (411,795) Plus average employee stock ownership plan shares assumed committed to be released........................... 38,873 43,963 49,053 54,906 Plus average recognition plan shares assumed vested..................... 29,155 32,972 36,790 41,179 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Number of shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share.............................. 18,474,504 20,893,441 23,312,380 26,094,157 ========== ========== ========== ========== (k) The retained earnings of Mutual Savings will be substantially restricted after the restructuring. See "The Restructuring and the Offering -- Effects of the Restructuring -- Liquidation Rights." Pro forma shareholders' equity and pro forma shareholders' equity per share do not give effect to the liquidation account or the bad debt reserves established by Mutual Savings or First Northern Savings for federal income tax purposes in the event of a liquidation. 146 148 REGULATORY CAPITAL COMPLIANCE At June 30, 2000, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings exceeded all regulatory capital requirements. Set forth below is a summary of the capital computed under generally accepted accounting principles and the compliance with regulatory capital standards at June 30, 2000, on a historical and pro forma basis. We have assumed that the indicated number of shares were sold as of June 30, 2000 and shares were issued to First Northern shareholders in conjunction with the merger agreement. We assumed that Mutual Savings received none of the proceeds from the offering. We further assume that in conjunction with the initial capitalization of Bank Mutual, that capital will be transferred to Bank Mutual in the amounts of $44.0 million, $40.0 million, $36.0 million and $32.0 million from Mutual Savings and $10.5 million, $8.4 million, $6.8 million and $4.5 million from First Northern Savings at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and adjusted maximum, respectively, and that MHC is initially capitalized by a transfer from Mutual Savings of $100,000 in all pro forma cases. Finally, we assume that First Northern Savings' capital will be reduced by $4.2 million of non-recurring merger-related expenses, net of income tax benefit. After the restructuring, the stock offering and the First Northern merger, we believe that Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings will continue to exceed all applicable regulatory capital requirements. For a discussion of the capital requirements applicable to Mutual Savings, see "Regulation -- Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings Federal Regulation Following Restructuring" MUTUAL SAVINGS ------------------------------------------------------------------ PROFORMA ------------------------------------------------------------------ MINIMUM MIDPOINT -------------------- -------------------- 4,692,782 5,965,232 HISTORICAL SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT OF OF OF AMOUNT ASSETS(a) AMOUNT ASSETS(a) AMOUNT ASSETS(a) -------- --------- -------- --------- -------- --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) GAAP Capital(b)............. $167,588 9.53% $123,488 7.20% $127,488 7.42% ======== ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Leverage Capital: Capital level............. $164,513 9.37% $120,413 7.03% $124,413 7.25% Requirement(c)............ 70,244 4.00 68,480 4.00 68,640 4.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess.................... $ 94,269 5.37% $ 51,933 3.03% $ 55,773 3.25% ======== ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Risk-based Capital: Capital level............. $164,513 17.92% $120,413 13.24% $124,413 13.67% Requirement............... 36,727 4.00 36,727 4.00 36,727 4.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess.................... $127,786 13.92% $ 83,686 9.24% $ 87,686 9.67% ======== ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== Total Risk-based Capital: Capital level............. $171,598 18.69% $127,498 14.02% $131,498 14.45% Requirement............... 73,453 8.00 73,453 8.00 73,453 8.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess.................... $ 98,145 10.69% $ 54,045 6.02% $ 58,045 6.45% ======== ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== MUTUAL SAVINGS ------------------------------------------- PROFORMA ------------------------------------------- MAXIMUM ADJUSTED MAXIMUM -------------------- -------------------- 7,237,682 8,701,000 SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD -------------------- -------------------- PERCENT PERCENT OF OF AMOUNT ASSETS(a) AMOUNT ASSETS(a) -------- --------- -------- --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) GAAP Capital(b)............. $131,488 7.63% $135,488 7.84% ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Leverage Capital: Capital level............. $128,413 7.47% $132,413 7.68% Requirement(c)............ 68,800 4.00 68,960 4.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess.................... $ 59,613 3.47% $ 63,453 3.68% ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Risk-based Capital: Capital level............. $128,413 14.10% $132,413 14.52% Requirement............... 36,727 4.00 36,727 4.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess.................... $ 91,686 10.10% $ 95,686 10.52% ======== ===== ======== ===== Total Risk-based Capital: Capital level............. $135,498 14.87% $139,498 15.30% Requirement............... 73,453 8.00 73,453 8.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess.................... $ 62,045 6.87% $ 66,045 7.30% ======== ===== ======== ===== 147 149 REGULATORY CAPITAL COMPLIANCE -- (CONTINUED) FIRST NORTHERN SAVINGS ----------------------------------------------------------------- PROFORMA ----------------------------------------------------------------- MINIMUM MIDPOINT -------------------- -------------------- 4,692,782 5,965,232 HISTORICAL SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD ------------------- -------------------- -------------------- PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT OF OF OF AMOUNT ASSETS(a) AMOUNT ASSETS(a) AMOUNT ASSETS(a) ------- --------- -------- --------- -------- --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) GAAP Capital(b).............. $71,480 7.90% $112,513 11.89% $114,613 12.08% ======= ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Leverage Capital: Capital level.............. $70,787 7.82% $ 53,269 6.00% $ 55,369 6.23% Requirement(c)............. 36,170 4.00 35,485 4.00 35,569 4.00 ------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess..................... $34,617 3.82% $ 17,784 2.00% $ 19,800 2.23% ======= ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Risk-based Capital: Capital level.............. $70,787 11.87% $ 53,269 8.96% $ 55,369 9.31% Requirement................ 23,852 4.00 23,768 4.00 23,784 4.00 ------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess..................... $46,935 7.87% $ 29,501 4.96% $ 31,585 5.31% ======= ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== Total Risk-based Capital: Capital level.............. $74,979 12.57% $ 60,217 10.13% $ 62,317 10.48% Requirement................ 47,703 8.00 47,535 8.00 47,569 8.00 ------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess..................... $27,276 4.57% 12,682 2.13% $ 14,748 2.48% ======= ===== ======== ===== ======== ===== FIRST NORTHERN SAVINGS ------------------------------------------- PROFORMA ------------------------------------------- MAXIMUM ADJUSTED MAXIMUM -------------------- -------------------- 7,237,682 8,701,000 SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD -------------------- -------------------- PERCENT PERCENT OF OF AMOUNT ASSETS(a) AMOUNT ASSETS(a) -------- --------- -------- --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) GAAP Capital(b).............. $116,213 12.23% $118,513 12.44% ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Leverage Capital: Capital level.............. $ 56,969 6.40% $ 59,269 6.64% Requirement(c)............. 35,633 4.00 35,725 4.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess..................... $ 21,336 2.40% $ 23,544 2.64% ======== ===== ======== ===== Tier I Risk-based Capital: Capital level.............. $ 56,969 9.58% $ 59,269 9.95% Requirement................ 23,797 4.00 23,816 4.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess..................... $ 33,172 5.58% $ 35,453 5.95% ======== ===== ======== ===== Total Risk-based Capital: Capital level.............. $ 63,917 10.74% $ 66,217 11.12% Requirement................ 47,594 8.00 47,631 8.00 -------- ----- -------- ----- Excess..................... $ 16,323 2.74% $ 18,586 3.12% ======== ===== ======== ===== - ------------------------- (a) Leverage capital levels are shown as a percentage of "average assets" and " risk-based capital" levels are calculated on the basis of a percentage of "risk-weighted assets", as each is defined in bank regulations. (b) GAAP is defined as generally accepted accounting principles. (c) The current leverage capital requirement for savings banks is 4%-5% of total adjusted assets. For savings banks that receive the highest supervisory ratings for safety and soundness and that are not experiencing or anticipating significant growth, the leverage capital requirement is 3%. 148 150 CAPITALIZATION The following table presents the pro forma historical deposits, borrowings and capitalization of Mutual Savings and First Northern at June 30, 2000, and the pro forma consolidated deposits, borrowings and capitalization of Bank Mutual consolidated with Mutual Savings and First Northern, including the issuance of stock to First Northern shareholders in accordance with the merger agreement and other assumptions set forth under "Pro Forma Data." We also show pro forma consolidated deposits, borrowings and capitalization of Bank Mutual after giving effect to the stock offering based upon the sale of the number of shares shown below. A change in the number of shares sold in the offering may materially affect the capitalization: PRO FORMA RESTRUCTURING, COMBINED HISTORICAL HISTORICAL FAIR VALUE CONSOLIDATED MUTUAL FIRST AND MERGER REFLECTING SAVINGS NORTHERN ADJUSTMENTS MERGER ---------- ---------- -------------- ------------ (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Deposits(b)........................ $1,300,613 $568,625 $ (9) $1,869,229 ========== ======== ======== ========== Borrowings......................... $ 264,667 $247,353 $ (1,389) $ 510,631 ========== ======== ======== ========== Shareholders' equity: Cumulative preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; no shares outstanding.... -- -- -- -- Common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; shares to be issued in stock offering as reflected............ $ -- $ 9,135 $ (9,084) $ 51(d) Additional paid-in-capital......... -- 8,528 41,676 50,204 Retained earnings(e)............... 176,260 65,971 (66,071) 176,160 Accumulated other comprehensive income........................... (8,672) 381 (381) (8,672) Treasury stock, at cost(g)......... -- (8,411) 8,411 -- Less: Common stock acquired by the employee stock ownership plan(h).......................... -- -- -- -- Common stock acquired by the management recognition plan(i)... -- -- -- -- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- Total shareholders' equity................. $ 167,588 $ 75,604 $(25,449) $ 217,743 ========== ======== ======== ========== BANK MUTUAL -- PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BASED UPON SALE AT $10.00 PER SHARE ---------------------------------------------------- ADJUSTED MINIMUM MIDPOINT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 4,692,782 5,965,232 7,237,682 8,701,000 SHARES SHARES SHARES SHARES(a) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Deposits(b)........................ $1,869,229 $1,869,229 $1,869,229 $1,869,229 ========== ========== ========== ========== Borrowings......................... $ 510,631 $ 510,631 $ 510,631 $ 510,631 ========== ========== ========== ========== Shareholders' equity: Cumulative preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; no shares outstanding.... -- -- -- -- Common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; shares to be issued in stock offering as reflected............ $ 195(c) $ 220(c) $ 246(c) $ 275(c) Additional paid-in-capital......... 137,526 146,049 154,573 164,975 Retained earnings(e)............... 132,160(f) 136,160(f) 140,160(f) 144,160(f) Accumulated other comprehensive income........................... (8,672) (8,672) (8,672) (8,672) Treasury stock, at cost(g)......... Less: Common stock acquired by the employee stock ownership plan(h).......................... (7,775) (8,793) (9,811) (10,981) Common stock acquired by the management recognition plan(i)... (2,915) (3,297) (3,679) (4,118) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total shareholders' equity................. $ 250,519 $ 261,667 $ 272,817 $ 285,639 ========== ========== ========== ========== - ------------------------- 149 151 (a) As adjusted to give effect to an increase in the number of shares which could occur due to an increase in the offering range of up to 15% as a result of general regulatory considerations or changes in market or general financial and economic conditions following the commencement of the offering. (b) Does not reflect withdrawals from deposit accounts for the purchase of common stock in the offering. Withdrawals from deposit accounts would reduce pro forma deposits by the amount of such withdrawals. (c) Reflects the sale of the indicated number of shares plus shares issued to MHC equal to 50.1% of the total shares outstanding. (d) Reflects the issuance of 5,025,485 Bank Mutual shares to shareholders of First Northern at a value of $10.00 per share in accordance with the merger agreement, using the purchase method of accounting. (e) The retained earnings of Mutual Savings will be substantially restricted after the offering. (f) Reflects the reduction in retained earnings related to the initial capitalization of Bank Mutual in the amount of $44.0 million, $40.0 million, $36.0 million and $32.0 million at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the range, respectively. (g) Assumes the cancellation of First Northern's treasury shares at the time of the consummation of the merger. (h) Assumes that 8% of the shares sold in connection with the offering and issued to shareholders of First Northern will be purchased by the employee stock ownership plan and the funds used to acquire the employee stock ownership plan shares will be borrowed from Bank Mutual. The common stock acquired by the employee ownership plan is reflected as a reduction of shareholders' equity. If the employee stock ownership plan buys shares in the market after the reorganization, the purchase price of the those shares may be less or more that the $10.00 offering price. (i) Assumes that, subsequent to the offering, an amount equal to 3% of the shares of common stock issued in the offering is purchased by a management recognition plan through open market purchases. The proposed management recognition plan is intended to be adopted by Bank Mutual and presented for approval of shareholders at a meeting of shareholders to be held at least six months following completion of the offering. The common stock purchased by the management recognition plan is reflected as a reduction of shareholders' equity. CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE FIRST NORTHERN MERGER ON BANK MUTUAL On a pro forma basis at June 30, 2000, assuming completion of the First Northern merger, the restructuring and the stock offering, Bank Mutual would have had total assets of $2.7 billion, total deposits of $1.9 billion, net loans of $1.9 billion and total shareholders' equity of $261.7 million. For further pro forma information, see "Pro Forma Data." Management of Mutual Savings believes that the First Northern merger will be advantageous to our competitive posture, joining two banks with contiguous market areas and compatible business philosophies and product mix. The merger will permit us to expand into growing northeastern Wisconsin markets at a fair consideration and in a more efficient manner than establishing new branches. Initially, the two banks will continue to operate separately. There is no current intention to combine the two banks, although business plans could change in the future. We consider the experienced, forward-looking management of First Northern to be a benefit of the merger. First Northern's CEO and three other board members will join the board of Bank Mutual. It is anticipated that the merger will allow the banks to eliminate certain duplicative costs and to achieve potential economies of scale over time through the increased size and efficiencies of the combined entity. Similarly, the increased size and geographical market area should, over time, allow us to expand products and services and take advantage of greater cross-selling opportunities. 150 152 GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings currently operate in markets that are, for the most part, contiguous and complementary to each other. Most of Mutual Savings' offices are located in the southeastern, south central and western part of Wisconsin. While Mutual has a relatively small presence in northeastern Wisconsin, all of First Northern Savings' offices are located in that area of the state. In particular, First Northern has a substantial presence in the Fox River Valley region, and also includes surrounding rural and vacation areas. The Fox River Valley region is anchored by the cities of Green Bay, where First Northern has its headquarters and a substantial presence, and Appleton, where Mutual Savings has its offices in the area. See "Business of Mutual Savings Bank -- Market Area." The First Northern acquisition would substantially increase Mutual's presence in the northeastern part of the state, while Mutual Savings expects that it would also retain its current offices in the region after the First Northern merger. We believe that the northeastern part of Wisconsin is an attractive area for growth. It is the third largest population concentration in the state, and includes a variety of commercial, industrial, service and recreational businesses. IMPACT ON DEPOSITS Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings have relatively similar deposit mixes and interest rates paid on those deposits. The following table presents the distribution of Mutual Savings' and First Northern Savings' deposit accounts at June 30, 2000 by dollar amount and percent of portfolio, and the weighted average interest rate on each category of deposits. MUTUAL SAVINGS FIRST NORTHERN SAVINGS -------------------------------- ------------------------------ WEIGHTED WEIGHTED PERCENT AVERAGE PERCENT AVERAGE OF TOTAL NOMINAL OF TOTAL NOMINAL AMOUNT DEPOSITS RATE AMOUNT DEPOSITS RATE ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Savings........................... $ 148,406 11.41% 2.43% $ 72,253 12.71% 2.40% Interest-bearing demand........... 86,133 6.62 1.05 40,709 7.16 1.12 Money market...................... 220,721 16.97 5.27 70,817 12.45 4.97 Non-interest bearing demand....... 49,002 3.77 0.00 30,819 5.42 0.00 ---------- ------ ---- -------- ------ ---- Total........................ 504,262 38.77% 3.20% 214,598 37.74% 2.66% ---------- ------ -------- ------ Certificates: Time deposits with original maturities of: Three months or less............ 60,721 4.67% 5.02% 21,758 3.83% 6.10% Over three months to twelve months....................... 141,737 10.90 5.07 75,557 13.29 5.85 Over twelve months to twenty-four months........... 399,933 30.75 5.74 169,544 29.80 5.86 Over twenty-four months to thirty-six months............ 128,303 9.86 6.16 53,885 9.48 5.90 Over thirty-six months to forty-eight months........... 4,249 0.33 5.72 27,340 4.81 5.98 Over forty-eight months to sixty months....................... 59,109 4.54 5.88 5,943 1.05 5.58 Over sixty months............... 2,299 0.18 6.36 -- -- -- ---------- ------ ---- -------- ------ ---- Total time deposits.......... 796,351 61.23% 5.65% 354,027 62.26% 5.88% ---------- ------ ---- -------- ------ ---- Total deposits............... $1,300,613 100.00% 4.70% $568,625 100.00% 4.66% ========== ====== ======== ====== 151 153 In addition to having a similar deposit mix, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings offer similar, although not identical, deposit products. Even though Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings are expected to initially operate as separate financial institutions, we expect that certain deposit products which currently are offered by only one of the savings banks may now be offered by both. Thus, both Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings will have the benefit of the other's experience. We expect that customer retention will be maximized because both the institutions anticipate keeping open all branch offices after the merger, under the existing names. Because the two companies have relatively similar deposit and pricing strategies, we do not expect that changes, if any, which may be made by First Northern Savings will cause a significant deposit run off. IMPACT ON LOAN PORTFOLIO Mutual Savings' and First Northern Savings' loan products and lending operations are relatively similar, although Mutual Savings has a higher percentage of first mortgage loans than First Northern Savings, and First Northern Savings has a higher percentage of consumer loans. The following table presents the composition of Mutual Savings' and First Northern Savings' loan portfolios in dollar amounts and in percentages of the total portfolios at June 30, 2000. We have used several different categories in this table than we have used in the other tables in this proxy statement/prospectus to help illustrate the comparison between the two institutions. MUTUAL SAVINGS FIRST NORTHERN SAVINGS ------------------------------- ----------------------------- PERCENT WEIGHTED PERCENT WEIGHTED OF AVERAGE OF AVERAGE AMOUNT TOTAL RATE AMOUNT TOTAL RATE ---------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) First mortgage loans: One-to-four family.......... $ 733,958 63.74% $489,180 59.84% Multi-family................ 65,105 5.65 37,843 4.63 Commercial real estate...... 65,267 5.67 22,727 2.78 Construction and development............... 30,840 2.68 47,004 5.75 ---------- ------ -------- ------ Total first mortgage real estate loans........... $ 895,170 77.74% 7.34% $596,754 73.00% 7.13% ---------- ------ -------- ------ Consumer and other loans: Consumer loans: Fixed equity................ $ 108,811 9.45% 8.19% $ 67,485 8.26% 8.29% Home equity lines of credit.................... 55,371 4.81 8.33 20,987 2.57 10.07 Education................... 27,698 2.41 8.83 * -- -- Automobile.................. 5,609 0.49 8.64 98,326 12.03 7.40 Home improvement............ 12,134 1.05 8.20 ** -- -- Other....................... 3,827 0.33 8.86 23,207 2.84 9.18 ---------- ------ ---- -------- ------ ----- Total consumer loans...... 213,450 18.54 8.33 210,005 25.70 8.15 ---------- ------ ---- -------- ------ ----- Commercial business loans... 42,815 3.72 8.06 10,661 1.30 9.17 ---------- ------ ---- -------- ------ ----- Total consumer and other loans.................. 256,265 22.26 8.29 220,666 27.00 8.20 ---------- ------ ---- -------- ------ ----- Total loans receivable.... $1,151,435 100.00% 7.55% $817,420 100.00% 7.43% ========== ======== Less: Undisbursed loan proceeds... 16,368 17,667 Deferred fees and discounts................. (5) 4,218 Allowance for losses........ 7,085 441 ---------- -------- Total loans receivable, net.................... $1,127,987 $795,094 ========== ======== Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans...... 0.20% 0.03% Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets..... 0.30% 0.08% 152 154 - ------------------------- * First Northern Savings generally makes student loans for resale rather than retaining them in its portfolio. ** First Northern Savings does not separately categorize home improvement loans. However, these loans are included in "fixed equity" and "home equity lines of credit." First Northern Savings has a higher level of consumer loans than Mutual Savings, particularly of automobile loans. Most of these are indirect automobile loans originated by First Northern through a joint venture with another financial institution. First Northern Savings has experienced minimal delinquencies under this program; Bank Mutual expects to continue the program after the First Northern merger. First Northern Savings' "other" consumer loans include loans secured by boats and recreational vehicles as a consequence of the vacation and recreational regions which are served by First Northern. The weighted average interest rates on Mutual Savings' and First Northern Savings' loans is generally consistent by loan type, with several exceptions. The average rate on First Northern Savings' home equity lines of credit is higher than Mutual Savings', primarily as a result of the lower average credit line. Conversely, the weighted average rate on First Northern's automobile loans is lower than Mutual Savings'. That difference results both because First Northern's joint venture company absorbs losses on this portfolio, which are then reflected at First Northern in the net yield rather than as written off assets, and as a result of the more aggressive automobile loan pricing by that joint venture. Both First Northern's and Mutual Savings' non-performing loan and asset ratios reflect strong asset quality. We believe that, over time, the First Northern merger will provide additional lending opportunities to the combined enterprise. Mutual Savings intends to augment its consumer lending with programs currently offered by First Northern Savings. Similarly, we believe that the expanded customer and geographical base will provide further opportunities for commercial real estate and commercial business lending in which Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings intend to expand. We also expect to minimize customer disruption to First Northern Savings' customers by retaining First Northern Savings as a separate entity, whose local loan officers will retain authority to make most credit decisions in its market area. Also, a larger institution will be better able to diversify its portfolio since it has a larger customer base, can more readily hire experienced staff, and leverage greater resources. 153 155 MARKET FOR BANK MUTUAL COMMON STOCK Bank Mutual has not previously issued common stock, so there is no market for the common stock. We have applied to have our common stock quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "BKMU" after the restructuring. We will receive that approval before we complete the merger. Ryan, Beck has advised us that it intends to make a market in the common stock following the restructuring, but is under no obligation to do so. We will encourage and assist additional market makers to make a market in our common stock. Making a market involves maintaining bid and asked quotations and being able, as principal, to effect transactions in reasonable quantities at those quoted prices. Various securities laws and other regulatory requirements apply to these activities. Additionally, the development of a liquid public market depends on the existence of willing buyers and sellers, the presence of which is not within our control, or that of any market maker. The number of active buyers and sellers of the common stock at any particular time may be limited. Under such circumstances, you could have difficulty selling your shares on short notice and you should not view the common stock as a short-term investment. We cannot assure you that an active and liquid trading market for the common stock will develop or that, if it develops, it will continue, nor can we assure you that if you purchase shares you will be able to sell them at or above $10.00 per share. HOW MUTUAL DETERMINED ITS OFFERING RANGE AND $10.00 PRICE PER SHARE IN ITS STOCK OFFERING The offering range in the stock offering which Bank Mutual is conducting in conjunction with its restructuring is based on an independent appraisal of Mutual Savings' pro forma market value prepared by RP Financial LC, an appraisal firm experienced in appraisals of savings institutions. RP Financial has estimated that in its opinion as of August 25, 2000 the estimated pro forma market value of Bank Mutual was between $144.5 million and $195.5 million, with a midpoint of $170.0 million. The appraisal incorporated an analysis of a peer group of publicly-traded mutual holding company institutions that RP Financial considered to be comparable to Mutual Savings, including an evaluation of the average and median price-to-earnings, price-to-core earnings, price-to-book value, price-to-tangible book value and price-to-assets ratios indicated by the market prices of the peer group companies, with such ratios adjusted to their fully converted equivalent basis. RP Financial applied the peer group's fully converted pricing ratios, as adjusted for certain qualitative valuation adjustments to account for differences between Mutual Savings and the peer group, to Mutual Savings' pro forma earnings, core earnings, book value, tangible book value and assets to derive the estimated pro forma market value of Mutual Savings. The appraisal placed the greatest weight on the price-to-earnings approaches to valuation, but also considered the price-to-book value approaches and price-to-assets approach. Compared to the average fully converted pricing ratios of the peer group, Mutual Savings' pro forma fully converted ratios at the estimated pro forma market value indicated a discount of 5% based on the price-to-core earnings approach, a discount of 22% based on the price-to-book value approach, a discount of 7% based on the price-to-tangible book value approach, and a discount of 45% based on the price-to-assets approach. The estimated appraised value and the resulting discounts relative to the peer group's fully converted pricing ratios took into consideration the potential benefits of the restructuring and the merger. The appraisal also noted Mutual Savings' fully converted pro forma price-to-book value and price-to-tangible book value ratios reflected premiums relative to the issuance pricing of recent conversion and mutual holding company transactions. Compared to the recent conversion and mutual holding company transactions, Mutual Savings has more assets, greater market value and anticipated liquidity in the shares, and a more leveraged balance sheet (resulting in a lower tangible equity-to-assets ratio), which all contributed to the premium price-to-book value and price-to-tangible book value ratios indicated relative to the recent conversions and mutual holding companies. The board of directors of Mutual Savings has determined to sell shares in the stock offering at $10.00 share. Based on that price, assuming the issuance of 5,025,485 shares to former shareholders of First Northern, the pro forma market value of Mutual Savings ranged between $194.8 million and 154 156 $245.8 million, with a midpoint pro forma market value of $220.2 million. This is the "estimated valuation range." The stock issuance plan provides that total outstanding shares must reflect the estimated valuation range and that public ownership will equal 49.9% of outstanding shares, while the MHC's ownership will equal 50.1%. Given the 5,025,485 shares to be issued to the former shareholders of First Northern, this results in an offering range of between 4,692,782 and 7,237,682 shares, with a midpoint of 5,965,232 shares. Following the stock offering and First Northern merger, shares outstanding to the public will therefore range between 9,718,267 and 12,263,167, with a midpoint of 10,990,717 shares. Total outstanding shares, held by the MHC and public owners, will range between 19,475,485 and 24,575,485. The $10.00 price per share was chosen by Mutual Savings' board of directors because it is the price per share most commonly used in stock offerings involving conversions and reorganizations of savings institutions. MUTUAL'S POLICY REGARDING DIVIDENDS Bank Mutual currently plans to pay shareholders a cash dividend at an annual rate of $0.28 per share. The dividend would be declared and payable quarterly at a rate of $0.07 per share, starting for the first full quarter we are a public company, but not earlier than the first quarter of 2001. The payment of dividends will be subject to the determination of our board of directors, which will take into account, among other factors, our financial condition, results of operations, tax considerations, industry standards, economic conditions and regulatory restrictions that affect the payment of dividends by Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings to Bank Mutual. Bank Mutual must also comply with regulations that govern the level of dividends which may pay as well as the regulatory capital requirements of Bank Mutual as a savings bank holding company. We cannot guarantee that we will pay dividends or that, if paid, we will not reduce or eliminate dividends in the future. If Bank Mutual pays dividends to its shareholders, it will be required to pay dividends to the MHC unless the MHC elects to waive dividends. We currently anticipate that initially the MHC will waive dividends paid by Bank Mutual. Any decision to waive dividends will be subject to regulatory approval. If the OTS does not permit the dividend waiver, it is possible that Bank Mutual would need to lower the amount of dividends in order to retain sufficient capital at Bank Mutual. See "Regulation -- MHC Regulation -- Waiver of Dividends." As the principal assets of Bank Mutual, Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings will provide the principal sources of funds for the payment of dividends by Bank Mutual. Federal law provides that dividends may be paid by Mutual Savings and First Northern Savings, as federal institutions, only out of net income and unrestricted capital surplus. However, First Northern Savings will not be permitted to pay dividends on its capital stock if, among other things, its capital would be reduced below the amount required for its liquidation account. See "The Restructuring -- Effects of the Restructuring -- Liquidation Rights." Any payment of dividends by Mutual Savings or First Northern to Bank Mutual which would be deemed to be drawn out of their bad debt reserves would require a payment of taxes at the then-current tax rate by them on the amount of earnings deemed to be removed from bad debt reserves for such distribution. Mutual Savings and First Northern do not intend to make any distribution to Bank Mutual that would create this type of a tax liability. Bank Mutual and Mutual Savings have also committed to the OTS in connection with the reorganization, that during the one-year period following the completion of the restructuring, Bank Mutual will not declare an extraordinary dividend to shareholders which would be treated by recipient shareholders as a tax-free return of capital for federal income tax purposes without prior approval of the OTS. 155 157 LEGAL OPINIONS The legality of the Bank Mutual common stock to be issued in the merger, and certain federal income tax consequences of the merger, are being passed upon on behalf of Bank Mutual by Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. EXPERTS Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited Mutual Savings' consolidated financial statements at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999, as set forth in their report. We have included Mutual Savings' financial statements in the proxy statement/prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP, independent auditors, have audited First Northern's consolidated financial statements at December 31, 1999 and for the year then ended, as set forth in their report. We have incorporated by reference First Northern's financial statements for that period in the proxy statement/prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement in reliance on Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited the consolidated financial statements of First Northern as of December 31, 1998 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 1998 included in their Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, as set forth in their report. That report is incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. First Northern's financial statements for the periods indicated are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. On September 9, 1999, the Audit Committee of the First Northern board of directors recommended to the board the replacement of Ernst & Young LLP with Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP as First Northern's independent certified public accountants for the year ended December 31, 1999. On September 16, 1999, the board accepted and approved the Audit Committee's recommendation. Ernst & Young LLP was notified of its dismissal, and Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP of its engagement, on September 22, 1999. During 1997 and 1998 and through September 22, 1999, (a) there were no disagreements with Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young LLP, would have caused that firm to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report and (b) there were no "reportable events" (as defined in SEC Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(v)). Ernst & Young LLP's report on First Northern's financial statements for 1997 and 1998 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. OTHER INFORMATION WHICH YOU CAN OBTAIN First Northern is a public company, and must provide information to the public under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Therefore, First Northern files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may inspect and copy these materials at the Commission's public reference facilities, which are located at: - Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, - 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and - Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You may also obtain copies of these documents by writing to the Commission's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549; in that case, you will be charged for the copies at the rates which the 156 158 Commission sets. You may also obtain copies from the Commission's Web site (http://www.sec.gov). Because First Northern common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, you can inspect material filed by it at the offices of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. This proxy statement/prospectus "incorporates by reference" the filings named below. That means that the contents of those documents are considered to be part of this proxy statement/prospectus even though they are not actually included with it. Bank Mutual or First Northern will provide you with a copy of any of those documents without charge if you are a First Northern record shareholder, or if you are a beneficial owner of securities which are held in street name. They will not necessarily provide exhibits unless those exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in the document. You can obtain copies of the documents by writing to First Northern, 201 North Monroe Avenue, P.O. Box 23100, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54305-3100, Attn: Marla J. Carr, or by calling Ms. Carr, First Northern's corporate secretary, at (920) 437-7101. You should request the information by October 12, 2000 to help assure that you receive it before the special meeting. This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference the following documents. Each of them has been filed by First Northern with the Commission as required by the Exchange Act: - Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999; - Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000 and June 30, 2000; and - First Northern's current report on Form 8-K dated February 21, 2000. This proxy statement/prospectus also incorporates all reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed by First Northern under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. They will be incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/ prospectus from the date on which First Northern files such documents. Bank Mutual has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act with the Commission which covers the shares of common stock described in this proxy statement/prospectus. The registration statement has information in addition to the information in this proxy statement/prospectus. You may obtain that additional information at the addresses above. This proxy statement/prospectus, and the documents which this proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference, describe certain contracts or other documents. These descriptions describe their material terms. By their nature, though, they are summaries, and are not necessarily complete. If you wish further information rather than this summary, you should review a copy of the document if Bank Mutual has filed it as an exhibit to the registration statement. When Bank Mutual has filed a document as an exhibit, a complete reading of the document will provide you more information than a summary. Bank Mutual is not responsible if you fail to read the full document. 