ASHEVILLE SAVINGS BANK, S.S.B. PLAN OF CONVERSION ADOPTED ON MARCH 15, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-2.1 3 dex21.htm PLAN OF CONVERSION Plan of Conversion

Exhibit 2.1

ASHEVILLE SAVINGS BANK, S.S.B.

PLAN OF CONVERSION

ADOPTED ON MARCH 15, 2011


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                 PAGE  
  1.      

Introduction

     1   
  2.      

Definitions

     1   
  3.      

General Procedure for the Conversion

     4   
   (a)   

Organization of the Holding Company and the Bank

     4   
   (b)   

Effect on Deposit Accounts and Borrowings

     5   
   (c)   

The Bank

     5   
   (d)   

The Holding Company

     5   
   (e)   

Applications and Regulatory and Member Approval

     5   
   (f)   

Expenses

     6   
  4.      

Total Number of Shares and Purchase Price of Common Stock

     6   
  5.      

Subscription Rights of Eligible Account Holders (First Priority)

     7   
  6.      

Subscription Rights of Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans (Second Priority)

     7   
  7.      

Subscription Rights of Supplemental Eligible Account Holders (Third Priority)

     8   
  8.      

Subscription Rights of Other Members (Fourth Priority)

     8   
  9.      

Community Offering, Syndicated Community Offering, Public Offering and Other Offerings

     8   
  10.      

Limitations on Subscriptions and Purchases of Common Stock

     10   
  11.      

Timing of Subscription Offering; Manner of Exercising Subscription Rights and Order Forms

     11   
  12.      

Payment for Common Stock

     12   
  13.      

Account Holders in Nonqualified States or Foreign Countries

     13   
  14.      

Requirements Following the Conversion for Registration, Market Making and Stock Exchange Listing

     13   
  15.      

Liquidation Account

     13   
  16.      

Completion of the Conversion

     14   
  17.      

Requirements for Stock Purchases by Directors and Officers Following the Conversion

     14   
  18.      

Restrictions on Transfer of Stock

     15   
  19.      

Stock Compensation Plans

     15   
  20.      

Dividend and Repurchase Restrictions on Stock

     15   
  21.      

Amendment or Termination of the Plan

     16   
  22.      

Interpretation of the Plan

     16   

 

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1. INTRODUCTION.

For purposes of this section, all capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 2.

This Plan of Conversion provides for the conversion of Asheville Savings Bank, S.S.B. (the “Bank”) from a North Carolina chartered mutual savings bank into a North Carolina chartered stock savings bank. The Plan provides that the Bank will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of a stock holding company (the “Holding Company”).

The Board of Directors of the Bank has considered the alternatives available to the Bank with respect to its corporate structure, and has determined that a mutual to stock conversion, as described in this Plan, will be in the best interests of the Bank and its customers. The Conversion will raise capital which will enable the Bank to: (1) support future lending and operational growth, including branching activities and acquisitions of other financial institutions or financial services companies; (2) increase its ability to render services to the communities it serves; (3) compete more effectively with commercial banks and other financial institutions for new business opportunities; and (4) increase its equity capital base and access the capital markets when needed. The Conversion will also enable the Holding Company and the Bank to adopt stock benefit plans that will make the Bank more competitive in providing incentive compensation to management and employees.

The Plan provides that non-transferable subscription rights to purchase the Common Stock of the Holding Company shall be granted to certain Members of the Bank pursuant to the Plan and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commissioner and FDIC. The price of the Common Stock to be sold in the Conversion will be based upon an independent appraisal of the Bank and will reflect its estimated pro forma market value, as converted. No change will be made in the board of directors or management of the Bank as a result of the Conversion.

The Plan was adopted by the Bank’s Board of Directors on March 15, 2011. The Plan is subject to the approval of the Commissioner and the non-objection of the FDIC and must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast by the Voting Members at the Special Meeting. The acquisition of the Bank by the Holding Company must be approved by the FRB.

After the Conversion, the Bank will continue to be regulated by the Commissioner, as its chartering authority, and by the FDIC, which insures the Bank’s deposits. In addition, all insured savings deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC up to the maximum limit provided by law. The Holding Company will be regulated by the FRB.

 

2. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Plan, the terms set forth below have the following meaning:

ACTING IN CONCERT means (i) knowing participation in a joint activity or interdependent conscious parallel action towards a common goal whether or not pursuant to an express agreement; or (ii) a combination or pooling of voting or other interests in the securities of an issuer for a common purpose pursuant to any contract, understanding, relationship, agreement or other arrangement, whether written or otherwise. A Person or company which acts in concert with another Person or company (“other party”) shall also be deemed to be acting in concert with any Person or company who is also acting in concert with that other party, except that any Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan will not be deemed to be acting in concert with its trustee or a person who serves in a similar capacity solely for the purpose of determining whether stock held by the trustee and stock held by the plan will be aggregated and participants or beneficiaries of any such Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan will not be deemed to be acting in concert solely as a result of their common interests as participants or beneficiaries. When Persons act together for such purpose, their group is deemed to have acquired their stock. The determination of whether a group is Acting in Concert shall be made solely by the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company and the Bank or Officers delegated by such Boards and may be based on any evidence upon which the Board or such delegatee chooses to rely, including, without limitation, joint account relationships or the fact that such Persons share a common address (whether or not related by blood or marriage) or have filed joint Schedules 13D or Schedules 13G with the SEC with respect to other companies. Directors of the Holding Company and the Bank shall not be deemed to be Acting in Concert solely as a result of their membership on such board or boards.

 

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ACTUAL PURCHASE PRICE means the price per share at which the Common Stock is ultimately sold by the Holding Company in the Offerings in accordance with the terms hereof.

AFFILIATE means a Person who, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Person specified.

ASSOCIATE of a Person means (i) a corporation or organization (other than the Holding Company, the Bank or a majority-owned subsidiary of the Holding Company or the Bank), if the Person is a senior officer or partner or beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of equity securities of the corporation or organization, (ii) a trust or other estate, if the Person has a substantial beneficial interest in the trust or estate or is a trustee or fiduciary of the trust or estate, provided, however, that such term shall not include any Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan of the Holding Company or the Bank in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or serves as a trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and (iii) any person who is related by blood or marriage to such Person and who lives in the same home as the Person or who is a director or senior officer of the Holding Company or the Bank or any of their subsidiaries.

BANK means Asheville Savings Bank, S.S.B.

BANK BENEFIT PLAN(S) includes, but is not limited to, Tax Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans and Non-Tax Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans.

CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

COMMISSIONER means the North Carolina Commissioner of Banking.

COMMON STOCK means the shares of common stock to be issued and sold by the Holding Company in the Offerings and to be contributed to the Foundation, all pursuant to the Plan. The Common Stock will not be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

COMMUNITY OFFERING means the offering for sale by the Holding Company of any shares of Common Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering to such Persons as may be selected by the Holding Company and the Bank in their sole discretion and to whom a copy of the Prospectus is delivered by or on behalf of the Holding Company.

CONTROL (including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

CONVERSION means the conversion of the Bank to stock form pursuant to this Plan, and all steps incident thereto.

DEPOSIT ACCOUNT means any withdrawable account as defined in the Rules and Regulations of the Commissioner, including a demand account as defined in the Rules and Regulations of the Commissioner.

ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDER means any Person holding a Qualifying Deposit on the Eligibility Record Date for purposes of determining Subscription Rights.

ELIGIBILITY RECORD DATE means the date for determining Qualifying Deposits of Eligible Account Holders and is the close of business on February 28, 2010.

ESOP means a Tax Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan adopted by the Holding Company or the Bank in connection with the Conversion, the purpose of which shall be to acquire shares of Common Stock.

ESTIMATED PRICE RANGE means the range of the estimated aggregate pro forma market value of the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Offerings, as determined by the Independent Appraiser in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

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FDIC means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any successor thereto.

FRB means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board System.

HOLDING COMPANY means the stock corporation that will hold all of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank upon completion of the Conversion.

INDEPENDENT APPRAISER means the independent financial consulting firm retained by the Holding Company and the Bank to prepare an appraisal of the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock.

INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE means the price per share to be paid initially by Participants for shares of Common Stock subscribed for in the Subscription Offering and by Persons for shares of Common Stock ordered in the Community Offering and/or Syndicated Community Offering.

LOCAL COMMUNITY means Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, Henderson and Transylvania Counties in North Carolina.

MANAGEMENT PERSON means any Officer or director of the Bank or the Holding Company or any Affiliate of the Bank or the Holding Company and any person Acting in Concert with such Officer or director.

MEMBER means any Person qualifying as a member of the Bank in accordance with its mutual charter and bylaws and the laws of the United States.

OFFERINGS mean the offering of Common Stock in the Subscription Offering, the Community Offering, the Syndicated Community Offering or the Public Offering.

OFFICER means the chairman of the board, president, chief executive officer, vice-president, secretary, treasurer or principal financial officer, comptroller or principal accounting officer and any other person performing similar functions with respect to any organization whether incorporated or unincorporated.

ORDER FORM means the form or forms to be provided by the Holding Company, containing all such terms and provisions as set forth in Section 11 hereof, to a Participant or other Person by which Common Stock may be ordered in the Offerings.

OTHER MEMBER means a Voting Member who is not an Eligible Account Holder or a Supplemental Eligible Account Holder.

PARTICIPANT means any Eligible Account Holder, Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan, Supplemental Eligible Account Holder or Other Member, but does not include the Foundation.

PERSON means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint-stock company, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any political subdivision of a government.

PLAN OF CONVERSION means this Plan of Conversion as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Bank and any amendment hereto approved as provided herein.

PREFERRED SUBSCRIBERS means natural persons and trusts of natural persons residing in the Local Community.

PROSPECTUS means the one or more documents to be used in offering the Common Stock in the Offerings.

PUBLIC OFFERING means an underwritten firm commitment offering to the public through one or more underwriters.

 

3


QUALIFYING DEPOSIT means the aggregate balance of all Deposit Accounts in the Bank of (i) an Eligible Account Holder at the close of business on the Eligibility Record Date, provided such aggregate balance is not less than $50.00, and (ii) a Supplemental Eligible Account Holder at the close of business on the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, provided such aggregate balance is not less than $50.00.

SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

SPECIAL MEETING means the special meeting of members of the Bank called for the purpose of submitting this Plan and the formation of the Foundation to the Members for their approval, including any adjournments or postponements of such meeting.

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING means the offering of the Common Stock to Participants.

SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS mean nontransferable rights to subscribe for Common Stock granted to Participants pursuant to the terms of this Plan.

SUPPLEMENTAL ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDER means any Person, except directors and Officers of the Bank or the Holding Company and their Associates (unless the Commissioner and FDIC grant a waiver to permit a director or Officer or Associate to be included), holding a Qualifying Deposit at the close of business on the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date.

SUPPLEMENTAL ELIGIBILITY RECORD DATE, if applicable, means the date for determining Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and shall be required if the Eligibility Record Date is more than 15 months before the date of the approval of the Conversion by the Commissioner and FDIC. If applicable, the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date shall be the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the Commissioner and FDIC approval of the Conversion.

SYNDICATED COMMUNITY OFFERING means the offering for sale by a syndicate of broker-dealers to the general public of shares of Common Stock not purchased in the Subscription Offering and the Community Offering.

TAX-QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK BENEFIT PLAN means any defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan, such as an employee stock ownership plan, stock bonus plan, profit-sharing plan or other plan, which is established for the benefit of the employees of the Holding Company and/or the Bank and any Affiliate thereof and which, with its related trust, meets the requirements to be “qualified” under Section 401 of the Code as from time to time in effect. A “Non-Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan” is any defined benefit plan or defined contribution stock benefit plan that is not so qualified.

VOTING MEMBER means a Person who, at the close of business on the Voting Record Date, is entitled to vote as a Member of the Bank in accordance with its mutual charter and bylaws.

VOTING RECORD DATE means the date or dates for determining the eligibility of Members to vote at the Special Meeting.

 

3. GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR THE CONVERSION.

 

  (a) Organization of the Holding Company and the Bank

The Bank will apply to the Commissioner and FDIC to have the Holding Company retain up to 50% of the net proceeds of the Offerings, or such other amount as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The Bank may distribute additional capital to the Holding Company following the Conversion, subject to the Commissioner regulations governing capital distributions.

 

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  (b) Effect on Deposit Accounts and Borrowings

Each deposit account in the Bank on the effective date of the Conversion, will remain a deposit account in the Bank after the Conversion in the same amount and upon the same terms and conditions, and will continue to be federally insured up to the legal maximum by the FDIC in the same manner as each deposit account existed in the Bank immediately before the Conversion. Holders of deposit accounts in the Bank shall not, as such holders, have any voting rights. Upon consummation of the Conversion, all loans and other borrowings from the Bank shall retain the same status with the Bank after the Conversion, as they had with the Bank immediately before the Conversion.