157 159 INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BANK MUTUAL AND MUTUAL For pro forma financial information about Bank Mutual giving effect to the merger with First Northern, see "Pro Forma Financial Information." The following financial statements of Mutual Savings are included in this Proxy Statement/ Prospectus. Mutual Savings may be considered a predecessor to Bank Mutual. Because Bank Mutual has not conducted operations, separate financial statements for it are not included. PAGE NO. ---- MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK Independent Auditors' Report.............................. F-1 Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and December 31, 1999 and 1998........ F-2 Consolidated Statements of Income for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 (unaudited) and for each of the three years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997................................ F-3 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 (unaudited) and for each of the three years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997............................................... F-4 Consolidated Statements for Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 (unaudited) and for each of the three years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997................................................... F-5 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................ F-7 No additional schedules are required or included. FIRST NORTHERN First Northern's historical financial statements and other financial information are incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus from First Northern's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See "Other Information Which You Can Obtain." 158 160 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Board of Directors Mutual Savings Bank We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Mutual Savings Bank (the Bank) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Bank's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Bank and subsidiaries at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for three years ended December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Ernst & Young LLP Milwaukee, Wisconsin March 7, 2000 F-1 161 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION DECEMBER 31 JUNE 30 ------------------------ 2000 1999 1998 ----------- ---------- ---------- (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS Cash and due from banks.................................. $ 18,978 $ 21,367 $ 22,534 Federal funds sold....................................... -- 25,000 45,000 Interest-earning deposits................................ 12,839 132,592 262,714 ---------- ---------- ---------- Cash and cash equivalents................................ 31,817 178,959 330,248 Securities available-for-sale, at fair value: Investment securities.................................. 57,461 57,763 116,534 Mortgage-related securities............................ 461,377 374,100 270,897 Loans held for sale...................................... 1,632 541 27,723 Loans receivable, net.................................... 1,127,987 1,082,795 1,037,589 Real estate owned........................................ 4,912 4,953 5,440 Premises and equipment................................... 26,727 26,871 27,567 Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost.................... 14,585 13,537 13,537 Accrued interest receivable.............................. 9,602 8,620 8,035 Intangible assets........................................ 11,027 11,496 29,786 Other assets............................................. 12,043 9,871 5,506 ---------- ---------- ---------- $1,759,170 $1,769,506 $1,872,862 ========== ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities: Deposits............................................... $1,300,613 $1,343,007 $1,398,858 Borrowings............................................. 264,667 242,699 270,822 Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance........................................... 13,012 1,661 1,710 Other liabilities...................................... 13,290 18,319 25,729 ---------- ---------- ---------- 1,591,582 1,605,686 1,697,119 Equity: Retained earnings...................................... 176,260 169,746 174,229 Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale.................................. (8,672) (5,926) 1,514 ---------- ---------- ---------- 167,588 163,820 175,743 Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 13 and 14) ---------- ---------- ---------- $1,759,170 $1,769,506 $1,872,862 ========== ========== ========== See accompanying notes. F-2 162 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 ------------------ -------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS) Interest income: Loans, including fees..................... $41,403 $39,737 $ 79,623 $ 90,092 $ 93,628 Investments............................... 3,219 10,413 20,200 19,714 12,115 Mortgage-related securities............... 15,860 8,503 18,479 15,664 10,250 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Total interest income....................... 60,482 58,653 118,302 125,470 115,993 Interest expense: Deposits.................................. 29,739 30,985 61,091 65,236 60,917 Borrowings................................ 7,232 7,045 13,933 14,437 10,897 Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance.......................... 90 98 313 344 380 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Total interest expense...................... 37,061 38,128 75,337 80,017 72,194 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Net interest income......................... 23,421 20,525 42,965 45,453 43,799 Provision for losses on loans............... 236 203 350 637 1,065 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Net interest income after provision for losses on loans........................... 23,185 20,322 42,615 44,816 42,734 Noninterest income: Service charges on deposits............... 1,413 1,332 2,813 2,630 2,413 Brokerage commissions..................... 994 827 1,826 1,228 984 Servicing fees on loans sold.............. 205 229 447 577 588 Loan fees and service charges............. 497 549 1,014 1,662 773 Gain on sales of loans.................... 43 436 497 1,025 486 Gain (loss) on sales of securities........ -- (108) 158 -- (12) Other..................................... 864 634 1,229 1,318 927 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Total noninterest income.................... 4,016 3,899 7,984 8,440 6,159 Noninterest expenses: Compensation, payroll taxes and other employee benefits...................... 8,624 8,539 17,158 16,638 15,346 Occupancy................................. 2,595 2,846 5,550 5,580 5,288 Federal deposit insurance premiums........ 142 416 820 837 822 Marketing................................. 1,256 1,137 1,864 2,158 2,375 Data processing........................... 741 575 1,329 1,260 1,213 Amortization of intangibles............... 469 1,355 18,290 2,738 1,941 Other..................................... 2,859 3,077 6,268 6,310 5,101 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Total noninterest expenses.................. 16,686 17,945 51,279 35,521 32,086 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Income (loss) before income taxes........... 10,515 6,276 (680) 17,735 16,807 Income taxes................................ 4,001 2,386 3,803 6,584 6,622 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- Net income (loss)........................... $ 6,514 $ 3,890 $ (4,483) $ 11,151 $ 10,185 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== See accompanying notes. F-3 163 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY NET UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON SECURITIES RETAINED AVAILABLE- TOTAL EARNINGS FOR-SALE EQUITY -------- -------------- ------ (IN THOUSANDS) Balances at January 1, 1997................................ $152,893 $(1,599) $151,297 Comprehensive income: Net income............................................ 10,185 -- 10,185 Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale, net of deferred income tax liability of $850................................ -- 1,573 1,573 -------- ------- -------- Total comprehensive income............................... 12,691 -------- ------- -------- Balances at December 31, 1997.............................. 163,078 (26) 163,052 Comprehensive income: Net income............................................ 11,151 -- 11,151 Other comprehensive income: Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale, net of deferred income tax liability of $832................................ -- 1,540 1,540 -------- ------- -------- Total comprehensive income............................... 12,691 -------- ------- -------- Balances at December 31, 1998.............................. 174,229 1,514 175,743 Comprehensive income: Net loss.............................................. (4,483) (4,483) Other comprehensive income: Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale, net of deferred income tax benefit of $4,144................................ -- (7,440) (7,440) -------- ------- -------- Total comprehensive loss................................. (11,923) -------- ------- -------- Balances at December 31, 1999.............................. 169,746 (5,926) 163,820 Comprehensive income: Net income (unaudited)................................ 6,514 -- 6,514 Other comprehensive income: Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale, net of deferred income tax benefit of $1,774 (unaudited).................... -- (2,746) (2,746) -------- ------- -------- Total comprehensive income (unaudited)................... -- -- 3,768 -------- ------- -------- Balances at June 30, 2000 (unaudited)...................... $176,260 $(8,672) $167,588 ======== ======= ======== See accompanying notes. F-4 164 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 --------------------- ----------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS) Operating Activities Net income (loss)..................... $ 6,514 $ 3,890 $ (4,483) $ 11,151 $ 10,185 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: Provision for losses on loans....... 236 203 350 637 1,065 Provision for depreciation.......... 790 953 1,840 2,033 1,816 Deferred income tax benefit......... 1,774 1,192 (3,886) (630) (710) Amortization of intangibles......... 469 1,355 18,290 2,738 1,941 Net discount amortization on securities....................... (175) (18) (80) (5,242) (318) Loans originated for sale........... (6,031) (45,405) (47,427) (131,082) (52,006) Proceeds from sales of loans originated for sale.............. 4,983 47,116 57,358 117,770 43,478 Net gain on sales of loans.......... (43) (436) (497) (1,025) (486) Net (gain) loss on sale of available-for-sale securities.... -- -- (378) -- 12 Purchases of trading account assets........................... -- (24,827) (39,215) (5,066) -- Proceeds from sales of trading account assets................... -- 24,719 38,995 5,067 -- Net loss on sale of trading account assets................... -- 108 220 1 -- Decrease in other liabilities....... (5,029) (13,060) (7,410) (1,573) (94) (Increase) decrease in other assets........................... (2,172) (30) 3,665 (2,355) 9,039 (Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable.............. (982) (293) (585) 1,425 (3,533) Other............................... (220) 1,006 587 513 (882) --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Net cash provided (used) by operating activities.......................... 114 (3,527) 17,344 (5,638) 9,507 Investing Activities Proceeds from maturities and sales of investment securities............... 20,000 65,070 65,000 429,337 397,619 Purchases of investment securities.... (18,808) (20,000) (20,000) (380,489) (376,634) Proceeds from sales of mortgage-related securities......... -- -- 54,060 -- 3,822 Purchases of mortgage-related securities.......................... (115,412) (34,123) (213,504) (119,548) (72,071) Net (purchases) sales of investments in mutual funds..................... (867) (728) (1,481) (1,410) 16,742 Principal payments on mortgage-related securities.......................... 23,765 35,602 60,367 77,407 59,514 Net (increase) decrease in loans receivable.......................... (47,101) (7,290) (29,581) 208,864 96,953 Proceeds from sale of foreclosed properties.......................... 1,936 1,147 1,673 3,438 627 Proceeds from sale of (purchase of) Federal Home Loan Bank stock........ (1,048) -- -- 6,700 277 F-5 165 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS -- (CONTINUED) SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 --------------------- ----------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS) Purchases of office properties and equipment........................... (646) (497) (1,173) (3,141) (1,854) Sales of office properties and equipment........................... -- -- 29 -- -- Business acquisition, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired of $8,328.............................. -- -- -- -- (118,164) --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Net cash provided (used) by investing activities.......................... (138,181) 39,181 (84,610) 221,158 6,831 Financing Activities Net increase (decrease) in deposits... (42,394) (11,539) (55,851) 36,528 (8,653) Net decrease (increase) in short-term borrowings.......................... 26,000 -- -- -- (208,194) Proceeds from long-term borrowings.... 33,000 -- -- -- 228,000 Repayments on long-term borrowings.... (37,032) (123) (28,123) (45) -- Net increase (decrease) in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance........................... 11,351 11,407 (49) (819) 1,636 --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Net cash provided (used) by financing activities.......................... (9,075) (255) (84,023) 35,664 12,789 --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents......................... (147,142) 35,399 (151,289) 251,184 29,127 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period........................... 178,959 330,248 330,248 79,064 49,937 --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.............................. 31,817 365,647 $ 178,959 $ 330,248 $ 79,064 ========= ======== ========= ========= ========= Supplemental information: Interest paid on deposits........... $ 28,256 $ 29,166 $ 61,220 $ 65,315 $ 61,598 Income taxes paid................... 4,058 3,092 6,678 7,859 5,530 Loans transferred to other real estate owned..................... 1,673 951 1,773 7,975 178 Loans transferred from loans held for sale to portfolio............ -- 19,171 17,748 17 -- Mutual fund liquidation proceeds.... -- 14,047 14,047 -- -- See accompanying notes. F-6 166 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) DECEMBER 31, 1999 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BUSINESS Mutual Savings Bank (the Bank) provides a full range of financial services to customers through its branch locations in Wisconsin. The Bank is subject to competition from other financial institutions and is also subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities. BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and include the accounts of the Bank and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Lake Financial and Insurance Services (Lake), Mutual Investment Company (MIC) and MC Development Ltd. (MD). Lake provides investment and insurance services, MIC owns and manages an investment portfolio for the benefit of Mutual, and MD holds, for sale, title to certain parcels of developed and undeveloped real estate. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months then ended have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the six month period ended June 30, 2000 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2000. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the statement of financial condition and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS The Bank considers federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits that have original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES TRADING ACCOUNT ASSETS Trading account assets are held for resale in anticipation of short-term market movements. Trading account assets are stated at fair value. Gains and losses are included in net gain or loss on sales of securities and are based on the specific identification method. There were no trading account assets at December 31, 1999 or 1998 or June 30, 2000. SECURITIES AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase. Debt securities, equity securities and investments in mutual funds not classified as trading are classified as F-7 167 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (CONTINUED) available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported in a separate component of equity. The amortized cost of securities classified as available-for-sale is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, or in the case of mortgage-backed securities, over the estimated life of the security. Such amortization is included in interest income from investments. Interest and dividends are included in interest income from investments. Realized gains and losses, and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in gain (loss) on sales of securities and are based on the specific identification method. Stock of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) is carried at cost which is its redeemable value. LOANS HELD FOR SALE AND SALES OF LOANS Loans held for sale, which generally consist of current production of certain fixed-rate first mortgage loans, are recorded at the lower of aggregate cost or market value. Fees received from the borrower are deferred and recorded as an adjustment of the carrying value. Loans held for sale may be transferred to loans held for investment when the Bank has both the ability and intent to hold the loans for the foreseeable future or until maturity. Upon transfer, any difference between the carrying amount of the loan and its outstanding principal balance is recognized as an adjustment to yield by the interest method. INTEREST AND FEES ON LOANS Allowances of $161 (unaudited), $228 and $172 are established for accrued but uncollected interest on mortgage loans for which any payments were more than 90 days past due at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Interest previously accrued on these loans is removed from income at that time. Payments received, if any, on these loans are recorded as principal reduction or as interest based on management's judgment as to ultimate collectibility of all contractual future principal and interest payments. Loan origination and commitment fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred and amortized as an adjustment of the related loans' yield. The Bank amortizes these amounts using the level yield method over the estimated life of the related loans. ALLOWANCE FOR LOSSES ON LOANS The allowance for losses on loans is composed of general valuation allowances. The Bank may establish a specific valuation allowance on loans it considers impaired but in such event the loan is reduced by the amount of the specific allowance and a corresponding amount is charged off to the allowance for losses on loans. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. When the carrying amount of the loan exceeds (1) the present value of the expected cash flows, discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate, or (2) the fair value of the underlying collateral, a specific valuation allowance is recorded for such excess. The adjusted balance of the loan is adjusted (decreased) to reflect significant changes in the estimated fair value of collateral, the estimated amount and timing of an impaired loan's expected future cash flows, or if actual cash flows that differ significantly from expected future cash flows. General valuation allowances are based on an evaluation of the various risk components that are inherent in the credit portfolio. The risk components that are F-8 168 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (CONTINUED) evaluated include past loan loss experience; the level of non-performing and classified assets; current economic conditions; volume, growth and composition of the loan portfolio; adverse situations that may affect borrowers' ability to repay; the estimated value of any underlying collateral; peer group comparisons; regulatory guidance; and other relevant factors. The allowance is increased by provisions charged to earnings and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries. The allowance reflects management's best estimate of the amount necessary to provide for the credit risks of the Bank. The allowance is based on a risk model developed and implemented by management and approved by the Bank's Board of Directors. FORECLOSED PROPERTIES AND REPOSSESSED ASSETS Foreclosed properties acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. Costs related to the development and improvement of property are capitalized, whereas costs related to holding the property are expensed. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT Land, buildings, leasehold improvements and equipment are carried at amortized cost. Buildings and furniture, equipment and automobiles are amortized over their estimated useful lives (40 to 45 years and 3 to 10 years, respectively) using the straight line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or the lease terms (generally 10 years). The Bank reviews buildings, leasehold improvements and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment exists when the estimated undiscounted cash flows for the property is less than its carrying value. If identified, an impairment loss is recognized through a charge to earnings based on the fair value of the property. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS Goodwill, representing the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired, results from acquisitions made by the Bank. The Bank's goodwill is being amortized to operating expense using the straight-line method over 15 years. Other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally 7-10 years. The carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets are reviewed if facts and circumstances indicate that it may be impaired. If this review indicates that it is not recoverable, as determined based on the estimated undiscounted cash flows of the entity acquired over the remaining amortization period, the carrying amount of the goodwill is reduced for the estimated shortfall of the cash flows discounted at the average cost of capital for thrift institutions as compared to the carrying value. INCOME TAXES The Bank files a consolidated federal income tax return and separate, or combined, state income tax returns, depending on the state. Income taxes are accounted for using the "asset and liability" method. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities are expected to be reported in the Bank's income tax returns. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date of the change. A valuation allowance is provided for any deferred tax asset for which it is more likely F-9 169 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (CONTINUED) than not that the asset will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances are recorded as a component of income. PENSION COSTS The Bank's net periodic pension cost consists of the expected cost of benefits earned by employees during the current period and an interest cost on the projected benefit obligation, reduced by the expected earnings on assets held by the retirement plan, amortization of transitional assets over a period of 15 years (beginning in 1987), amortization of prior service cost and by amortization of recognized actuarial gains and losses over the estimated future service period of existing plan participants. SEGMENT INFORMATION The Bank has determined that it has one reportable segment -- community banking. The Bank offers a range of financial products and services to external customers, including: accepting deposits from the general public; originating residential, consumer and limited types of commercial loans (primarily loans secured by multi-family properties); and marketing annuities and other insurance products. Revenues for each of these products are disclosed in the consolidated statements of income. PENDING ACCOUNTING CHANGES Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," and SFAS No. 137, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -- Deferral of the Effective Date of SFAS No. 133," which delays the implementation date of SFAS No. 133 for one year, to fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000, provide a comprehensive and consistent standard for the recognition of derivatives and hedging activities. SFAS 133 requires all derivatives to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. However, special accounting is provided for certain derivatives that meet the definition of hedges. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not meet the definition of hedges are required to be reported in earnings in the period of change. The Bank does not use derivative financial instruments such as futures, swaps, caps, floors, options or interest or principal only strips of similar instruments. Therefore, SFAS No. 133 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Bank. The Bank will implement this statement on January 1, 2001. 2. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS On March 31, 1997, the Bank completed the acquisition of First Federal Bancshares of Eau Claire, Inc. (First Federal) in a cash transaction for $125.1 million. The transaction has been accounted for as a purchase. First Federal was the parent company of First Federal Bank of Eau Claire, F.S.B. First Federal had total assets of $730.7 million as of March 31, 1997. This acquisition resulted in the recording of identifiable intangibles (value of deposit base) of $10.4 million and goodwill (unidentifiable intangible asset) of $24.1 million. The results of operations of the acquired company are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Scheduled amortization of intangibles was $2,711, $2,738 and $1,941 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, and $469 (unaudited) and $1,355 (unaudited) for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 respectively. In 1999, increased competition for deposits from alternate investment products, increases in interest rates which negatively impacted the volume of new loan originations and credit standards more stringent than those used by the acquiree caused management to F-10 170 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 2. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS -- (CONTINUED) revise cash flow estimates to be realized from the acquired business. Accordingly, $15,579 of intangibles were written off for the estimated shortfall of the cash flows discounted at the average cost of capital for thrift institutions as compared to the carrying value. This write-off is included in amortization of intangibles on the statement of income. The unamortized balance of goodwill and intangible assets was $11,027 (unaudited), $11,496 and $29,786 at March 31, 2000, and December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. F-11 171 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 3. SECURITIES The amortized cost and fair value of securities available-for-sale are as follows: GROSS GROSS ESTIMATED AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED FAIR COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE --------- ---------- ---------- --------- At June 30, 2000 (Unaudited): U.S. government and federal agency obligation..... $ 28,909 $ 26 $ (773) $ 28,162 Asset-backed securities........................... -- -- -- -- Mutual funds...................................... 29,894 -- (595) 29,299 -------- ---- -------- -------- Total investment securities.................... 58,803 26 (1,368) 57,461 -------- ---- -------- -------- Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation............ 67,880 28 (2,904) 65,004 Federal National Mortgage Association............. 388,707 798 (10,102) 379,403 Private Placement CMOs............................ 16,798 1 (327) 16,472 Government National Mortgage Association.......... 492 7 (1) 498 -------- ---- -------- -------- Total mortgage-related securities.............. 473,877 834 (13,334) 461,377 -------- ---- -------- -------- Total.......................................... $532,680 $860 $(14,702) $518,838 ======== ==== ======== ======== At December 31, 1999: U.S. government and federal agency obligations.... $ 30,107 $ -- $ (932) $ 29,175 Asset-backed securities........................... 51 -- -- 51 Mutual funds...................................... 29,027 -- (490) 28,537 -------- ---- -------- -------- Total investment securities.................... 59,185 -- (1,422) 57,763 -------- ---- -------- -------- Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation............ 72,763 94 (2,641) 70,216 Federal National Mortgage Association............. 290,785 745 (6,146) 285,384 Private Placement CMOs............................ 17,884 65 (22) 17,927 Government National Mortgage Association.......... 566 8 (1) 573 -------- ---- -------- -------- Total mortgage-related securities.............. 381,998 912 (8,810) 374,100 -------- ---- -------- -------- Total.......................................... $441,183 $912 $(10,232) $431,863 ======== ==== ======== ======== GROSS GROSS ESTIMATED AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED FAIR COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE --------- ---------- ---------- --------- At December 31, 1998: U.S. government and federal agency obligations.... $ 75,113 $ 308 $ -- $ 75,421 Asset-backed securities........................... 228 -- -- 228 Mutual funds...................................... 41,592 -- (707) 40,885 -------- ------ ----- -------- Total investment securities.................... 116,933 308 (707) 116,534 -------- ------ ----- -------- Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation............ 43,607 168 (58) 43,717 Federal National Mortgage Association............. 192,200 2,250 (97) 194,353 Private Placement CMOs............................ 31,630 370 (6) 31,994 Government National Mortgage Association.......... 797 36 -- 833 -------- ------ ----- -------- Total mortgage-related securities.............. 268,234 2,824 (161) 270,897 -------- ------ ----- -------- Total.......................................... $385,167 $3,132 $(868) $387,431 ======== ====== ===== ======== F-12 172 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 3. SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) The amortized cost and fair values of securities by contractual maturity are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. JUNE 30 2000 ----------------------- AMORTIZED COST FAIR VALUE --------- ---------- (UNAUDITED) Due in one year or less..................................... $ 3,543 $ 3,543 Due after one year through five years....................... 25,366 24,619 Mutual funds................................................ 29,894 29,299 Mortgage-related securities................................. 473,877 461,377 -------- -------- $532,680 $518,838 ======== ======== DECEMBER 31 1999 ----------------------- AMORTIZED COST FAIR VALUE --------- ---------- Due in one year or less..................................... $ 10,000 $ 9,925 Due after one year through five years....................... 20,158 19,301 Mutual funds................................................ 29,027 28,537 Mortgage-related securities................................. 381,998 374,100 -------- -------- $441,183 $431,863 ======== ======== F-13 173 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 3. SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) A reconciliation of the gross change in the unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities to the change in unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities reported as a component of comprehensive income follows: JUNE 30 2000 ------------------------------------- BEFORE TAX TAX (BENEFIT) NET-OF-TAX AMOUNT EXPENSE AMOUNT ------ --------- ---------- (UNAUDITED) Change in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities................................................ $(13,842) $(5,170) $(8,672) Less: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income.................................................... -- -- -- -------- ------- ------- Change in net unrealized losses recognized in other comprehensive income.................................................... $(13,842) $(5,170) $(8,672) ======== ======= ======= DECEMBER 31 1999 ----------------------------------- BEFORE TAX TAX (BENEFIT) NET-OF-TAX AMOUNT EXPENSE AMOUNT ------ --------- ---------- Change in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities................................................ $(11,962) $(4,276) $(7,686) Less: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income.................................................... (378) (132) (246) -------- ------- ------- Change in net unrealized losses recognized in other comprehensive income.................................................... $(11,584) $(4,144) $(7,440) ======== ======= ======= DECEMBER 31 1998 ------------------------------------- BEFORE TAX TAX (BENEFIT) NET-OF-TAX AMOUNT EXPENSE AMOUNT ------ --------- ---------- Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities................................................ $2,372 $832 $1,540 Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income.................................................... -- -- -- ------ ---- ------ Change in net unrealized gains recognized in other comprehensive income...................................... $2,372 $832 $1,540 ====== ==== ====== DECEMBER 31 1997 --------------------------------- BEFORE TAX TAX (BENEFIT) NET-OF-TAX AMOUNT EXPENSE AMOUNT ------ --------- ---------- Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities................................................ $2,435 $855 $1,580 Less: reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net income.................................................... 12 5 7 ------ ---- ------ Change in net unrealized gains recognized in other comprehensive income.................................................... $2,423 $850 $1,573 ====== ==== ====== F-14 174 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 3. SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) Total proceeds and gross realized gains and losses from sale of available-for-sale securities were: SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30 YEAR ENDED ----------------- ------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Proceeds............................................... $-- $ $54,060 $-- $3,825 Gross gains............................................ -- -- 378 -- 3 Gross losses........................................... -- -- -- -- 15 Net losses of $0 (unaudited), $108 (unaudited) and $220 were recognized in income from sales of securities classified as trading for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 and the year ended December 31, 1999. There were no realized net gains or losses on trading securities in 1998 or 1997 and no unrealized gains or losses recognized in income related to trading securities for any period presented. Investment securities with a fair value of approximately $10 million at June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and December 31, 1999 and 1998, were pledged to secure public funds. 4. LOANS RECEIVABLE Loans receivable consist of the following: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ------------------------ 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) First mortgage loans: One to four-family..................................... $ 733,958 $ 743,993 $ 742,231 Multi-family........................................... 65,105 53,777 53,521 Commercial............................................. 65,267 52,375 40,922 Construction and development........................... 30,840 26,530 21,939 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total first mortgage real estate loans................. 895,170 876,675 858,613 ---------- ---------- ---------- Consumer and other loans: Consumer loans: Fixed equity........................................ 108,811 89,315 67,629 Home equity lines of credit......................... 55,371 50,618 45,827 Student............................................. 27,698 28,371 29,634 Home improvement.................................... 12,134 9,920 8,373 Other............................................... 9,436 10,028 12,970 Total consumer loans.............................. 213,450 188,252 164,433 ---------- ---------- ---------- Commercial business loans.............................. 42,815 39,488 28,839 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total consumer and other loans...................... 256,265 227,740 193,272 Total loans receivable.............................. 1,151,435 1,104,415 1,051,885 F-15 175 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 4. LOANS RECEIVABLE -- (CONTINUED) JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ------------------------ 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Less: Undisbursed loan proceeds.............................. 16,368 14,658 7,001 Allowance for losses on loans.......................... 7,085 6,948 6,855 Unearned loan fees and discounts....................... 5 14 440 ---------- ---------- ---------- 23,448 21,620 14,296 ---------- ---------- ---------- $1,127,987 $1,082,795 $1,037,589 ========== ========== ========== The Bank's first mortgage loans, fixed equity, home equity lines of credit and home improvement loans are primarily secured by properties housing one to four families which are generally located in the Bank's local lending areas in Wisconsin. A summary of the activity in the allowance for losses on loans follows: SIX MONTHS YEAR ENDED ENDED JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ---------------- ------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Balance at beginning of year.................. $6,948 $6,855 $6,855 $7,195 $3,921 Provisions.................................... 236 247 350 637 1,065 Allowance of acquired business................ -- -- -- -- 2,449 Charge-offs................................... (114) (127) (341) (1,220) (751) Recoveries.................................... 15 18 84 243 511 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Balance at end of year........................ $7,085 $6,949 $6,948 $6,855 $7,195 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== There are no loans which are considered to be impaired at June 30, 2000, December 31, 1999 or December 31, 1998. The unpaid principal balance of loans serviced for others were $278,057 (unaudited), $287,789, $279,759 and $250,496 at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. These loans are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements. 5. REAL ESTATE OWNED Real estate owned is summarized as follows: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ---------------- 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Acquired by foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure........... $2,977 $3,018 $3,505 Acquired for development or resale.......................... 1,935 1,935 1,935 ------ ------ ------ $4,912 $4,953 $5,440 ====== ====== ====== F-16 176 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 6. ACCRUED INTEREST Accrued interest on loans and investments are summarized as follows: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ---------------- 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Mortgage-related securities................................. $2,484 $1,787 $1,174 Investment securities....................................... 553 814 821 Loans receivable............................................ 6,565 6,019 6,040 ------ ------ ------ $9,602 $8,620 $8,035 ====== ====== ====== 7. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT Premises and equipment are summarized as follows: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ------------------ 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Land........................................................ $ 6,969 $ 6,969 $ 6,889 Office buildings............................................ 25,840 25,292 25,177 Furniture, equipment and automobiles........................ 12,015 12,060 11,759 Leasehold improvements...................................... 1,203 1,203 1,442 ------- ------- ------- 46,027 45,524 45,267 Less allowances for depreciation and amortization........... 19,300 18,653 17,700 ------- ------- ------- $26,727 $26,871 $27,567 ======= ======= ======= Depreciation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 and the years ended 1999, 1998 and 1997, was $790 (unaudited), $935 (unaudited), $1,840, $2,033 and $1,816, respectively. The Bank leases various branch offices, office facilities and equipment under noncancellable operating leases which expire on various dates through 2012. Future minimum payments under noncancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms of one year or more for the years indicated are as follows: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ----------- 2000 1999 ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) 2000........................................................ $ 435 $ 870 2001........................................................ 660 660 2002........................................................ 446 446 2003........................................................ 417 417 2004........................................................ 390 390 Thereafter.................................................. 1,364 1,364 ------ ------ Total..................................................... $3,712 $4,147 ====== ====== Total rental expenses totaled $273 (unaudited), $302 (unaudited), $609, $639 and $682 for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 and the years ended 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. F-17 177 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 8. DEPOSITS Deposits are summarized as follows: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ------------------------ 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Checking accounts: Non-interest-bearing................................... $ 49,002 $ 42,596 $ 43,031 Interest-bearing....................................... 86,134 89,685 100,753 ---------- ---------- ---------- 135,136 132,281 143,784 Money market accounts.................................... 220,725 231,174 159,361 Savings accounts......................................... 148,401 151,447 166,316 Certificate accounts: Due within one year.................................... 539,156 593,512 638,596 After one but within two years......................... 190,143 178,431 237,113 After two but within three years....................... 46,057 34,716 30,129 After three but within four years...................... 10,593 11,535 10,479 After four but within five years....................... 10,397 9,868 11,583 After five years....................................... 5 43 1,497 ---------- ---------- ---------- 796,351 828,105 929,397 ---------- ---------- ---------- $1,300,613 $1,343,007 $1,398,858 ========== ========== ========== The aggregate amount of certificate accounts with balances of one hundred thousand dollars or more is approximately $63,787 (unaudited), $62,223 and $70,513 at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Interest expense on deposits was as follows: SIX MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ------------------ ----------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Interest-bearing checking accounts............. $ 452 $ 472 $ 940 $ 1,070 $ 1,137 Money market accounts.......................... 5,656 4,315 9,796 6,571 5,458 Savings accounts............................... 1,786 1,981 3,885 4,268 4,696 Certificate accounts........................... 21,845 24,217 46,470 53,327 49,626 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- $29,739 $30,985 $61,091 $65,236 $60,917 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= The deposit accounts are insured by the FDIC to a maximum of $100,000 for each insured depositor in accordance with applicable law and regulation. F-18 178 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 9. BORROWINGS Borrowings consist of the following: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 --------------------- ---------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- WEIGHTED- WEIGHTED- WEIGHTED- AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE BALANCE RATE BALANCE RATE BALANCE RATE ------- --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- (UNAUDITED) Federal Home Loan Bank advances maturing: 2000....................... $ 31,147 7.07% $ 42,152 6.53% $ 42,170 5.77% 2001....................... 33,000 6.59 -- -- -- -- 2002....................... -- -- -- -- 203,000 5.20 2003....................... 520 4.30 547 5.11 569 4.65 2004....................... 200,000 5.70 200,000 5.70 -- -- Thereafter................. -- -- 25,000 4.98 Other borrowings................ -- -- 83 10.25 -------- -------- -------- $264,667 $242,699 $270,822 ======== ======== ======== Advances that mature in the year 2004 consist of borrowings that are redeemable at the option of the FHLB beginning at various times in 2001. The Bank is required to maintain unencumbered mortgage loans in its portfolio aggregating at least 167% of the amount of outstanding advances from the FHLB as collateral. The Bank's borrowings at the FHLB are limited to the lesser of 35% of total assets or 60% of the book value of certain mortgage loans. In addition, these notes are collateralized by FHLB stock of $14,585 at June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and December 31, 1999. 10. EQUITY The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possible additional discretionary, actions by regulators, that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank's assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank's capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. As a state-chartered savings bank, the Bank is required to meet minimum capital levels established by the State of Wisconsin in addition to federal regulations. Quantitative measures established by federal regulation to ensure adequacy require the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier I capital (as these terms are defined in regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as these terms are defined in regulations), and of Tier I capital (as these terms are defined in regulations) to average assets (as these terms are defined in regulations). For the state of Wisconsin, total capital (as these terms are defined in regulations) as a ratio F-19 179 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 10. EQUITY -- (CONTINUED) of total assets must meet a minimum standard. Management believes, as of June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999, that the Bank meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject. As of June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and 1998, the most recent notification from the State of Wisconsin categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. The Bank is not aware of any conditions or events which would change their status as well capitalized. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank's category. TO BE WELL FOR CAPITAL CAPITALIZED UNDER ADEQUACY PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTUAL PURPOSES ACTION PROVISIONS ----------------- ---------------- ------------------ AMOUNT RATIO AMOUNT RATIO AMOUNT RATIO ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- As of June 30, 2000 (unaudited): Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)... $171,598 18.69% $73,453 8.00% $91,817 10.00% Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)................................ 164,513 17.92% 36,727 4.00% 55,090 6.00% Tier 1 capital (to average assets)........ 164,513 9.37% 70,244 4.00% 87,458 5.00% State of Wisconsin capital (to total assets)................................ 171,598 9.72% 105,918 6.00% N/A N/A As of December 31, 1999: Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)... $164,565 18.51% $71,143 8.00% $88,928 10.00% Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)................................ 157,617 17.72% 35,571 4.00% 53,357 6.00% Tier 1 capital (to average assets)........ 157,617 8.66% 72,770 4.00% 90,962 5.00% State of Wisconsin capital (to total assets)................................ 164,565 9.26% 106,587 6.00% N/A N/A As of December 31, 1998: Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)... $150,439 17.02% $70,728 8.00% $88,409 10.00% Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)................................ 143,584 16.24% 35,364 4.00% 53,046 6.00% Tier 1 capital (to average assets)........ 143,584 7.78% 73,798 4.00% 92,248 5.00% State of Wisconsin capital (to total assets)................................ 150,439 8.00% 112,783 6.00% N/A N/A F-20 180 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 10. EQUITY -- (CONTINUED) Following are reconciliations of the Bank's equity under generally accepted accounting principles to capital as determined by regulators: RISK- TIER I STATE OF BASED (CORE) WISCONSIN CAPITAL CAPITAL CAPITAL ------- ------- --------- As of June 30, 2000 (Unaudited): Equity per financial statements........................... $167,588 $167,588 $167,588 Unrealized losses on investments (excluding unrealized loss on mutual funds).................................. 8,077 8,077 8,077 Intangibles............................................... (11,027) (11,027) (11,027) Mortgage servicing rights................................. (125) (125) (125) Allowance for loan losses................................. 7,085 -- 7,085 -------- -------- -------- Regulatory capital.......................................... $171,598 $164,513 $171,598 ======== ======== ======== As of December 31, 1999: Equity per financial statements........................... $163,820 $163,820 $163,820 Unrealized losses on investments (excluding unrealized loss on mutual funds).................................. 5,436 5,436 5,436 Intangibles............................................... (11,496) (11,496) (11,496) Mortgage servicing rights................................. (143) (143) (143) Allowance for loan losses................................. 6,948 -- 6,948 -------- -------- -------- Regulatory capital.......................................... $164,565 $157,617 $164,565 ======== ======== ======== As of December 31, 1998: Equity per financial statements........................... $175,743 $175,743 $175,743 Unrealized losses on investments (excluding unrealized loss on mutual funds).................................. (2,221) (2,221) (2,221) Intangibles............................................... (29,786) (29,786) (29,786) Mortgage servicing rights................................. (152) (152) (152) Allowance for loan losses................................. 6,855 -- 6,855 -------- -------- -------- Regulatory capital.......................................... $150,439 $143,584 $150,439 ======== ======== ======== 11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS The Bank has a discretionary, defined-contribution savings plan (the Plan). The Plan is qualified under Sections 401 and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and provides employees meeting certain minimum age and service requirements the ability to make contributions to the Plan on a pretax basis. The Bank may then match a percentage of the employee's contributions. Matching contributions made by the Bank were $39 (unaudited) and $36 (unaudited) in the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, $68 in 1999, $56 in 1998 and $52 in 1997. The Bank also has a defined-benefit pension plan covering employees meeting certain minimum age and service requirements and a supplemental pension plan for certain qualifying employees. The benefits are generally based on years of service and the employee's compensation during the last five years of F-21 181 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS -- (CONTINUED) employment. The Bank's funding policy is to contribute annually the amount necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Plan assets which consist primarily of immediate participation guarantee contracts with an insurance company are actively managed by investment professionals. The following tables set forth the Plan's funded status and net periodic benefit cost for 1999 and 1998. No such information is available relative to interim periods. 1999 1998 ---- ---- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Change in Benefit Obligation Benefit obligation at beginning of year..................... $13,916 $10,878 Service cost................................................ 659 632 Interest cost............................................... 934 798 Plan amendments............................................. -- 1,118 Actuarial (gain) loss....................................... (1,629) 704 Benefits paid............................................... (328) (214) ------- ------- Benefit obligation at end of year........................... $13,552 $13,916 ======= ======= Change in Plan Assets Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year.............. $13,218 $11,057 Actual return on plan assets................................ 333 963 Employer contributions...................................... 996 1,412 Benefits paid............................................... (328) (214) ------- ------- Fair value of plan assets at end of year.................... $14,219 $13,218 ======= ======= Funded Status Funded (underfunded) status at end of year.................. $ 668 $ (698) Unrecognized net actuarial gain (loss)...................... (239) 791 Unrecognized prior service cost............................. 1,028 1,230 Unrecognized net transition asset........................... (101) (151) ------- ------- Prepaid benefit cost........................................ $ 1,356 $ 1,172 ======= ======= Weighted average assumptions used in cost calculations: Discount rate............................................. 6.75% 7.00% Rate of increase in compensation levels................... 5.50% 5.50% Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets.......... 7.50% 7.50% ======= ======= F-22 182 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS -- (CONTINUED) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 ----------------------- 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Service cost................................................ $ 659 $ 632 $ 503 Interest cost............................................... 934 797 690 Expected return on plan assets.............................. (986) (824) (715) Amortization of transition asset............................ (50) (50) (50) Amortization of prior service cost.......................... 202 144 76 Recognized actuarial loss................................... 54 24 29 ----- ----- ----- Total net periodic benefit cost............................. $ 813 $ 723 $ 533 ===== ===== ===== The supplemental pension plan had a projected benefit obligation of $3,110 and $3,247 and assets aggregating $2,777 and $2,521 at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Total net periodic pension expense was $513 (unaudited) and $438 (unaudited) in the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The Bank acquired an ESOP with the acquisition of First Federal which covered substantially all former employees of First Federal with two or more years of employment and who were at least 21 years of age. The cash proceeds received by the ESOP in connection with the merger were used to prepay the unpaid principal and interest outstanding under the ESOP. The remaining cash balance has been invested in a mutual fund. An allocation was made to the participants' accounts as of December 31, 1998 and the final allocation was made as of December 31, 1999. The Bank is in the process of applying for a determination letter to terminate the Plan and anticipates that all assets will be available for distribution in a lump sum during 2000. 12. INCOME TAXES The provision for income taxes consists of the following: SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 ---------------- ---------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Current: Federal......................................... $3,706 $2,456 $ 6,896 $7,010 $ 7,041 State........................................... 187 (76) 793 204 291 ------ ------ ------- ------ ------- 3,893 2,380 7,689 7,214 7,332 Deferred expense (benefit): Federal......................................... 87 5 (3,120) (786) (1,007) State........................................... 21 1 (766) 156 297 ------ ------ ------- ------ ------- 108 6 (3,886) (630) (710) ------ ------ ------- ------ ------- $4,001 $2,386 $ 3,803 $6,584 $ 6,622 ====== ====== ======= ====== ======= For state income tax purposes, the subsidiaries of the Bank have net business loss carryovers of $487 available to offset against future income which expire through 2013. F-23 183 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 12. INCOME TAXES -- (CONTINUED) The income tax provision differs from the provision computed at the federal statutory corporate rate for six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 and the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 follows: SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 ----------------- ---------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Income (loss) before provision for income taxes.......................................... $10,515 $6,276 $ (680) $17,735 $16,807 ======= ====== ====== ======= ======= Tax expense at federal statutory rate............ $ 3,680 $2,197 $ (238) $ 6,207 $ 5,882 Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from: State income taxes -- Net of federal tax benefit..................................... 135 (49) 21 382 382 Nondeductible intangible amortization.......... 164 216 3,487 490 351 Other.......................................... 22 24 533 (495) 7 ------- ------ ------ ------- ------- Provision for income taxes....................... $ 4,001 $2,386 $3,803 $ 6,584 $ 6,622 ======= ====== ====== ======= ======= Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The significant components of the Bank's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2000 and December 31, are summarized as follows: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ---------------------------- 2000 1999 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Deferred tax assets: State net operating losses........................... $ 26 $ 26 $ 26 $ 238 Loan loss reserves................................... 1,886 2,103 1,673 1,274 Deferred loan fees................................... 51 225 155 370 Pension.............................................. 1,241 1,151 1,147 1,165 Unrealized loss on investment securities............. 5,170 3,394 -- 78 Other................................................ 1,371 1,252 297 402 ------ ------ ------- ------- Total deferred tax assets.............................. 9,745 8,151 3,298 3,527 ------ ------ ------- ------- Deferred tax liabilities: Property and equipment depreciation.................. 1,057 1,057 1,196 1,200 FHLB stock dividends................................. 556 555 544 820 Purchase accounting adjustments...................... 1,536 1,611 3,910 4,407 Unrealized gain on investment securities............. -- -- 750 -- ------ ------ ------- ------- Total deferred tax liabilities......................... 3,149 3,223 6,400 6,427 ------ ------ ------- ------- Net deferred tax asset (liability)..................... $6,596 $4,928 $(3,102) $(2,900) ====== ====== ======= ======= The Bank qualified under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that permitted it to deduct from taxable income an allowance for bad debts that differed from the provision for such losses charged to income for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes has been made for approximately $48,592 of retained income as of June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and December 31, 1999. If, F-24 184 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 12. INCOME TAXES -- (CONTINUED) in the future, the Bank no longer qualifies as a bank for tax purposes, income taxes of approximately $19,500 would be imposed. 13. CONTINGENT LIABILITY The Bank has entered into an agreement whereby, for an initial fee and annual fee, certain of its United States Treasury notes are pledged as collateral for an Industrial Development Revenue Bond which was issued by a local municipality to finance commercial real estate owned by a third party, unrelated to the Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the Bank must maintain with a trustee collateral with a fair market value, as defined, aggregating 128%, 135% and 135% or more of the sum of the outstanding principal balance of the bonds plus accrued interest on the outstanding principal at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The Bank continues to receive interest payments on the collateral. At June 30, 2000 (unaudited) and December 31, 1999 and 1998, United States Treasury notes with outstanding principal balances aggregating approximately $10,000 were held by the trustee as collateral for these bonds which had an outstanding principal balance of $5,165 (unaudited), $5,165 and $5,410 for June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The third-party borrower is not in default on any scheduled payments due under the bond issue which has a scheduled maturity of on December 15, 2009. 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE-SHEET RISK The Bank is party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments consist of commitments to extend credit and involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The contract amounts reflect the extent of involvement the Bank has in particular classes of financial instruments and also represents the Bank's maximum exposure to credit loss. Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk are as follows: JUNE 30 DECEMBER 31 ----------- ------------------ 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- (UNAUDITED) Unused consumer lines of credit............................. $66,958 $63,461 $59,406 Unused commercial lines of credit........................... 1,480 1,003 946 Commitments to extend credit: Fixed rate ((7.625-9.25) in 2000; 6.60%-8.25% in 1999 and 6.15%-7.25% in 1998)................................... 10,496 7,418 19,445 Adjustable rate........................................... 17,344 7,595 4,003 Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and generally require payment of a fee. As some commitments expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Bank evaluates the collateral needed and creditworthiness of each customer on a case by case basis. The F-25 185 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE-SHEET RISK -- (CONTINUED) Bank generally extends credit only on a secured basis. Collateral obtained varies, but consists principally of one-to four-family residences. Forward commitments to sell mortgage loans of $2,274 (unaudited), $0 and $17,030 at June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, represent commitments obtained by the Bank from a secondary market agency to purchase mortgages from the Bank and place them in a mortgage-backed security pool with a defined yield. Commitments to sell loans expose the Bank to interest rate risk if market rates of interest decrease during the commitment period. Commitments to sell loans are made to mitigate interest rate risk on commitments to originate loans and loans held for sale. 15. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Disclosure of fair value information about certain financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated financial statements, for which it is practicable to estimate the value, is summarized below. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from this disclosure. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value of amounts presented does not represent the underlying value of the Bank and is not particularly relevant to predicting the Bank's future earnings or cash flows. The following methods and assumptions are used by the Bank in estimating its fair value disclosures of financial instruments: Cash and Cash Equivalents: The carrying amounts reported in the statements of financial condition for cash and cash equivalents approximate those assets' fair values. Investment and Mortgage-Related Securities: Fair values for these securities are based on quoted market prices or such prices of comparable instruments. Loans Receivable and Loans Held-for-Sale: The fair value of one- to four-family fixed rate mortgage loans was determined based on the current market price for securities collateralized by similar loans. For variable rate one to four-family mortgage, consumer and other loans that re-price frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, carrying values approximate fair values. The fair value for fixed rate commercial real estate, rental property mortgage, consumer and other loans was estimated by projecting cash flows at market interest rates. Federal Home Loan Bank Stock: Federal Home Loan Bank stock is carried at cost, which is its redeemable (fair) value, since the market for this stock is restricted. Accrued Interest Receivable: The carrying value of accrued interest receivable approximates fair value. Deposits and Advance Payments by Borrowers for Taxes and Insurance: The fair values disclosed for variable rate investment accounts, NOW accounts, passbook accounts, money market certificates, accrued interest and advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance are equal to the carrying amounts at the reporting date. Fair values for fixed-rate certificates of deposit are estimated using a discounted cash F-26 186 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 15. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS -- (CONTINUED) flow calculation that applies interest rates currently offered on certificates to a schedule of aggregated expected monthly maturities on time deposits. Borrowings: The fair value of long-term borrowings is estimated using discounted cash flow calculations with the discount rates equal to interest rates currently being offered for borrowings with similar terms and maturities. Commitments to Extend Credit and Forward Commitments to Sell Loans: The fair value of these commitments is considered to approximate the carrying values due to the short-term nature of these commitments. JUNE 30 2000 DECEMBER 31 1999 DECEMBER 31 1998 ------------------------ ----------------------- ----------------------- CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- (UNAUDITED) Cash and cash equivalents... $ 31,817 $ 31,817 $ 178,959 $ 178,959 $ 330,248 $ 330,248 Investment and mortgage- related securities........ 518,838 518,838 431,863 431,863 387,431 387,431 Loans receivable, net....... 1,127,987 1,106,015 1,082,795 1,067,333 1,045,046 1,056,232 Loans held for sale......... 1,632 1,632 541 541 27,723 27,723 Federal Home Loan Bank stock................ 14,585 14,585 13,537 13,537 13,537 13,537 Accrued interest receivable................ 9,602 9,602 8,620 8,620 8,035 8,035 Deposits and accrued interest.................. 1,300,613 1,238,606 1,343,007 1,298,038 1,398,858 1,381,119 Advance payments by borrowers................. 13,012 13,012 1,661 1,661 1,710 1,710 Borrowings.................. 264,667 262,843 242,699 194,443 270,822 230,233 The preceding table does not include any amount for the value of any off-balance-sheet items (see Note 14) since the fair value of these items is not significant. 16. MERGER AND CONVERSION On February 21, 2000, Mutual and First Northern Capital Corp. (First Northern), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement). The Merger Agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of Mutual and First Northern. To accomplish the transaction Mutual also adopted a plan of restructuring in which it will reorganize into a mutual holding company (MHC) in which Mutual's depositors will hold all of the voting rights. The MHC in turn will form and own the majority interest in a subsidiary, a mid-tier stock holding company (Mid-Tier HC). The balance of the shares of Common Stock will be offered for sale to Mutual's depositors and issued to First Northern shareholders in the Merger. As a result of the reorganization and merger, First Northern Capital Corp will merge with and into Mid-Tier HC and, Mutual Savings Bank and First Northern Savings Bank, S.A., will become wholly owned subsidiaries of Mid-Tier HC. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the time of the Merger, each outstanding share of First Northern common stock (First Northern Common Stock), will be converted into the right to receive cash in the amount of $15.00, or 1.5 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per F-27 187 MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND 1999 IS UNAUDITED) 16. MERGER AND CONVERSION -- (CONTINUED) share, of Mid-Tier HC Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Mid-Tier HC Common Stock (Merger Consideration). Prior to the closing date, Mutual will select the percentage of the total Merger Consideration to be paid in Common Stock, which may not be less than 40% or more than 70%; the balance will be paid in cash. The remaining shares of the Mid-Tier HC will be offered for sale to Mutual's depositors, pursuant to the terms of a Plan of Restructuring. The Restructuring will be accounted for as a pooling of interests, whereas the merger will be accounted for as a purchase. Consummation of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including approval by the shareholders of First Northern and approval by the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Administrator of the Division of Savings Institutions of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions as to both the Restructuring and the Merger. The depositors of Mutual must also approve Mutual's Plan of Restructuring. The Merger is also subject to receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and the receipt of an opinion of counsel or a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service as to the federal income tax treatment of certain transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Merger is conditioned upon the approval for listing on the NASDAQ National Market of the shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, which shares will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 by a registration statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The amount and pricing of the proposed stock offering will be based upon an independent appraisal of the Bank. In connection with the conversion, the costs of issuing the common stock will be deducted from the sale proceeds. At June 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999, $749,000 (unaudited) and $0 of costs related to the conversion have been capitalized. In the event that the consummation of the conversion or merger do not occur, any recorded costs will be expensed. At the time of conversion, the Bank will establish a liquidation account in an amount equal to its net worth as of the date of the latest consolidated statement of financial condition appearing in the final prospectus. The liquidation account will be maintained for the benefit of eligible account holders and supplemental eligible account holders, if any, who continue to maintain their deposit accounts at the Bank after the conversion. The liquidation account will be reduced annually to the extent that eligible account holders and supplemental eligible account holders, if any, have reduced their qualifying deposits as of each anniversary date. Subsequent increases will not restore an eligible account holder's or a supplemental eligible account holder's interest in the liquidation account. In the event of a complete liquidation, each eligible account holder and supplemental eligible account holder, if any, will be entitled to receive balances for accounts then held. Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, in order to induce Mutual to enter into the Merger Agreement, the parties entered into a Stock Option Agreement by which First Northern granted to Mutual an irrevocable option to purchase up to 1,708,675 shares of First Northern Common Stock, which equals 19.9% of the number of shares of First Northern Common Stock outstanding on February 21, 2000, at an exercise price of $9.0375 per share. The option would become exercisable under certain circumstances if First Northern becomes the subject of a third-party proposal for a competing transaction. F-28 188 APPENDIX A AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BY AND AMONG MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK, OV CORP. AND FIRST NORTHERN CAPITAL CORP. DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 21, 2000 Note to readers: Bank Mutual Corporation will assume the rights and obligations of "OV Corp." in this agreement when the merger becomes effective. Therefore, Bank Mutual Corporation is the "Merger Corp." and will be the "Survivor" under this agreement. 189 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- RECITALS 1 ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 1 1.1 Acquisition 2 1.2 Acquisition Proposal 2 1.3 Affiliate 2 1.4 Affiliate Letter 3 1.5 Agreement 3 1.6 Announcement 3 1.7 Bank 3 1.8 Buildings 3 1.9 CERCLA 3 1.10 Closing 3 1.11 Closing Date 3 1.12 Code 3 1.13 Confidentiality Agreement 3 1.14 Contracts 3 1.15 Control 3 1.16 Disclosure Schedules 4 1.17 Employee Benefit Plans 4 1.18 Environmental Claim 4 1.19 Environmental Laws 4 1.20 Environmental Permits 4 1.21 Equipment 4 1.22 ERISA 5 1.23 Exchange Act 5 1.24 FDIC 5 1.25 FHLB of Chicago 5 1.26 First Northern 5 1.27 First Northern Closing Certificate 5 1.28 First Northern Common Stock 5 1.29 First Northern Counsel Opinion 5 1.30 First Northern Disclosure Schedule 5 1.31 First Northern Executives 5 1.32 First Northern Existing Contracts 5 1.33 First Northern Existing Employment Agreements 5 1.34 First Northern Existing Indebtedness 6 1.35 First Northern Existing Liens 6 -i- 190 Page ---- 1.36 First Northern Existing Litigation 6 1.37 First Northern Existing Plans 6 1.38 First Northern Meeting 6 1.39 First Northern Real Estate 6 1.40 First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement 6 1.41 First Northern Shareholders 6 1.42 First Northern Stock Option Plans 7 1.43 First Northern Stock Options 7 1.44 First Northern Subsidiaries 7 1.45 Fraction Payment 7 1.46 Hazardous Materials 7 1.47 HOLA 7 1.48 Indebtedness 7 1.49 Investment Securities 7 1.50 IRS 7 1.51 Knowledge 7 1.52 Law 8 1.53 Lien 8 1.54 Material Adverse Effect 8 1.55 Material Contract 8 1.56 Merger 9 1.57 Merger Corp 9 1.58 Mutual 9 1.59 Mutual Closing Certificate 9 1.60 Mutual Counsel Opinion 9 1.61 Mutual Disclosure Schedule 9 1.62 Mutual Existing Contracts 9 1.63 Mutual Existing Litigation 9 1.64 Mutual Real Estate 9 1.65 NASDAQ/NMS 10 1.66 OTS 10 1.67 Permits 10 1.68 Permitted Liens 10 1.69 Person 10 1.70 Proxy Statement 10 1.71 Registration Statement 10 1.72 Regulatory Approvals 10 1.73 Release 10 1.74 SAIF 10 1.75 SEC 10 1.76 Securities Act 10 1.77 Section 180.0622(2)(b) 11 -ii- 191 Page ---- 1.78 Stock Option Agreement 11 1.79 Subsidiary 11 1.80 Survivor 11 1.81 Survivor Common Stock 11 1.82 WBCL 11 1.83 Wisconsin Agency 11 1.84 Year 2000 Compliant 11 1.85 Other Defined Terms 12 ARTICLE II THE MERGER 13 2.1 The Merger 13 2.2 Effect of the Merger 13 2.3 Effective Time 13 2.4 Articles and Bylaws of Survivor 14 2.5 Charter and Bylaws of the Bank; Offices of 14 the Bank 2.6 Directors and Officers of Survivor 14 2.7 Capital Stock of Merger Corp. 14 2.8 Conversion of First Northern Common Stock 15 2.9 Exchange of First Northern Certificates 19 2.10 Reorganization 22 2.11 No Dissenting Shares 23 2.12 Meeting of First Northern Shareholders 23 2.13 Liquidation Account and Sub-Accounts 23 2.14 Restructuring 24 2.15 Anti-Dilution Provisions 25 2.16 Alternative Structure 25 ARTICLE III OTHER AGREEMENTS 25 3.1 Confidentiality; Access 25 3.2 Disclosure Schedules 26 3.3 Duties Concerning Representations 27 3.4 Deliveries of Information; Consultation 27 3.5 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification 28 and Insurance 3.6 Letters of Accountants 29 3.7 Legal Conditions to Merger 29 3.8 Stock Listings 30 3.9 Announcements 30 3.10 Best Efforts 30 3.11 Employee And Managerial Matters 30 3.12 Employee Benefit Matters 31 -iii- 192 Page ---- 3.13 Conformance to Reserve Policies 32 3.14 Conduct of Mutual's Business and Authorization, Reservation and Listing of Common Stock 32 3.15 Affiliates 33 ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIRST NORTHERN 33 4.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries 33 4.2 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws 34 4.3 Capitalization 34 4.4 Authorization: Enforceability 35 4.5 No Violation or Conflict 35 4.6 Title to Assets; Leases 35 4.7 Litigation 36 4.8 Securities and Banking Reports; Books and Records 36 4.9 Absence of Certain Changes 37 4.10 Buildings and Equipment 38 4.11 First Northern Existing Contracts 38 4.12 Investment Securities 38 4.13 Contingent and Undisclosed Liabilities 38 4.14 Insurance Policies 38 4.15 Employee Benefit Plans 39 4.16 No Violation of Law 40 4.17 Brokers 40 4.18 Taxes 41 4.19 Real Estate 41 4.20 Governmental Approvals 42 4.21 No Pending Acquisitions 42 4.22 Labor Matters 42 4.23 Indebtedness 43 4.24 Permits 43 4.25 Disclosure 43 4.26 Information Supplied 43 4.27 Vote Required 44 4.28 Opinion of Financial Advisor 44 4.29 Environmental Protection 44 4.30 Year 2000 Compliant 45 ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MUTUAL AND MERGER CORP. 45 5.1 Organization and Capitalization; Business 45 -iv- 193 Page ---- 5.2 Authorization; Enforceability 46 5.3 No Violation or Conflict 46 5.4 Litigation 46 5.5 Brokers 47 5.6 Governmental Approvals 47 5.7 Disclosure 47 5.8 Information Supplied 47 5.9 Opinion of Financial Advisor 47 5.10 Cash Payment 47 5.11 Compliance with Laws 48 5.12 Consummation 48 5.13 Banking Reports; Books and Records 48 5.14 Absence of Certain Changes 48 5.15 Mutual Existing Contracts 49 5.16 Contingent and Undisclosed Liabilities 49 5.17 Taxes 49 5.18 Real Estate 50 5.19 No Pending Acquisitions 50 5.20 Environmental Protection 51 5.21 Year 2000 Compliant 51 ARTICLE VI CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY FIRST NORTHERN PENDING THE MERGER 52 6.1 Carry on in Regular Course 52 6.2 Use of Assets 52 6.3 No Default 52 6.4 Insurance Policies 52 6.5 Employment Matters 52 6.6 Contracts and Commitments 52 6.7 Indebtedness; Investments 53 6.8 Preservation of Relationships 53 6.9 Compliance with Laws 53 6.10 Taxes 53 6.11 Amendments 53 6.12 Issuance of Stock; Dividends; Redemptions 53 6.13 Policy Changes 53 6.14 Acquisition Transactions 53 ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE MERGER 54 7.1 Conditions to Each Parties Obligations to 54 Effect the Merger 55 7.2 Conditions to Obligation of Mutual -v- 194 Page ---- 7.3 Conditions to Obligation of First Northern 57 ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION; MISCELLANEOUS 59 8.1 Termination 59 8.2 Rights on Termination; Waiver 59 8.3 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants 60 8.4 Entire Agreement; Amendment 60 8.5 Expenses 60 8.6 Governing Law 61 8.7 Assignment 61 8.8 Notices 61 8.9 Counterparts; Headings 62 8.10 Interpretation 62 8.11 Severability 62 8.12 Specific Performance 62 8.13 No Reliance 62 8.14 Further Assurances 62 EXHIBITS Exhibit 1 - Form of Affiliate's Letters Exhibit 2 - Form of First Northern Closing Certificate Exhibit 3 - Form of First Northern Counsel Opinion Exhibit 4 - Form of First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement Exhibit 5 - Form of Mutual Closing Certificate Exhibit 6 - Form of Mutual Counsel Opinion -vi- 195 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER is made as of this 21st day of February, 2000 by and among MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK, OV CORP. and FIRST NORTHERN CAPITAL CORP. RECITALS WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Mutual, Merger Corp. and First Northern have approved this Agreement by the requisite vote imposed by Law, and deem it advisable and in the best interest of their respective institutions and members or stockholders, as the case may be, to consummate the reorganization provided for herein, pursuant to which First Northern will merge with and into Merger Corp., the surviving institution, and in connection therewith the stockholders of First Northern will receive Survivor Common Stock and/or cash in exchange for their shares of First Northern Common Stock; WHEREAS, concurrently with this Agreement and as a condition and an inducement to the willingness of Mutual to enter into this Agreement, First Northern and Mutual are entering into a Stock Option Agreement granting Mutual, under the conditions set forth therein, the option to purchase shares of newly-issued First Northern Common Stock; WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of First Northern has directed that this Agreement and the transactions described in this Agreement be submitted for approval at the First Northern Meeting; WHEREAS, the Merger will be conducted in connection with the Restructuring; and WHEREAS, the transactions provided herein are subject to various regulatory approvals and other conditions specified herein; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Recitals and of the mutual covenants, conditions and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed that: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS When used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified: -1- 196 1.1 Acquisition. "Acquisition" shall mean any of the following involving First Northern or the Bank on the one hand, or Mutual on the other hand, other than the Merger or the Restructuring: (a) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or other similar transaction; (b) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of 10% or more of assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions, excluding from this calculation any such transactions undertaken in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (c) any sale of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock (or securities convertible or exchangeable into or otherwise evidencing, or an agreement or instrument evidencing, the right to acquire capital stock); (d) any tender offer or exchange offer for 10% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock or the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act in connection therewith; (e) In the case of First Northern, any solicitation of proxies in opposition to approval by its shareholders of the Merger or the Stock Option Agreement; (f) The filing of an acquisition application (or the giving of acquisition notice), whether in draft or final form, under HOLA with respect to it; (g) any person shall have acquired beneficial ownership or the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder) shall have been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, 10% or more of the then outstanding shares of capital stock; or (h) any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing. 1.2 Acquisition Proposal. "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean the making of any proposal by any Person concerning an Acquisition. 1.3 Affiliate. "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the first Person, including without limitation all directors and executive officers of the first Person. -2- 197 1.4 Affiliate Letter. "Affiliate Letter" shall mean a letter from each Affiliate of First Northern substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 attached to this Agreement. 1.5 Agreement. "Agreement" shall mean this Agreement and Plan of Merger, together with the Exhibits attached hereto and together with the Disclosure Schedules, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof. 1.6 Announcement. "Announcement" shall mean any public notice, release, statement or other communication to employees, suppliers, customers, members, stockholders, the general public, the press or any securities exchange or quotation system relating to the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. 1.7 Bank. "Bank" shall mean First Northern Savings Bank, S.A., a Wisconsin-chartered savings and loan association which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Northern. 1.8 Buildings. "Buildings" shall mean all buildings, fixtures, structures and improvements (including without limitation stand-alone automated teller machines or similar devices) used by a Person or an Affiliate and located on the Person's Real Estate. 1.9 CERCLA. "CERCLA" shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as the same may be in effect from time to time. 1.10 Closing. "Closing" shall mean the conference to be held at 10:00 A.M., Central Time, on the Closing Date at the offices of Quarles & Brady LLP, 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, or such other time and place as the parties may mutually agree to in writing, at which the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be consummated. 1.11 Closing Date. "Closing Date" shall mean the date of the Effective Time or such other date as the parties may mutually agree to in writing. 1.12 Code. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be in effect from time to time. 1.13 Confidentiality Agreement. "Confidentiality Agreement" shall mean the letter agreement regarding confidentiality and related issues between Mutual and First Northern dated January 11, 2000. 1.14 Contracts. "Contracts" shall mean all of the contracts, agreements, leases, relationships and commitments, written or oral, to which the relevant Person is a party or by which it is bound. 1.15 Control. "Control," as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and -3- 198 policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise. "Control," as used with respect to securities or other property, shall mean the power to exercise or direct the exercise of any voting rights associated therewith, or the power to dispose or direct the disposition thereof, or both. 1.16 Disclosure Schedules. "Disclosure Schedules" shall mean the First Northern Disclosure Schedule and the Mutual Disclosure Schedule. 1.17 Employee Benefit Plans. "Employee Benefit Plans" shall mean any pension plan, profit sharing plan, bonus plan, incentive compensation plan, deferred compensation plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, stock option plan, stock appreciation plan, employee benefit plan, employee benefit policy, retirement plan, fringe benefit program, insurance plan, severance plan, disability plan, health care plan, sick leave plan, death benefit plan, or any other plan or program to provide retirement income, fringe benefits or other benefits to former or current employees of the relevant Person. 1.18 Environmental Claim. "Environmental Claim" shall mean any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, directives, claims, Liens, investigations, proceedings or notices of noncompliance or violation (written or oral) by any Person alleging potential liability (including, without limitation, potential liability for enforcement, investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, removal costs, remedial costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, or penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting from: (A) the presence, or release into the environment, of any Hazardous Materials at any location, whether or not owned by a Person or any of its Subsidiaries; or (B) circumstances forming the basis of any violation or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law; or (C) any and all claims by any Person seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost, recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from the presence or Release of any Hazardous Materials. 1.19 Environmental Laws. "Environmental Laws" shall mean all federal, state, local or foreign statute, Law, rule, ordinance, code, policy, guideline, rule of common law and regulations relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, Laws and regulations relating to Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous Materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials. 1.20 Environmental Permits. "Environmental Permits" shall mean environmental, health and safety permits and governmental authorizations necessary for their operations of a Person under Environmental Laws. 1.21 Equipment. "Equipment" shall mean all equipment, boilers, furniture, fixtures, motor vehicles, furnishings, office equipment, computers and other items of tangible personal -4- 199 property owned by the relevant Person which are either presently used, or are used on the Closing Date, by the relevant Person in the conduct of its business. 1.22 ERISA. "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be in effect from time to time. 1.23 Exchange Act. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as the same may be in effect from time to time. 1.24 FDIC. "FDIC" shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 1.25 FHLB of Chicago. "FHLB of Chicago" shall mean the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Illinois. 1.26 First Northern. "First Northern" shall mean First Northern Capital Corp., a Wisconsin corporation which is registered as a unitary savings and loan holding company under HOLA and the rules and regulations of the OTS promulgated thereunder. 1.27 First Northern Closing Certificate. "First Northern Closing Certificate" shall mean the Closing Certificate of First Northern in substantially the form of Exhibit 2 attached to this Agreement. 1.28 First Northern Common Stock. "First Northern Common Stock" shall mean all of the authorized shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of First Northern. 1.29 First Northern Counsel Opinion. "First Northern Counsel Opinion" shall mean an opinion of Schiff Hardin & Waite in substantially the form of Exhibit 3 attached to this Agreement. 1.30 First Northern Disclosure Schedule. "First Northern Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the disclosure schedule, dated the date of this Agreement, delivered by First Northern to Mutual contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as the same may be amended from time to time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. 1.31 First Northern Executives. "First Northern Executives" shall mean the individuals who serve as executive officers of First Northern or the Bank. 1.32 First Northern Existing Contracts. "First Northern Existing Contracts" shall mean those Contracts which are listed pursuant to Section 4.11 of this Agreement on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 1.33 First Northern Existing Employment Agreements. "First Northern Existing Employment Agreements" shall mean the employment agreements by and between the Bank or -5- 200 First Northern and any of the First Northern Executives, identified on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 1.34 First Northern Existing Indebtedness. "First Northern Existing Indebtedness" shall mean all Indebtedness of First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries, all of which is listed on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 1.35 First Northern Existing Liens. "First Northern Existing Liens" shall mean all Liens affecting any of the assets and properties of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary except for Liens for current taxes not yet due and payable, pledges to secure deposits and such imperfections of title, easements and other encumbrances, if any, as do not materially detract from the value of or substantially interfere with the present use of the property affected thereby, all of which are listed and briefly described on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 1.36 First Northern Existing Litigation. "First Northern Existing Litigation" shall mean all pending or, to the Knowledge of First Northern, threatened claims, suits, audit inquiries, charges, workers compensation claims, litigation, arbitrations, proceedings, governmental investigations, citations and actions of any kind against First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, or affecting any assets or the business of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, all of which are listed and briefly described on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 1.37 First Northern Existing Plans. "First Northern Existing Plans" shall mean all Employee Benefit Plans of First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries and any Employee Benefit Plans of such entities that have been terminated since January 1, 1997, all of which are listed on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 1.38 First Northern Meeting. "First Northern Meeting" shall mean the special or annual meeting of the First Northern Shareholders for the purpose of approving the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and for such other purposes as may be necessary or desirable. 1.39 First Northern Real Estate. "First Northern Real Estate" shall mean the parcels of real property identified in the legal descriptions set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 1.40 First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement. "First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement" shall mean an employment agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit 4 attached to this Agreement, to be entered into at the Closing and to be effective as of the Effective Time, by and between the Bank and any one or more of the First Northern Executives, all as provided in Section 3.11 of this Agreement. 1.41 First Northern Shareholders. "First Northern Shareholders" shall mean all Persons owning shares of First Northern Common Stock on the relevant date of inquiry. -6- 201 1.42 First Northern Stock Option Plans. "First Northern Stock Option Plans" shall mean the First Northern Capital Corp. 1999 Stock Plan, and the following plans of the Bank, as assumed by First Northern: 1984 Stock Option Plan, 1989 Executive Stock Option Plan, 1989 Directors' Stock Option Plan, 1994 Executive Stock Plan, and 1994 Directors' Stock Option Plan. 1.43 First Northern Stock Options. "First Northern Stock Options" shall mean all options to purchase shares of First Northern Common Stock granted pursuant to the First Northern Stock Option Plans which are outstanding as of the relevant time of inquiry, whether or not such options are exercisable prior to the Effective Time. 1.44 First Northern Subsidiaries. "First Northern Subsidiaries" shall mean those Subsidiaries of First Northern listed on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule pursuant to Section 4.1(c) of this Agreement. 1.45 Fraction Payment. "Fraction Payment" shall mean any cash paid for fractional share interests paid pursuant to Section 2.9(e) of this Agreement. 1.46 Hazardous Materials. "Hazardous Materials" shall mean: (A) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that is or could become friable, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, and transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid containing regulated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radon gas; and (B) any chemicals, materials or substances which are now defined as or included in the definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous materials," "extremely hazardous wastes, restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic pollutants," or words of similar import, under any Environmental Law; and (C) any other chemical, material, substance or waste, exposure to which is now prohibited, limited or regulated by any governmental authority. 1.47 HOLA. "HOLA" shall mean the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as the same may be in effect from time to time, including the rules and regulations of the OTS promulgated thereunder. 1.48 Indebtedness. "Indebtedness" shall mean all liabilities or obligations (except deposit accounts) of the relevant Person, whether primary or secondary, absolute or contingent: (a) for borrowed money; (b) evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments; or (c) secured by Liens on any assets of the relevant Person. 1.49 Investment Securities. "Investment Securities" shall mean all investment securities of the relevant Person permitted to be held by the relevant Person under Law. 1.50 IRS. "IRS" shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service. 1.51 Knowledge. "Knowledge" of a Person shall mean, for purposes of this Agreement, when any fact or matter is stated to be "to the Knowledge" of that Person or words of -7- 202 similar import, the actual knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of such fact or matter by the executive officers and the Person and its Subsidiaries. 1.52 Law. "Law" shall mean any federal, state, local or other law, rule, regulation, policy or governmental requirement of any kind, and the rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder by any regulatory agencies or other Persons. 1.53 Lien. "Lien" shall mean, with respect to any asset: (a) any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, claim, restriction, reservation, condition, easement, covenant, lease, encroachment, title defect, imposition, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind; and (b) the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, financing lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset. 1.54 Material Adverse Effect. "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any change or effect that is or is reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the business, operations, properties (including intangible properties), condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities (including contingent liabilities) or prospects of the relevant Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. 1.55 Material Contract. "Material Contract" shall mean any Contract of a Person or any of its subsidiaries which constitutes: (a) a lease of, or agreement to purchase or sell, any capital assets involving in excess of $50,000 as to any asset or $100,000 in the aggregate; (b) any management, consulting, employment, personal service, severance, agency or other contract or contracts providing for employment or rendition of services and which: (i) are in writing, or (ii) create other than an at will employment relationship; or (iii) provide for any commission, bonus, profit sharing, incentive, retirement, consulting or additional compensation; (c) any agreements or notes evidencing any Indebtedness; (d) a power of attorney (whether revocable or irrevocable) given to any other person by the Person that is in force; (e) an agreement by the Person not to compete in any business or in any geographical area; (f) an agreement restricting the Person's right to use or disclose any information in its possession; (g) a partnership, joint venture or similar arrangement; (h) a license involving payments in excess of $1,000; (i)an agreement or arrangement with any Affiliate which is not a Subsidiary; (j) an agreement for data processing services; (k) any assistance agreement, supervisory agreement, memorandum of understanding, consent order, cease and desist order or other regulatory order or decree with or by the SEC, OTS, FDIC, Wisconsin Agency or any other regulatory authority; or 8 203 (l) any other agreement or set of related agreements or series of agreements which: (i) involve an amount in excess of $50,000 on an annual basis or $100,000 in the aggregate; or (ii) is not in the ordinary course of business of the Person or any Subsidiary of the Person. 1.56 Merger. "Merger" shall mean the merger of First Northern with and into Merger Corp. pursuant to this Agreement. 1.57 Merger Corp. "Merger Corp." shall mean OV Corp., a Wisconsin corporation organized as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mutual for the purpose of effecting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (Merger Corp. is the same corporate entity as Survivor, but the term "Merger Corp." is intended to be used primarily to designate the entity prior to the Merger.) 1.58 Mutual. "Mutual" shall mean Mutual Savings Bank, a mutual savings bank chartered under Chapter 214 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and shall include any successor savings bank pursuant to the Restructuring. 1.59 Mutual Closing Certificate. "Mutual Closing Certificate" shall mean the Closing Certificate of Mutual and Merger Corp. in substantially the form of Exhibit 5 attached to this Agreement. 1.60 Mutual Counsel Opinion. "Mutual Counsel Opinion" shall mean the opinion of Quarles & Brady LLP in substantially the form of Exhibit 6 attached to this Agreement. 1.61 Mutual Disclosure Schedule. "Mutual Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the disclosure schedule, dated the date of this Agreement, delivered by Mutual to First Northern contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as the same may be amended from time to time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. 1.62 Mutual Existing Contracts. "Mutual Existing Contracts" shall mean those Contracts which are listed pursuant to Section 5.15 of this Agreement on the Mutual Disclosure Schedule. 1.63 Mutual Existing Litigation. "Mutual Existing Litigation" shall mean all pending or, to the Knowledge of Mutual, threatened claims, suits, audit inquiries, charges, workers compensation claims, litigation, arbitrations, proceedings, governmental investigations, citations and actions of any kind against Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary, or affecting any assets or the business of Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary, all of which are listed and briefly described on the Mutual Disclosure Schedule. 1.64 Mutual Real Estate. "Mutual Real Estate" shall mean the parcels of real property identified in the legal descriptions set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. -9- 204 1.65 NASDAQ/NMS. "NASDAQ/NMS" shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations National Market System. 1.66 OTS. "OTS" shall mean the Office of Thrift Supervision, Department of the Treasury, or any successor agency. 1.67 Permits. "Permits" shall mean all licenses, permits, approvals, franchises, qualifications, permissions, agreements, orders and governmental authorizations required for the conduct of the business of the relevant Person. 1.68 Permitted Liens. "Permitted Liens" shall mean those First Northern or Mutual Existing Liens which are expressly noted as Permitted Liens on a Disclosure Schedule. 1.69 Person. "Person" shall mean a natural person, corporation, bank, trust, partnership, association, governmental entity, agency or branch or department thereof, or any other legal entity. 1.70 Proxy Statement. "Proxy Statement" shall mean the proxy statement of First Northern to be filed with the SEC and to be distributed to the First Northern Shareholders in connection with the First Northern Special Meeting and the approval of the Merger by the First Northern Shareholders, which shall also constitute the prospectus of Survivor filed as a part of the Registration Statement. 1.71 Registration Statement. "Registration Statement" shall mean a registration statement on Form S-4 (or other appropriate form) to be filed under the Securities Act by Survivor in connection with the Merger for purposes of registering any shares of Survivor Common Stock to be issued in the Merger pursuant to this Agreement. 1.72 Regulatory Approvals. "Regulatory Approvals" shall mean all of the approvals which are conditions precedent to consummating the Merger and the Restructuring, as specified in Section 7.1(c) of this Agreement. 1.73 Release. "Release" shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the atmosphere, soil, surface water, groundwater or property. 1.74 SAIF. "SAIF" shall mean the Savings Association Insurance Fund of the FDIC. 1.75 SEC. "SEC" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. 1.76 Securities Act. "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as the same may be in effect from time to time. -10- 205 1.77 Section 180.0622(2)(b). "Section 180.0622(2)(b)" shall mean WBCL Section 180.0622(2)(b), including judicial interpretations thereof and of former WBCL Section 180.04(6), its predecessor statute. 1.78 Stock Option Agreement. "Stock Option Agreement" shall mean the Stock Option Agreement, of even date herewith, being entered into by and between First Northern and Mutual concurrently with their execution and delivery of this Agreement. 1.79 Subsidiary. "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation, financial institution, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity: (i) 25% or more of any outstanding class of whose voting interests is directly or indirectly owned by the relevant Person, or is held by it with power to vote; (ii) the election of a majority of whose directors, trustees, general partners or comparable governing body is controlled in any manner by the relevant Person; or (iii) with respect to the management or policies of which the relevant Person has the power, directly or indirectly, to exercise a controlling influence. Subsidiary shall include an indirect Subsidiary of the relevant Person which is controlled in any manner specified above through one or more corporations or financial institutions which are themselves Subsidiaries. 1.80 Survivor. "Survivor" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.1 of this Agreement. (Survivor is the same corporate entity as Merger Corp., but the term "Survivor" is intended to be used primarily to designate the entity as the surviving corporation in the Merger.) 1.81 Survivor Common Stock. "Survivor Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, $.01 par value, of Survivor after the Merger. 1.82 WBCL. "WBCL" shall mean the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law. 1.83 Wisconsin Agency. "Wisconsin Agency" shall mean the Administrator of the Division of Savings Institutions of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, or any successor agency. 1.84 Year 2000 Compliant. "Year 2000 Compliant" shall mean, with respect to material hardware and software systems, that such hardware and software is designed to be used prior to, during, and after the calendar Year 2000 A.D., recognize the "leap day" therein, and such hardware and software used during each such time period will accurately receive, provide and process date/time data from, into and between the years 1999 and 2000, and all subsequent years, and will not malfunction, cease to function, or provide invalid or incorrect results as a result of date/time data, to the extent that other hardware and software, used in combination with the hardware and software of the affected Person, properly exchanges date/time data with the hardware and software of the affected Person. -11- 206 1.85 Other Defined Terms. The following additional terms are defined in the specific Section to which they relate: TERM SECTION ---- ------- Cash Election 2.8(e) Cash Election Shares 2.8(f) Cash Fraction 2.8(f)(ii)(A) Cash Percentage 2.8(a)(i) Cash Value 2.8(a)(ii) COBRA 3.12(e) Conversion Notice 2.8(b) Disclosure Schedule Change 3.2(d) Effective Time 2.3 Election Deadline 2.8(l) Exchange Agent 2.9(a) Exchange Fund 2.9(a) Exchange Ratio 2.8(a)(iii) First Northern Approvals 4.1 First Northern Certificates 2.8(i) First Northern Reports 4.8 Form of Election 2.8(e) Indemnified Liabilities 3.5(a) Indemnified Parties 3.5(a) Initial Mailing Record Date 2.8(i) Letter of Transmittal 2.9(b)(i) Maximum Cash Number 2.8(a)(iv) Maximum Stock Number 2.8(a)(v) Merger Consideration 2.8(a)(vi) MHC 2.14(c) Mixed Election 2.8(e) Mixed Election Shares 2.8(f) Mutual Reports 5.13 Non-Election 2.8(e) Non-Election Shares 2.8(f)(i) Restructuring 2.14 Representative 2.8(e) Stock Bank 2.14(d) Stock Election 2.8(e) Stock Election Shares 2.8(f)(i) Stock Fraction 2.8(g)(ii)(A) Stock Percentage 2.8(a)(vii) Transitory 2.14(c) -12- 207 ARTICLE II THE MERGER 2.1 The Merger. This Agreement provides for the merger of First Northern with and into Merger Corp., whereby the stock of First Northern and Merger Corp. outstanding as of the Effective Time will be converted as described herein. As of the Effective Time, First Northern will be merged with and into Merger Corp. which, as the surviving corporation ("Survivor"), shall remain a Wisconsin business corporation and become registered under HOLA as a savings and loan holding company and, in such capacity, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin and federal laws applicable to registered savings and loan holding companies and subsidiary holding companies of federal mutual holding companies, including rules and regulations of regulatory authorities thereunder. The separate existence of First Northern shall thereupon cease. The Merger shall be effected pursuant to the provisions of federal Law and the WBCL, and shall have the effects provided in the WBCL. 2.2 Effect of the Merger. (a) At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in the WBCL, including the effects described in Sections 2.2(b) and 2.2(c) of this Agreement. (b) The corporate identity, existence, purposes, powers, franchises, privileges, assets, properties and rights of both First Northern and Merger Corp. shall be merged into and continued in Survivor, and Survivor shall be fully vested therewith. (c) At the Effective Time, Survivor shall succeed to or continue, without other transfer, and shall possess and enjoy, all the rights, privileges, assets, properties, powers and franchises both of a public and a private nature, and shall be subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties of First Northern and Merger Corp., and all the rights, privileges, assets, properties, powers and franchises of First Northern or Merger Corp. and all property, real, personal and mixed, tangible or intangible, and all debts due to First Northern or Merger Corp. on whatever account, shall be vested in Survivor; and all rights, privileges, assets, properties, powers and franchises, and all and every other interest shall be thereafter as effectively the property of Survivor as they were of First Northern or Merger Corp.; and the title to or any interest in any real estate vested by deed or otherwise in First Northern or Merger Corp. shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Merger; provided, however, that all rights of creditors and Liens upon any property of either First Northern or Merger Corp. shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of First Northern or Merger Corp. shall thenceforth attach to Survivor and may be enforced against Survivor to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by Survivor. 