 

  (c) The Bank

Upon completion of the Conversion, the Bank will be authorized to exercise any and all powers, rights and privileges of, and will be subject to all limitations applicable to, capital stock savings banks under North Carolina law. The Conversion will not result in any reduction of the amount of retained earnings and general loss reserves will be accounted for by the Holding Company and the Bank on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Copies of the proposed North Carolina stock charter and bylaws of the Bank are attached hereto and made a part of this Plan. By their approval of this Plan, the Voting Members shall have approved and adopted the North Carolina stock charter and bylaws of the Bank.

The initial members of the Board of Directors of the Bank upon the completion of the Conversion will be the members of the Board of Directors of the Bank at the time of the adoption of the Plan of Conversion who continue to be directors of the Bank at the time of the closing of the Conversion. Following the Conversion, the Bank will be wholly-owned by the Holding Company. The Holding Company will be wholly-owned by its stockholders who will initially consist of the persons who purchase Common Stock in the Offerings.

 

  (d) The Holding Company

The Holding Company will be authorized to exercise any and all powers, rights and privileges, and will be subject to all limitations applicable to bank holding companies under federal law and regulations. The initial members of the Board of Directors of the Holding Company will be appointed by the Bank. Thereafter, the voting stockholders of the Holding Company will elect approximately one-third of the Holding Company’s directors annually. The total shares of Common Stock authorized under the Holding Company articles of incorporation will exceed the shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion.

 

  (e) Applications and Regulatory and Member Approval

The Bank will take the necessary steps to prepare and file a Notice of Intent to Convert to Stock Form to get the written non-objection of the FDIC of the Conversion and take all steps necessary to prepare and file the Application for Conversion, including the Plan, together with all requisite material, with the Commissioner for approval. Once the Application for Conversion is filed, the Bank will again cause to be published, in accordance with the requirements of applicable regulations of the Commissioner, notice of the filing of the Application for Conversion with the Commissioner, and will post notice of the filing of the Application for Conversion in each office of the Bank.

As soon as practicable after the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors of the Bank, the proposed Board of Directors of the Holding Company shall adopt the Plan by at least a two-thirds vote. The proposed Board of Directors of the Holding Company shall cause to be filed with the Commissioner and FDIC and FRB such applications as may be required for approval of the Holding Company’s acquisition of the Bank and file with the SEC a Registration Statement to register the Common Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proposed Board of Directors of the Holding Company shall also register or qualify the Common Stock under any applicable state securities laws, subject to Section 13 hereof.

 

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Promptly following receipt of requisite approval of the Commissioner and FDIC, the Plan will be submitted to the Voting Members for their consideration and approval at the Special Meeting. The Bank may, at its option, mail to all Voting Members, at their last known address appearing on the records of the Bank, a proxy statement in either long form, or to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, summary form describing the Plan, which will be submitted to a vote of the Voting Members at the Special Meeting. If the Plan is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by Voting Members at the Special Meeting, the Bank shall take all other necessary organizational steps pursuant to applicable laws and regulations to amend its charter and bylaws to authorize the issuance of its capital stock to the Holding Company at the time the Conversion is consummated.

 

  (f) Expenses

The Holding Company and the Bank may retain and pay for the services of financial and other advisors and investment bankers to assist in connection with any or all aspects of the Conversion, including in connection with the Offerings, the payment of fees to brokers for assisting Persons in completing and/or submitting Order Forms. The Bank shall use its best efforts to ensure that all fees, expenses, retainers and similar items shall be reasonable.

 

4. TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES AND PURCHASE PRICE OF COMMON STOCK.

(a) The aggregate price at which shares of Common Stock shall be sold in the Offerings shall be based on a pro forma valuation of the aggregate market value of the Common Stock prepared by the Independent Appraiser. The valuation shall be based on financial information relating to the Holding Company and the Bank, market, financial and economic conditions, a comparison of the Holding Company and the Bank with selected publicly-held financial institutions and holding companies and with comparable financial institutions and holding companies and such other factors as the Independent Appraiser may deem to be important, including, but not limited to, the projected operating results and financial condition of the Holding Company and Bank. The valuation shall be stated in terms of an Estimated Price Range, the maximum of which shall be no more than 15% above the average of the minimum and maximum of such price range and the minimum of which shall be no more than 15% below such average. The valuation shall be updated during the Conversion as market and financial conditions warrant and as may be required by the Commissioner and FDIC.

(b) Based upon the independent valuation, the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company and the Bank shall fix the Initial Purchase Price and the number of shares of Common Stock to be offered in the Offerings. The purchase price per share for the Common Stock shall be a uniform price determined in accordance with applicable Commissioner and FDIC rules and regulations. The Actual Purchase Price and the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Offerings shall be determined by the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company and the Bank upon conclusion of the Offerings in consultation with the Independent Appraiser and any financial advisor or investment banker retained by the Holding Company in connection with such offering.

(c) Subject to the approval of the Commissioner and FDIC, the Estimated Price Range may be increased or decreased to reflect market, financial and economic conditions before completion of the Conversion or to fill the Order of the Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans, and under such circumstances the Holding Company and the Bank may increase or decrease the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion to reflect any such change. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, no resolicitation of subscribers shall be required and subscribers shall not be permitted to modify or cancel their subscriptions unless the gross proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock in the Offerings are less than the minimum or more than 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range set forth in the Prospectus. In the event of an increase in the total number of shares offered in the Offerings due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range, the priority of share allocation shall be as set forth in this Plan.

 

6


5. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS (FIRST PRIORITY).

(a) Each Eligible Account Holder shall receive, as first priority and without payment, Subscription Rights to purchase up to the greater of (i) $300,000 of Common Stock (or such maximum purchase limitation as may be established for the Community Offering and/or Syndicated Community Offering), (ii) one-tenth of 1% of the total offering of shares in the Subscription Offering, or (iii) 15 times the product (rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number of shares of Common Stock offered in the Subscription Offering by a fraction, of which the numerator is the amount of the Qualifying Deposits of the Eligible Account Holder and the denominator is the total amount of all Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account Holders, in each case subject to Sections 10 and 13 hereof.

(b) In the event of an oversubscription for shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 5(a), available shares shall be allocated among subscribing Eligible Account Holders so as to permit each such Eligible Account Holder, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares which will make his or her total allocation equal to the lesser of the number of shares subscribed for or 100 shares. Any available shares remaining after each subscribing Eligible Account Holder has been allocated the lesser of the number of shares subscribed for or 100 shares shall be allocated among the subscribing Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied in the proportion that the Qualifying Deposit of each such subscribing Eligible Account Holder bears to the total Qualifying Deposits of all such subscribing Eligible Account Holders whose orders are unfilled, provided that no fractional shares shall be issued.

Subscription Rights of Eligible Account Holders who are also directors or Officers of the Holding Company or the Bank and their Associates shall be subordinated to those of other Eligible Account Holders to the extent that they are attributable to increased deposits during the one-year period preceding the Eligibility Record Date.

 

6. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF TAX-QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK BENEFIT PLANS (SECOND PRIORITY).

Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans (excluding the Bank’s 401(k) plan) shall receive, without payment, Subscription Rights to purchase in the aggregate up to 10% of the Common Stock sold in the Offerings, including (i) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion as a result of an increase in the Estimated Price Range after commencement of the Subscription Offering and before completion of the Offerings; and (ii) any shares of Common Stock contributed to the Foundation. The subscription rights granted to Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans shall be subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock after taking into account the shares of Common Stock purchased by Eligible Account Holders; provided, however, that if the total number of shares of Common Stock is increased to any amount greater than the number of shares representing the maximum of the Estimated Price Range as set forth in the Prospectus (“Maximum Shares”), the ESOP shall have a priority right to purchase any such shares exceeding the Maximum Shares up to an aggregate of 10% of Common Stock sold in the Offerings and contributed to the Foundation. Shares of Common Stock purchased by any individual participant (“Plan Participant”) in a Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan using funds therein pursuant to the exercise of subscription rights granted to such Participant in his individual capacity as an Eligible Account Holder and/or supplemental Eligible Account Holder and/or purchases by such Plan Participant in the Community Offering shall not be deemed to be purchases by a Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan for purposes of calculating the maximum amount of Common Stock that Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans may purchase pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 6 if the individual Plan Participant controls or directs the investment authority with respect to such account or subaccount. Consistent with applicable laws and regulations and policies and practices of the Commissioner, FDIC and FRB, the Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans may use funds contributed by the Holding Company or the Bank and/or borrowed from an independent financial institution to exercise such Subscription Rights, and the Holding Company and the Bank may make scheduled discretionary contributions thereto, provided that such contributions do not cause the Bank to fail to meet any applicable regulatory capital requirement. The Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans may fill their orders to purchase Common Stock, in whole or in part, through open market purchases after the closing of the Offerings, subject to approval of the Commissioner, FDIC and FRB.

The Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans shall not be deemed to be an Associate or Affiliate of or Person Acting in Concert with any Management Person.

 

7


7. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS (THIRD PRIORITY).

(a) In the event that the Eligibility Record Date is more than 15 months before the date of Commissioner and FDIC approval of the Plan, then, and only in that event, a Supplemental Eligibility Record Date shall be set and each Supplemental Eligible Account Holder shall receive, without payment, Subscription Rights to purchase up to the greater of (i) $300,000 of Common Stock (or such maximum purchase limitation as may be established for the Community Offering and/or Syndicated Community Offering), (ii) one-tenth of 1% of the total offering of shares in the Subscription Offering or (iii) 15 times the product (rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number of shares of Common Stock offered in the Subscription Offering by a fraction, of which the numerator is the amount of the Qualifying Deposits of the Supplemental Eligible Account Holder and the denominator is the total amount of all Qualifying Deposits of all Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, in each case subject to Sections 10 and 13 hereof and the availability of shares of Common Stock for purchase after taking into account the shares of Common Stock purchased by Eligible Account Holders and Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans through the exercise of Subscription Rights under Sections 5 and 6 hereof.

(b) In the event of an oversubscription for shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 7(a), available shares shall be allocated among subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders so as to permit each such Supplemental Eligible Account Holder, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares sufficient to make his or her total allocation (including the number of shares, if any, allocated in accordance with Section 5(a)) equal to the lesser of the number of shares subscribed for or 100 shares. Any remaining available shares shall be allocated among subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied in the proportion that the amount of their respective Qualifying Deposits bears to the total amount of the Qualifying Deposits of all such subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose orders are unfilled, provided that no fractional shares shall be issued.

 

8. SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS OF OTHER MEMBERS (FOURTH PRIORITY).

(a) Each Other Member shall receive, without payment, Subscription Rights to purchase up to the greater of (i) $300,000 of Common Stock (or such maximum purchase limitation as may be established for the Community Offering and/or Syndicated Community Offering) and (ii) one-tenth of 1% of the total offering of shares in the Subscription Offering, subject to Sections 10 and 13 hereof and the availability of shares of Common Stock for purchase after taking into account the shares of Common Stock purchased by Eligible Account Holders, Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, if any, through the exercise of Subscription Rights under Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof.

(b) If, pursuant to this Section 8, Other Members subscribe for a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the total number of shares of Common Stock remaining, available shares shall be allocated among subscribing Other Members so as to permit each such Other Member, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares which will make his or her total allocation equal to the lesser of the number of shares subscribed for or 100 shares. Any remaining available shares shall be allocated among subscribing Other Members whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied on a pro rata basis in the same proportion as each such Other Member’s subscription bears to the total subscriptions of all such subscribing Other Members, provided that no fractional shares shall be issued.

 

9. COMMUNITY OFFERING, SYNDICATED COMMUNITY OFFERING, PUBLIC OFFERING AND OTHER OFFERINGS.

(a) If less than the total number of shares of Common Stock offered by the Holding Company are sold in the Subscription Offering, it is anticipated that all remaining shares of Common Stock shall, if practicable, be sold in a Community Offering. Subject to the requirements set forth herein, the manner in which the Common Stock is sold in the Community Offering shall have as the objective the achievement of the widest possible distribution of such stock.

(b) In the event of a Community Offering, all shares of Common Stock that are not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering shall be offered for sale by means of a direct community marketing program, which may provide for the use of brokers, dealers or investment banking firms experienced in the sale of financial institution securities. Any available shares in excess of those not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering will be available

 

8


for purchase by members of the general public to whom a Prospectus is delivered by the Holding Company or on its behalf, with preference given first to Preferred Subscribers).