2.3 Effective Time. The consummation of the Merger shall be effected as promptly as practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII of this Agreement. The Merger shall become effective on the date and time specified in Articles of Merger to be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The date and time -13- 208 on which the Merger shall become effective is referred to in this Agreement as the "Effective Time." 2.4 Articles and Bylaws of Survivor. (a) The Articles of Incorporation of Merger Corp. as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Articles of Incorporation of Survivor until amended in accordance with Law. (The parties contemplate amendment of Merger Corp.'s articles of incorporation prior to the Effective Time to, among other things, change its name and authorize additional shares.) (b) The Bylaws of Merger Corp. as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of Survivor until amended in accordance with Law, except that the name of the corporation identified therein shall be changed to as provided in Section 2.4(a) hereof. 2.5 Charter and Bylaws of the Bank; Offices of the Bank. (a) The Charter and Bylaws of the Bank in force immediately prior to the Effective Time initially shall be the Charter and Bylaws of the Bank immediately following the Effective Time. (b) The location of the main office of the Bank immediately prior to the Effective Time initially shall continue as the main office of the Bank immediately following the Effective Time, and the location of each of the Bank's branch offices immediately prior to the Effective Time shall continue as a branch location of the Bank immediately following the Effective Time. 2.6 Directors and Officers of Survivor. As of the Effective Time, the directors of Survivor shall be: (a) the duly qualified and acting directors of Merger Corp. immediately prior to the Effective Time (who will be the same as the directors of Mutual at such date) plus (b) four additional directors who shall have been directors of First Northern prior to the Effective Time and who shall be designated in writing by Mutual to First Northern at least five business days prior to the Effective Time. The officers of Merger Corp. immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of Survivor, in all cases to hold office as provided in the Bylaws of Survivor. The directors of Survivor shall promptly thereafter take the actions described in Section 3.11(b) hereof to elect additional officers. 2.7 Capital Stock of Merger Corp. At the Effective Time, each share of common stock of Merger Corp. then issued and outstanding, without any action on the part of the holder thereof, shall remain an issued and outstanding share of Survivor Common Stock. -14- 209 2.8 Conversion of First Northern Common Stock. (a) Definitions. As used in this Agreement: (i) "Cash Percentage" shall mean that percentage equal to: (A) 100%; minus (B) the Stock Percentage. (ii) "Cash Value" shall mean $15.00. (iii) "Exchange Ratio" shall mean 1.5. (iv) "Maximum Cash Number" shall mean that number equal to: (A) (1) the Cash Percentage; multiplied by (2) the number of shares of First Northern Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time; minus (B) the number of shares of First Northern Common Stock to be exchanged for Fraction Payments. (v) "Maximum Stock Number" shall mean that number equal to: (A) the Stock Percentage; multiplied by (B) the number of shares of First Northern Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. (vi) "Merger Consideration" shall mean the shares of Survivor Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Section 2.8 of this Agreement and cash payable pursuant to this Section 2.8 of this Agreement. (vii) "Stock Percentage" shall mean that percentage selected by Mutual in the Conversion Notice which shall be (at the option of Mutual) any percentage between and including 40% and 70%. (b) Conversion Notice. At least three business days prior to the Closing Date, Mutual shall send a notice to First Northern (the "Conversion Notice") which specifies Mutual's election as to the amounts of the Cash Percentage and the Stock Percentage. The parties shall then proceed to close the transactions described in this Agreement on the basis of such election identified in the Conversion Notice. (c) Conversion. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Merger Corp., First Northern, Mutual or the holders of First Northern Common Stock, each share of First Northern Common Stock issued and outstanding at the Effective Time (except for treasury stock which shall be canceled as described in Section 2.8(m) of this Agreement) shall be converted into and become the right to receive: -15- 210 (i) cash in the amount of the Cash Value; or (ii) that number of shares of Survivor Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio; or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Survivor Common Stock determined in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.8 of this Agreement. (d) Maximum Numbers. The number of shares of First Northern Common Stock to be converted into the right to receive Survivor Common Stock in the Merger shall equal the Maximum Stock Number. The number of shares of First Northern Common Stock to be converted into the right to receive cash in the Merger shall equal the Maximum Cash Number. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, at least 40% of the number of shares of First Northern Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into whole shares of Survivor Common Stock. (e) Elections. Subject to the allocation and election procedures set forth in this Section 2.8 of this Agreement, each record holder immediately prior to the Effective Time of shares of First Northern Common Stock will be entitled in respect to all of the shares of First Northern Common Stock owned by such holder: (i) to elect to receive cash for such shares (a "Cash Election"); (ii) to elect to receive Survivor Common Stock for such shares (a "Stock Election"); (iii) to indicate that such record holder has no preference as to the receipt of cash or Survivor Common Stock for such shares (a "Non-Election"); or (iv) as to First Northern Shareholders holding not less than 170 shares of First Northern Common Stock, to elect to receive a combination of cash and Survivor Common Stock, with the percentage of such shares of First Northern Common Stock equal to the lesser of (x) the Stock Percentage and (y) 50% converted into Survivor Common Stock and the balance converted into cash (a "Mixed Election"). All such elections shall be made on a form designed by Mutual, which is reasonably satisfactory to First Northern, for that purpose (a "Form of Election"). Holders of record of shares of First Northern Common Stock who hold such shares as nominees, trustees or in other representative capacities (a "Representative") may submit multiple Forms of Election, provided that such Representative certifies that each such Form of Election covers all the shares of First Northern Common Stock held by each Representative for a particular beneficial owner. Shareholders who are not Representatives must make a single election for all shares of First Northern Common Stock held by them. (f) Cash Elections in Excess of Maximum Cash Number. If the aggregate number of shares covered by Cash Elections (the "Cash Election Shares") together with the portion of shares to be converted into cash pursuant to Mixed Elections exceeds the Maximum Cash Number: (i) each share of First Northern Common Stock covered by a Stock Election (the "Stock Election Shares") and each share of First Northern Common Stock covered by a Non-Election (the "Non-Election Shares") shall be converted into the right to receive a -16- 211 number of shares of Survivor Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio, and each share of First Northern Common Stock covered by a Mixed Election (the "Mixed Election Shares") shall be converted as provided in the Mixed Election; and (ii) each Cash Election Share shall be converted into the right to receive: (A) an amount in cash, without interest, equal to: (1) the Cash Value; multiplied by (2) a fraction (the "Cash Fraction"), the numerator of which shall be the difference between (I) the Maximum Cash Number and (II) the product of the number of Mixed Election Shares times the Cash Percentage and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Cash Election Shares; and (B) a number of shares of Survivor Common Stock equal to: (1) the Exchange Ratio; multiplied by (2) a fraction equal to one minus the Cash Fraction. (C) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, to avoid the ongoing expense of very small shareholder accounts, prior to the Effective Time, Mutual and First Northern may agree that, notwithstanding the foregoing proration, the shares of First Northern Common Stock of any First Northern Shareholder who has made a Cash Election and who as a result of the foregoing proration would otherwise receive fewer than 25 (or such smaller number as may be agreed upon by Mutual and First Northern) shares of Survivor Common Stock shall have their First Northern Common Stock converted solely into cash. In that event, the proportions of cash and Survivor Common Stock to be received by other First Northern Shareholders who have made a Cash Election shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect a pro rata allocation of remaining available cash and Survivor Common Stock among such other First Northern Shareholders. (g) Stock Elections in Excess of Maximum Stock Number. If the aggregate number of Stock Election Shares, together with the portion of shares to be converted into shares of Survivor Common Stock pursuant to Mixed Elections exceeds the Maximum Stock Number: (i) each Cash Election Share and each Non-Election Share shall be converted into the right to receive cash in the amount of the Cash Value, and each Mixed Election Share shall be converted as provided in the Mixed Election; and (ii) each Stock Election Share shall be converted into the right to receive: (A) a number of shares of Survivor Common Stock equal to: (1) the Exchange Ratio; multiplied by (2) a fraction (the "Stock Fraction"), the numerator of which shall be the difference between (I) the Maximum Stock Number and (II) the product of the number of Mixed Election Shares times the Stock Percentage and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Stock Election Shares, and -17- 212 (B) an amount in cash, without interest, equal to: (1) the Cash Value; multiplied by (2) a fraction equal to one minus the Stock Fraction. (h) Other. In the event that neither Section 2.8(f) or 2.8(g) of this Agreement is applicable: (i) each Cash Election Share shall be converted into the right to receive cash in the amount of the Cash Value; (ii) each Stock Election Share shall be converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Survivor Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio; and (iii) each Non-Election Share shall be converted into the right to receive shares of Survivor Common Stock and the right to receive cash on a proportionate basis so that the total number of shares of First Northern Common Stock converted into the right to receive shares of Survivor Common Stock and cash, respectively, approximate the Maximum Stock Number and the Maximum Cash Number, respectively, as closely as possible. (i) Initial Mailing. Mutual and First Northern will mail a Form of Election to all holders of record of shares of First Northern Common Stock as of a date mutually agreed to by First Northern and Mutual (the "Initial Mailing Record Date") which shall be approximately 45 calendar days prior to the anticipated Effective Time. Elections shall be made by holders of First Northern Common Stock by mailing to the Exchange Agent a Form of Election. To be effective, a Form of Election must be properly completed, signed and submitted to the Exchange Agent and accompanied by the certificates representing the shares of First Northern Common Stock ("First Northern Certificates") as to which the election is being made (or by an appropriate guarantee of delivery of such certificates as set forth in such Form of Election from a member of any registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States, provided such certificates are in fact delivered by the time set forth in such guarantee of delivery). Mutual will have the discretion, which it may delegate in whole or in part to the Exchange Agent, to determine whether Forms of Election have been properly completed, signed and submitted or revoked and to disregard immaterial defects in Forms of Election. The decision of Mutual (or the Exchange Agent) in such matters shall be conclusive and binding. Neither Mutual nor the Exchange Agent will be under any obligation to notify any Person of any defect in a Form of Election submitted to the Exchange Agent. The Exchange Agent shall also make all computations contemplated by this Section 2.8 of this Agreement and all such computations shall be conclusive and binding on the holders of First Northern Common Stock absent manifest error in any such computation. (j) Nonsubmittal. For the purposes hereof, a holder of First Northern Common Stock who does not submit a Form of Election which is received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline shall be deemed to have made a Non-Election. If Mutual or the Exchange Agent shall determine that any purported Cash Election or Stock Election was not properly made, such purported Cash Election or Stock Election shall be deemed to be of no force and effect and the Person making such purported Cash Election or Stock Election shall, for all purposes hereof, be deemed to have made a Non-Election. -18- 213 (k) Subsequent Mailings. Mutual and First Northern shall each use its reasonable best efforts to promptly mail the Form of Election to all Persons who become holders of First Northern Common Stock during the period between the Initial Mailing Record Date and 10:00 a.m. New York time, on the date ten calendar days prior to the anticipated Effective Time and to make the Form of Election available to all Persons who become holders of First Northern Common Stock subsequent to such day and no later than the close of business on the third business day prior to the Effective Time. (l) Election Deadline. A Form of Election must be received by the Exchange Agent by the close of business on the third business day prior to the Effective Time (the "Election Deadline") in order to be effective. All elections will be irrevocable. (m) Treasury Stock. Any shares of First Northern Common Stock that are owned by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, except in a fiduciary capacity, at the Effective Time shall be canceled and retired and cease to exist and no cash or shares of Survivor Common Stock shall be issued or delivered in exchange therefor. (n) Adjustment. In the event that, prior to the Effective Time, there is a reclassification, stock split or stock dividend with respect to outstanding Survivor Common Stock or outstanding First Northern Common Stock, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment, if any, shall be made to any or one or more of the Cash Value or the Exchange Ratio. 2.9 Exchange of First Northern Certificates. (a) Exchange Agent. As of the Effective Time, Survivor shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with a bank or trust company designated by Survivor and reasonably acceptable to First Northern (the "Exchange Agent"), for the benefit of the holders of shares of First Northern Common Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Article II of this Agreement through the Exchange Agent: (i) certificates representing the aggregate number of shares of Survivor Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 2.8 of this Agreement; and (ii) cash representing the aggregate amount of cash payable pursuant to Section 2.8 of this Agreement; (such certificates for shares of Survivor Common Stock, together with any dividends or distributions with respect thereto, such cash and any Fraction Payment, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund"). (b) Exchange Procedures. (i) At or promptly after the Effective Time, Survivor shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a First Northern Certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time of Merger represented outstanding shares of First Northern Common Stock and which was not submitted to the Exchange Agent with a duly executed and completed Form of Election: (A) a letter of transmittal ("Letter of Transmittal") which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the First Northern Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the First Northern Certificates to the Exchange -19- 214 Agent and which shall be in such form and have such other customary provisions as Survivor may reasonably specify and which are reasonably acceptable to First Northern; and (B) instructions to effect the surrender of the First Northern Certificates in exchange for cash or shares of Survivor Common Stock, or both, as described in this Agreement. (ii) Upon surrender of a First Northern Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent together with either a Form of Election or a Letter of Transmittal, in each case duly executed, and with such other documents as the Exchange Agent may reasonably require, the holder of such First Northern Certificate shall be entitled to receive, and Survivor shall cause the Exchange Agent to promptly deliver in exchange therefor after the Effective Time: (A) a certificate representing that number of whole shares of Survivor Common Stock to which such holder is entitled to receive in respect of such First Northern Certificate pursuant to Section 2.8 of this Agreement; and (B) a check representing the cash that such holder is entitled to receive in respect of such First Northern Certificate pursuant to Section 2.8 of this Agreement; and (C) a check for any Fraction Payment. The First Northern Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled; provided, however, that fractional share interests of any one holder shall be aggregated to maximize the number of whole shares of Survivor Common Stock to be issued and minimize the Fraction Payments. (iii) In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of First Northern Common Stock which is not registered in the transfer records of First Northern, a certificate representing the proper number of shares of Survivor Common Stock, a check for the proper amount of cash that such holder is entitled to receive in respect of such First Northern Certificate pursuant to Section 2.8 of this Agreement and any Fraction Payment, shall be delivered to the transferee if the First Northern Certificate which represented such shares of First Northern Common Stock is presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid. (iv) No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash and shares of Survivor Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, the cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, and unpaid dividends and distributions on the shares of Survivor Common Stock, if any, payable to First Northern Shareholders. (v) If any First Northern Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such First Northern Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Survivor in its reasonable discretion, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as Survivor may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such First Northern Certificate, the Exchange Agent will deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed First Northern Certificate, a certificate representing the proper number of shares of Survivor Common Stock and a check for the cash, in each case that such First Northern Shareholder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.8 of this Agreement, and the Fraction Payment, if any, with respect to the shares of First Northern Common Stock formerly represented -20- 215 thereby, and unpaid dividends and distributions on the shares of Survivor Common Stock, if any, as provided in this Article II of this Agreement. (vi) Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.9 of this Agreement, each First Northern Certificate shall be deemed at all times after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon surrender only the cash or shares of Survivor Common Stock, or both, and any Fraction Payment. (c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. If any Survivor Common Stock is issued pursuant to the Merger, no dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with respect to Survivor Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered First Northern Certificate with respect to the shares of Survivor Common Stock represented thereby, and no Fraction Payment shall be paid to any such holder, until the holder of such First Northern Certificate has surrendered such First Northern Certificate to the Exchange Agent. Subject to the effect of any applicable Law, following the surrender of any such First Northern Certificate, there shall be paid to the holder of the surrendered First Northern Certificate, without interest: (i) promptly, any Fraction Payment to which such holder is entitled and the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time of Merger theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of Survivor Common Stock; and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date occurring after surrender payable with respect to such whole shares of Survivor Common Stock. (d) No Further Rights in First Northern Common Stock. All shares of Survivor Common Stock issued and cash paid upon conversion of the First Northern Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been issued and paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the First Northern Common Stock. (e) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Survivor Common Stock shall be issued in the Merger. All fractional share interests of a holder of more than one First Northern Certificate at the Effective Time shall be aggregated. If a fractional share interest results after such aggregation, each holder of a fractional interest shall be paid an amount in cash equal to the product obtained by multiplying such fractional interest by the Cash Value. Promptly after the determination of the amount of cash to be paid to holders of fractional interests, the Exchange Agent shall notify Survivor and Survivor shall deliver such amounts to such holders subject to and in accordance with the terms of Section 2.9(c) of this Agreement. (f) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent shall invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund as directed by Survivor. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to Survivor. In the event the cash in the Exchange Fund shall be insufficient to fully satisfy all of the payment obligations to be made by the Exchange Agent hereunder, then Survivor shall promptly deposit cash into the Exchange Fund in an -21- 216 amount which is equal to the deficiency in the amount of cash required to fully satisfy such payment obligations. (g) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the First Northern Shareholders after twelve (12) months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Survivor, upon demand, and any First Northern Shareholders who have not theretofore complied with this Article II of this Agreement shall thereafter look only to Survivor for payment of their claim for cash or shares of Survivor Common Stock, or both, any cash in lieu of fractional share interests and any dividends or distributions with respect thereto. (h) No Liability. Neither the Exchange Agent nor any party to this Agreement shall be liable to any First Northern Shareholder for any shares of First Northern Common Stock or Survivor Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash delivered in accordance with applicable Law to a public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. (i) Withholding Rights. Survivor shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any First Northern Shareholder such amounts as Survivor is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Survivor, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the First Northern Shareholder in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by Survivor. (j) Uncertificated Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Form of Election and the Letter of Transmittal may, at the option of Survivor, provide for the ability of a holder of one or more First Northern Certificates to elect that Survivor Common Stock to be received in exchange for the First Northern Common Stock formerly represented by such surrendered First Northern Certificates be issued in uncertificated form. (k) Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of First Northern shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of First Northern Common Stock thereafter on the records of First Northern. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of First Northern Certificates outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares of First Northern Common Stock except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by Law. 2.10 Reorganization. The parties intend that this Agreement be a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and that the Merger be a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code to the extent that shares of First Northern Common Stock are exchanged for shares of Survivor Common Stock as described in this Agreement. No party shall voluntarily take or cause to be taken any action which would disqualify the Merger as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368 of the Code. -22- 217 2.11 No Dissenting Shares. The parties acknowledge that under the WBCL, the First Northern Shareholders are not entitled to dissent from the Merger and are not entitled to require appraisal of their First Northern Common Stock. 2.12 Meeting of First Northern Shareholders. (a) First Northern will promptly take all steps necessary to cause the First Northern Meeting to be duly called, noticed, and held as soon as practicable for the purpose of voting to approve this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement (if required), the Merger and all matters related thereto. First Northern will use its best efforts to secure the required approval of its Shareholders. (b) Merger Corp. and First Northern will prepare and file with the SEC the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, respectively, as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement. Merger Corp., Mutual and First Northern shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be cleared for mailing, and the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing. First Northern will cause to be mailed to its Shareholders a notice of the Meeting and the Proxy Statement as soon as practicable thereafter. Merger Corp., Mutual and First Northern shall also take such action as may be reasonably required to cause any shares of Survivor Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Merger to be registered or to obtain an exemption from registration or qualification under applicable state "blue sky" or securities Laws; provided, however, that Merger Corp. shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file any general consent to service of process under the Laws of any jurisdiction. Each party to this Agreement will furnish to the other parties all information concerning itself as each such other party or its counsel may reasonably request and which is required or customary for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement. (c) The Proxy Statement shall include the recommendation of the Board of Directors of First Northern in favor of the Merger; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors of First Northern shall, in good faith and after receiving the written opinion of its legal counsel, determine that to make such a recommendation would be a violation of its fiduciary obligations under applicable Law, then the Board of Directors of First Northern shall not be obligated to make any such recommendation. 2.13 Liquidation Account and Sub-Accounts. The liquidation account and sub-account balances of the Bank shall be continued for the benefit of certain account holders of the Bank who maintain their accounts in the Bank in the event of a complete liquidation of the Bank. The liquidation account balance shall be subject to downward adjustment to the extent of any downward adjustment to any sub-account balance in accordance with Section 563b.3(f) of the regulations of the OTS. A distribution of each sub-account balance may be made only in the event of a complete liquidation of the Bank and only out of funds available for such purpose after payment of all creditors but before any payments to stockholders. -23- 218 2.14 Restructuring. In connection with the Merger, Mutual and First Northern will conduct a series of transactions, as set forth below (the "Restructuring"): (a) Mutual will convert from a state-chartered savings bank to a federal savings bank. (b) Bank will convert from a state-chartered savings and loan association to a federal savings bank. (c) Mutual will form a mutual holding company ("MHC"). MHC will also form a transitory federal stock savings bank ("Transitory"). Mutual will contribute the shares of Merger Corp. to MHC. MHC would thereupon own all of the stock of both Merger Corp. and Transitory. (d) Mutual will convert to a federal stock savings bank ("Stock Bank"). Mutual's depositors would receive deposit accounts in Stock Bank with the same terms and conditions as their deposit accounts in Mutual. (e) Transitory would merge into Stock Bank in a transaction in which MHC would receive all of the stock of Stock Bank. (f) MHC would transfer the stock of Stock Bank to Merger Corp. so that Merger Corp. would hold all of the stock of Stock Bank, and MHC would initially own 100% of the shares of common stock of Merger Corp. The former depositors of Mutual would hold all of the liquidation and voting interest in MHC, for so long as, and to the extent, they continue to maintain their deposits with Stock Bank. (g) Simultaneously with the Merger, Survivor would issue shares of its stock to the public and the Survivor Employee Benefit Plans for cash, at the price to purchasers of $10.00 per share. (h) As a result of the Merger, Survivor will be the sole stockholder of Bank. Therefore, as a result of the Restructuring and the Merger, Bank and Stock Bank would become "sister" corporations owned by Survivor. MHC would own at least 51% of the stock of Survivor, and the new public shareholders, the former shareholders of First Northern and Survivor Employee Benefit Plans would together own 49% or less of the stock of Survivor. The amount of Survivor Common Stock to be offered to the public would be determined so that the total of Survivor Common Stock issued to First Northern Shareholders, new investors and reserved for options or the other compensation programs for directors and employees of Survivor and its Subsidiaries would constitute less than 50% of the total Survivor Common Stock, and the balance would be owned by MHC. -24- 219 The Restructuring is subject to certain regulatory approvals. After the Restructuring is effected, Mutual agrees that it will assume and timely discharge any and all obligations, covenants and agreements of First Northern under this Agreement which are to be performed or discharged after the Effective Time, but which have not been fully performed or discharged as of the time the Restructuring is effected. Mutual agrees, however, that it will not alter the structure of the Restructuring as described herein if it would: (i) alter, change or reduce the amount of the consideration to be paid to holders of First Northern Common Stock or the manner or basis upon which such exchange is made; (ii) have an adverse federal or state income tax consequence to First Northern, or any of the shareholders of First Northern; (iii) have an adverse effect on the shareholders of First Northern Common Stock; or (iv) would be likely to delay or jeopardize receipt of the Regulatory Approvals or satisfaction of any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII. 2.15 Anti-Dilution Provisions. In the event that between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time the issued and outstanding shares of First Northern Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares as a result of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification or other similar transaction, or in the event the number of authorized and unissued shares of First Northern Common Stock subject to issuance upon the exercise of outstanding First Northern Stock Options shall have changed between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time as the result of the granting of additional First Northern Stock Options, then the per share merger consideration shall be adjusted appropriately, so long as the aggregate consideration remains the same. 2.16 Alternative Structure. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Mutual may specify (subject to First Northern's approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld) that any of its or MHC's direct or indirect subsidiaries, and First Northern and any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries shall enter into transactions other than those described in this Article II, in order to effect the purposes of this Agreement, and Mutual and First Northern shall take all action necessary and appropriate to effect, or cause to be affected, such transactions; provided, however, that (i) other than a change in structure required by a regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no such specification shall materially and adversely affect the timing of the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein; or (ii) no such specifications shall materially and adversely affect the tax effect or economic benefits of the Merger to the holders of First Northern Common Stock or to Mutual's members or the fundamental structure of the mid-tier holding company in the Restructuring. Such alternative structure may include substitution of a federally chartered holding company for Merger Corp., if required by relevant regulators. ARTICLE III OTHER AGREEMENTS 3.1 Confidentiality; Access. The Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, except that numbered paragraph 4 thereof ("Other Discussions") shall be superceded -25- 220 by this Agreement and of no further force and effect. Upon reasonable notice, each of First Northern and Mutual shall afford to the other's officers, employees, accountants, legal counsel and other representatives access, during normal business hours, to all of its and its Subsidiaries' properties, books, contracts, commitments and records; provided that First Northern and Mutual shall have the right to redact any information from such materials which relates to assessments, analyses or discussions of a possible Acquisition engaged in by it prior to the date of this Agreement, or which, relates to matters or issues concerning its evaluation of the Merger or its obligations under this Agreement, or that would impair its Board of Directors' ability to discharge its fiduciary duties. 