(c) A Prospectus and Order Form shall be furnished to such Persons as the Holding Company and the Bank may select in connection with the Community Offering, and each order for Common Stock in the Community Offering shall be subject to the absolute right of the Holding Company and the Bank to accept or reject any such order in whole or in part either at the time of receipt of an order or as soon as practicable following completion of the Community Offering. Available shares will be allocated first to each Preferred Subscriber whose order is accepted in an amount equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for by each such Preferred Subscriber, if possible. Thereafter, unallocated shares shall be allocated among the Preferred Subscribers whose accepted orders remain unsatisfied in the same proportion that the unfilled order bears to the total unfilled orders of all Preferred Subscribers whose accepted orders remain unsatisfied, provided that no fractional shares shall be issued. If there are any shares remaining after all accepted orders by Preferred Subscribers have been satisfied, such remaining shares shall be allocated to other members of the general public who purchase in the Community Offering, applying the same allocation described above for Preferred Subscribers.

(d) The amount of Common Stock that any Person may purchase in the Community Offering shall not exceed $300,000 of Common Stock, provided, however, that this amount may be increased to up to 5% of the total offering of shares of Common Stock or decreased to less than $300,000, subject to any required regulatory approval but without the further approval of the Members or the resolicitation of subscribers; and provided further that to the extent applicable, and subject to the preferences set forth in Section 9(b) and (c) of this Plan and the limitations on purchases of Common Stock set forth in this Section 9(d) and Section 10 of this Plan, orders for Common Stock in the Community Offering shall first be filled to a maximum of 2% of the total number of shares of Common Stock sold in the Offerings and thereafter any remaining shares shall be allocated on an equal number of shares basis per order until all orders have been filled, provided no fractional shares shall be issued. The Holding Company and the Bank may commence the Community Offering concurrently with, at any time during, or as soon as practicable after the end of, the Subscription Offering, and the Community Offering must be completed within 45 days after the completion of the Subscription Offering, unless extended by the Holding Company and the Bank with any required regulatory approval.

(e) Subject to such terms, conditions and procedures as may be determined by the Holding Company and the Bank, all shares of Common Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering or ordered in the Community Offering may be sold by a syndicate of broker-dealers to the general public in a Syndicated Community Offering. Each order for Common Stock in the Syndicated Community Offering shall be subject to the absolute right of the Holding Company and the Bank to accept or reject any such order in whole or in part either at the time of receipt of an order or as soon as practicable after completion of the Syndicated Community Offering. The amount of Common Stock that any Person may purchase in the Syndicated Community Offering shall not exceed $300,000 of Common Stock, provided, however, that this amount may be increased to up to 5% of the total offering of shares of Common Stock or decreased to less than $300,000, subject to any required regulatory approval but without the further approval of the Members or the resolicitation of subscribers; and provided further that, to the extent applicable, and subject to the limitations on purchases of Common Stock set forth in this Section 9(e) and Section 10 of this Plan, orders for Common Stock in the Syndicated Community Offering shall first be filled to a maximum of 2% of the total number of shares of Common Stock sold in the Offerings and thereafter any remaining shares shall be allocated on an equal number of shares basis per order until all orders have been filled, provided no fractional shares shall be issued. The Holding Company and the Bank may commence the Syndicated Community Offering concurrently with, at any time during, or as soon as practicable after the end of, the Subscription Offering and/or Community Offering, and the Syndicated Community Offering must be completed within 45 days after the completion of the Subscription Offering, unless extended by the Holding Company and the Bank with any required regulatory approval.

(f) The Holding Company and the Bank may sell any shares of Common Stock remaining following the Subscription Offering, Community Offering and/or the Syndicated Community Offering in a Public Offering. The provisions of Section 10 hereof shall not be applicable to the sales to underwriters for purposes of the Public Offering but shall be applicable to sales by the underwriters to the public. The price to be paid by the underwriters in such an offering shall be equal to the Actual Purchase Price less an underwriting discount to be negotiated among such underwriters and the Holding Company and the Bank, subject to any required regulatory approval or consent.

 

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(g) If for any reason a Syndicated Community Offering or Public Offering of shares of Common Stock not sold in the Subscription Offering and the Community Offering cannot be effected, or if any insignificant residue of shares of Common Stock is not sold in the Subscription Offering, Community Offering or Syndicated Community Offering, the Holding Company and the Bank shall use their best efforts to obtain other purchasers for such shares in such manner and upon such conditions as may be satisfactory to the Commissioner and FDIC.

 

10. LIMITATIONS ON SUBSCRIPTIONS AND PURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK.

The following limitations shall apply to all purchases of Common Stock in the Offerings:

(a) The maximum amount of Common Stock that may be subscribed for or purchased in all categories of the Offerings by any Person, together with any Associate or group of Persons Acting in Concert, shall not exceed $500,000, except for Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans.

(b) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased in the Conversion by the ESOP shall not exceed 8%, and all Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans shall not exceed 10%, of the total number of shares of Holding Company Common Stock issued in the Conversion, in each instance, including (i) any shares which may be issued in the event of an increase in the maximum Estimated Price Range to reflect changes in market, financial and economic conditions after commencement of the Subscription Offering and before completion of the Offerings, and (ii) any shares of Common Stock contributed to the Foundation; provided, however, that purchases of Common Stock which are made by Plan Participants pursuant to the exercise of Subscription Rights granted to such Plan Participant in his or her individual capacity as a Participant or purchases by a Plan Participant in the Community Offering using the funds thereof held in Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans shall not be deemed to be purchases by a Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan for purposes of this Section 10(b).

(c) No Person may purchase fewer than 25 shares of Common Stock in the Offerings, to the extent such shares are available; provided, however, that if the Actual Purchase Price is greater than $20.00 per share, such minimum number of shares shall be adjusted so that the aggregate Actual Purchase Price for such minimum shares will not exceed $500.00.

(d) The maximum amount of Common Stock that directors and officers of the Holding Company or the Bank and their Associates may purchase in the aggregate in the Offerings shall not exceed 25% of the total number of shares of Common Stock sold in the Offerings, including any shares which may be issued in the event of an increase in the maximum of the Estimated Price Range to reflect changes in market, financial and economic conditions after commencement of the Subscription Offering and before completion of the Offerings.

(e) For purposes of the foregoing limitations and the determination of Subscription Rights, (i) directors, Officers and employees of the Holding Company, the Bank or their subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Associates or a group Acting in Concert solely as a result of their capacities as such, (ii) shares purchased by Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans shall not be attributable to the individual trustees or beneficiaries of any such plan for purposes of determining compliance with the limitations set forth in Section 10(b) hereof, and (iii) shares purchased by a Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan pursuant to instructions of an individual in an account in such plan in which the individual has the right to direct the investment, including any plan of the Bank qualified under Section 401(k) of the Code, shall be aggregated and included in that individual’s purchases and not attributed to the Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan.