3.2 Disclosure Schedules. (a) Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, First Northern is delivering to Mutual the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, which is accompanied by a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of First Northern stating that the First Northern Disclosure Schedule is being delivered pursuant to this Agreement and is the First Northern Disclosure Schedule referred to in this Agreement. The First Northern Disclosure Schedule is deemed to constitute an integral part of this Agreement and to modify the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of First Northern contained in this Agreement to the extent that such representations, warranties, covenants or agreements expressly refer to the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. (b) Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Mutual is delivering to First Northern the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, which is accompanied by a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of Mutual stating that the Mutual Disclosure Schedule is being delivered pursuant to this Agreement and is the Mutual Disclosure Schedule referred to in this Agreement. The Mutual Disclosure Schedule is deemed to constitute an integral part of this Agreement and to modify the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of Mutual contained in this Agreement to the extent that such representations, warranties, covenants or agreements expressly refer to the Mutual Disclosure Schedule. (c) All capitalized terms used in the Disclosure Schedules shall have the definitions specified in this Agreement. All descriptions or listings of documents contained in the Disclosure Schedules are qualified in their entirety by reference to the documents so described, true copies of which heretofore have been delivered or made available to the other. Except as expressly stated to the contrary in the Disclosure Schedules, disclosure of a matter or document in a Disclosure Schedule shall not be deemed to be an acknowledgment that such matter is material or outside the ordinary course of business of the disclosing party. Disclosure of any matter or event in any of the schedules included in Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed disclosure for purposes of any and all other schedules included therein without the need of specific cross reference or duplication, provided, however, that disclosure of an agreement or other document in a listing of agreements or documents without any summary or description of -26- 221 the substance thereof shall be deemed disclosure only for purposes of the schedule in which such agreement or other document is listed. (d) Updates. Prior to the Closing Date, each party shall, to the extent a matter required to be reported occurs, update its Disclosure Schedule on a monthly basis by written notice to the other to reflect any matters which have occurred from and after the date of this Agreement which, if existing on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be described in the Disclosure Schedule. If requested by the recipient within 14 calendar days after receipt by it of an update to the other's Disclosure Schedule, the party providing the update shall meet and discuss with the recipient any update to the Disclosure Schedule which, in the reasonable judgment of the recipient, has or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the disclosing party or which may in any manner be materially adverse to the recipient (a "Disclosure Schedule Change"). 3.3 Duties Concerning Representations. Each party to this Agreement shall: (a) to the extent within its control, use best efforts to cause all of its representations and warranties contained in this Agreement to be true and correct in all respects at the Effective Time with the same force and effect as if such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Effective Time; and (b) use best efforts to cause all of the conditions precedent set forth in Article VII of this Agreement to be satisfied. Neither party shall take any action, nor agree to commit to take any action, which would or reasonably can be expected to: (i) adversely affect the ability of either Mutual or First Northern to obtain the Regulatory Approvals; (ii) adversely affect a party's ability to perform its covenants or agreements under this Agreement; or (iii) result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied. 3.4 Deliveries of Information; Consultation. From time to time prior to the Effective Time, and subject to the limitations on access rights under Section 3.1 of this Agreement and to the Confidentiality Agreement: (a) Deliveries. First Northern and Mutual shall furnish promptly to the other: (i) a copy of each significant report, schedule and other document filed by or received by it or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities or financial institution Laws or any other applicable Laws promptly after such documents are available; (ii) its consolidated monthly financial statements (as prepared in accordance with its normal accounting procedures) promptly after such financial statements are available; (iii) a summary of any action taken by its, or its Subsidiaries', Boards of Directors, or any committee thereof; and (iv) all other significant information concerning its and its Subsidiaries' business, properties and personnel as the other may reasonably request. (b) Consultation. Representatives of First Northern and Mutual shall confer and consult with one another on a regular and frequent basis to report on operational matters and the general status of First Northern's and Mutual's ongoing business operations. -27- 222 (c) Regulatory Matters. Representatives of First Northern and Mutual shall discuss with one another any matters directly affecting them in which any state or federal regulator of First Northern or Mutual or any of their Subsidiaries, is involved. (d) Litigation. Each party to this Agreement shall provide prompt notice to the other party of any litigation, arbitration, proceeding, governmental investigation, citation or action of any kind which may be commenced, threatened or proposed by any Person concerning the legality, validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If any such litigation is commenced against any party to this Agreement, the parties shall cooperate in all respects in connection with such litigation. 3.5 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance. (a) Survivor's Indemnification. From and after the Effective Time, Survivor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, an officer, director or employee of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary (the "Indemnified Parties") against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of Survivor (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of or in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation which is based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or employee of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, whether pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, but only if filed, initiated, asserted or claimed prior to, or at or within five years after, the Effective Time ("Indemnified Liabilities"), including all Indemnified Liabilities based in whole or in part, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case to the full extent First Northern would have been permitted under the WBCL and First Northern's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (as amended and in effect as of the date of this Agreement) to indemnify such person, and Survivor shall pay expenses in advance of the final disposition of any such action or proceeding to each Indemnified Party to the full extent permitted by Law upon receipt of any affirmation and undertaking required by Section 180.0853 of the WBCL. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation is brought against any Indemnified Party (whether brought before or within five years after the Effective Time): (x) any counsel retained by the Indemnified Parties for any period after the Effective Time shall be reasonably satisfactory to Survivor; (y) after the Effective Time, Survivor shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties promptly as statements therefor are received; and (z) after the Effective Time, Survivor will use all reasonable efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter, provided that Survivor shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim effected without its written consent, which consent, however, shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 3.5, upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify Survivor (but the failure so to notify Survivor shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 3.5 except to the extent such failure materially prejudices such party), and shall deliver to Survivor the affirmation and undertaking, -28- 223 if any, required by Section 180.0853 of the WBCL. The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law firm to represent them with respect to each such matter unless there is, under applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any significant issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified Parties. (b) Director and Officer Insurance. Survivor shall use reasonable efforts to obtain, after the Effective Time, directors' and officers' liability insurance coverage for the officers and directors of Survivor, for itself or as part of an affiliated group with MHC, to the extent that the same is economically practicable. Such insurance shall cover directors and officers of the Bank to the same extent as it covers directors and officers of other subsidiaries of Survivor or MHC. (c) Parties Benefitted. The provisions of this Section 3.5 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her representatives, and shall survive the Effective Time and any merger, consolidation or reorganization of Survivor, including the Restructuring. 3.6 Letters of Accountants. First Northern shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to Mutual a letter of Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP, First Northern's independent auditors, dated a date within three business days before the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective, and addressed to Mutual, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Mutual and customary in scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement and proxy statements similar to the Proxy Statement. Mutual shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to First Northern a letter of Ernst & Young LLP, Mutual's independent auditors, dated a date within three business days before the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective, and addressed to Mutual and First Northern, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Mutual and First Northern and customary in scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement and proxy statements similar to the Proxy Statement. 3.7 Legal Conditions to Merger. Each party to this Agreement will: (a) take all reasonable actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements which may be imposed on it with respect to the Merger (including making all filings and requests in connection with the Regulatory Approvals and furnishing all information required in connection therewith); (b) promptly cooperate with and furnish information to the other party in connection with any such requirements imposed upon any of them in connection with the Merger; and (c) take all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with the other party in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption by, any governmental entity or other public or private Person, required to be obtained by the parties to this Agreement in connection with the Merger or the taking of any action contemplated thereby or by this Agreement. -29- 224 3.8 Stock Listings. First Northern shall use its best efforts to maintain the listing of First Northern Common Stock on the NASDAQ/NMS through the Effective Time. It is the intention of the parties that by taking this action First Northern Shareholders will not be entitled to any dissenters' or appraisal rights under applicable Law as a result of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 3.9 Announcements. Subject to each party's disclosure obligations imposed by Law, First Northern and Mutual will cooperate with each other in the development and distribution of all news releases and other public information disclosures with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not issue any public Announcement or statement with respect thereto prior to consultation with the other party. 3.10 Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of each party, each of the parties agrees to use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 3.11 Employee And Managerial Matters. (a) Employees. The Bank will continue to employ substantially all present employees who are employed without employment contracts as employees at will, subject to the determinations of Bank management and the Bank's and Survivor's boards of directors. (b) Survivor Executive Officers. Promptly after the Effective Time, the Survivor Board of Directors shall meet to elect additional executive officers of Survivor so that at least 40% of the Survivor executive officers are executive officers of First Northern prior to the Effective Time. Such individuals shall be designated by Mutual prior to the time the Proxy Statement is mailed to First Northern Shareholders. (c) First Northern Replacement Employment Agreements. The Bank shall, with respect to each of the First Northern Executives who is a party to a First Northern Existing Employment Agreement, use its best efforts to cause them to enter into a First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement; provided, however, that the First Northern Existing Employment Agreement of the chief executive officer of First Northern shall be retained subject to the provisions of Section 7.2(h) hereof. (d) Bank Officers and Directors. As of the Effective Time, the directors and executive officers of the Bank shall continue to be those persons serving in such capacities prior to the Effective Time. Promptly thereafter, the chief executive officer of Mutual shall be elected as an additional director of the Bank. In addition, promptly thereafter, the chief executive officer of First Northern shall be elected as an additional director of the Stock Bank. -30- 225 3.12 Employee Benefit Matters. (a) First Northern Stock Option Plans. Prior to the Effective Time, First Northern shall take any and all actions necessary so that, effective as of the Effective Time, the First Northern Stock Option Plans will be terminated, there shall be no outstanding stock options of First Northern (other than the Stock Option Agreement), and any and all shares reserved for issuance in connection with the exercise of options granted under any such First Northern Stock Option Plan (including those reserved for issuance upon the exercise of First Northern Stock Options granted prior to, and outstanding as of, the Effective Time) shall be free of all restrictions associated with such reservation and shall constitute authorized and unissued shares of First Northern Common Stock; provided, however, that any and all shares subject to First Northern Stock Options that are exercised prior to the Effective Time shall not be deemed to constitute authorized and unissued shares of First Northern Common Stock. (b) First Northern 401(k) Plan. The First Northern 401(k) Retirement Plan shall continue, except to the extent inconsistent with Law, after the Merger for employees of Bank until such time as it is combined with, or replaced by, a retirement or similar benefit plan covering employees of all Affiliates of MHC. For purposes of determining eligibility to participate and vesting under the Survivor's 401(k) plan or a 401(k) plan covering employees of all Affiliates of MHC, service with First Northern or an Affiliate of First Northern shall be treated as service with MHC; provided, however, that such service shall not be recognized to the extent that such recognition would result in a duplication of benefits. (c) Health and Welfare Benefits. After the Merger, Survivor shall continue, except to the extent not consistent with Law, the Bank's health and welfare benefit plans, programs, insurance and policies, until such time as they are replaced by programs or benefits common to all employees of Affiliates of MHC; provided, however, no coverage of any of the Bank's continuing employees or their dependents shall terminate under any of the Bank's health and welfare benefit plans, programs, insurance and policies prior to the time such employees and dependents become eligible to participate in the programs and benefits common to substantially all employees of Affiliates of MHC and their dependents. (d) Replacement. With respect to each employee and health and welfare benefit plan or program that replaces a First Northern Existing Plan, for purposes of determining eligibility to participate and vesting, service with First Northern or an Affiliate of First Northern shall be treated as service with Survivor; provided, however, that such service shall not be recognized to the extent that such recognition would result in a duplication of benefits. Such service shall also apply for purposes of satisfying any waiting periods, actively-at-work requirements, and evidence of insurability requirements. No pre-existing condition limitations will apply to any of the Bank's employees or their dependents who were participants in the First Northern Existing Plans comparable to the plan in question at the Closing Date. Each of the Bank's continuing employees and their dependents shall be given credit for amounts paid under a corresponding benefit plan during the same period for purposes of applying deductibles, -31- 226 co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums as though such amounts had been in accordance with the terms and conditions of the corresponding First Northern Existing Plan. (e) COBRA. Until the Effective Time, First Northern shall be liable for all obligations for continued health coverage pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code and Sections 601 through 609 of ERISA ("COBRA") with respect to each First Northern qualifying beneficiary (as defined in COBRA) who incurs a qualifying event (as defined in COBRA) before the Effective Time. Survivor shall be liable for (i) all obligations for continued health coverage under COBRA with respect to each First Northern qualified beneficiary (as defined in COBRA) who incurs a qualifying event (as defined in COBRA) from and after the Effective Time, and (ii) for continued health coverage under COBRA from and after the Effective Time for each First Northern qualified beneficiary who incurs a qualifying event before the Effective Time. 3.13 Conformance to Reserve Policies. First Northern shall cause the Bank to establish such additional accruals and reserves as may be necessary, in the reasonable judgment of Mutual, to conform the Bank's general valuation allowances to Mutual's asset classification policy, as well as to reflect the costs and expenses of First Northern with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that First Northern shall not be required to cause the Bank to take any such action until the Regulatory Approvals have been received, shareholders have approved this Agreement and the Merger at the meeting specified in Section 2.12 of this Agreement and First Northern is reasonably satisfied that the Merger will be consummated. First Northern's representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement shall not be deemed to be untrue or breached in any respect for any purpose nor shall any condition set forth in Section 7.2 of this Agreement be considered unsatisfied as a consequence of any modification or changes undertaken by the Bank, after notice to and non-objection by Mutual, in order for First Northern to comply with the requirements of this Section 3.13. 3.14 Conduct of Mutual's Business and Authorization, Reservation and Listing of Common Stock. Mutual will maintain its corporate existence in good standing and conduct its business so as to be able to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement. Mutual shall, in the event it becomes aware of the impending or threatened occurrence of any event or condition which would cause or constitute a breach (or would have caused or constituted a breach had such event occurred or been known prior to the date hereof) of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained or referred to herein or which would or would be reasonably likely to cause Mutual not to be able to satisfy any condition set forth in Sections 7.1 or 7.3 of this Agreement, give prompt written notice thereof to First Northern and use its best efforts to prevent or promptly remedy the same. By appropriate resolution, the Board of Directors of Survivor shall, prior to the Effective Time, authorize and reserve the required number of shares of Survivor Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement. Survivor also shall use all reasonable efforts to cause the shares of Survivor Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement to be approved for listing on the NASDAQ/NMS subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Effective Time. -32- 227 3.15 Affiliates. Not later than 10 calendar days after the date of the First Northern Meeting, First Northern shall deliver to Mutual a letter identifying, to the best of First Northern's Knowledge, all Persons who were Affiliates at the date of the First Northern Meeting. First Northern shall furnish such information and documents as Mutual may reasonably request for the purposes of reviewing such list. First Northern shall advise the Affiliates of the resale restrictions imposed by applicable securities Laws and shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain from the Affiliates an executed Affiliate Letter for delivery to Mutual prior to or at the Closing. ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIRST NORTHERN First Northern hereby represents and warrants to Mutual and Merger Corp. that: 4.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries. (a) First Northern is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in active status under the Laws of the State of Wisconsin, and is a registered savings and loan holding company under HOLA. The Bank is a Wisconsin capital stock savings and loan association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the state of Wisconsin. The deposits of the Bank are insured by the SAIF of the FDIC as permitted by federal Law, and the Bank has paid all premiums and assessments required thereunder. The Bank is a member in good standing of the FHLB of Chicago. Each of the other First Northern Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation. Each of First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate power and authority and is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates, approvals and orders ("First Northern Approvals") necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, including appropriate authorizations from the OTS, the FDIC and the Wisconsin Agency, except where a failure to be so organized, existing and in good standing or to have such power, authority and First Northern Approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern, and neither First Northern nor any First Northern Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any First Northern Approvals. (b) First Northern and each First Northern Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to conduct business, and is in good standing (or the equivalent thereof) in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties it owns, leases or operates or the nature of the activities it conducts make such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so duly qualified and licensed and in good standing that would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. (c) A true and complete list of all Subsidiaries of First Northern (the "First Northern Subsidiaries"), together with (i) First Northern's direct or indirect percentage ownership 33 228 of each First Northern Subsidiary; (ii) the jurisdiction in which the First Northern Subsidiaries are incorporated; and (iii) a description of the principal business activities conducted by each First Northern Subsidiary, is set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, First Northern and/or one or more of the First Northern Subsidiaries owns beneficially and of record all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the First Northern Subsidiaries. Except for the Subsidiaries identified in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, First Northern does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interests in, or any interests convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or similar interest in, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business association or entity other than in the ordinary course of business, and in no event in excess of 10% of the outstanding equity or voting securities of such entity. 4.2 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. First Northern heretofore has furnished to Mutual a complete and correct copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended or restated, of First Northern and of each First Northern Subsidiary. Such Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are in full force and effect. Neither First Northern nor any First Northern Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws. 4.3 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of First Northern consists of 30,000,000 shares of First Northern Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of cumulative preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of February 15, 2000, (a)8,586,308 shares of First Northern Common Stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, except as otherwise provided by Section 180.0622(2)(b), and not issued in violation of any preemptive right of any First Northern Shareholder, (b) 548,427 shares of First Northern Common Stock are held in the treasury of First Northern, (c) 755,900 shares of First Northern Common Stock are subject to issuance pursuant to outstanding First Northern Stock Options, and (d) 753,000 shares of First Northern Common Stock are reserved for future issuance pursuant to the First Northern Stock Option Plans, and there has been no change in such amounts thereafter except for changes resulting from the exercise or termination after such date, if any, of First Northern Stock Options included in (c) above. As of the date of this Agreement, no shares of First Northern's preferred stock are issued and outstanding. Except as set forth in clauses (c) and (d) above, as of the date of this Agreement First Northern has not granted any options, warrants or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character, including without limitation voting agreements or arrangements, relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary or obligating First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary. All shares of First Northern Common Stock subject to issuance as described in the foregoing, upon issue on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, except as otherwise provided in Section 180.0622(2)(b), and will not be issued in violation of any preemptive right of any First Northern Shareholder. Except as described in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, there are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of First Northern Common Stock or the -34- 229 capital stock of any First Northern Subsidiary or to provide funds to or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any First Northern Subsidiary or any other entity. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each First Northern Subsidiary is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, except, where applicable, as provided in Section 180.0622(2)(b), and such shares owned by First Northern or another First Northern Subsidiary are owned free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, agreements, limitations of First Northern's voting rights, charges or other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever. 4.4 Authorization: Enforceability. The entering into, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all of the documents and instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by First Northern are within the corporate power of First Northern, and: (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the requisite vote of the Board of Directors of First Northern; and (b) upon the approval of the First Northern Shareholders and receipt of all Regulatory Approvals, shall be duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action. This Agreement is, and the other documents and instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by First Northern or the Bank will be, when executed and delivered by First Northern and the Bank, the valid and binding obligations of First Northern and the Bank, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles. 4.5 No Violation or Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all of the documents and instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by First Northern do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any Law, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of First Northern, or the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Bank or any other First Northern Subsidiary, constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any First Northern Existing Contract or any First Northern Permit, or the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, in each case which would have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. 4.6 Title to Assets; Leases. Except for the First Northern Existing Liens, the Permitted Liens on the Closing Date, Liens for current taxes not yet due and payable, pledges to secure deposits and such imperfections of title, easements and other encumbrances, if any, as do not materially detract from the value of or substantially interfere with the present use of the property affected thereby, First Northern owns good and marketable title to the assets and properties which it owns or purports to own, free and clear of any and all Liens. There is not, under any leases pursuant to which First Northern or any of the First Northern Subsidiaries leases from others real or personal property, any default by First Northern, any First Northern Subsidiary or, to the best of First Northern's Knowledge, any other party thereto, or any event -35- 230 which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a default in each case which would have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. 4.7 Litigation. Except for the First Northern Existing Litigation: (a) neither First Northern nor any First Northern Subsidiary is subject to any material continuing order of, or written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or, to the Knowledge of First Northern, any continuing material investigation by, any federal or state savings and loan or insurance authority or other governmental entity, or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any governmental entity or arbitrator, including, without limitation, cease and desist or other orders of any savings and loan regulatory authority; (b) there is no claim, litigation, arbitration, proceeding, governmental investigation, citation or action of any kind pending or, to the Knowledge of First Northern, proposed or threatened, against or relating to First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, nor to the Knowledge of First Northern is there any basis known for any such material action; (c) there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of First Northern, proposed or threatened, against First Northern by any Person which question the legality, validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (d) there are no uncured material violations or violations with respect to which material refunds or restitutions may be required, cited in any compliance report to First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary as a result of an examination by any regulatory authority. 4.8 Securities and Banking Reports; Books and Records. (a) Since January 1, 1997, First Northern and the Bank have filed all reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements and prospectuses, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that were and are required to be filed under the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any other Law with: (i) the SEC; (ii) the OTS; (iii) the FHLB of Chicago; (iv) the FDIC; (v) the Wisconsin Agency; and (vi) any other applicable state securities or savings and loan authorities (all such reports, statements and prospectuses are collectively referred to herein as the "First Northern Reports"). When filed, each of the First Northern Reports complied as to form and substance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws. (b) Each of the consolidated audited financial statements and consolidated unaudited interim financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) of First Northern included in the First Northern Reports filed with the SEC have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto and except with respect to consolidated unaudited interim statements as permitted by SEC Form 10-Q) and each fairly presents the consolidated financial condition of First Northern as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated income, equity and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of the consolidated unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end and audit adjustments and any other adjustments described therein. -36- 231 (c) The minute books of First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries contain accurate and complete records of all meetings and actions taken by written consent by their respective shareholders and Boards of Directors (including all committees of such Boards), and all signatures contained therein are the true signatures of the Persons whose signatures they purport to be. The share transfer books of First Northern are correct, complete and current in all respects. The accounting books and records of First Northern: (i) are in all material respects correct and complete; (ii) are current in a manner consistent with past practice; and (iii) have recorded therein all the properties and assets and liabilities of First Northern. 4.9 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 1999 there has not been any: (a) change in the financial condition, properties, business or results of operations of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary having a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern; (b) damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) with respect to any assets of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary having a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern; (c) transactions by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of their respective businesses or inconsistent with past practices, except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (d) except for regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.11 per share on First Northern Common Stock with usual record and payment dates, declaration or payment or setting aside the payment of any dividend or any distribution in respect of the capital stock of First Northern or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any such stock by First Northern; (e) allocations to the accounts of any directors, officers or employees of First Northern or of any First Northern Subsidiary pursuant to any of the First Northern Existing Plans other than in the normal course and in accordance with the terms of the First Northern Existing Plans (none of which have been amended or established subsequent to December 31, 1999); (f) contribution to, increase in, or establishment of any Employee Benefit Plan (including, without limitation, the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance awards or restricted stock awards), or any other increase in the compensation payable or to become payable to any officers, directors or key employees of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary other than in the normal course and in accordance with the terms of the First Northern Existing Plans (none of which have been amended or established subsequent to December 31, 1999); or -37- 232 (g) change in the method of accounting or accounting practices of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary. 4.10 Buildings and Equipment. Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule: (a) the Buildings and the Equipment of First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries are in good operating condition and repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted; (b) are adequately insured for the nature of First Northern's business with the self-insured retentions specified on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule; (c) such assets and their use conform in all material respects to applicable Laws; and (d) no notice of any violation of any building, zoning or other Law relating to such assets or their use has been received by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary. 4.11 First Northern Existing Contracts. The First Northern Disclosure Schedule lists and briefly describes each Material Contract (the "First Northern Existing Contracts") to which First Northern or a First Northern Subsidiary is a party or by which its assets are bound. First Northern and each First Northern Subsidiary has fully performed each term, covenant and condition of each First Northern Existing Contract which is to be performed by it at or before the date hereof, except where such non-performance would not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. 4.12 Investment Securities. Except as set forth on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries do not own, and does not have any right or obligation to acquire, any Investment Securities. 4.13 Contingent and Undisclosed Liabilities. First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries have no material liabilities of any nature (contingent or otherwise) except for those which: (a) are disclosed in the First Northern Reports or in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule or in this Agreement; or (b) arise in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 1999 and are not required to be disclosed in the First Northern Reports or pursuant to this Agreement or the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. 