(f) Subject to any required regulatory approval and the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, but without further approval of the Members, the Holding Company and the Bank may increase or decrease any of the individual or aggregate purchase limitations set forth herein to a percentage which does not exceed 5% of the total offering of shares of Common Stock in the Offerings whether before, during or after the Subscription Offering, Community Offering and/or Syndicated Community Offering. If an individual purchase limitation is increased after commencement of the Subscription Offering or any other offering, the Holding Company and the Bank shall permit any Person who subscribed for the maximum number of shares of Common Stock to purchase an additional number of shares, so that such Person shall be permitted to subscribe for the then maximum number of shares permitted to be subscribed for by such Person, subject to the rights and preferences of any Person who has priority Subscription Rights. If any of the individual or aggregate purchase limitations are decreased after

 

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commencement of the Subscription Offering or any other offering, the orders of any Person who subscribed for more than the new purchase limitation shall be decreased by the minimum amount necessary so that such Person shall be in compliance with the then maximum number of shares permitted to be subscribed for by such Person. In the event that the maximum purchase limitation is increased to 5% of the shares sold in the Offerings, such limitation may be further increased to 9.99%, provided that orders for Common Stock exceeding 5% of the shares of Common Stock sold in the Offerings shall not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the total shares of Common Stock sold in the Offerings.

(g) The Holding Company and the Bank shall have the right to take all such action as they may, in their sole discretion, deem necessary, appropriate or advisable to monitor and enforce the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions contained in this Section 10 and elsewhere in this Plan and the terms, conditions and representations contained in the Order Form, including, but not limited to, the absolute right (subject only to any necessary regulatory approvals or concurrences) to reject, limit or revoke acceptance of any subscription or order and to delay, terminate or refuse to consummate any sale of Common Stock that they believe might violate, or is designed to, or is any part of a plan to, evade or circumvent such terms, conditions, limitations, restrictions and representations. Any such action shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, and the Holding Company, the Bank and their respective Boards shall be free from any liability to any Person on account of any such action.

 

11. TIMING OF SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING; MANNER OF EXERCISING SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AND ORDER FORMS.

(a) The Offerings shall be conducted in compliance with the FDIC rules and regulations and the regulations of the Commissioner.

(b) The exact timing of the commencement of the Subscription Offering shall be determined by the Holding Company and the Bank in consultation with the Independent Appraiser and any financial or advisory or investment banking firm retained by them in connection with the Conversion. The Holding Company and the Bank may consider a number of factors, including, but not limited to, their current and projected future earnings, local and national economic conditions, and the prevailing market for stocks in general and stocks of financial institutions in particular. The Holding Company and the Bank shall have the right to withdraw, terminate, suspend, delay, revoke or modify any such Subscription Offering, at any time and from time to time, as they in their sole discretion may determine, without liability to any Person, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and any necessary regulatory approval or concurrence.

(c) Promptly after the SEC has declared the Registration Statement, which includes the Prospectus, effective and all required regulatory approvals have been obtained, the Holding Company shall, distribute or make available the Prospectus, together with Order Forms for the purchase of Common Stock, to all Participants for the purpose of enabling them to exercise their respective Subscription Rights, subject to Section 13 hereof.

(d) A single Order Form for all Deposit Accounts maintained with the Bank by an Eligible Account Holder and any Supplemental Eligible Account Holder may be furnished, irrespective of the number of Deposit Accounts maintained with the Bank on the Eligibility Record Date and Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, respectively. No person holding a Subscription Right may exceed any otherwise applicable purchase limitation by submitting multiple orders for Common Stock. Multiple orders are subject to adjustment, as appropriate, on a pro rata basis and deposit balances will be divided equally among such orders in allocating shares in the event of an oversubscription.

(e) The recipient of an Order Form shall have no less than 20 days and no more than 45 days from the date of mailing of the Order Form (with the exact termination date to be set forth on the Order Form) to properly complete and execute the Order Form and deliver it to the Holding Company. The Holding Company may extend such period by such amount of time as it determines is appropriate. Failure of any Participant to deliver a properly executed Order Form to the Holding Company, along with full payment (or authorization for full payment by withdrawal) for the shares of Common Stock subscribed for, within the time limits prescribed, shall be deemed a waiver and release by such person of any rights to subscribe for shares of Common Stock. Each Participant shall be required to confirm to the Holding Company by executing an Order Form that such Person has fully complied with all of the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions in the Plan.

 

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(f) The Holding Company and the Bank shall have the absolute right, in their sole discretion and without liability to any Participant or other Person, to reject any Order Form, including, but not limited to, any Order Form that is (i) improperly completed or executed; (ii) not timely received; (iii) not accompanied by the proper and full payment (or authorization of withdrawal for full payment) or, in the case of institutional investors in the Community Offering, not accompanied by an irrevocable order together with a legally binding commitment to pay the full amount of the purchase price before 48 hours before the completion of the Offerings; or (iv) submitted by a Person whose representations the Holding Company and the Bank believe to be false or who they otherwise believe, either alone, or Acting in Concert with others, is violating, evading or circumventing, or intends to violate, evade or circumvent, the terms and conditions of the Plan. Furthermore, in the event Order Forms (i) are not delivered and are returned to the Holding Company by the United States Postal Service or the Holding Company is unable to locate the addressee, or (ii) are not mailed pursuant to a “no mail” order placed in effect by the account holder, the Subscription Rights of the Person to which such rights have been granted will lapse as though such Person failed to return the contemplated Order Form within the time period specified thereon. The Holding Company and the Bank may, but will not be required to, waive any irregularity on any Order Form or may require the submission of corrected Order Forms or the remittance of full payment for shares of Common Stock by such date as they may specify. The interpretation of the Holding Company and the Bank of the terms and conditions of the Order Forms shall be final and conclusive.

 

12. PAYMENT FOR COMMON STOCK.

(a) Payment for shares of Common Stock subscribed for by Participants in the Subscription Offering and payment for shares of Common Stock ordered by Persons in the Community Offering shall be equal to the Initial Purchase Price multiplied by the number of shares that are being subscribed for or ordered, respectively. Such payment may be made in cash, if delivered in person, or by check, bank draft or money order at the time the Order Form is delivered to the Holding Company, provided that checks will only be accepted subject to collection. The Holding Company and the Bank, in their sole and absolute discretion, may also elect to receive payment for shares of Common Stock by wire transfer. In addition, the Holding Company may elect to provide Participants and/or other Persons who have a Deposit Account with the Bank the opportunity to pay for shares of Common Stock by authorizing the Bank to withdraw from such Deposit Account an amount equal to the aggregate Initial Purchase Price of such shares. Payment may also be made by a Participant using funds held for such Participant’s benefit by a Bank Benefit Plan to the extent that such plan allows participants or any related trust established for the benefit of such participants to direct that some or all of their individual accounts or sub-accounts be invested in Common Stock. If the Actual Purchase Price is less than the Initial Purchase Price, the Holding Company shall refund the difference to all Participants and other Persons, unless the Holding Company chooses to provide Participants and other Persons the opportunity on the Order Form to elect to have such difference applied to the purchase of additional whole shares of Common Stock. If the Actual Purchase Price is more than the Initial Purchase Price, the Holding Company shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock ordered by Participants and other Persons and refund any remaining amount that is attributable to a fractional share interest, unless the Holding Company chooses to provide Participants and other Persons the opportunity to increase the Actual Purchase Price submitted by them.

(b) Notwithstanding the above, if the Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans subscribe for shares during the Subscription Offering, such plans will not be required to pay for the shares at the time they subscribe but rather may pay for such shares of Common Stock subscribed for by such plans at the Actual Purchase Price upon consummation of the Conversion, provided that, in the case of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, there is in force from the time of its subscription until the consummation of the Offerings, a loan commitment to lend to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, at such time, the aggregate price of the shares for which it subscribed.

(c) If a Participant or other Person authorizes the Bank to withdraw the amount of the Initial Purchase Price from his or her Deposit Account, the Bank shall have the right to make such withdrawal or to freeze funds equal to the aggregate Initial Purchase Price upon receipt of the Order Form. Notwithstanding any regulatory provisions regarding penalties for early withdrawals from certificate accounts, the Bank may allow payment by means of withdrawal from certificate accounts without the assessment of such penalties. In the case of an early withdrawal of only a portion of such account, the certificate evidencing such account shall be canceled if any applicable minimum balance requirement ceases to be met. In such case, the remaining balance will earn interest at the regular passbook rate. However, where any applicable minimum balance is maintained in such certificate account, the rate of return on the balance of the certificate account shall remain the same as before such early

 

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withdrawal. This waiver of the early withdrawal penalty applies only to withdrawals made in connection with the purchase of Common Stock and is entirely within the discretion of the Holding Company and the Bank.

(d) The subscription funds will be held by the Bank or, in the Bank’s discretion, in an escrow account at an unaffiliated insured financial institution. The Holding Company shall pay interest, at not less than the Bank’s passbook rate, for all amounts paid in cash, by check, bank draft or money order to purchase shares of Common Stock in the Subscription Offering and the Community Offering from the date payment is received until the date the Offerings are completed or terminated.

(e) The Holding Company will not offer or sell any of the Common Stock proposed to be issued to any Person whose purchase would be financed by funds loaned, directly or indirectly, to the Person by the Bank.

(f) Each share of Common Stock shall be non-assessable upon payment in full of the Actual Purchase Price.

 

13. ACCOUNT HOLDERS IN NONQUALIFIED STATES OR FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

The Holding Company and the Bank shall make reasonable efforts to comply with the securities laws of all jurisdictions in the United States in which Participants reside. However, no Participant will be offered or receive any Common Stock under the Plan if such Participant resides in a foreign country or resides in a jurisdiction of the United States with respect to which any of the following apply: (a) there are few Participants otherwise eligible to subscribe for shares under this Plan who reside in such jurisdiction; (b) the granting of Subscription Rights or the offer or sale of shares of Common Stock to such Participants would require any of the Holding Company or the Bank or their respective directors and Officers, under the laws of such jurisdiction, to register as a broker-dealer, salesman or selling agent or to register or otherwise qualify the Common Stock for sale in such jurisdiction, or any of the Holding Company or the Bank would be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or file a consent to service of process in such jurisdiction; or (c) such registration, qualification or filing in the judgment of the Holding Company and the Bank would be impracticable or unduly burdensome for reasons of cost or otherwise.

 

14. REQUIREMENTS FOLLOWING THE CONVERSION FOR REGISTRATION, MARKET MAKING AND STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING.

In connection with the Conversion, the Holding Company shall register the Common Stock pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall undertake not to deregister such stock for a period of three years thereafter. The Holding Company also shall use its best efforts to (i) encourage and assist a market maker to establish and maintain a market for the Common Stock, and (ii) list the Common Stock on a national or regional securities exchange or to have quotations for such stock disseminated on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

15. LIQUIDATION ACCOUNT.

(a) At the time of the Conversion, the Bank shall establish a liquidation account in an amount equal to the Bank’s net worth as reflected in its statement of financial condition contained in the Prospectus used in the Conversion. The function of the liquidation account will be to preserve the rights of certain holders of Deposit Accounts in the Bank who maintain such accounts in the Bank following the Conversion to a priority to distributions in the unlikely event of a liquidation of the Bank subsequent to the Conversion.

(b) The liquidation account shall be maintained for the benefit of Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, if any, who maintain their Deposit Accounts in the Bank after the Conversion. Each such account holder will, with respect to each Deposit Account held, have a related inchoate interest in a portion of the liquidation account balance, which interest will be referred to in this Section 15 as the “subaccount balance.” All Deposit Accounts having the same social security number will be aggregated for purposes of determining the initial subaccount balance with respect to such Deposit Accounts, except as provided in Section 15(d) hereof.

(c) In the event of a complete liquidation of the Bank subsequent to the Conversion (and only in such event), each Eligible Account Holder and Supplemental Eligible Account Holder, if any, shall be entitled to receive a

 

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liquidation distribution from the liquidation account in the amount of the then current subaccount balances for Deposit Accounts then held (adjusted as described below) before any liquidation distribution may be made with respect to the capital stock of the Bank. No merger, consolidation, sale of bulk assets or similar combination transaction with another FDIC-insured institution in which the Bank is not the surviving entity shall be considered a complete liquidation for this purpose. In any such transaction, the liquidation account shall be assumed by the surviving entity.

(d) The initial subaccount balance for a Deposit Account held by an Eligible Account Holder and Supplemental Eligible Account Holder, if any, shall be determined by multiplying the opening balance in the liquidation account by a fraction, of which the numerator is the amount of the Qualifying Deposits of such account holder and the denominator is the total amount of Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, if any. For Deposit Accounts in existence at both the Eligibility Record Date and the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, if any, separate initial subaccount balances shall be determined on the basis of the Qualifying Deposits in such Deposit Accounts on each such record date. Initial subaccount balances shall not be increased, and shall be subject to downward adjustment as provided below.