4.14 Insurance Policies. All real and personal property owned or leased by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary has been and is being insured against, and First Northern or the respective First Northern Subsidiary maintains liability insurance against, such insurable risks and in such amounts as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule. Such Insurance Policies constitute all insurance coverage owned by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary and are in full force and effect and First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary has not received notice of and is not otherwise aware of any cancellation or threat of cancellation of such insurance. Except as described in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, no property damage, personal injury or liability claims have been made, or are pending, against First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary that are not covered by insurance. Within the past two (2) years, no insurance company has canceled any insurance (of any type) maintained by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary. Neither First Northern nor any First Northern Subsidiary has any liability for unpaid premiums or premium adjustments for any -38- 233 insurance policy. To the Knowledge of First Northern, the cost of any insurance currently maintained by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary will not increase significantly upon renewal other than increases consistent with the general upward trend in the cost of obtaining insurance. 4.15 Employee Benefit Plans. (a) Except for the First Northern Existing Plans, First Northern does not maintain, nor is it bound by, any Employee Benefit Plan. First Northern has furnished Mutual with a complete and accurate copy of each First Northern Existing Plan and a complete and accurate copy of each material document prepared in connection with each such First Northern Existing Plan, including, without limitation and where applicable, a copy of (i) each trust or other funding arrangement, (ii) the most recent summary plan description and all summaries of material modifications applicable thereto, (iii) the most recently filed IRS Form 5500, (iv) the most recently received IRS determination letter, and (v) the most recently prepared actuarial report and financial statement. (b) Except as indicated on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, no member of First Northern's "controlled group," within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, maintains or contributes to, or within the two years preceding the Effective Time has maintained or contributed to, an employee pension benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA. Except as indicated on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, none of the First Northern Existing Plans or First Northern Existing Contracts obligates First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary to pay material separation, severance, termination or similar-type benefits solely as a result of any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or as a result of a "change in control," within the meaning of such term under Section 280G of the Code. Except as indicated on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, none of the First Northern Existing Plans or First Northern Existing Contracts provides for or promises retiree medical, disability or life insurance benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary. Each of the First Northern Existing Plans is subject only to the Laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof. (c) Each First Northern Existing Plan has always been operated in material compliance with the requirements of all applicable Law, and all persons who participate in the operation of such First Northern Existing Plans and all First Northern Existing Plan "fiduciaries" (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA) have always acted in material compliance with the provisions of all applicable Law. First Northern and all of the First Northern Subsidiaries have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by any of them under, are not in any material respect in default under or in violation of, and have no knowledge of any material default or violation by any party to, any First Northern Existing Plan. No legal action, suit or claim is pending or, to the knowledge of First Northern, threatened with respect to any First Northern Existing Plan (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) and no fact or event exists to the knowledge of First Northern that could give rise to any such action, suit or claim. -39- 234 (d) Except as set forth on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, each First Northern Existing Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or Section 401(k) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS that it is so qualified, and to the Knowledge of First Northern no fact or event has occurred since the date of such determination letter from the IRS to adversely affect the qualified status of any such First Northern Existing Plan. No trust maintained or contributed to by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary is intended to be qualified as a voluntary employees' beneficiary association or is intended to be exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code. (e) There has been no non-exempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to any First Northern Existing Plan. First Northern and each of the First Northern Subsidiaries has not incurred any liability for any excise tax arising under Section 4972 or 4980B of the Code and no fact or event exists that could give rise to any such liability. (f) All contributions, premiums or payments required to be made with respect to any First Northern Existing Plan have been made on or before their due dates. There is no accumulated funding deficiency, within the meaning of ERISA or the Code, in connection with the First Northern Existing Plans and no reportable event, as defined in ERISA, has occurred in connection with the First Northern Existing Plans. First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries are not contributing to, and have not contributed to any multi-employer plan, as defined in ERISA. (g) No representation and warranty set forth in this Section 4.15 shall be deemed to be breached unless such breach, individually or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. 4.16 No Violation of Law. Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, neither First Northern, any First Northern Subsidiary nor any of the assets of First Northern or the First Northern Subsidiaries materially violate or conflict with any Law, any First Northern Permits, or any decree, judgment or order, or any zoning, building line restriction, planning, use or other similar restriction, in each case which would have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. 4.17 Brokers. Except for fees to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., First Northern's financial advisor, neither First Northern nor any First Northern Subsidiary has incurred any brokers', finders', financial advisor or any similar fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The First Northern Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all fees to be paid to such advisor in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. -40- 235 4.18 Taxes. (a) Except as disclosed in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule and except as may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement: First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries have timely and properly filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns (including but not limited to income, franchise, sales, payroll, employee withholding and social security and unemployment) which were required to be filed except where the failure to have filed timely or properly would not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern; First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries have paid or made adequate provision, in reserves reflected in its financial statements included in the First Northern Reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, for the payment of all taxes (including interest and penalties) and withholding amounts owed by them or assessable against them; no tax deficiencies have been assessed or proposed against First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary and to the Knowledge of First Northern there is no basis in fact for the assessment of any tax or penalty tax against First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary. (b) As of the date of this Agreement, except as disclosed in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, there are no fiscal years of First Northern currently under examination by the IRS or the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and none of the open years has been examined by the IRS or the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries have not consented to any extension of the statute of limitation with respect to any open tax returns. (c) There are no tax Liens upon any property or assets of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary except for Liens for current taxes not yet due and payable. (d) As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries will deliver to Mutual correct and complete copies of all tax returns and reports of First Northern filed for all periods not barred by the applicable statute of limitations. No examination or audit of any tax return or report for any period not closed by audit or not barred by the applicable statute of limitations has occurred, no such examination is in progress and, to the Knowledge of First Northern, no such examination or audit is planned. (e) Except where the failure to withhold, pay or file would not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern, First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries have properly withheld and timely paid all withholding and employment taxes which they were required to withhold and pay relating to salaries, compensation and other amounts heretofore paid to their employees or other Persons. All Forms W-2 and 1099 required to be filed with respect thereto have been timely and properly filed. 4.19 Real Estate. The First Northern Real Estate: (a) constitutes all real property and improvements (or interest therein, including without limitation easements, licenses or similar arrangements authorizing First Northern or a First Northern Subsidiary to place, maintain, operate and/or use an automated teller machine or similar device on real property of a third- -41- 236 party) leased or owned by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary; (b) other than with respect to First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary as lessee, is not subject to any leases or tenancies of any kind; (c) is not in the possession of any adverse possessors; (d) has direct access to and from a public road or street; (e) except for violations that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern, is used in a manner which is consistent with applicable Law; (f) is, and has been since the date of possession thereof by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, in the peaceful possession of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary; (g) is served by all water, sewer, electrical, telephone, drainage and other utilities required for the normal operations of the Buildings of First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries and the First Northern Real Estate; (h) except as disclosed in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of First Northern, is not located in an area designated as a flood plain or wetland; (i) is not subject to any outstanding special assessment; (j) is not subject to any zoning, ordinance, decrees or other Laws which would materially restrict or prohibit Mutual from continuing the operations presently conducted thereon by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary; (k) is not subject to any interest of any Person under an easement, contract, option or mineral rights or other agreements which would have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern; (l) is not subject to any presently pending condemnation proceedings, nor to First Northern's Knowledge, are such proceedings threatened against the First Northern Real Estate. 4.20 Governmental Approvals. No permission, approval, determination, consent or waiver by, or any declaration, filing or registration with, any governmental or regulatory authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, except for the Regulatory Approvals and except for consent the failure of which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. 4.21 No Pending Acquisitions. Except for this Agreement, First Northern is not a party to or bound by any agreement, undertaking or commitment with respect to an Acquisition on the date of this Agreement. 4.22 Labor Matters. (a) Except as disclosed on the First Northern Disclosure Schedule (or in an updated First Northern Disclosure Schedule with respect to vacations in (iii) below), there is no present or former employee of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary who has any claim against any of such entities (whether under Law, under any employee agreement or otherwise) on account of or for: (i) overtime pay, other than overtime pay for the current payroll period; (ii) wages or salaries, other than wages or salaries for the current payroll period; or (iii) vacations, sick leave, time off or pay in lieu of vacation, sick leave or time off, other than vacation, sick leave or time off (or pay in lieu thereof) earned in the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date of this Agreement or incurred in the ordinary course of business and appearing as a liability on the most recent financial statements included in the First Northern Reports. -42- 237 (b) There are no pending and unresolved claims by any Person against First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary arising out of any Law relating to discrimination against employees or employee practices or occupational or safety and health standards. There is no pending or, to the knowledge of First Northern, threatened, nor has First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, since January 1, 1995, experienced any, labor dispute, strike or work stoppage which affected, affects or may affect the business of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary or which did, may or would interfere with the continued operation of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary. (c) Neither First Northern nor any First Northern Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining agreement. There is not now pending or, to the Knowledge of First Northern, threatened, any charge or complaint against First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary by or before the National Labor Relations Board or any representative thereof, or any comparable state agency or authority. No union organizing activities are in process, or to First Northern's Knowledge contemplated, and no petitions have been filed for union organization or representation of employees of First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary, and First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries have not committed any unfair labor practices which have not heretofore been corrected and fully remedied. 4.23 Indebtedness. Except for the First Northern Existing Indebtedness, First Northern has no Indebtedness. 4.24 Permits. The Permits described on the Disclosure Schedule constitute all Permits which First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries currently have and need for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except for such Permits the failure of which to have would not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. 4.25 Disclosure. No statement of fact by First Northern contained in this Agreement, the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, or any other document furnished or to be furnished by First Northern 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 contained, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date to which it speaks. 4.26 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by First Northern for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement will, at the date the Registration Statement becomes effective, the date(s) the Proxy Statement is mailed to the First Northern Shareholders and at the time(s) of the First Northern Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. -43- 238 4.27 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of First Northern Common Stock is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of First Northern necessary to approve the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 4.28 Opinion of Financial Advisor. First Northern has received the opinion of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. as of the date of this Agreement, to the effect that the consideration to be received in the Merger by the First Northern Shareholders is fair to the First Northern Shareholders from a financial point of view. 4.29 Environmental Protection. (a) Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries: (i) are in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; and (ii) have not received any communication (written or oral), from a governmental authority or other Person, that alleges that First Northern is not in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws. (b) Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries have obtained all Environmental Permits, and all such Environmental Permits are in good standing and First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all terms and conditions of their Environmental Permits. (c) Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, there is no Environmental Claim pending or, to the Knowledge of First Northern, threatened against First Northern, any First Northern Subsidiary or against any Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary has or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of Law, or against any real or personal property or operations which First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary owns, leases or manages. (d) Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, there have been no Releases of any Hazardous Material by First Northern or by any Person on real property owned (including REO properties of the Bank), used, leased or operated by First Northern or any of the First Northern Subsidiaries. (e) No real property at any time owned (including REO properties of the Bank), operated, used or controlled by First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary is currently listed on the National Priorities List or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System, both promulgated under the CERCLA, or on any comparable state list, and, except as described in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, First Northern has not received any written notice from any Person under or relating to CERCLA or any comparable state or local Law relating to potential listing on such lists. -44- 239 (f) Except as set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of First Northern, no off-site location at which First Northern or any First Northern Subsidiary has disposed or arranged for the disposal of any waste is listed on the National Priorities List or on any comparable state list and neither First Northern nor any First Northern Subsidiary has received any written notice from any Person with respect to any off-site location, of potential or actual liability or a written request for information from any Person under or relating to CERCLA or any comparable state or local Law. 4.30 Year 2000 Compliant. All of the material computer hardware and software systems of, or used by, First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, those related to their facilities, equipment, quality control activities, accounting and bookkeeping records and record keeping activities) are Year 2000 Compliant, except where the failure to be Year 2000 Compliant would not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MUTUAL AND MERGER CORP. Mutual and Merger Corp. hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to First Northern that: 5.1 Organization and Capitalization; Business. (a) Mutual is a mutual savings bank duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under Chapter 214 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The deposits of Mutual are insured by the SAIF of the FDIC as permitted by federal Law, and Mutual has paid all premiums and assessments required thereunder. Mutual is a member in good standing of the FHLB of Chicago. (b) Mutual has full corporate power and authority and those Permits necessary to carry on its business as it is now conducted and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties. (c) Merger Corp. is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in active status under the Laws of the State of Wisconsin. Prior to the date of this Agreement, Merger Corp. engaged in no business other than matters necessary to the organization and incorporation of Merger Corp. and to authorize Merger Corp. to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement. The authorized capital stock of Merger Corp. consists of 9,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share. As of the date of this Agreement, 100 shares of Merger Corp.'s common stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable, except as otherwise provided by Section 180.0622(2)(b), and are owned by Mutual. (d) Prior to Closing, the Articles of Incorporation of Merger Corp. will be changed so that the authorized capital stock of Survivor may include shares of preferred stock, -45- 240 $.01 par value, and will include at least a sufficient number of shares of Survivor Common Stock to permit the Merger and the Restructuring. Upon completion of the Restructuring, not less than 51% of shares of Survivor Common Stock will be owned by MHC. All the outstanding shares of Survivor Common Stock, and all shares of Survivor Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, except as otherwise provided by Section 180.0622(2)(b). (e) Copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Mutual and of Merger Corp. have been delivered to First Northern. Such copies are complete and correct copies of such documents, and are in full force and effect. Neither Mutual nor Merger Corp. are in violation of any of the provisions of their Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws. 5.2 Authorization; Enforceability. The entering into, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all of the documents and instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by Mutual or Merger Corp. are within the corporate power of Mutual or Merger Corp., as the case may be, and: (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the requisite vote of the Board of Directors of Mutual and, where required, by the Board of Directors and sole shareholder of Merger Corp.; and (b) upon receipt of all Regulatory Approvals, shall be duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of both Mutual and Merger Corp. This Agreement is, and the other documents and instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by Mutual or Merger Corp. will be, when executed and delivered by Mutual or Merger Corp., as the case may be, the valid and binding obligations of Mutual or Merger Corp., as the case may be, enforceable against Mutual or Merger Corp., as the case may be, in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles. 5.3 No Violation or Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the Regulatory Approvals, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all of the documents and instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by Mutual or Merger Corp. do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any Law or the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Mutual or Merger Corp. or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any Contract of Mutual or Merger Corp. or any Permit held by or the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Mutual or Merger Corp. 5.4 Litigation. Except for the Mutual Existing Litigation: (a) neither Mutual nor any Mutual Subsidiary is subject to any continuing order of, or written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or, to the Knowledge of Mutual, any continuing material investigation by, any federal or state savings and loan or insurance authority or other governmental entity, or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any governmental entity or arbitrator, including, without limitation, cease and desist or other orders of any savings and loan regulatory authority; (b) there is no claim, litigation, arbitration, proceeding, governmental investigation, -46- 241 citation or action of any kind pending or, to the Knowledge of Mutual, proposed or threatened, against or relating to Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary, nor is to the Knowledge of Mutual is there any basis for any such material action; (c) there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Mutual, proposed or threatened, against Mutual by any Person which question the legality, validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (d) there are no uncured material violations or violations with respect to which material refunds or restitutions may be required, cited in any compliance report to Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary as a result of an examination by any regulatory authority. 5.5 Brokers. Except for fees to Ryan, Beck & Co. and RP Financial, L.L.C., Mutual's marketing and financial advisors, neither Mutual nor Merger Corp. has incurred any brokers', finders', financial advisor or any similar fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Mutual Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all agreements with such advisors, copies of which have been provided to First Northern. 5.6 Governmental Approvals. Other than the Regulatory Approvals, no permission, approval, determination, consent or waiver by, or any declaration, filing or registration with, any governmental or regulatory authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Mutual or Merger Corp. 5.7 Disclosure. No statement of fact by Mutual contained in this Agreement, the Omaha Disclosure Schedule or any other document furnished or to be furnished by Mutual 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 contained, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date to which it speaks. 5.8 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Mutual for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement will, at the date the Registration Statement becomes effective, the date(s) the Proxy Statement is mailed to the First Northern Shareholders and at the time(s) of the First Northern Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. 5.9 Opinion of Financial Advisor. Mutual has received the opinion of RP Financial, L.L.C., as of the date of this Agreement, to the effect that the consideration to be paid in the Merger by Mutual is fair to Mutual and its members from a financial point of view. 5.10 Cash Payment. Mutual has sufficient funds or has financing arranged as part of the Restructuring to pay the cash payment required under Section 2.8 of this Agreement and such payment will not cause Mutual or Survivor to fail to meet any regulatory capital requirements to which it is subject. -47- 242 5.11 Compliance with Laws. Mutual is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws. 5.12 Consummation. Mutual has no reason to believe that it will be unable to obtain the Regulatory Approvals. 5.13 Banking Reports; Books and Records. (a) Since January 1, 1997, Mutual has filed all reports, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that were and are required to be filed under any Law with: (i) the OTS; (ii) the FHLB of Chicago; (iii) the FDIC; (iv) the Wisconsin Agency; and (v) any other applicable state securities or savings bank authorities (all such reports and other documents are collectively referred to herein as the "Mutual Reports"). When filed, each of the Mutual Reports complied as to form and substance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws. (b) Each of the consolidated audited financial statements and consolidated unaudited interim financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) of Mutual included in the Mutual Reports have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto and except with respect to consolidated unaudited interim statements) and each fairly presents the consolidated financial condition of Mutual as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated income, equity and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of the consolidated unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end and audit adjustments and any other adjustments described therein. (c) The minute books of Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries contain accurate and complete records of all meetings and actions taken by written consent by their respective shareholders and Boards of Directors (including all committees of such Boards), and all signatures contained therein are the true signatures of the Persons whose signatures they purport to be. The accounting books and records of Mutual: (i) are in all material respects correct and complete; (ii) are current in a manner consistent with past practice; and (iii) have recorded therein all the properties and assets and liabilities of Mutual. 5.14 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 1998 there has not been any: (a) change in the financial condition, properties, business or results of operations of Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary having a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual; (b) damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) with respect to any assets of Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary having a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual; -48- 243 (c) transactions by Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of their respective businesses or inconsistent with past practices, except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (d) change in the method of accounting or accounting practices of Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary. 5.15 Mutual Existing Contracts. The Mutual Disclosure Schedule lists and briefly describes each Material Contract (the "Mutual Existing Contracts") to which Mutual or a Mutual Subsidiary is a party or by which its assets are bound. Mutual and each Mutual Subsidiary has fully performed each term, covenant and condition of each Mutual Existing Contract which is to be performed by it at or before the date hereof, except where such non-performance would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual. 5.16 Contingent and Undisclosed Liabilities. Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries have no material liabilities of any nature (contingent or otherwise) except for those which: (a) are disclosed in the Mutual Reports or in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule or in this Agreement; or (b) arise in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 1998 and are not required to be disclosed in the Mutual Reports or pursuant to this Agreement or the Mutual Disclosure Schedule. 5.17 Taxes. (a) Except as disclosed in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule and except as may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement: Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries have timely and properly filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns (including but not limited to income, franchise, sales, payroll, employee withholding and social security and unemployment) which were required to be filed except where the failure to have filed timely or properly would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual; Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries have paid or made adequate provision, in reserves reflected in its financial statements included in the Mutual Reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, for the payment of all taxes (including interest and penalties) and withholding amounts owed by them or assessable against them; no tax deficiencies have been assessed or proposed against Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary and to the Knowledge of Mutual there is no basis in fact for the assessment of any tax or penalty tax against Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary. (b) As of the date of this Agreement, except as disclosed in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, there are no fiscal years of Mutual currently under examination by the IRS or the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and none of the open years has been examined by the IRS or the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries have not consented to any extension of the statute of limitation with respect to any open tax returns. -49- 244 (c) There are no tax Liens upon any property or assets of Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary except for Liens for current taxes not yet due and payable. (d) As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries will deliver to First Northern correct and complete copies of all tax returns and reports of Mutual filed for all periods not barred by the applicable statute of limitations. No examination or audit of any tax return or report for any period not closed by audit or not barred by the applicable statute of limitations has occurred, no such examination is in progress and, to the Knowledge of Mutual, no such examination or audit is planned. (e) Except where the failure to withhold, pay or file would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual, Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries have properly withheld and timely paid all withholding and employment taxes which they were required to withhold and pay relating to salaries, compensation and other amounts heretofore paid to their employees or other Persons. All Forms W-2 and 1099 required to be filed with respect thereto have been timely and properly filed. 5.18 Real Estate. The Mutual Real Estate: (a) constitutes all real property and improvements (or interest therein, including without limitation easements, licenses or similar arrangements authorizing Mutual or a Mutual Subsidiary to place, maintain, operate and/or use an automated teller machine or similar device on real property of a third-party) leased or owned by Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary; (b) other than with respect to Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary as lessee, is not subject to any leases or tenancies of any kind; (c) is not in the possession of any adverse possessors; (d) has direct access to and from a public road or street; (e) is used in a manner which is consistent with applicable Law; (f) is, and has been since the date of possession thereof by Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary, in the peaceful possession of Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary; (g) is served by all water, sewer, electrical, telephone, drainage and other utilities required for the normal operations of the Buildings of Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries and the Mutual Real Estate; (h) except as disclosed in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of Mutual, is not located in an area designated as a flood plain or wetland; (i) is not subject to any outstanding special assessment; (j) is not subject to any zoning, ordinance, decrees or other Laws which would materially restrict or prohibit Mutual from continuing the operations presently conducted thereon by Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary; (k) is not subject to any interest of any Person under an easement, contract, option or mineral rights or other agreements which would have a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual; (l) is not subject to any presently pending condemnation proceedings, nor to Mutual's Knowledge, are such proceedings threatened against the Mutual Real Estate. 5.19 No Pending Acquisitions. Except for this Agreement, Mutual is not a party to or bound by any agreement, undertaking or commitment with respect to an Acquisition on the date of this Agreement. -50- 245 5.20 Environmental Protection. (a) Except as set forth in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries: (i) are in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; and (ii) have not received any communication (written or oral), from a governmental authority or other Person, that alleges that Mutual is not in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws. (b) Except as set forth in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries have obtained all Environmental Permits and all such Environmental Permits are in good standing and Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all terms and conditions of their Environmental Permits. (c) Except as set forth in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, there is no Environmental Claim pending or, to the Knowledge of Mutual, threatened against Mutual, any Mutual Subsidiary or against any Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary has or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of Law, or against any real or personal property or operations which Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary owns, leases or manages. (d) Except as set forth in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, there have been no Releases of any Hazardous Material by Mutual or by any Person on real property owned (including REO properties of Mutual), used, leased or operated by Mutual or any of the Mutual Subsidiaries. (e) No real property at any time owned (including REO properties of Mutual), operated, used or controlled by Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary is currently listed on the National Priorities List or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System, both promulgated under the CERCLA, or on any comparable state list, and, except as described in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, Mutual has not received any written notice from any Person under or relating to CERCLA or any comparable state or local Law relating to potential listing on such lists. (f) Except as set forth in the Mutual Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of Mutual, no off-site location at which Mutual or any Mutual Subsidiary has disposed or arranged for the disposal of any waste is listed on the National Priorities List or on any comparable state list and neither Mutual nor any Mutual Subsidiary has received any written notice from any Person with respect to any off-site location, of potential or actual liability or a written request for information from any Person under or relating to CERCLA or any comparable state or local Law. 5.21 Year 2000 Compliant. All of the material computer hardware and software systems of, or used by, Mutual and the Mutual Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, those related to their facilities, equipment, quality control activities, accounting and bookkeeping -51- 246 records and record keeping activities) are Year 2000 Compliant, except where the failure to be Year 2000 Compliant would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual. ARTICLE VI CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY FIRST NORTHERN PENDING THE MERGER From and after the date of this Agreement and until the Effective Time, except as required by this Agreement, or as required for the Merger or the Restructuring, without the prior written consent of an executive officer of Mutual, First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries shall: 6.1 Carry on in Regular Course. Diligently carry on their business in the regular course and substantially in the same manner as heretofore conducted and shall not make or institute any unusual or novel methods of lending, investing, purchasing, selling, leasing, managing, accounting or operating. 