(e) If the aggregate deposit balance in the Deposit Account(s) of any Eligible Account Holder or Supplemental Eligible Account Holder, if any, at the close of business on any annual closing date (which date is the Bank’s fiscal year end), commencing on or after the effective date of the Conversion, is less than the lesser of (a) the aggregate deposit balance in such Deposit Account(s) at the close of business on any other annual closing date subsequent to such record dates, or (b) the aggregate deposit balance in such Deposit Account(s) as of the Eligibility Record Date or the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, if any, the subaccount balance for such Deposit Account(s) shall be adjusted by reducing such subaccount balance in an amount proportionate to the reduction in such deposit balance. In the event of such a downward adjustment, the subaccount balance shall not be subsequently increased, notwithstanding any subsequent increase in the deposit balance of the related Deposit Account(s). The subaccount balance of an Eligible Account Holder or Supplemental Eligible Account Holder, if any, will be reduced to zero if the Account Holder ceases to maintain a Deposit Account at the Bank that has the same social security number as appeared on his Deposit Account(s) at the Eligibility Record Date or, if applicable, the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date.

(f) After the Conversion, the Bank may not pay cash dividends generally on deposit accounts and/or capital stock of the Bank, or repurchase any of the capital stock of the Bank, if such dividend or repurchase would reduce the Bank’s regulatory capital below the aggregate amount of the then current subaccount balances for Deposit Accounts then held; otherwise, the existence of the liquidation account shall not operate to restrict the use or application of any of the net worth accounts of the Bank.

(g) For purposes of this Section 15, a Deposit Account includes a predecessor or successor account which is held by an Account Holder with the same social security number.

 

16. COMPLETION OF THE CONVERSION.

The effective date of the Conversion shall be the date of the closing of the sale of all shares of Common Stock. The closing of the sale of all shares of Common Stock sold in the Offerings shall occur simultaneously and shall be conditioned upon the prior receipt of all requisite regulatory and other approvals.

 

17. REQUIREMENTS FOR STOCK PURCHASES BY DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS FOLLOWING THE CONVERSION.

For a period of three years following the Conversion, the directors and Officers of the Holding Company and the Bank and their Associates may not purchase Common Stock without the prior written approval of the Commissioner and FDIC except from a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. This prohibition shall not apply, however, to (i) a negotiated transaction involving more than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock, and (ii) purchases of stock made by and held by any Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan (and purchases of stock made by and held by any Non-Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plan following the receipt of shareholder approval of such plan) even if such Common Stock may be attributable to individual Officers or directors and their

 

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Associates. The foregoing restriction on purchases of Common Stock shall be in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed by federal and state securities laws.

 

18. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF STOCK.

All shares of Common Stock that are purchased by Persons other than directors and Officers of the Holding Company or the Bank shall be transferable without restriction. Shares of Common Stock purchased by directors and Officers of the Holding Company or the Bank on original issue from the Holding Company (by subscription or otherwise) shall be subject to the restriction that such shares shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of for value for a period of one year following the date of purchase, except for any disposition of such shares following the death of the original purchaser. The shares of Common Stock issued by the Holding Company to such directors and Officers shall bear the following legend giving appropriate notice of such one-year restriction:

“The shares of stock evidenced by this Certificate are restricted as to transfer for a period of one year from the date of this Certificate pursuant to applicable regulations of the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. These shares may not be transferred during such one-year period without a legal opinion of counsel for the Company that said transfer is permissible under the provisions of applicable law and regulation. This restrictive legend shall be deemed null and void after one year from the date of this Certificate.”

In addition, the Holding Company shall give appropriate instructions to the transfer agent for the Holding Company with respect to the applicable restrictions relating to the transfer of restricted stock. Any shares issued at a later date as a stock dividend, stock split or otherwise with respect to any such restricted stock shall be subject to the same holding period restrictions as may then be applicable to such restricted stock. The foregoing restriction on transfer shall be in addition to any restrictions on transfer that may be imposed by federal and state securities laws.

 

19. STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS.

(a) The Holding Company and the Bank are authorized to adopt Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans in connection with the Conversion, including without limitation an ESOP.

(b) Subsequent to the Conversion, the Holding Company and the Bank are authorized to adopt Non-Tax Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans, including without limitation, stock option plans and restricted stock plans. In addition, any such plan implemented during the one-year period subsequent to the date of consummation of the Conversion: (i) shall be disclosed in the Prospectus; (ii) in the case of stock option plans and employee recognition or grant plans, shall be submitted for approval by the holders of the Common Stock no earlier than six months following consummation of the Conversion; and (iii) shall comply with all other applicable requirements of the Commissioner and FDIC and FRB.

(c) Existing, as well as any newly-created, Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans may purchase shares of Common Stock in the Offerings, to the extent permitted by the terms of such benefit plans and this Plan.

(d) The Holding Company and the Bank are authorized to enter into employment or severance agreements with their executive officers.

 

20. DIVIDEND AND REPURCHASE RESTRICTIONS ON STOCK.

The Bank may not declare or pay a cash dividend on its Common Stock if the effect thereof would cause the regulatory capital of the Bank to be reduced below the amount required under applicable rules and regulations of the Commissioner and FDIC.

The Holding Company may declare dividends or make other capital distributions in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the FRB, the Commissioner and FDIC. Following completion of the Conversion, the Holding Company may repurchase its Common Stock consistent with the Rules and Regulations of the FRB and Commissioner.

 

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21. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

If deemed necessary or desirable by the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company and the Bank, this Plan may be substantively amended, as a result of comments from regulatory authorities or otherwise, at any time before the solicitation of proxies from Voting Members to vote on the Plan and at any time thereafter with the concurrence of the Commissioner and FDIC.

Before the Special Meeting, this Plan may be terminated by the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company and the Bank without approval of the Commissioner and FDIC. After the Special Meeting, the Boards of Directors of the Holding Company and the Bank may terminate this Plan only with the concurrence of the Commissioner and FDIC.

This Plan shall terminate if the Conversion is not completed within 24 months from the date that the Plan is approved by the Voting Members at the Special Meeting.

 

22. INTERPRETATION OF THE PLAN.

All interpretations of this Plan and application of its provisions to particular circumstances by a majority of each of the Board of Directors of the Holding Company and the Board of Directors of the Bank shall be final, subject to the authority of the Commissioner and FDIC.

 

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