6.2 Use of Assets. Use, manage, operate, maintain and repair all of their assets and properties in a normal business manner. 6.3 No Default. Not do any act or omit to do any act, or permit any act or omission to act, which will cause a breach of any of the First Northern Existing Contracts, except where such breach would not have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries taken as a whole. 6.4 Insurance Policies. Use reasonable efforts to maintain all of its Insurance Policies in full force and effect, except as mutually agreed to by First Northern and Mutual. 6.5 Employment Matters. Not: (a) except as described in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule, grant any increase in the rate of pay of any of their employees that exceeds $10,000 individually or $100,000 in the aggregate; (b) institute or amend any Employee Benefit Plan, except as expressly contemplated under this Agreement; (c) enter into or modify any written employment arrangement with any Person except as described in Sections 3.11, 7.2 and 7.3; (d) make any discretionary contributions to any of the First Northern Existing Plans; or (e) make any allocation to the account of any participant(s) in any of the First Northern Existing Plans, other than in the normal course and in accordance with the terms of the relevant First Northern Existing Plan or except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement. 6.6 Contracts and Commitments. Not enter into any contract or commitment or engage in any transaction not in the usual and ordinary course of business and consistent with First Northern's normal business practices and not purchase, lease, sell or dispose of any capital asset, except for such capital asset transactions which individually do not involve a dollar amount in excess of $50,000 and which together do not involve an aggregate dollar amount in excess of $100,000. -52- 247 6.7 Indebtedness; Investments. Not create, incur, invest in or assume any Indebtedness or Investment Securities not in the usual and ordinary course of business; and not, without the prior written consent of Mutual, incur costs and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which materially exceed the estimate set forth in the First Northern Disclosure Schedule pursuant to Section 8.5 of this Agreement. 6.8 Preservation of Relationships. Use their best efforts to preserve their business organizations intact, to retain the services of their present officers and key employees and to preserve the goodwill of depositors, borrowers and other customers, suppliers, creditors and others having business relationships with First Northern. 6.9 Compliance with Laws. Comply with all applicable Laws, except for such noncompliances which would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern and the First Northern Subsidiaries taken as a whole. 6.10 Taxes. Timely and properly file all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which are required to be filed, and shall pay or make provision for the payment of all taxes owed by it as reflected on such returns. 6.11 Amendments. Not amend First Northern's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Bank or any other First Northern Subsidiary, except as mutually agreed to by First Northern and Mutual or as required by Law. 6.12 Issuance of Stock; Dividends; Redemptions. Not: (a) issue any additional shares of stock of any class or grant any warrants, options (including any options pursuant to any First Northern Stock Option Plan) or rights to subscribe for or acquire any additional shares of stock of any class other than the issuance of First Northern Common Stock issuable upon exercise of First Northern Stock Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement; (b) except as provided below, declare or pay any dividend or make any capital or surplus distributions of any nature, except for First Northern's regular quarterly cash dividends not exceeding $0.11 per share for each outstanding share of First Northern Common Stock; or (c) recapitalize or reclassify any of their capital stock or liquidate in whole or in part. 6.13 Policy Changes. Not make a material change in any lending, investment, liability, management or other material policies concerning their business or operations, except as required by Law or as required by the Board of Directors of First Northern in the exercise of its fiduciary duties. 6.14 Acquisition Transactions. Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, First Northern shall take affirmative steps necessary to discontinue, and thereafter not initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing any information or assistance), or take any other action to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, or negotiate with any person in furtherance of such inquires or to obtain an Acquisition Proposal, or agree to endorse, or endorse, -53- 248 any Acquisition Proposal, or authorize or permit any of its officers, directors or employees or any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative retained by First Northern or any of the First Northern Subsidiaries to take any such action, and First Northern shall promptly notify Mutual orally, and confirm in writing, subject to disclosure being consistent with the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of First Northern, all of the relevant details relating to all inquiries and proposals which First Northern or a First Northern Subsidiary may receive relating to any of such matters; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 6.14 shall prohibit the Board of Directors of First Northern from: (a) furnishing or permitting any of its officers, directors, employees, investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants or other representatives to furnish information to any party that requests information as to First Northern and/or the Bank or take any other action if (i) the Board of Directors of First Northern, upon the written opinion of its legal counsel, determines in good faith that such action is required for the Board of Directors of First Northern to comply with its fiduciary duties to shareholders imposed by applicable Laws, (ii) prior to furnishing such information to such party, First Northern receives from such party an executed confidentiality agreement in reasonably customary form, and (iii) First Northern gives Mutual prior written notice that information will be furnished; or (b) complying with Rules 14d-2 and 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition Proposal. ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE MERGER 7.1 Conditions to Each Parties Obligations to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of Mutual and First Northern to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing and as of the Effective Time of the following conditions precedent: (a) No Litigation. No suit, action or other proceeding shall be pending or overtly threatened before any court in which the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is restrained or enjoined or in which the relief requested is to restrain, enjoin or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and, in either case, where in the reasonable judgment of either Mutual or First Northern, such suit, action or other proceeding, is likely to have a material adverse effect with respect to such party's interest. (b) Approval of First Northern Shareholders. This Agreement and the Merger shall have received the requisite approval and authorization of the First Northern Shareholders. (c) Regulatory Approvals. (i) The Merger, this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, shall have been approved by the OTS, the FDIC, the Wisconsin Agency, and any other governmental entities whose approval is necessary, all conditions required to be satisfied prior to the Effective Time imposed by the terms of such approvals shall have been satisfied, and all -54- 249 waiting periods relating to such approvals shall have expired. The Restructuring, except for the step set forth in Section 2.14(b) of this Agreement which shall not be a condition precedent to completion of the Merger, also shall have been approved by the OTS, the FDIC and the Wisconsin Agency, and any other governmental entity whose approval is necessary in order for Mutual to proceed with the Restructuring. (ii) No permission, approval, determination, consent or waiver received pursuant to Section 7.1(c)(i) of this Agreement shall contain any condition applicable to Mutual which is, in the reasonable judgment of Mutual, materially burdensome upon the conduct of Mutual's business or which would so adversely impact the economic and business benefits of the Merger or the Restructuring to Mutual so as to render it inadvisable to proceed with the Merger or the Restructuring. (d) Restructuring. The Restructuring shall have occurred, except for any part thereof which can occur only simultaneously with or subsequent to the Merger and the step set forth in Section 2.14(b) of the Agreement which shall not be a condition precedent to completion of the Merger. All such events which shall occur simultaneously with the Closing shall occur simultaneously with Closing. (e) Tax Matters. Mutual and First Northern shall have received (a) an opinion of Quarles & Brady LLP, counsel to Mutual, or a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, to the effect that (i) the transfer by First Northern of its assets to Merger Corp. pursuant to the Merger and, as described in the definition of the Restructuring, the transfer by MHC of the stock of Stock Bank to Merger Corp. and the issuance of shares of stock of Merger Corp. to the public for cash will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a transaction within the provisions of ss. 351(a) of the Code and (b) an opinion of Quarles & Brady LLP that the Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of ss. 368(a) of the Code. (f) NASDAQ/NMS. Shares of Survivor Common Stock shall have been approved for quotation on the NASDAQ/NMS. 7.2 Conditions to Obligation of Mutual. The obligation of Mutual to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing and as of the Effective Time of the following additional conditions precedent: (a) Compliance with Agreement. First Northern shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of its covenants, agreements and other obligations under this Agreement which are to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date and as of the Effective Time. (b) Proceedings and Instruments Satisfactory. All proceedings, corporate or other, to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all documents incident thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Mutual, and First Northern shall have made available to Mutual for examination the originals or true and -55- 250 correct copies of all documents Mutual may reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (c) Representations and Warranties of First Northern. Each of the representations and warranties of First Northern contained in Article IV of this Agreement, after giving effect to any update to the First Northern Disclosure Schedule Change, shall be true and correct, as of the Effective Time with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the Effective Time, except for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which shall remain true and correct as of such date), and except for those breaches which individually or in the aggregate do not or would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on First Northern. (d) No Material Adverse Change. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date and as of the Effective Time there shall not have occurred, and there shall not exist on the Closing Date and as of the Effective Time, any condition(s) or fact(s) having individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect (irrespective of whether any such condition or fact was disclosed in a First Northern Disclosure Schedule Change) on First Northern. (e) Deliveries at Closing. First Northern shall have delivered to Mutual the following documents, each properly executed and dated the Closing Date: (i) the First Northern Closing Certificate; and (ii) the First Northern Counsel Opinion. (f) Other Documents. First Northern shall have delivered to Mutual such certificates and documents of officers of First Northern and public officials as shall be reasonably requested by Mutual to establish the existence of First Northern and the due authorization of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by First Northern. (g) Accountant Letters. Mutual shall have received a copy of each of the following letters from Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson LLP, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Mutual and shall contain information concerning the financial condition of First Northern: (i) the letter described in Section 3.6 of this Agreement; (ii) a similar letter dated the Closing Date. (h) First Northern Replacement Employment Agreements. Except with respect to First Northern's chief executive officer and up to two additional First Northern Executives, First Northern shall have delivered to Mutual, with respect to each of the First Northern Executives who have First Northern Existing Employment Agreements in effect on the Closing Date, a First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement in each case dated as of the Closing Date and executed on behalf of the Bank by a duly authorized officer and by the appropriate First Northern Executive. The Chief Executive Officer of First Northern shall have delivered to the Bank and Mutual a waiver, reasonably acceptable in form and substance to Mutual, of the provisions of his First Northern Existing Employment Agreement, which would create severance or other accelerated benefits thereunder as a result of the Merger and the -56- 251 transactions relating thereto, and shall have entered into a non-competition agreement with provisions substantially identical to those of Article III of the First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement. (i) Stock Listing. First Northern Common Stock shall continue to have been listed on the NASDAQ/NMS. (j) First Northern Stock Options. First Northern shall have, prior to the Closing Date and with the written consent (if necessary) of the First Northern Stock Option holder, cashed out each of such holder's First Northern Stock Options without the exercise thereof at a price equal to the difference between the Cash Value and the exercise price of such option. In the event that a holder of a First Northern Stock Option fails to take any action, the holder of such First Northern Stock Option shall be deemed to have agreed to have his or her First Northern Stock Option cashed out in accordance with this subsection 7.2(j). In recognition of the requirement that such options be converted to cash without an ability to elect stock and not be carried forward into the Survivor, to the extent that options are cashed out pursuant to this section 7.2(j), First Northern may provide an additional payment equal to not more than 25% of such difference between the Cash Value and the exercise price of any such option; provided, however, that in no event shall the net total amount of such additional payments, after the expected corporate tax deduction, to all holders of First Northern Stock Options exceed $755,000. In any event, as of the Closing Date there shall be no outstanding First Northern Stock Options other than the Stock Option Agreement. 7.3 Conditions to Obligation of First Northern. The obligation of First Northern to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing and as of the Effective Time of the following additional conditions precedent: (a) Compliance with Agreement. Mutual and Merger Corp. each shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of its covenants, agreements and other obligations under this Agreement which are to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date and as of the Effective Time. (b) Proceedings and Instruments Satisfactory. All proceedings, corporate or other, to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all documents incident thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to First Northern, and Mutual shall have made available to First Northern for examination the originals or true and correct copies of all documents which First Northern may reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (c) Representations and Warranties of Mutual and Merger Corp. Each of the representations and warranties of Mutual and Merger Corp. contained in Article V of this Agreement, after giving effect to any Mutual Disclosure Schedule Change, shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the -57- 252 Effective Time, except for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which shall remain true and correct as of such date), and except for those breaches which individually or in the aggregate do not or would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Mutual. (d) No Material Adverse Change. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date and as of the Effective Time there shall not have occurred, and there shall not exist on the Closing Date and as of the Effective Time, any condition(s) or fact(s) having individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect (irrespective of whether any such condition or fact was disclosed in a Mutual Disclosure Schedule Change) on Mutual. (e) Deliveries at Closing. Mutual shall have delivered to First Northern the following documents, each properly executed and dated the Closing Date: (i) the Mutual Closing Certificate; and (ii) the Mutual Counsel Opinion. (f) Other Documents. Mutual shall have delivered to First Northern such certificates and documents of officers of Mutual and of public officials as shall be reasonably requested by First Northern to establish the existence of Mutual and the due authorization of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by Mutual. (g) Opinion of Financial Advisor. First Northern shall have received the opinion of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. dated the date on which the First Northern Proxy Statement is first mailed to First Northern Shareholders, to the effect that the consideration to be received in the Merger by the First Northern Shareholders is fair to the First Northern Shareholders from a financial point of view and such option shall not have been withdrawn as of the Closing Date. (h) First Northern Replacement Employment Agreements. Pursuant to Section 3.11 of this Agreement, the Bank shall have offered to each of the First Northern Executives who have a First Northern Existing Employment Agreement a First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement, in each case dated as of the Closing Date, except as contemplated by Section 7.2(h). (i) Accountant Letters. First Northern shall have received a copy of each of the following letters from Ernst & Young LLP, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to First Northern and shall contain information concerning the financial condition of Mutual: (i) the letter described in Section 3.6 of this Agreement; (ii) a similar letter dated the Closing Date. (j) Non-Competition Agreement. The Chief Executive Officer of Mutual shall have entered into a non-competition agreement with Mutual with provisions substantively identical to those of Article III of the First Northern Replacement Employment Agreement, but substituting "Milwaukee County" for "Brown County." -58- 253 ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION; MISCELLANEOUS 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing (whether before or after approval of this Agreement by the First Northern Shareholders), as follows: (a) by mutual written agreement of Mutual and First Northern; (b) by Mutual if any of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 or 7.2 of this Agreement shall not have been fulfilled by the Closing, or within 30 days after receipt of a First Northern Disclosure Schedule Change indicating a First Northern Material Adverse Effect which cannot be reasonably expected to be cured; (c) by First Northern if any of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 or 7.3 of this Agreement shall not have been fulfilled by the Closing, or within 30 days after receipt of a Mutual Disclosure Schedule Change indicating a Mutual Material Adverse Effect which cannot be reasonably expected to be cured; (d) by either Mutual or First Northern if the Closing has not occurred on or before 11:59 p.m. on January 16, 2001. (e) by First Northern, upon five days' prior written notice to Mutual, if, as a result of an Acquisition Proposal by a Person other than Mutual or an Affiliate of Mutual, the Board of Directors of First Northern determines in good faith and upon the written opinion of its legal counsel that its fiduciary duties to shareholders require that such Acquisition Proposal be accepted, but in such case subject to all of Mutual's rights hereunder and under the Stock Option Agreement. 8.2 Rights on Termination; Waiver. The representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other obligations of the parties set forth in this Agreement shall terminate upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, except that the agreements set forth in Section 3.1, and Article VIII of this Agreement shall survive any such termination indefinitely, and each party to this Agreement shall retain any and all remedies which it may have for breach of contract provided by Law based on another party's willful failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement. If any of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of this Agreement have not been satisfied, Mutual may nevertheless elect to proceed with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and if any of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.3 of this Agreement have not been satisfied, First Northern may nevertheless elect to proceed with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Any such election to proceed shall be evidenced by a certificate signed on behalf of the waiving party by an officer of that party. -59- 254 8.3 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other obligations of the parties set forth in this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time, except the covenants, agreements, and other obligations of the parties which by their terms or nature are contemplated to be performed after the Effective Time shall survive the Effective Time indefinitely. 8.4 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and the other documents referred to in this Agreement and required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions of the parties, whether oral or written, and there are no warranties, representations or other agreements between the parties in connection with the subject matter of this Agreement, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by the parties at any time before or after approval of this Agreement by the First Northern Shareholders, except that after such approval no amendment shall be made without the further approval of the First Northern Shareholders if such amendment: (a) reduces the consideration to be received by First Northern Shareholders; or (b) otherwise materially adversely affects the rights of the First Northern Shareholders. No amendment, supplement, modification, waiver or termination of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, whether or not similar, nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided. 8.5 Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses. The First Northern Disclosure Schedule and Mutual Disclosure Schedule includes an estimate by First Northern and Mutual, respectively, of all costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by each in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Mutual terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b) on account of First Northern having willfully breached one or more of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) or 7.2(c) of this Agreement, or if First Northern terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c) hereof on account of Mutual having willfully breached one or more of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) or 7.3(c) of this Agreement, then, in addition to any other rights or remedies such party (the "non-breaching party") shall have against the other party (the "breaching party") under this Agreement or at law or in equity, the non-breaching party shall have the right to recover from the breaching party, up to $500,000 in the case of First Northern's expenses and up to $1.4 million in the case of, Mutual's expenses, all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the non-breaching party exclusively for the purpose of entering into this Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated hereby. In addition, Mutual shall be reimbursed for its expenses, as provided above, in addition to its other remedies in the event that First Northern terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e) hereof. -60- 255 8.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted according to the Laws of the State of Wisconsin. 8.7 Assignment. This Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, except that each of Mutual and Merger Corp. may assign all or any of its rights hereunder and thereunder to any Affiliate in connection with the Restructuring or as provided in Section 2.16 hereof, provided that no such assignment shall relieve Mutual or Merger Corp. of its obligations hereunder. 8.8 Notices. All communications or notices required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given at the earlier of the date when actually delivered to an officer of a party by personal delivery or telephonic facsimile transmission (receipt electronically confirmed) or two days after deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and addressed as follows, unless and until any of such parties notifies the others in accordance with this Section of a change of address: IF TO MUTUAL OR MERGER CORP.: Mutual Savings Bank Attn: Michael T. Crowley, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer 4949 West Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, WI 53223 Fax No: (414) 362-6195 with a copy to: Quarles & Brady LLP Attention: James D. Friedman 411 East Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 Fax No: (414) 291-3552 IF TO FIRST NORTHERN: First Northern Capital Corp. Attn: Michael D. Meeuwsen President and Chief Executive Officer 201 N. Monroe Avenue Green Bay, WI 54305 Fax No: (920) 437-1581 -61- 256 with a copy to: Schiff Hardin & Waite Attn: Christopher J. Zinski 6600 Sears Tower Chicago, IL 60606 Fax No.: (312) 258-5600 8.9 Counterparts; Headings. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Agreement. The Table of Contents and Article and Section headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof. 8.10 Interpretation. Unless the context requires otherwise, all words used in this Agreement in the singular number shall extend to and include the plural, all words in the plural number shall extend to and include the singular, and all words in any gender shall extend to and include all genders. 8.11 Severability. If any provision, clause, or part of this Agreement, or the application thereof under certain circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision, clause or part under other circumstances, shall not be affected thereby unless such invalidity materially impairs the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If, however, any provision of this Agreement is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the parties hereto shall in good faith amend this Agreement to include an alternative provision that accomplishes a result which is not materially different. 8.12 Specific Performance. The parties agree that the assets and business of First Northern as a going concern constitute unique property. There is no adequate remedy at Law for the damage which any party might sustain for failure of the other parties to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and accordingly, each party shall be entitled, at its option, to the remedy of specific performance to enforce the Merger pursuant to this Agreement. 8.13 No Reliance. Except for the parties to this Agreement, any Indemnified Parties under Section 3.5 of this Agreement and any assignees permitted by Section 8.7 of this Agreement: (a) no Person is entitled to rely on any of the representations, warranties and agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement; and (b) the parties assume no liability to any Person because of any reliance on the representations, warranties and agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement. 8.14 Further Assurances. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest Survivor with full -62- 257 right, title and possession to all assets, properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of either Merger Corp. or First Northern, the officers of Survivor are fully authorized to take any such action in the name of Merger Corp. or First Northern. -63- 258 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written. MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK By: /s/ Michael T. Crowley, Jr. ------------------------------------- Michael T. Crowley, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer Attest: /s/ Eugene H. Maurer, Jr. ----------------------------------------------- Eugene H. Maurer, Jr., Secretary OV CORP. By: /s/ Michael T. Crowley, Jr. ------------------------------------- Michael T. Crowley, Jr. President Attest: /s/ Eugene H. Maurer, Jr. ----------------------------------------------- Eugene H. Maurer, Jr., Secretary FIRST NORTHERN CAPITAL CORP. By: /s/ Michael D. Meeuwsen ------------------------------------- Michael D. Meeuwsen President and Chief Executive Officer Attest: /s/ Marla J. Carr ----------------------------------------------- Marla J. Carr, Secretary -64- 259 [KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.] APPENDIX B September 8, 2000 The Board of Directors First Northern Capital Corp. 201 N. Monroe Avenue Green Bay, Wisconsin 54305 Members of the Board: You have requested our opinion as investment bankers as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of First Northern Capital Corp. ("First Northern") of the total consideration (the "Merger Consideration") offered in the proposed merger (the "Merger"), whereby Mutual Savings Bank ("Mutual") will acquire First Northern through a newly formed two tier mutual holding company, Bank Mutual Corporation ("Bank Mutual"), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 21, 2000, between First Northern, Mutual and a predecessor of Bank Mutual (the "Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of First Northern will be converted into the right to receive a number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Bank Mutual ("Bank Mutual Common Stock") and/or cash determined as set forth in the Agreement. First Northern stockholders may elect to receive either Bank Mutual Common Stock and/or cash, subject to certain procedures contained in the Agreement, as to which procedures Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. ("KBW") expresses no opinion. KBW, as part of its investment banking business, is continually engaged in the valuation of financial institutions and financial institution holding companies and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for various other purposes. As specialists in the securities of banking companies, we have experience in, and knowledge of, the valuation of banking enterprises. In the ordinary course of our business as a broker-dealer, we may, from time to time purchase securities from, and sell securities to, First Northern, Mutual and Bank Mutual, and as a market maker in securities, we may from time to time have a long or short position in, and buy or sell, debt or equity securities of First Northern or Bank Mutual for our own account and for the accounts of our customers. To the extent we have any such position as of the date of this opinion it has been disclosed to First Northern. We have acted exclusively for the Board of Directors of First Northern in rendering this fairness opinion and will receive a fee from First Northern for our services. In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, analyzed and relied upon material bearing upon the financial and operating condition of First Northern, Mutual and Bank Mutual and the Merger, including among other things, the following: (i) the Agreement; (ii) the Annual Reports to Stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the three years ended December 31, 1999 of First Northern; (iii) certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of First Northern and certain other communications from First Northern to their stockholders; (iv) First Northern and Mutual's annual and quarterly financial reports submitted to various regulatory agencies; and (v) other financial information concerning the businesses and operations of First Northern, Mutual and Bank Mutual furnished to us by First Northern, Mutual and Bank Mutual for purposes of our analysis. We have also held discussions with senior management of First Northern, Mutual and Bank Mutual regarding the past B-1 260 and current business operations, regulatory relations, financial condition and future prospects of their respective companies and such other matters, as we have deemed relevant to our inquiry. In addition, we have compared certain financial and stock market information for First Northern with similar information for certain other companies the securities of which are publicly traded, reviewed the financial terms of certain recent business combinations in the banking industry and performed such other studies and analyses as we considered appropriate. In conducting our review and arriving at our opinion, we have relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information provided to us or publicly available and we have not assumed any responsibility for independently verifying the accuracy or completeness of any such information. We have relied upon the management of First Northern, Mutual and Bank Mutual as to the reasonableness and achievability of the financial and operating forecasts and projections (and the assumptions and bases therefor) provided to us, and we have assumed that such forecasts and projections reflect the best currently available estimates and judgments of such managements and that such forecasts and projections will be realized in the amounts and in the time periods currently estimated by such managements. We are not experts in the independent verification of the adequacy of allowances for loan and lease losses and we have assumed, with your consent, that the aggregate allowances for loan and lease losses for First Northern and Mutual are adequate to cover such losses. In rendering our opinion, we have not made or obtained any evaluations or appraisals of the property of First Northern or Mutual. We have considered such financial and other factors as we have deemed appropriate under the circumstances, including, among others, the following: (i) the historical and current financial position and results of operations of First Northern and Mutual; (ii) the assets and liabilities of First Northern and Mutual; and (iii) the nature and terms of certain other merger transactions involving banking companies. We have also taken into account our assessment of general economic, market and financial conditions and our experience in other transactions, as well as our experience in securities valuation and knowledge of the banking industry generally. Our opinion is necessarily based upon conditions as they exist and can be evaluated on the date hereof and the information made available to us through the date hereof. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Merger Consideration offered in the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of First Northern. Very truly yours, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. B-2